Girls Development Academy East Conference Recap: April 28-29, 2018

It was a weekend of upsets, close calls, and near falls in the U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy Eastern Conference. With the regular season winding down, tensions were on the rise as playoff and wild card spots were on the line in the U-15, U-16/U-17 and U-18/U-19 age groups.

+Full Schedule / Results

U-15

Penn Fusion Soccer Academy (15-7-3, 48 points) earned a valuable three points on Saturday with their 3-0 win over Cedar Stars Academy: Monmouth (9-14-2, 29 points). Forward Brianna Moore (36’ and 78’) scored twice for PFA while midfielder Samantha Judge added a third in the 80th minute. Moore’s two goals give her eight on the season while Judge has two. Their shutout on Saturday was their 13th on the season with goalkeepers Audrey Brown (41 minutes) and Whitney Tracy (39 minutes) combining for the clean sheet.

FC Virginia (13-10-3, 42 points) held on to the final playoff spot in the U-15 age bracket with a 4-0 win over Virginia Development Academy (8-13-5, 29 points). Goals were scored by Madeleine Walker (40’), Audrey Cowden (68’ and 76’) and Madison Moon (78’). The win snaps a two game losing streak from Virginia and puts them in prime position with five games remaining for USSDA’s second season.

As for VDA, while Saturday’s result did not go their way they ended the weekend on a high note, defeating Washington Spirit Academy – Baltimore Armour (5-19-0, 15 points) 2-1. VDA jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first half with a goal from forward Brigid Sheahan in the 15th minute. Early in the second half, the Spirit leveled things up with a goal from Cate Shepherd in the 50th minute. But VDA responded just nine minutes later with forward Emma Coleman (59’) finding the match-winner.

+READ: U.S. U-16 Girls National Team wins Torneo delle Nazioni title

New York City FC (17-6-2, 53 points) stayed atop of the Northeast Division with a pair of impressive results on the weekend. On Saturday, NYCFC narrowly got past FC Stars (12-8-5, 41 points) 2-1. Kelly Monaco (65’) and Bella Sember (75’) put NYCFC ahead late with a pair of goals that appeared to seal the result. But a goal by FC Stars’ Meghan Moniz in the 79th minute gave her side a bit of life late. But the NYCFC defense held on to defeat the third-place side from the Northeast.

Sunday’s result was a little less opaque as NYCFC dispatched Long Island SC (2-17-3, 9 points) with a 10-0 result. Midfielder Bella Sember added an additional six goals to her one on Saturday (23’, 25’, 34’, 36’, 40’, and 52’) giving her 24 on the season (third most in the U-15 age bracket). Additional goals were scored by forwards Madeline Pirrello (58’ and 65’) and Emily Holzer (70’). Pirrello has 17 goals on the season while Holzer has six. Sunday’s victory was the most goals the club has scored all season, besting their previous mark of nine goals against Long Island back in September.

FC Fury NY (14-8-1, 43 points) maintained their hold on second place with a 3-0 win over Empire United (3-21-1, 10 points). The Fury attack wasted no time in securing a lead for their side, getting three goals in the first half from Tessa Weiss (9’), Danielle Davis (18’) and Gianna Savella (24’). Their shutout was their second in as many games.

In the Southeast, NTH Tophat (18-2-5, 59 points) got back on the winning track with a 5-0 win over the West Florida Flames (7-17-2, 23 points). Tophat wasted little time showing that they were over their 2-1 loss from two weeks prior, getting a goal in the first minute from Cate Hardin. Meanwhile, Arianna Manrique added a hat trick (3’, 50’, and 57’) to lift her season total to 17. Additional goals were scored by Alexis Wright (44’) and Carolyn Calzada (26’ and 73’).

Charlotte Soccer Academy remains in second place after their 2-1 win over the United Futbol Academy. UFA actually took the lead early in the second with a goal from Jolie St Louis in the 54th minute. But CSA made a late run and ultimately earned the three points on the day. Emily Morris pulled her side level with her goal in the 58th minute, her 11th on the season. Abigale Ross got the second for CSA with her first goal of the season in the 74th minute. With the win CSA extended their unbeaten run to four matches.

