Academy
All four Sporting Kansas City Academy teams were back at it again last weekend. The U18's and U16's traveled to the University of Tulsa to play Solar Chelsea in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, while the U14's and U12's headed to Springfield to play Springfield SC in National Premier League competition.
Solar Chelsea has proven to be a very dominant club throughout the season with their U18's currently sitting in 2nd place and their U16s atop the table.
The Sporting KC U18's tested Solar Chelsea as the score was level at 1-1 in the 80th minute from an Isai Gutierrez goal assisted by Matt Bernard. Solar Chelsea was able to break down Sporting KC late, scoring two goals in the last ten minutes of the match to hand the Sporting KC U18's a 3-1 defeat.
The Sporting KC U16's also put in a quality effort despite going down 2-0 early in the match. Cole Stevenson and Matt Lewis each notched a goal for the Sporting KC Academy side before the team eventually fell to Solar Chelsea 3-2.
The U14's and U12's yielded a bit more tangible success, both earning victories. The U14's earned the 1-0 win courtesy of an Adam Collinsworth goal in the first half of the match. The U12's also secured a victory by a slim one-goal margin, beating Springfield SC 4-3 with goals from Abdu Kikhia, Collin Innes, Luke Rafanan and Dylan Cooper.
The U12's and U14's will host FC Milwakee at the Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park on Saturday. The U16's and U18's will resume play on Sunday when they take on the Texas Rush, also to be held at Swope Park.
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Photo courtesy of @nickbarbir
Sporting Kansas City U16 Academy defender Erik Palmer-Brown was in the starting lineup for the United States Under-15 Boys' National Team for their fourth straight match on Saturday at the Tournament Delle Nazioni. The U.S. fell 2-1 to Croatia in the semifinals, held in Kotschach, Austria. The Yanks lone goal came from Joshua Perez (Fiorentina) from the penalty spot in the first half.
Palmer-Brown, a Lee's Summit resident, will now return to Bradenton, Fla. where he is a member of the U.S. Soccer Residency Program. Croatia advances to the final and will play the winner between Japan-Mexico.
In the starting lineup for the third straight match, Sporting Kansas City U16 Academy defender Erik Palmer-Brown helped the United States Under-15 Boys' National Team to a 2-0 win over Slovenia today at the Torneo Delle Nazioni in Grandisca, Italy. The U.S. secured their second clean sheet of the tournament and got goals from Joshua Perez and Christian Pulisic to move past Slovenia in the Group A standings.
- USA 5pts
- Slovenia 4pts
- Chile 3pts
- Italy 2pts
The United States advances to the semifinals to face the winner of Group B (likely Croatia) on Saturday. Palmer-Brown, a Lee's Summit resident, is currently a member of the U.S. Soccer Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. and is one of 19 players chosen by head coach Tony Lepore for the 12-team international tournament. He started in the team's 0-0 draw with Italy on Tuesday and again in a 1-1 draw against Chile yesterday.
Sporting Kansas City U16 Academy defender Erik Palmer-Brown started his second straight match for the U.S. Under-15 Boys' National Team today in a 1-1 draw against Chile at the Tournament Delle Nazioni. Two days after earning a scoreless draw against hosts Italy, the U.S. got a goal from Alejandro Zendejas (FC Dallas) in the game's final minute and now sit in a tie for second place heading into their Group A finale on Friday against leaders Slovenia. The top four sides from the 12-team international tournament will advance to the semifinals on Saturday.
Palmer-Brown, a Lee's Summit, Mo. resident who is currently attending the U.S. Soccer Residency Program, is one of 19 players on the trip under head coach Tony Lepore. Follow @ussoccer_ynt for updates.
Sporting Kansas City U16 Academy defender Erik Palmer-Brown started for the U.S. Under-15 Boys' National Team today as they opened the Tournament Delle Nazioni with a 0-0 draw against hosts Italy. One of 19 players on the trip, Palmer-Brown traveled from the U.S. Soccer Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. to Grandisca, Italy for the 12-team international tourney.
Head coach Tony Lepore's squad are competing in Group A and will next play Chile on Thursday before wrapping up the group stage against Slovenia on Friday. The semifinals are scheduled for May 4 with the championship to be decided on May 5.
Palmer-Brown is a Lee's Summit, Mo. resident and was named Player of the Game against Italy by one observer:
Italy vs USA final 0-0, 2nd half subs Wright , Olasunde, Rice. USA outchanced Italy again 3-1. POTG my opinion Pulisic and Palmer-Brown
— Nick Barbir (@nickbarbir) April 30, 2013
Sporting Kansas City U16 Academy forward Cole Stevenson has made a verbal commitment to continue his soccer career at the University of Denver for head coach Bobby Muus.
“Truthfully, I knew it was the right choice for me after my first visit,” Stevenson told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “I liked everything about it. Not only is the campus amazing but it has both a strong academy and soccer program. The coaches were honest and upfront with me and really showed interest in my future at DU.”
After going 11-6-3 in 2012, the Pioneers will join The Summit League (NCAA Division I) in 2013 and play their home games at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium which opened in August 2009 and recently hosted the U.S. Men's National Team. Notable alumni include Real Salt Lake defender Nat Borchers and the program has produced four MLS SuperDraft selections in the last five years.
Stevenson has appeared in 20 matches during the 2012-13 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season and is second on the squad with seven goals. He led the team with 13 goals in 24 games during the 2011-12 season and is part of Rockhurst High School's Class of 2014.
The Sporting Kansas City U12 and U14 Academy teams competed at the St. Louis Scott Gallagher Boys College Showcase last weekend, bringing home four wins in six matches at the official NPL showcase.
The U12's played up a year in the Boys U13 MLS Pre-Academy division, taking on teams from Oklahoma, Illinois and Kentucky. On Saturday, the Under-12 Academy team opened with a 7-1 victory over TSC Hurricane 99 Elkington NPL before falling 2-1 to GLSA Libertyville FC 1974. The team closed out the weekend with a draw against River City Rovers Youth Academy 99 NPL on Sunday.
The U14's finished atop the 10-team Boys U14 MLS Pre-Academy group with wins in all three matches. After recording a 3-0 victory over SLSG Metro - Pre Academy 98/99, the U14's picked up another three points with a 1-0 win over River City Rovers Youth Academy 98 NPL on Saturday. The tournament came to a close on a commanding note as the U14's, coached by Matt Trumpp, earned an 8-0 victory over SMSC Stampede to finish the showcase with 12 goals for and none conceded.
The Castrol Index for the U.S. Men's National Team's scoreless draw against Mexico in Fifa World Cup Qualifying was released today and Matt Besler tops the charts with a score of 1,020. The 26-year-old centerback for Sporting Kansas City tallied his second cap in the match but first in a World Cup Qualifier.
Beginners luck? The stats don’t think so. Besler also earned the No. 1 spot in the Official Performance Index of the U.S. Soccer Federation after his first appearance with the national team, playing in an international friendly against Canada in late January.
Graham Zusi ranked fourth on today's chart after his performance on Tuesday, scoring 721 points and moving his undefeated record when starting for the national team to 6-0-2.
Sporting Kansas City Academy Director of Coaching Jon Parry recently returned from Europe, where he spent a week in Clairefontaine, France before traveling to Stuttgart, Germany as part of Major League Soccer's new partnership with the French Football Federation. Announced last month, the affiliation provides MLS youth academy coaches with the opportunity to take part in an international training curriculum through a 16-month youth development course.