Bethesda SC teams use late-season surge to reach Boys DA Playoffs

(Photo Courtesy of Bethesda SC) – The Bethesda SC U-16/17 and U-18/19 teams each finished the regular season with some critical victories, securing their places in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs.

They join fellow Potomac area sides D.C. United Academy U-16/17 and Baltimore Armour U-18/19 in the Boys DA playoff field, with the regular season now complete.

Boys DA Standings | DA Playoffs Info

An amazing streak of seven straight wins to finish the regular season pushed the Bethesda SC U-16/17 squad from outside the playoff field, all the way to the No. 19 seed out of 32 slots.

Five of their seven consecutive wins came via the clean sheet, including four in a row to close the regular season. Goalkeeper Luca Ulrich and the Bethesda back line were almost flawless down the stretch, as they finished the season with the No. 2 ranked defense in the Atlantic Division (24 goals allowed).

Marlon Tabora Ponce (22 goals) scored nearly half of Bethesda’s 46 goals on the season, including a flurry down the stretch. Thanks to their late-season surge, Bethesda finished 12-8-2, locking up the 3rd and final automatic playoff spot for the U-16/17 Atlantic Division.

Comeback wins in both of their final two regular season games vaulted the Bethesda SC U-18/19 teams to the No. 5 Wild Card slot in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs.

In a dramatic final two weeks of the regular season, Bethesda SC U-18/19 won a pair of head-to-head matchups with Richmond United, as both sides battled for Wild Card playoff berths.

Bethesda won both games 2-1, climbing from the 11th and final Wild Card spot, up to the No. 5 Wild Card seed. In the first pivotal matchup between the playoff contenders on May 18, Bethesda staged a critical 2nd half comeback, as a 66th minute equalizer by Alessandro Allen and an 87th minute game-winner by Robert Foose II pushed them to victory.

In their regular season finale on June 1, Bethesda came from behind once again, as Gabe Segal (68’) netted the equalizer and Joshua Wisdom (75’) provided the game-winner.

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D.C. United Academy U-16/17 will also represent the Potomac region in the Boys DA playoff field. United placed 2nd in the Atlantic Division with an 11-7-2 record, racking up 50 goals and conceding 44. The Black-and-Red earned the No. 18 playoff seed in their age group.

Baltimore Armour U-18/19 claimed the No. 18 overall playoff seed in the eldest Boys DA age group, finishing the regular season with a 12-5–5 record. They placed 2nd in the Atlantic Division behind PDA, outscoring opponents 50-27 on the season.