RESULTS

Atlantic
Cedar Stars Academy- Monmouth 0 | Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 3 (04/28)
FC Virginia 4 | Virginia Development Academy 0 (04/28)
Virginia Development Academy 2 | Washington Spirit Academy: Baltimore Armour 1 (04/29)

U-16/U-17

It wasn’t easy but Penn Fusion Soccer Academy (19-4-2, 59 points) secured a 3-2 win over Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth (4-18-3, 15 points). In the first half the two sides traded goals with Cedar Stars forward Olivia Ramiz (15’) and PFA midfielder Catherine DeRosa (38’) scoring for their respective sides. PFA took the lead for the first time with a goal from Emma Misal (57’) in the second half. While Cedar Stars and Ramiz (58’) responded immediately with a goal of their own, PFA would not be denied on the day. Forward Kouri Peace’s goal in the 81st proved to be the difference giving her side their seventh win in ten matches (7-2-1, 22 points).

FC Virginia (16-6-4, 52 points) meanwhile continued their march up the playoff standings with a 3-1 win over the Virginia Development Academy (3-20-3, 12 points). FCV jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a brace from Ellis Wheeler (20’ and 32’). Wheeler has scored 22 goals this season which is fifth most among all players in the U-16/U-17 age bracket. Cady Anderson pulled VDA within one with her goal in the 42nd minute. But Allison Embroski pushed the lead back to two, her goal coming in the 45th minute. With the win FCV moved into the number 17 spot in the U-16/U-17 playoff standings.

+READ: Girls Development Academy East Conference Recap | April 21-22, 2018

In the Northeast, FC Fury (16-5-1, 49 points) held on to the top spot with a 8-1 win over Empire United (4-19-2, 14 points). Goals for the Fury were scored by Julia Aronov (10’ and 33’), Julia Hannon (29’ and 55’), Samantha DuMont (59’), Kayleigh Goodrich (61’ and 65’), and an own goal from Empire in the 46th minute. Empire’s lone goal came from Grace Englebert in the 63rd minute, The Fury attack is entering the final weeks of the season in fine form; in their last three matches they outscored their opponents 18-3.

Second-place Boston Breakers Academy (16-7-1, 49 points) had a bit of scare early but came back on Saturday to defeat Sky Blue-NYSC (6-15-2, 20 points) 4-1. Sky Blue took the lead early with forward Gianna DeRose’s goal in the eighth minute. But the Breakers attack responded just minutes later with both Serena Sink (12’) and Sophie McCarthy (16’) hitting the back of the net. In the second half, the Breakers put the game out of reach with an insurance brace from Isabelle Aviza (65’ and 73’). Aviza is tied with Jaydah Bedoya for most goals on the U-16/U-17 side with 13.

New York City FC (15-7-3, 48 points) made it a perfect three-for-three for the top three sides in the Northeast with their 4-0 win over FC Stars (6-15-3, 21 points). Angela Aguero (11’ and 39’), Alexandra Vucenovic (25’), and Sarah Guest (71’) provided the goals for NYCFC. Goalkeepers Julia Dohle (75 minutes) and Rachel Ross (15 minutes) combined for the clean sheet, their club’s eighth on the season.

NTH Tophat (19-4-2, 59 points) remains atop of the Southeast after their 7-0 win over the West Florida Flames (4-22-1, 13 points). Nicoletta Bario (5’ and 27’), Maggie Graham (7’, 16’, and 78’), and Julia Schukle (22’ and 69’).The Tophat defense held back a potent Flames attack to earn their fourth shutout in five matches.

The United Soccer Alliance (18-7-1, 55 points) kept up with a win of their own, defeating Weston FC (11-11-5, 38 points) 2-1. Daniela Correa gave Weston the lead early with her goal in the eighth minute, her 14th of the 2017-2018 season. But USA came right back, tying things up with a goal from Olufolasade Adamolekun (40’). The match remained close with the two sides trading attacking chances all through the second half. But Sarah Brunner of USA gave her side the go-ahead goal with her strike in the 75th minute.

In Sunday’s lone match-up in the Southeast the Concorde Fire (15-6-4, 49 points) defeated the NC Courage (12-9-6, 42 points) 4-1. Forwards Lucy Mitchell (17’), Madison Haugen (30’), and Riley Rose (56’) and midfielder Astrid Wheeler (39’) provided the goals for the Fire. The Courage’s lone goal came from Anuhea Kane in the 46th minute. With the win Concorde stretch their unbeaten run to ten matches (9-0-1, 28 points) and earn their first win over the Courage during the 2017-2018 season (the previous result was a 1-1 draw back in October).

