Deveopment Academy update: FC DELCO rolls in East Conference; light schedule this weekend
With March 31 being Easter Sunday, the Development Academy schedule will be on the light side this weekend with only eight total games scheduled for Saturday, March 30. There are a couple of intriguing matchups with Seattle Sounders FC facing Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Baltimore Bays Chelsea taking on NJSA 04.
LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS:
West Conference:
In the only West Conference matchups of the weekend, the San Diego Surf U-15/16 team shut out Nomads SC 2-0 and the U-17/18 sides played to a scoreless draw. Anthony Wright scored both Surf goals in the U-15/16 matchup. It marked the third straight shutout victory and fourth straight clean sheet for the Surf (10-7-4).
Central Conference:
For the fourth time this season, Chicago Magic PSG U-15/16 netted at least four goals in a match. Andrija Novakovich scored three tallies and Renato Albuquerque added a goal as the Chicago Magic beat Vardar SC Freiburg 4-1. The matchup featured the top two offenses in the Mid-America Division as Vardar SC Freiburg (10-3-5) has scored 34 goals and Chicago Magic PSG (7-7-3) has 33.
East Conference:
FC DELCO increased its presence in the upper half of the Atlantic Division standings as both the U-15/16 and U-17/18 teams posted 1-0 victories against NJSA 04. At the younger group, FC DELCO’s Doyle Tuvesson scored his 15th goal of the season in the 50th minute as the team improved to 10-4-2 on the season. The FC DELCO U-17/18s (8-6-2) won on the strength of a Benjamin Marks goal in the 76th minute.
PEAK PERFORMERS
Referee of the Week: Cesar Ibarra
Cesar Ibarra earns Referee of the Week honors for his performance during last week’s U-17/18 match between Sockers FC and the Crew Soccer Academy. Ibarra is a 27-year-old Grade 5 referee from Illinois who has worked 14 Academy matches over the past two years. He also works MLS Reserve League, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and PDL matches, as well as MLS scrimmages.
