Barca Residency Academy kicked off the highly anticipated 2024-25 Elite Academy and MLS Next seasons in impressive fashion this past weekend, recording nine wins and netting 41 goals across 12 games. The academy teams showcased strong performances on the field, setting a promising tone for the season ahead.
Elite Academy Teams Shine in Utah
Barca’s Elite Academy teams traveled to Utah for a challenging doubleheader weekend, facing off against Wasatch SC and Red Wolves Academy. The U15 and U19 teams emerged undefeated, while the U16 and U17 squads had mixed results.
- U19: The U19 team displayed resilience with two commanding victories, including a 2-1 win over Wasatch SC on Saturday, followed by a 3-0 shutout against Red Wolves Academy on Sunday. Standout performances from Michael Haiun and Andrew El-Sherif propelled the team to a successful weekend.
- U17: The U17 team secured a solid 3-1 win over Wasatch SC, thanks to goals from Liam Breding, Harrison Trollope, and Dawson Vidrio. However, they faced a narrow 1-2 loss against Red Wolves on Sunday despite Lachlan Niell finding the net.
- U16: In a closely contested match, the U16s fell 2-3 to Wasatch SC on Saturday but bounced back with a dominant 6-0 victory on Sunday. Ben Hans’ hat trick led the charge, supported by goals from Momusse, Baker, and Heil.
- U15: The U15 team impressed with a 5-1 triumph over Wasatch SC on Saturday, powered by a brace from Gianni Hiwiller and contributions from Jayden Pastuna, Solomon Crawford, and Isai Rodriguez. They followed up with another 5-1 win against Red Wolves on Sunday, with five different players getting on the scoresheet.
MLS Next Teams Dominate in Scottsdale
Barca’s MLS Next U16, U17, and U19 squads delivered shutout victories against RSL-AZ on Saturday, showcasing their defensive and offensive prowess.
- U19: A 4-0 win saw Barca’s U19s dominate RSL-AZ with goals from Josh Soas, Anthony Perez, and a brace from Julian Blalock.
- U17: The U17s mirrored that dominance, cruising to a 5-0 victory. Goals came from Xavi Cisneros, Dane Frisch, Elan Bangiyev, Nolan Tinsley, and Lorenzo Tuch.
- U16: Another 5-0 rout by the U16s showcased their offensive depth, with Jovani Anguiano, Oliver Groves, Graham Ford, Makai Wells, and Omar Mendez all contributing.
- U15: In a tough outing, the U15 team fell 0-3 to RSL-AZ, but the young squad showed resilience and will look to bounce back in their next match.
Weekend Results
Elite Academy vs. Wasatch SC – Saturday, September 7
- U19: 2-1 W (Haiun, El-Sherif)
- U17: 3-1 W (Breding, Trollope, Vidrio)
- U16: 2-3 L (Hans, OG)
- U15: 5-1 W (Hiwiller x2, Pastuna, Crawford, Rodriguez)
MLS Next vs. Real Salt Lake-AZ – Saturday, September 7
- U19: 4-0 W (Sosa, Perez, Blalock x2)
- U17: 5-0 W (Cisneros, Frisch, Bangiyev, Tinsley, Tuch)
- U16: 5-0 W (Anguiano, Groves, Ford, Wells, Mendez)
- U15: 0-3 L
Elite Academy vs. Red Wolves Academy – Sunday, September 8
- U19: 3-0 W (Haiun, Hassfurther, Fuentes)
- U17: 1-2 L (Niell)
- U16: 6-0 W (Hans x3, Momusse, Baker, Heil)
- U15: 5-1 W (Enriquez, Garcia, Gonzalez, DeVaughn, Izaguirre)
Looking Ahead: Home Openers Set for the Weekend
Barca Residency Academy’s Elite Academy and MLS Next home openers are slated for this weekend at Grande Sports World – Home of Barca Residency Academy. On Saturday, September 14, the Elite Academy teams will host Real Salt Lake-Northern from Tucson, Arizona. On Sunday, September 15, the MLS Next teams will face City SC of Carlsbad, California.