RESULTS

Atlantic
Cedar Stars Academy- Monmouth 2 | Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 3 (04/28)
FC Virginia 3 | Virginia Development Academy 1 (04/28)
Virginia Development Academy 0 | Washington Spirit Academy: Baltimore Armour 0 (04/29)

Northeast
FC Fury NY 8 | Empire United 1 (04/28)
New York City FC 4 | FC Stars 0 (04/28)
Long Island SC 4 | Oakwood Soccer Club 7 (04/28)
Sky Blue-NYSC 1 | Boston Breakers Academy 4 (04/28)

U-18/U-19

In the Atlantic Division, Penn Fusion Soccer Academy (16-5-1, 49 points) remains in second place after their 5-0 win on the weekend over Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth (6-15-1, 19 points). Emma Steigerwald gave PFA the 1-0 lead early with her goal in the third minute. In the second half, they poured the goals on with Brice McInroy (53’ and 58’), Gianna Dragoni (73’) and Emily Gray (88’) all adding to their lead. Saturday’s result was the ninth time all season that PFA had scored more than five goals in a match.

FC Virginia (16-6-1, 49 points) kept their playoff hopes alive with an 8-0 win over the Virginia Development Academy (4-16-3, 15 points). Nicole Foley’s hat trick (17’, 35’, and 86’) set the tone for Virginia, giving her five on the season. Renee Kohler (38’ and 40’), Victoria Powell (73’), Sydney Ash (84’) and Olivia Migli (90’). Goalkeeper Darrian Burnett earned the clean sheet and her side’s eleventh shutout on the season.

Things would not get any easier on the weekend for VDA as Washington Spirit Academy – Baltimore Armour (8-9-4, 28 points) defeated their neighbors to the South 5-0. Leyah Hall-Robinson (13’ and 15’) and Taylor Carter (10’ and 70’) each scored a brace to propel the Armour attack. Talia Gabarra added a fifth in the 80th minute to give her side their largest margin of victory on the season.

Boston Breakers Academy (18-3-0, 54 points) continued their impressive scoring run in division play with a 12-0 win over Sky Blue-NYSC (4-15-1, 13 points). Catherine Barry scored five goals (21’, 50, 70’, 72’, and 85’) for the Breakers while Taylor Kofton added four (8’, 35’, 49’, and 82’). Additional goals were scored by Marykate McGuire (36’ and 60’) and Zoie Allen (74’). With their win on the weekend the Breakers stretched their unbeaten run in the USSDA to 15 matches (15-0-0, 45 points).

Oakwood Soccer Club (11-9-1, 34 points) remain in third in the Northeast with their 5-0 win over Long Island SC (4-11-1, 13 points). While the result might say otherwise the match was actually quite close with the two sides staying level at 0-0 through nearly three quarters of the match. But Oakwood broke through late with a pair of braces from forwards Lexi Ansadi (73’ and 85’) and Maddie Kelly (72’ and 90’) and defender Izzy Lachcik in the 90th minute. Goalkeeper Seraphina McKiernan made several key stops throughout the match to preserve the clean sheet.

Finally in the Southeast Division the Concorde Fire gave the NC Courage their first loss in a 4-1 result. Early it appeared as if the Courage’s undefeated record might stay intact after Emily Duerr scored for the visitor’s in the 19th minute. But the Fire did not back down from the challenge at hand. Midfielder Giselle Washington gave them some hope just before halftime with her goal in the 42nd minute. Defender Brandi Peterson scored in the 63rd minute to put Concorde on top. They would score two more insurance goals to cement their lead thanks to strikes from midfielder Nicole Payne (70’) and Morgan Smith (74’). With their four goals, Concorde became just the second side in the USSDA this season to score more than a goal against the Courage, the first being NTH Tophat in their 2-2 draw back on October 7th.

Speaking of Tophat (17-1-5, 56 points), they maintained their second place standing in the Southeast with a 4-1 win over the West Florida Flames (3-17-2, 11 points). Brianna Pinto (15’), Rachel Jones (23’ and 66’), and Raegan Kelley (60’) provided the goals for Tophat. The Flames lone tally came courtesy of a Taylor Yount goal in the 48th minute.

RESULTS

Atlantic
Cedar Stars Academy: Monmouth 0 | Penn Fusion Soccer Academy 5 (04/28)
FC Virginia 8 | Virginia Development Academy 0 (04/28)
Virginia Development Academy 0 | Washington Spirit Academy: Baltimore Armour 5 (04/29)

Northeast
FC Fury NY 5 | Empire United 0 (04/28)
New York City FC | FC Stars (04/28)
Long Island SC 0 | Oakwood Soccer Club 5 (04/28)
Sky Blue-NYSC 0 | Boston Breakers Academy 12 (04/28)