Development Academy set for winter showcase

By Jimmy LaRoue

In a limited schedule over the Thanksgiving holiday, San Diego Surf swept games against Pateadores, while Real So CAl did the same against Nomads SC.

Surf’s U-18s (3-3-3) defeated Pateadores (3-5-1) 2-0 on goals in the last 15 minutes from David Beary (75th minute) and Isaac Miselewicz (83rd minute).

In the U-16 matchup, all the goals came in the first half-hour of the match, with Surf’s Bryce Flores opening the scoring in the first minute. Pateadores’ Christian Diaz tied the match in the 21st minute, but five minutes later, Gerardo Pedroza scored what proved to be the game-winner. Surf moves to 4-5-0 on the season, while Pateadores is 2-6-1.

Real So Cal’s U-18s (3-1-2) raced out to a three-goal lead on a pair of goals from Mark Verso before halftime, and another from Dean Wright in the 57th minute. Geovany Lorenzano pulled one back for Nomads SC (2-6-1) in the 80th minute.

In the U-16 matchup, Real So Cal (3-3-0) scored in the 2nd minute from Robert Gonzalez, and was up 2-0 over Nomads SC (0-6-3) by halftime on a goal from Chetster Castellaw (40th minute). Alex Simon scored twice after halftime (69th and 80th minutes) and Spencer Held (71st minute) topped off the match.

In other matches over the holiday weekend:

• Baltimore Bays Chelsea picked up a win and tie against PA Classics

• New England Revolution U-18s defeated Oakwood Soccer Club 2-1, while the Revs and Oakwood U-16s tied 2-2

• FC DELCO U-18s defeated Players Development Academy 4-2, while PDA’s U-16s won 1-0.

The Development Academy’s 80 teams head to Bradenton, Fla. for its Winter Showcase that goes from Nov. 28–Dec. 4, in which the teams will play a combined 240 non-conference matches over five days.

The showcase coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Nike International Friendlies, with the U.S. U-17s facing Brazil (Nov. 28), Turkey (Nov. 30) and Portugal (Dec. 2). The U.S. won the championship last year, defeating Brazil 3-1.