Development Academy: Young Potomac star gaining notice
By Jimmy LaRoue
D.C. United U-16s put its unblemished first-place record on the line this Saturday when it travels to face FC DELCO, off to a strong start of its own just behind United in the Atlantic Division.
United (8-0-0) has dominated opponents in outscoring them 28-5, but FC DELCO is off to a 5-1-0 start, outscoring opponents 16-6 and is led by eight-goal scorer Doyle Tuvesson. FC DELCO’s only loss came in its opening match against Baltimore Bays Chelsea.
United is led by Gerson Umana’s eight goals and Jean-Christophe Koffi’s six.
United’s U-18s (6-1-1), tied for first place on points, will look to stay at the top of the division facing off against FC DELCO (3-3-1).
This is the clubs’ first matchup of the season.
Potomac, who has struggled in academy play this season, hosts PA Classics Saturday. Potomac’s U-18s are 0-8-1, while PA Classics are 6-1-1 and tied for first place on points with United.
Potomac’s U-16s, meanwhile, are 1-6-1 and bunched at the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings with a pair of local clubs, Virginia Rush and Richmond Kickers, who are 0-7-0 to start the season.
However, Colin Brezniak, at age 13 one of the younger players in the Development Academy who has started and played all eight academy matches for Potomac this season while scoring one of the team’s goals, has been invited to the U.S. Under-14 Boys National Team camp being held from Nov. 17-25 in Carson, Calif.
Taking a look at Atlantic Division goal scoring leaders:
U-16s
Gerson Umana (D.C. United) 8
Doyle Tuvesson (FC DELCO) 8
Abdallah Bangura (Baltimore Bays Chelsea) 7
Jean-Christophe Koffi (D.C. United) 6
Tarek Fayed (Match Fit Chelsea) 5
Joshua Goldstern (NJSA) 4
Christian Pulisic (PA Classics) 4
William Metzler (McLean) 4
Ronald Ventura (Potomac) 4
Jorge Calix (D.C. United) 4
U-18s
Yaw Amankwa (Baltimore Bays Chelsea) 8
Joseph Julius (PA Classics) 7
Denis Najar (D.C. United) 6
Finnlay Wyatt (Richmond Kickers) 5
Alec Neumann (PDA) 5
Matthew Ledder (McLean) 5
Jorge Calix (D.C. United) 4
Max Kroschwitz (PDA) 4
George Tsirukis (FC DELCO) 4
