Girls Development Academy East Conference Recap: April 14-15, 2018

Play in the U.S. Soccer Girls’ Development Academy’s East Conference continued over the weekend with sides across the U-15, U-16/U-17, and U-18/U-19 age groups doing battle. With playoff and wild card spots on the line, business certainly picked up with top sides in every age bracket playing against one another and a few upsets along the way.

U-15

Sky Blue – PDA (16-3-4, 52 points) expanded on their hold of first place in the Atlantic Division with a 7-0 win over Washington Spirit Academy – Baltimore Armour (5-17-0, 15 points). Forward Lauren Wrigley provided the lone goal for Sky Blue in the 23rd minute. In the second half though, they found their attacking rhythm with goals coming from midfielders Katherine Sy (45′ and 48′), Ania Prussak (60′), Sophia Cavaliere (57′ and 69′) and Ashley Rainho (70′). Goalkeeper Abby Brunell earned the clean sheet, the club’s 14th on the season.

FC Virginia (12-8-3, 39 points) and Penn Fusion Soccer Academy (13-7-3, 42 points) played to a 0-0 draw on Saturday. Goalkeepers Nadia Stupec (FC Virginia) and Audrey Brown (Penn Fusion Soccer Academy) recorded the clean sheets, behind strong performances from both back lines.

After earning a tough draw against PFA, FC Virginia followed Saturday’s positive result with a 3-0 win over Virginia Development Academy (7-11-5, 26 points). After being held scoreless on Saturday, Virginia’s attack came alive on Sunday with Riley Flanagan (8′ and 30′) earning a brace in just 30 minutes. She is currently tied for the team lead with Reese Borden with six goals. They would receive an insurance goal in the 73rd minute from midfielder Abigail Mansoor, her second of the season.

New York City FC (15-6-1, 46 points) further cemented their lead in the Northeast Division with a 2-0 win over Empire United (3-18-0, 9 points). NYCFC’s goals came in the second half from Luciana Latino (51′) and Kelly Monaco (76′). With the win, NYCFC currently holds the No. 7 playoff seed in the U-15 age group.

+READ: Girls Development Academy East Conference Recap | Spring Showcase 2018

Oakwood Soccer Club (12-8-2, 38 points), still fighting for a wild card spot, on Sunday they gave their chances a big boost with a 8-0 win over Long Island SC (1-15-2, 5 points). In the first half, Oakwood jumped out to a 4-0 lead with goals from Jaci Budaj (11′), Delaney Farinha (28′) and Bailey Ayer (37′) and midfielder Lexi Consentino (21′). In the second half, forward Emily Howard (48′, 50′, 51′, and 65′) put the match out of reach with all four of Oakwood’s goals.

The NC Courage (14-8-3, 45 points) pulled off an upset on Saturday, defeating first-place NTH Tophat (17-2-5, 56 points) 2-1. Katherine Gallagher gave the Courage the lead with her goal in the 12th minute, her first of the season. Tophat came marching right back with a goal from Ann Riley Huber in the 20th minute. Despite giving up the lead, the Courage attack was determined to get the victory. They would not be disappointed as Mackenzie Geigle found the match-winner in the 80th minute. Geigle’s goal gives her 14 on the season, and places her in seventh among top goal scorers in the East Conference.

The Orlando Pride (11-12-3, 36 points) continued their hunt for a wild card spot with an 8-1 win over Boca United Football Club (6-20-1, 19 points). Defenders Blaire Pressley (11’ and 15’), Ana Solovjov (69’), and Mackenzie Anuska (79’), midfielder Madison Jones (53’ and 54’) and forwards Zyandra Thomas (20’) and Jenna Austin (66’) supplied the goals for the Pride. Their eight-goal outburst was a season-high for the club, besting a previous 7-1 effort against IMG Academy from February. Boca midfielder Sloane Young scored her sides only goal in the 58th minute.

RESULTS

Atlantic
FC Virginia 0 | Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 0 (04/14)
PA Classics 2 | Virginia Development Academy 3 (04/14)
Sky Blue – PDA 7 | Washington Spirit Academy 0 (04/14)
Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth 3 | Washington Spirit Academy: Virginia 1 (04/15)
Virginia Development Academy 0 | FC Virginia 3(04/15)

Southeast
NC Courage 2 | NTH Tophat 1 (04/14)
Orlando Pride 8 | Boca United Football Club 1 (04/14)
Weston FC 2 | IMG Academy 0 (04/14)
Charlotte Soccer Academy 5 | United Futbol Academy 0 (04/14)

U-16/U-17

In the Atlantic Division, FC Virginia (12-6-4, 40 points) handed Penn Fusion Soccer Academy (17-4-2, 53 points) just their fourth loss of the season in their 3-0 over the division leaders. Forward Ellis Wheeler (tied for third most in the East Conference) and midfielder Alexis Theoret gave Virginia the advantage in the second half with their goals in the 49th and 66th minute. Wheeler has 17 goals this season while Theoret has four. Virginia’s third came courtesy of an own goal by Penn in the 77th minute.

