It was a busy weekend for the Sporting Kansas City Academy program with the U16's and U18's out West for two matches apiece in Colorado while the U12's and U14's held down the fort at home.
The U18's kicked off the weekend with a 3-1 victory over Colorado Rush. The Rush scored the first goal of the match to earn the early advantage in the 21st minute. Isai Gutierrez notched the equalizer one minute after the halftime intermission. But it was defender Paul Dean who stepped up to convert the game-winner in the 80th minute. Gutierrez added an insurance goal in stoppage time.
Sporting KC Academy U16's also defeated the Colorado Rush by a 2-1 scoreline on Saturday. Joey Piatczyc and Nic Jaimes scored for Sporting KC, giving the Academy a 2-0 advantage at the 75-minute mark. Colorado's Tristen Heath cut the deficit in half with 20 minutes left to play but Colorado failed to get the equalizer before the final whistle and the score remained 2-1 in favor of Sporting KC.
On Sunday, the Sporting KC U18’s had the first match of the day, suffering a 5-0 defeat versus Real Colorado before the U16’s Mason Leonard added the tying goal in the 70th minute of a 1-1 draw also against Real Colorado.
The U12’s beat KC United Santa Fe in Heartland League play 4-2 on Thursday. The Academy team earned the early lead before allowing two goals from KU United Santa Fe in the second half. On Saturday, the U12’s beat River City Rovers 5-1 in a National Premier League match.
The U14’s also earned back-to-back wins defeating the River City Rovers 2-0 in NPL play with goals from Josh High and Memo Carrasco. On Sunday, the U14’s beat the KC Blaze Heat 4-0 in Heartland League play.
That wraps up Academy news from the weekend with Sporting KC Academy programs combining for a 6-1-1 record.
