Academy Recap: U-19s Remain Undefeated in the DA
October 31, 2018
RECAP
The Barça Residency Academy U-19s and U-17s returned to the pitch for U.S. Soccer Development Academy action after a four-week break. The Academy teams played host to DA Southwest Division contenders Real So Cal on Sunday and split the results down the middle with one win, one loss and a draw apiece.
The U-15s were first to play and suffered a tough 7-2 loss. The U-17s kicked off shortly after and battled to a 2-2 draw. In the final match of the day, Matthew Hoppe netted four goals and paced the U-19s to a 4-2 win. They remain undefeated and have moved to the #1 spot in the DA playoff standings.
In the Arizona Advanced League, the Pre-Academy U-18s fell 2-0 to SC del Sol on Friday. The U-17s put together their best performance of the season on Saturday and beat the #1 team in the division, SC del Sol, 3-2. The U-17s took the field early the next morning and dropped 3-2 to #2 Arizona Classic SC.
U.S. Soccer Development Academy
Barça Academy U-15 vs. Real So Cal
The U-15s and U-17s kicked off simultaneously on Sunday at Grande Sports World – Home of Barça Residency Academy.
The U15s got off to a shaky start, conceding four goals in the first thirty minutes of the game but they did not fold. Samuel Mendoza gave the team a bit of a spark in the 30th minute when he grabbed a goal back to make it 4-1. Real So Cal would score another goal right before the half and send the 15s into halftime down 5-1.
Real So Cal scored their 6th goal two minutes into the half and Diego Hernandez netted his fourth goal of the season minutes later to bring the score to 6-2. Real So Cal would put the game out of reach in the 54th minute and cruise to a 7-2 win.
Barça Academy U-17 vs. Real So Cal
Meanwhile, on the adjacent field, the U-17s battled to a 2-2 draw with Real So Cal.
The match got off to a slow start with zero shots on goal for either side in the first 25 minutes. The tempo picked up late in the second half as Barça Academy created a string of chances in the final 15 minutes.
Their first chance of the game for Barça Academy came in the 30th minute when Diego Luna found space in the box and took a quality that lifted just over the crossbar. A few minutes later, Luna played a brilliant ball to Guillermo Lopez whose shot went off the crossbar and back into play, Caleb Suh came up with the ball but his attempt missed wide.
The teams entered halftime deadlocked at zero but the second half would be a different story.
Barça Academy carved out a great chance in the early goings of the second half. After a great first half, Diego Luna picked up where he left off, he made a drive down the middle of the field and played Nick Bisagno on the left side of the box. Bisagno dribbled into the box and took a powerful shot but the advancing keeper was able to smother the ball and keep the game scoreless.
Barça would be made to pay in the 60th minute when Real So Cal opened the scoring. Barça Academy quickly responded though, straight from the kickoff they built possession on the left side, Caden Clark played the ball to Ulysses Martinez who squared the ball precisely to Caleb Suh for a nice finish on the six.
Barça Academy would make it 2-1 in the 80th minute with a lovely display of passing. Caleb Suh spread the ball out wide to Ulysses Martinez on the left side, Martinez whipped a beautiful ball into the box that Diego Luna met with his head and put Barça Academy up 2-1. The lead didn’t last for long though, Real So Cal would level the score just three minutes later.
Barça nearly regained the lead in the 86th minute through Nathan Hurtado who came onto a ball in the box and took a great shot that went off the crossbar.
Caden Clark had an opportunity to win the game right at the death but his shot was be heroically saved by the Real So Cal keeper and the game finished seconds later with the score level at 2-2.
Barça Academy U-19 vs. Real So Cal
The U19s took the field in the final game of the day and comfortably beat Real So Cal 4-2 to remain undefeated and move to the top of the table in the USSDA playoff standings.
In their usual fashion, the U-19s started the game strongly, seeking an early goal to set the tone. It didn’t take them long, Matthew Hoppe scored the opening goal in the 5th minute.
Barça would concede five minutes later when a Real So Cal player took a strike from 20 yards out that goalkeeper Luke Pruter dove to save but the ball hit the right post and trickled into the back of the net.
Barça Academy would regain the lead in the 41st minute. Jose Olmos played Carter Payne on the right side, Payne found Ryan Combe on the edge of the six, Combe took a touch and slipped it to Matthew Hoppe who finished bottom left.
Barça Academy entered halftime with a 2-1 lead. Matthew Hoppe quickly extended their lead to 3-1 within the first minute of the second half.
Real So Cal would get themselves back into the game in the 74th minute but Barça Academy would put the game away six minutes later with Hoppe’s fourth goal that was skillfully assisted by Cameron Fisher and Barça Academy cruised their way to a 4-2 victory.
Arizona Premier League
Arizona Advanced League action started on Friday when the U-18s took on SC del Sol Premier. SC del Sol shut out the U-18s 2-0, they are now 4-4-0 in the Arizona State League.
On Saturday, U-17s put together one of their best performance of the year and defeated #1 SC del Sol 3-2 with goals by Liam Hogg, Adriel Sanchez and Luka Polic. They took the field Sunday morning and fell 3-2 to #2 Arizona Classic SC after having a 2-1 halftime lead. They are now #3 in the playoff rankings with a 4-4-1 record.
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