Barca Academy's Nick Bisagno

Academy Recap: Barça Academy Wins 6 of 8 Games over the Weekend

Academy Recap: Barça Academy Wins 6 of 8 Games over the Weekend

April 24, 2018

RECAP

It was the busiest weekend yet for Barça Academy, with all five teams in action, playing at total of eight matches. The USSDA sides traveled to the Bay Area for a weekend doubleheader against San Jose Earthquakes Academy and Silicon Valley Soccer Academy and returned from northern California with five wins in six matches played. In Scottsdale, Arizona, the U-16s and U-18s played their opening matches in Arizona’s State Cup. The U-18s lost to Tanque Verde Soccer Club in their opening group stage match, while the U-16s defeated Excel Soccer Academy.

Saturday, April 21

Barça Academy U-15

The weekend kicked off with Barça Academy visiting San Jose Earthquakes Academy at Evergreen Valley Community College. The U-15s played first and were looking to build on the momentum they gained after a 4-0 win the previous weekend.

The first half played out fairly evenly, with both sides creating a few half-chances, but neither truly troubling the goalkeepers.

Barça Academy began to gain control of the game in the second half and took the lead in the 53rd minute when Andres Zavaleta beat his man out wide and sent in a cross which an Earthquakes Academy defender turned into his own net.

The U-16s would add a second goal for good measure two minutes from full time when Ricardo Benitez picked out Caden Clark with an excellent cross and Barça Academy’s captain finished into the top corner.

“We could and probably should have scored more in the second half but overall this was a good performance and positive result against a strong MLS outfit,” said head coach Ged Quinn.

Barça Academy U-17

Next up were with U-17s, who were looking to stay in playoff contention. Barça Academy was on the front foot from the start in this match, creating chances from the opening whistle. Matthew Hoppe opening the scoring five minutes from halftime in the 40th minute.

Barça Academy picked up in the second half where they had left off in the first, and in the 69th minute, Roberto Molina scored the second goal of the match to secure the win for Barça Academy.

Barça Academy U-19

The U-19s featured in the last match against San Jose Earthquakes Academy and looked to make it a clean sweep on the day for Barça Academy. The match didn’t start well for the U-19s and they went behind by a goal in the eighth minute.

They would respond 11 minutes later, when Julian Araujo scored a lovely solo goal to bring the scores level.

The score remained locked at 1-1 through halftime and well into the second period of play. In the 71st minute, Enrique Zamora grabbed a goal to put Barça Academy into the lead, and Kristian Frroku scored in stoppage time to seal a 3-1 win.

Barça Academy U-18

In the last match of the day on Saturday back in Arizona, Barça Academy’s U-18s opened up their State Cup run with a group stage match against Tanque Verde Soccer Club.

Barça Academy dominated possession in the early stages of the match but failed to create clear cut chances against a team sitting back in a compact defensive block. Despite having the ball for much of the first half, Barça Academy concede the opening goal of the match, after a deflection led to an own goal.

Barça Academy would level the score in the second half, after Quinton Brown was taken down in the box after beating his man. Sterling Watring stepped up and dispatched the penalty to bring the U-18s back into the game.

They would ultimately fall behind for good after Tanque Verde Soccer Club scored from a corner in the 80th minute.

“The match against Tanque Verde was a tough game for our players as well as being a match where everybody needs to learn from,” said U-18s coach Xavi Bravo. “Overall we dominated possession but we couldn’t find clear chances in order to attempt to score.”

Saturday, April 22

Sunday featured four more games, with Barça Academy’s USSDA sides taking on Silicon Valley Soccer Academy and the U-16s facing Excel Soccer Academy.

Barça Academy U-15

The day started off with the Barça Academy’s U-15s taking on Silicon Valley Soccer Academy. The first half featured chances for both sides, but the match sprung to life during a six-minute period in the second half.

Barça Academy scored to take the lead in the 52nd minute, but Silicon Valley Soccer Academy scored three goals in the following six minutes to ultimately condemn the U-15s to a 3-1 loss.

“Overall this was a positive weekend for the guys but we need to start learning from the mistakes that have been costing us results and be more clinical in front of goal in order to be more consistent with our results,” said Quinn “We have a chance to redeem ourselves next week against San Diego Surf and the preparation for that game begins now.”

Barça Academy U-17

Next up were the U-17s, who were looking to stay perfect on the weekend. Against Silicon Valley, they matched the result they had produced the day before with a 2-0 win.

Matthew Hoppe scored twice, once in the 11th minute and again in the 54th minute, to guide Barça Academy to their second win on the weekend.

