U16 Academy playoffs start this weekend in Greensboro

U16 Academy playoffs start this weekend in Greensboro
June 25, 2009

Click here for the U17/U18 playoff preview

The U15/16 USSF Academy League Playoffs this weekend in Greensboro include a mix of some traditional youth soccer powerhouses, a dash of MLS youth clubs and a few upstarts.

The event features eight groups of four teams, with only the group winners advancing the the National Finals scheduled for July at  Home Depot Center in Carson, California. This event was added to the Development Academy format after participants complained of high costs and little reward for last season’s format that featured four showcases and a stand-alone nationals. This weekend’s matches will be much more meaningful for teams and players, but still will serve as a showcase with plenty of Youth National Team, professional and college scouts on hand.

Boys club soccer players compete in a club soccer tournament.Cal Odyssey (left) and Texas Rush are each vying for a spot at nationals.
Michigan-based Derby County Wolves, who also had the best record in the U17/18 division, are the top seed and will contest Group A with Columbus Crew, BW Gottschee and the last team to make it into the field, the awkwardly-named Texas Rush AHFC AS Monaco.

MLS clubs New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire are in Group B along with youth veterans FC Westchester and the pre-academy academy – IMG Soccer Academy from Bradenton, Florida.

Carmel United, including some holdovers from last season’s U16 Academy champions, are in Group C along with club giants Chicago Magic AS Monaco, and newcomers LAFC Chelsea and Texas Heat.

In Group D, Oscar Pareja’s FC Dallas team are in along with Dallas-area rivals Andromeda, plus a club that is really coming on in South Charlotte SA and Birmingham United.

Group E has a west coast flavor (groups are made based on spreading the teams via their position 1-32 in regular season standings), with LA-area clubs Arsenal and LA Galaxy plus Northern Californians Cal Odyssey joined by east coast fugitives FC DELCO.

Group F includes a team from each of the old U.S. Youth Soccer regions, Match Fit Chelsea of New Jersey, CASL Chelsea of North Carolina, Vardar of Michigan and Washington Premier from the Pacific Northwest.

Group G is similarly distributed. New Jersey giants PDA, Midwestern club stalwarts Sockers FC, North Meck SC of North Carolina and the pride of the San Fernando Valley, Real So Cal, are the participants.

In Group H, host club Greensboro Youth Soccer will face New Yorkers Albertson SC,  the always-entertaining Miami FC Kendall and Seattle-area giants Crossfire Premier.

Games will be Friday, Saturday and Monday. Watch for TopDrawerSoccer.com LIVE on Friday and Monday , with continuous updates on the matches. If you will be on hand and would like to help us keep track of things, write us at LIVE@topdrawersoccer.com.


 U15/16 Playoff Groups
  U17/U18 Playoff Groups
Seed
  Seed
 

 
1
16
17
32
 
 
8
9
24
25
 
 
4
13
20
29
 
 
5
12
21
28
 
 
2
15
18
31
 
 
7
10
23
26
 
 
3
14
19
30
 
 
6
11
22
27

Group A
Derby County Wolves
Columbus Crew
BW Gottschee
Texas Rush AHFC AS Monaco
 
Group B
New York Red Bulls
Chicago Fire
FC Westchester
IMG Soccer Academy
 
Group C
Chicago Magic AS Monaco
LAFC Chelsea
Texas SC
Carmel United SC
 
Group D
FC Dallas
South Charlotte SA
Andromeda
Birmingham United
 
Group E
Arsenal FC
LA Galaxy
FC DELCO
Cal Odyssey
 
Group F
Washington Premier
CASL Chelsea FC Academy
Vardar
Match Fit Chelsea
 
Group G

Sockers FC
Real So Cal
PDA
North Meck SC
 
Group H
Greensboro Youth Soccer
Crossfire Premier
Albertson SC
Miami FC Kendall
  
1
16
17
32
 
 
8
9
24
25
 
 
4
13
20
29
 
 
5
12
21
28
 
 
2
15
18
31
 
 
7
10
23
26
 
 
3
14
19
30
 
 
6
11
22
27
Group A
Derby County Wolves
FC Dallas
Dallas Texans
Santa Cruz County Breakers
 
Group B
Colorado Rush AS Monaco
Andromeda
Met Oval
FC Greater Boston
 
Group C
Carmel United SC
Chivas USA
Clearwater Chargers
Potomac
 
Group D
FC DELCO
IMG Soccer Academy
Vardar
Richmond Strikers
 
Group E
CASL Chelsea FC Academy
Arsenal FC
Miami FC Kendall
Real So Cal
 
Group F
Crossfire Premier
Real Colorado
Virginia Rush AS Monaco
Richmond Kickers
 
Group G

Albertson SC
PDA
Columbus Crew
De Anza Force
 
Group H
D.C. United
LAFC Chelsea
FC Westchester
Sockers FC
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