Eight Tri-State area teams in position for Girls DA Playoffs

Eight Tri-State area teams have clinched spots or are currently in position to qualify for the 2019 U.S. Soccer Girls’ Development Academy Playoffs.

Teams representing NYCFC Academy, Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth, Oakwood SC, Long Island SC and FC Fury NY will travel to Oceanside, Calif. for the Girls’ DA Playoffs from June 22-28.

Girls DA Standings | DA Playoffs Info

New York City FC Academy holds the No. 9 seed out of 32 playoff spots at the U-15 level, with two games left on their regular season schedule. NYCFC is 18-5-4 with 59 goals scored and only 25 allowed, good for 1st place in the Northeast Division. Isabel DiPrima (16 goals) and Jessie Maraia (14 goals) have spearheaded NYCFC’s attack all season long.

Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth U-15 has accumulated a 16-5-7 record, with one game remaining in the regular season. The New Jersey side has outscored opponents 50-27 through 28 games, securing 2nd place in the Atlantic Division and currently holding the No. 15 overall playoff seed.

Oakwood SC U-15 is in possession of the No. 18 overall playoff seed, sitting in 3rd place in the Northeast Division. Oakwood has racked up 61 goals and conceded 43 on the season. Julia Motuzick (18 goals) and Madison Carroll (16 goals) have paced the Oakwood attack, which is the 2nd-highest scoring unit in the Northeast Division.

Long Island SC U-15 has battled all season for a postseason berth, and the effort has paid off as they hold the No. 4 Wild Card spot. The team went 12-6-10 in the regular season, outscoring opponents 56-41. Gianna Paul leads the team with 26 goals scored, which is 8th most in the U-15 age group nationwide.

In the U-16/17 age group, NYCFC Academy has climbed into the No. 8 overall playoff seed, thanks to one of the best offenses in the country. They have racked up 90 goals with two regular season games remaining, amassing a 17-7-2 record. U.S. Youth National Team player Bella Sember (25 goals) is tied for 6th in scoring among all players in the U-16/17 age group, while three of her NYCFC teammates have also scored double-digit goals: Ashley Blaka (16 goals), Madeline Pirrello (12 goals) and Luciana Latino (10 goals).

FC Fury NY U-16/17 is currently in possession of the No. 18 slot out of the 32-team playoff field. Fury is 13-11-2 with two regular season games remaining, having outscored opponents 57-43. The team will aim to solidify their postseason fate on the final weekend of the regular season, with back-to-back games against FC Albertson Fury on June 1st and 2nd.

Oakwood SC U-16/17 is right on FC Fury’s heels for the 3rd and final automatic playoff spot in the Northeast Division, but can still make the postseason by securing a Wild Card spot. With a 14-12-2 record, Oakwood is clinging to the No. 10 out of 11 Wild Card playoff spots. Lumi Kostmayer (24 goals) ranks 8th in the entire country in scoring among U-16/17 players, while Natalie Tavana (20 goals) and Imani Jenkins (17 goals) have also shined this season for Oakwood’s dynamic attack.

At the U-18/19 level, FC Fury NY is in control of the No. 14 out of just 16 playoff spots in the Girls DA’s senior age group. FC Fury (9-6-4) has an advantage over Oakwood SC (9-8-2) for the 2nd and final automatic playoff spot in the Northeast Division, with one weekend of regular season play remaining. U.S. Youth National Team player Jillian Shimkin has sparked the Fury offense with 10 goals on the season.