FCV made it a perfect two-for-two on Sunday as they defeated Virginia Development Academy (3-18-2, 11 points) 6-0. Victoria Haugen‘s hat trick (12′, 39′, and 55′) gave Virginia the 3-0 lead midway through the second half. They added to their lead via goals from Wheeler (63’), Carrie McIntire (81′) and an own goal from VDA (61′). Wheeler’s goal is her twenty-third on the season, tenth most among all players in the U-16/17 age bracket. McIntire meanwhile has 14 goals on the season. Goalkeeper Gwenyth Hoyt helped her side earn their 10th shutout on the season and second in as many matches.

Sky Blue – PDA (17-5-1, 52 points) earned the 2-0 win over Washington Spirit Academy – Baltimore Armour (5-16-1, 16 points) to hold on to second place in the Atlantic on Saturday. Midfielder Julianne Leskauskas gave her side the lead with her goal in the 30th minute, her seventh on the season. In the second half, Sky Blue’s defense was tested with goalkeeper Mia Justus having to make several saves to keep their lead. Her efforts payed off as Natalia Ramirez gave her side an insurance goal in the 60th minute and the points on the day. Ramirez’s goal was her 14th in 2018-2019.

FC Fury NY (14-5-1, 43 points) retained their top spot in the Northeast Division with a 7-0 win over Sky Blue – NYSC (5-13-2, 17 points). Fury’s goals would come from Julia Hannon (6’ and 71’), Brianna Jablonowski (21’ and 53’), Samantha DuMont (40’) and Julia Aronov (55’ and 76’). Jablonowski’s brace pushed her goal total to 12 on the season and continued her consistent form with the U-16/U-17. She averages .8462 Goals Per Game which is tenth highest among all players in the East Conference.

+READ: Girls Development Academy East Conf. Recap | March 31 – April 1

Boston Breakers Academy (14-7-0, 42 points) kept up pace with the Fury with a 4-0 win over FC Stars (6-13-3, 21 points). Breakers goals came courtesy of Claire Grover (51′ and 61′), Jaydah Bedoya (69′) and Tyler Potter (84′). With the win, Boston extended their unbeaten run to seven matches. During that time span they have outscored their opponents 38-5.

New York City FC (14-7-2, 54 points) scored a big win of their own on the weekend, earning an 8-0 win over Empire United (2-18-2, 8 points). In the first half, NYCFC jumped out to a 5-0 lead with goals from Angela Aguero (5′ and 19′), Kailey Brenner (16′), Cora Creighton (31′) and Remi White (44′). Juliana Basile scored her fourth on the season to kick-start the NYCFC attack in the second. Creighton earned her hat trick late (54′ and 59′) to give her 11th on the season and to seal things up in the second half.

In the Southeast Division, NTH Tophat (17-4-2, 52 points) held on to first place in a 1-0 squeaker against NC Courage (12-7-6, 42 points). As has been the case all season, Tophat took the lead early with a goal from Arianna Manrique in the 30th minute. The club has shown consistently throughout the year that they are more than capable of pulling out a result in close matches. In their six matches on the season that have been decided by a goal, Tophat holds a 4-2-0 record.

On Sunday, the United Soccer Alliance (16-7-1, 49 points) high-powered offense gave their side a 9-0 win over the West Florida Flames (4-20-1, 13 points). Olufolasade Adamolekun‘s hat trick (4′, 56′, and 84’) pushed her goal total on the season to 17, tied for fifth-most in the U-16/U-17 East Conference. Sarah Brunner (15′), Kai Hayes (58′), Monique Perrier (58′ and 82′), and Mackenzee Vance (6′ and 72′) helped seal the victory for USA. Through 24 matches USA have scored 69 goals, second most among all sides in the East Conference. Meanwhile, their defense earned their 11th shutout of their 2017-2018 campaign.

