Sporting Kansas City Academy U-16s, U-18s earn playoff berths

(Via Sporting Kansas City) – With the 2015-16 U.S. Soccer Development Academy regular season in the books, the Sporting Kansas City Academy U-16s and U-18s can set their sights on the playoffs.

For the first time in Sporting KC Academy history, both the U-16s and U-18s have qualified for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs in the same year. The annual tournament runs from June 22-26 at Toyota Park in Frisco, Texas, featuring elite youth prospects and the top youth clubs from across the country.

The U-16s claimed an emphatic 5-0 victory over Colorado Rush on Sunday at Swope Soccer Village, securing their playoff berth as a top-three finisher in the Central Conference’s Frontier Division. Grayson Barber and Mason Visconti each bagged braces, Max Rugova netted his team-leading 11th goal of the regular season and goalkeeper Alex Brown posted a shutout as Sporting KC finished 12-9-5 with 64 goals scored over 26 league matches.

The U-18s tied Colorado Rush 1-1 on Sunday and have a wildcard spot in the USSDA Playoffs after finishing fourth in the Frontier Division. The visitors went ahead after just seven minutes, but midfielder Felipe Hernandez provided the equalizer in first-half stoppage time, his fourth of the season and his second in as many games. The U-18s ended the campaign with a 14-8-4 record, scoring 47 goals and conceding 33.

The draw to determine group assignments in the USSDA Playoffs will be announced via @ussoccer_acad on Twitter this Wednesday, during which time the U-16s and U-18s will learn their opponents for the tournament’s group stage.

Another Sporting KC Academy side was crowned Kansas State Cup champion on Saturday as the U-15s topped Kansas Rush KS Academy Blue 2-0 in the championship at Overland Park Soccer Complex, receiving goals from Kyle Ziegler and Aidan Bates. In doing so, the U-15s have qualified to play at the 2016 U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Championships from June 24-29 at Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield, Indiana. The Sporting KC U-15s were crowned 2015 national champions after winning the U.S. Youth Soccer Cup last July.

The Kansas State Cup resumes tonight at Overland Park Soccer Complex, with the Sporting KC U-12s facing Metro United KC Fusion Academy 02/03 in the U-13 championship (Field #2) at 7 p.m. CT. The Sporting KC U-13s will kick off at the same time (Field #1), meeting Sedgwick County SA 02 Santos Select in the semifinals.