Category: Youth Soccer Reporter

[UNDER-15 BOYS] The South Charlotte SA Gold and Grand Rapids Crew Juniors, who meet Wednesday on the first day of group play, return to the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships for the second year in a row.

[UNDER-14 BOYS] St. Louis Scott Gallagher, whose Busch and Gallagher teams have won 10 U.S. Youth Soccer boys championships but none at the under-14 level, and CASL Elite, the 2003 under-14 national championship, headline the field at the 2009 National Championships.

[UNDER-19 GIRLS] Led by University of Portland star Danielle Foxhoven, the Colorado Rush Nike seeks to defend its U.S. Youth Soccer national title when it competes in the Stewart Cup at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Lancaster, Mass.

A nifty goal by Dzenan Catic in the sixth minute was all the top-seed Derby County Wolves would need to beat Cal Odyssey, 1-0, in the final of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy under-15/16 championship at The Home Depot Center.

Besides the champion Carmel United (U-17/18) and Derby County Wolves (U-15/16), the IMG Soccer Academy, PDA, CASL Chelsea FC Academy, Chicago Magic AS Monaco, Washington Premier FC and New York Red Bulls won placement games at the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finals Week. For all the results and goal scorers …

D.C. United’s Andy Najar, a high school sophomore, FC Greater Boston’s Charlie Rugg, who is headed to Boston College, and FC Dallas striker Bryan Leyva, who has courted by clubs in Mexico, France and Spain, were the top scorers at U.S. Development Academy Finals Week with four goals apiece. For all the leading scorers …

Massachusetts produced two winners — the Crusaders United under-16 boys and Sachem FC under-17 girls — at the 2009 U.S. Youth Soccer Presidents Cup finals held at the WRAL Soccer Complex in Cary, N.C. For all results and goal scorers of the boys and girls championship and consolation finals …

Former Duke University coach John Rennie has been named U.S. Club Soccer’s Director of Youth Development and will work with the organization’s clubs to improve the skills of their young players.

Cesar Zamora, an 18-year-old outside midfielder and defender who was promoted from Chivas USA’s development team to its first team in late May, has been added to the U.S. under-20 national team for its trip to Argentina, where he will join two Chivas teammates.

The USA went 3-0 in games against Canada during the recent under-20 and under-18 camps for girls national teams at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

The Cal Odyssey, the No. 31 seed when the U-15/16 U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs began, advanced to Friday’s final against the top-seed Derby County Wolves (TV: ESPN Classic, 7 pm PT/10 pm ET), earning a 1-1 tie with Washington Premier Thursday at the Home Depot Center to clinch the Group 2 crown.

A pair of Dallas area players — FC Dallas Juniors forward Ruben Luna and Andromeda midfielder Dillon Powers — earned top honors as the 2008-09 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Players of the Year in voting by Development Academy clubs and U.S. Soccer national staff coaches and technical advisors.

Lars Richters, head coach of the Derby County Wolves, was named  the U-15/16 Development Academy Coach of the Year. He led the Wolves — part of the Michigan Wolves program — to the top seed in the U-15/16 playoffs and into Friday’s final against Cal Odyssey.

Four players on MLS academy teams — Keith Cardona (New York Red Bulls), Bryan de la Fuente (Chivas USA), Riley Wolfe (Los Angeles Galaxy) and Ruben Luna (FC Dallas) — head the 2008-09 U-15/16 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Starting XI honorees.

Arsenal FC led all teams with four selections — Adam Zepeda, Ricardo Hernandez, Alex Arbollo and Ricardo Gonzalez — on the 2008-09 U-15/16 Development Academy Conference Starting XIs. The New York Red Bulls and CASL Chelsea FC Academy have three players apiece on the all-conference teams. For all the all-conference picks and conference coaches of the year …

The U.S. U-17 boys national team is in Brazil to participate in the Copa Macae from July 14-27. Coach Wilmer Cabrera‘s team will play three Brazilian clubs, beginning with Flamengo Saturday in group play. The knockout round will be held July 23-26. For the complete U.S. roster ….

D.C. United will meet Carmel United in Thursday’s U-17/18 championship match at U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s  Finals Week being held at the Home Deport Center (TV: ESPN Classic, live, 7 pm PT10 pm ET). For all the U-17/18 action …

The top seed Derby County Wolves were the first team from either age group to clinch a place in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy championships, clinching the Group 1 title in the U-15/16 age group with wins over FC Dallas and the Chicago Magic AS Monaco. Wednesday’s final day of group play will determine the Wolves’ opponent in Friday’s final, which will be telecast live on ESPN Classic at 7 pm ET (10 pm ET). Surprise Cal Odyssey needs only a tie against to clinch first place in Group 2.

Four players — IMG Academy’s Larry Jackson, Real Colorado’s Taylor Kemp, Crossfire’s Anthony Arena and the PA Classics’ Andrew Wenger — are repeat selections on the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s U-17/18 Starting XI.

Four former members of the U.S. Soccer U-17 residency program — Larry Jackson (IMG Academy), Korey Veeder (Clearwater Chargers), Jesse Paredes (Chivas USA Academy) and Pablo Cruz (LAFC Chelsea) — are among the players selected to the 2008-09 U.S. Soccer Development Academy U-17/18 All-Conference Teams. For all the all-conference picks and conference coaches of the year …

D.C. United’s academy team won its second MLS/SUM U-17 Cup in three years by defeating FC Dallas in a shootout in the championship game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

The U.S. under-20 and under-18 girls national teams is holding training camps together at the University of Colorado. Canada’s U-20s are also staying in Boulder.