“It was an excellent weekend in many ways, two clean sheets was especially pleasing and I was happy to see every player that traveled contribute and play their part to ensure we came home with all 6pts,” said U-17s head coach Sean McCafferty. “I was pleased with our performances overall and the players managed a tough weekend with two games in two days very professionally and certainly deserve a lot of credit for the effort & commitment that they put forth.”

Barça Academy U-19

The U-19s were last to face off against Silicon Valley Soccer Academy and provided the most exciting match.

Barça Academy fell behind in the 36th minute but rallied to tie the score right on the stroke of halftime through Kristian Frroku.

Carlos Amaya and Jaden Strumier scored second half goals to give Barça Academy a two-goal lead, but the U-19s were forced to work for the result after Silicon Valley Soccer Academy scored to cut the deficit in half with 15 minutes remaining.

Ultimately, Barça Academy was able to hold on until full time to record a 3-2 win.

“I am very happy with the way the guys worked and battled through these two games,” said head coach Daniel Antunez. “We knew how important it was to come back home with six points and now we will shift our focus towards San Diego which will also be a very difficult game.”

Barça Academy U-16

The last match of the day on Sunday featured the U-16s facing off against Excel Soccer Academy in their first match in Arizona State Cup.

Barça looked comfortable on the ball in the first half and would take the lead in the 35th minute when Caleb Suh latched on to a through ball and finished precisely past the goalkeeper.

Despite having the better chances of the match, Barça Academy would concede an equalizing goal in the 56th minute.

Barça Academy pressed forward looking for a winner but despite several good chances, they weren’t able to take the lead until stoppage time when Drew David broke the deadlock to deliver all three points.

“Playing on such a bumpy pitch made it hard to play, however I thought the boys showed great determination to win the match regardless of the circumstances,” said coach Brady Taylor.

Barça Academy’s USSDA teams return to Grande Sports World on Saturday to take on San Diego Surf. The Pre-Academy teams continue their State Cup campaign this weekend as well, with the U-16 playing on Friday against Sereno, on Saturday against Classic and on Sunday against SC Del Sol. The U-18s play on Saturday against AZ Arsenal, needing a result to progress to the next round.

RESULTS

April 21

U-15: Barça Academy 2 vs. San Jose Earthquakes 0

U-17: Barça Academy 2 vs. San Jose Earthquakes 0

U-19: Barça Academy 3 vs. San Jose Earthquakes 1

U-18: Barça Academy 1 vs. Tanque Verde 2 (Arizona State Cup)

April 22

U-15: Barça Academy 1 vs. Silicon Valley Soccer Academy 3

U-17: Barça Academy 2 vs. Silicon Valley Soccer Academy 0

U-19: Barça Academy 3 vs. Silicon Valley Soccer Academy 2

U-16: Barça Academy 2  vs. Excel 1 (Arizona State Cup)

UPCOMING MATCHES

April 27

U-16: Barça Academy vs. Sereno | 8:00 PM |Reach 11 Sports Complex (Arizona State Cup)

April 27

U-16: Barça Academy vs. Classic | 9:00 AM | Reach 11 Sports Complex (Arizona State Cup)

U-18: Barça Academy vs. AZ Arsenal | 9:00 AM | Reach 11 Sports Complex (Arizona State Cup)

U-15: Barça Academy vs. San Diego Surf | 9:00 AM | Grande Sports World

U-17: Barça Academy vs. San Diego Surf | 11:00 AM | Grande Sports World

U-19: Barça Academy vs. San Diego Surf | 1:30 AM | Grande Sports World

April 29

U-16: Barça Academy vs. SC Del Sol  | 1:00 PM | Reach 11 Sports Complex (Arizona State Cup)

LOOKING AHEAD

May 4

U-16: Barça Academy vs. TBD | 6:00 PM | Grande Sports World (Arizona State Cup – Semi-Finals)

U-18: Barça Academy vs. TBD | 8:00 PM | Grande Sports World (Arizona State Cup – Semi-Finals)

May 5

U-15: Barça Academy vs. Los Angeles United Futbol Academy | 3:30 PM | Olguin High School – Los Angeles, CA

May 6

U-16: Barça Academy vs. TBD | 11:45 AM | Grande Sports World (Arizona State Cup – Final)

U-18: Barça Academy vs. TBD | 12:00 PM | Grande Sports World (Arizona State Cup – Final)


Want to be a part of Barça Academy? Register for camps HERE

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @barcaacademyaz for all your Barça Academy news and updates.

Do You Want to Join the FUN?

Find out how you can join
Barça Residency Academy or attend one of its camps.

Learn More