By Jimmy LaRoue
The LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake AZ U-16s and U-18s close out the month of April with matches against each other Sunday.
RSL AZ’s U-16s (9-3-0, 27 pts.) are atop the SoCal Division, while the Galaxy (7-1-2) are four points back.
The Galaxy’s U-18s (8-1-1, 25 pts.) hold a slight advantage over RSL AZ (6-2-4, 20 pts.), but this weekend’s play could shake things up, with the Galaxy trailing first place Chivas USA by just two points.
In the Great Lakes Division, the Chicago Fire will try to stay in first place as it hosts Indiana United Fire Academy Saturday. The Chicago Fire’s U-16s (5-0-1) are in a first-place tie with Crew Soccer Academy Wolves. The Fire’s U-18s have sole possession of first place.
This evening, it will be the battle of Colorado as Colorado Rush faces Colorado Rapids. The U-18 Rapids are in first in the Frontier Division, while Rush is in third.
Notable: U.S. Soccer named D.C. United defender Patrick Foss its week 29 player of the week, as he played 90 minutes in each of United’s wins last weekend, scoring all three of the team’s goals. … Rebekah Friedrich of Maryland won referee of the week honors from U.S. Soccer for her performance during last weekend’s U-16 match between Potomac and Seacoast United. She is a grade 6 referee and has worked nearly 20 academy matches. … The Houston Dynamo U-18 and FC Dallas U-18 Development Academy teams will face the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team in May. The Dynamo takes on the U-17s on May 10 at the newly built BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. Then the U.S. U-17 squad faces FC Dallas’ Academy side on May 12.
[ + Click here for the Development Academy schedule ]