Barça Residency Academy U17 Making Waves in Oceanside, CA at the USSDA Playoffs
June 22, 2018
The Barca Residency Academy U-17s have surpassed all expectations during the regular season and they are making major waves in post season in Oceanside, California at the USSDA Playoffs!
The U17s, who qualified for the playoffs as a wildcard, have shown up on nation’s biggest youth soccer stage.
On June 19th, the U-17s entered game one of the USSDA Playoffs cool, calm and collected as they faced Vancouver Whitecaps FC, a team they beat on the road 1-0 on a penalty kick by Roberto Molina just weeks before.
Barca Residency Academy controlled possession for much of the first half and had a few chances but could not find the back of the net. The teams entered halftime deadlocked, 0-0.
Ten minutes after the half, in the 55th minute, Julian Araujo crossed for Roberto Molina who in the box slotted his shot past the keeper. The match intensified as Barca looked to put the game away with a second goal, while Whitecaps were desperate to equalize.
Barca had a few half chances on goal, played excellent defensively and saw out Barca Residency Academy’s first playoff win.
The U17s returned to the field on June 21st with the confidence and comfort of having their first playoff win under their belt. They kicked off against Philadelphia Union Academy in what was a very evenly matched first half. Both teams had a few chances, Barca Academy goalkeeper Luke Pruter made a great save in the 27th minute and the game seemed that it would enter halftime deadlocked.
At the brink of halftime, in the 45th minute, Carter Payne was fouled right outside of the 18-yard box. Enzo Mauriz stepped up and zipped the free kick past the outstretched goalkeeper and into the upper 90. Moments later the halftime whistle blew and Barca went into halftime up 1-0.
With the momentum on their side, Barca doubled their advantage just five minutes into the second half. In the 49th minute, Araujo gained his second assist of the playoffs as he provided a great ball for an unmarked Carter Payne who coolly placed his shot to the left of the keeper.
Barca saw chances from Matthew Hoppe and Jake LaCava but the two top goal scorers couldn’t find the back of the net. Pruter came up with another great save in the 80th minute and Barca Residency Academy beat Philadelphia Union 2-0 for the Academy’s second shutout win of the playoffs.
With 6 points, Barca Residency Academy took control of Group H. They will face Orlando City (4 points) on Saturday at 4:00pm at the SoCal Sports Complex in the final group stage match that will determine who will advance to the 2018 USSDA U16/17 Quarterfinals.
Want to be a part of Barça Academy? Register for camps at:
https://grandesportsacademy.regfox.com/new-gsa-soccer-tryouts-summer-camps
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @barcaacademyaz for all your Barça Academy news and updates.
