Alvarez Hat Trick Lifts Atlanta Fire U-18s to 8-1 Victory Over Birmingham United in Opening Weekend of U.S. Soccer Development Academy Inaugural Season

BIRMINGHAM, Ala (Sept. 29, 2007) - The Atlanta Fire continued to establish U.S. Soccer Development Academy records on the opening day of the Academy's inaugural season. Rury Alvarez helped his club's Under-18 side to an 8-1 victory over Birmingham United, netting the first hat trick in Development Academy history, and wrapping up the scoring in the 86th minute in Atlanta Fire's rout of the hosts.

The match concluded the first weekend of play, and imiediately followed a 1-0 victory at the Under-16 level by the Atlanta Fire over Birmingham United. The inaugural season of the Development Academy will see 122 teams compete in over 1,800 matches during nine months of conference play.

Next weekend, U.S. Soccer hosts the first Academy Fall Showcase from Oct. 6-8 at the National Training Center in Carson, Calif. Thirty-six teams from 18 elite clubs will join two U.S. Youth National Teams in the three-day event, which includes teams at the U-15/16 and U-17/18 age groups. The premier match takes place the evening of Saturday, Oct. 6, when the U.S. Youth National Team takes on the Chivas USA U-18 Academy Team on the Mooch Myernick Field at The Home Depot Center. A full schedule of matches will be available later this week.


Match-up: Birmingham United U-18’s vs. Atlanta Fire U-18’s
Date: September 29, 2007
Competition: Southeast Conference
Venue: Rathmell Sports Park – Birmingham, Ala.
Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET

Scoring Summary:
            1    2    F
BIR     1    0    0
ATL    1    7    8

Scoring:
ATL - Felix Siladi, 44th minute.
BIR - Jeremiah Jones, 45.
ATL - Rury Alvarez, 48.
ATL - Matt Hoskins, 57.
ATL - Alassane Kane, 60.
ATL - Alassane Kane, 64.
ATL - Rury Alvarez, 66.
ATL - Korey Diagle, 77
ATL - Rury Alvarez, 86.

Lineups:
BIR: Jonathan Alexander, Cesar Avalos (Siddaarth Swaminathan, 65), Samuel Curro, John Eppenger, Jeremiah Jones, William Kreis, Alexander Piola, Henry Rouse, Templeton Stump, Alexander Thompson, Andrew Whitaker
Subs not used: Jonathan Box,
Head Coach: Eric Dade

ATL: Rury Alvarez, Tanner Chamblin, Korey Daigle, Nick Gaba (Reed Bennett 68), Jonathan Hazard, Matt Hoskins, Alassane Kane, Cody McKelvey, Felix Siladi (Robert Phelps 75), Richie Wimsatt, Ben Yabrow
Subs not used: Taylor Jordan,
Head Coach: Thomas Elliott

Misconduct Summary:
BIR - Cesar Avalos, 41st minute.
ATL - Cody McKelvey, 63.
ATL - Felix Siladi, 70.
BIR - John White, 77.
BIR - Jonathan Alexander, 80.

Officials:
Referee: Justin Brown
1st Asst.: High Griffis
2nd Asst.: Miguel Caballero