This weekend all four academy squads took on Bay Area foes in Northwest Division play, going 2-2-2 on the weekend. Six contests made for an important slate of games for each squad as they begin to set their sights on reaching the MLS NEXT Cup later this spring.
The Results:
U-17s
5-2 Win vs De Anza Force
4-2 Loss vs Silicon Valley SA
U-14s
1-0 Loss vs San Jose Earthquakes
U-15s
4-1 Win vs De Anza Force
0-0 Draw vs Silicon Valley SA
U-13s
3-3 Draw vs San Jose Earthquakes
The U-17s kicked the weekend off with a crucial win on the road against De Anza Force. A big first-half performance put the squad ahead as they scored all five goals in 18 minutes. Forward Jackson Martin was first on the scoresheet via a through ball from Ethan Kelly, whose 27th minute score went down as the eventual winner. Sunday at home against Silicon Valley, squad looked to continue the momentum, but fell 4-2 after pulling within one mid-way through the second half.
For the U-15s, Sean Baitinger and Landon Roberson each tallied a brace against De Anza Force in a 4-2 win. Baitinger’s score in the 37th minute cancelled out De Anza’s strike early in the match, while his second score – the game winner – came in the 56th minute. The squad split points Sunday in a scoreless draw to make for an unbeaten weekend.
Two regional derby matches between top squads took place Sunday as the U-13’s and U-14’s battled their counterparts from the San Jose Earthquakes. The U-13s drew 3-3 in a back-and-forth game, with Declan Luigs, Grayson Utus and Jonah Douhab all finding the net. A narrow 1-0 loss was the result for the U-14 side, who battled hard but couldn’t find an equalizer after San Jose scored off a set piece in the second half.
What Lies Ahead
As the end of the season approaches, each squad looks close out strong. In their respective age group, the U-15s currently lead their division, while the U-13s sit in second place, the U-14s in third and the U-17s are in fourth in the Northwest Division. The two older squads will get a chance to secure a playoff berth outright come May, when they travel to Maryland for the MLS NEXT Flex tournament to face competition from across the country.