RESULTS

Atlantic
FC Virginia 3 | Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 0 (04/14)
PA Classics 3 | Virginia Development Academy 1 (04/14)
Sky Blue – PDA 2 | Washington Spirit Academy – Baltimore Armour 0 (04/14)
Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth 2 | Washington Spirit Academy – Virginia 4 (04/15)
Virginia Development Academy 0 | FC Virginia 6 (04/15)

U-18/U-19

Sky Blue – PDA (15-3-2, 47 points) maintained their slender advantage in the Atlantic Division with a 5-0 win over Washington Spirit Academy – Baltimore Armour (6-9-4, 22 points). A pair of braces from Kayla Lee (19’ and 67’) and Amelia Paternoster (39’ and 52’) set the tone for the Sky Blue attack. Their fifth came from Jess Schildkraut in the 55th minute, her fifth on the season. Sky Blue’s multiple attacking options makes their side difficult to predict and defend against. Fifteen of the 22 players listed on their roster have scored a goal this season, and six have scored more than five (Schildkraut, Trinity Garay, Jylissa Harris, Laura Jackson, Emily Leyson and Jillian Wachira).

Sky Blue’s victory would be key in maintaining their hold on first place as the side nipping at their heels, Penn Fusion Soccer Academy, also secured a victory on the weekend. Thanks to a pair of early goals from Kouri Peace (11’) and Catherine DeRosa (17’) PFA (15-4-1, 46 points) earned the 2-1 win over third place FC Virginia (14-5-1, 43 points). While Virginia did get the match back to a one-goal game with Victoria Powell’s goal in the 37th minute, it wasn’t enough to earn the point. With the win, PFA extended their unbeaten run to four matches.

As for FC Virginia (14-5-1, 43 points), they did not leave the weekend empty-handed as they earned a 4-0 over Virginia Development Academy (4-13-3, 15 points) on Sunday. Powell earned her second goal on the weekend with her strike in the 40th minute. She currently sits in ninth place among all players in the U-18/U-19 age bracket with 18 goals on the season. She received additional assistance on the scoring front from midfielders Renee Kohler (32’ and 62’) and Nicole Foley (81’). Kohler’s two goals places her at seven, while Foley’s was her second.

+NCAA Women’s Soccer Commitment Announcements: April 2018

In the Northeast Division, Boston Breakers Academy (15-3-0, 45 points) pulled closer towards securing a playoff spot with their 9-0 defeat of FC Stars of Massachusetts. Since returning to play from the winter break, the Breakers attack has been on fire. Prior to this match, the team has outscored opponents 32-2. Saturday’s result was no different for the Massachusetts side with Catherine Barry (3’, 9’, 28’, 63’, and 66’), MaryKate McGuire (7’ and 83’) and Jenna Tivnan (20’ and 71’) all hitting the back of the net.

New York City FC (12-6-2, 38 points) retained possession of second place with an 8-0 win over Empire United (1-15-2, 5 points). NYCFC’s goals were scored by Molly Feigan (29’ and 73’), Katrina Kurtz (20’ and 37’), Gianna Nitti (58’, 75’, and 89’) and Bella Sember (80’). Their eight-goal performance ties a season-best for the side.

But Empire ended the weekend with a bit of good news, as they earned their first win of the season on Sunday, 2-1 over Sky Blue – NYSC (4-13-1, 13 points). It looked like it might not be their day after Caroline Thompson gave Sky Blue the 1-0 advantage in the 45th minute. However, Empire’s attack came alive in the second half with a brace from Zoe James (51’ and 64’). James’ two-goal performance gives her three on the season.

[player_box id=63519 leftright=right]The Southeast Division saw a battle of the unbeatens on Saturday with NC Courage (20-0-2, 62 points) taking on NTH Tophat (15-1-5, 50 points). Alexis Strickland gave the Courage a 1-0 lead with her goal in the eighth minute. The goal was her 10th on the season. The Courage defense secured the clean sheet, and have allowed just nine goals in the 2017-2018 season, second lowest among all sides in the U-18/U-19 age bracket (Crossfire Premier of the Northwest Division/Western Conference have allowed eight). University of North Carolina commits Maggie Pierce (Courage) and Brianna Pinto (Tophat) spent the majority of the contest matched up in the midfield, each winning several key duels for their side.

RESULTS

Atlantic
FC Virginia 1 | Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 2 (04/14)
Sky Blue – PDA 5 | Washington Spirit – Baltimore Armour 0 (04/14)
Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth 3 | Washington Spirit Academy – Virginia 0 (04/15)
Virginia Development Academy 0 | FC Virginia 4 (04/15)

Southeast
NC Courage 1 | NTH Tophat 0 (04/14)
Orlando Pride 7 | Boca United Football Club 1 (04/14)
Weston FC 2 | IMG Academy 0 (04/14)
Charlotte Soccer Academy 1 | United Futbol Academy 2 (04/14)