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CHICAGO (Sept. 24, 2008) – As the second year of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy program gets underway this month, the four Dallas clubs faced off in the first games in the history of the Development Academy to feature Texas-based teams. The local matchup will be the first of many Academy games to feature Texas clubs, as eight clubs were admitted in the 2008/09 Academy admissions class.
In the opening cross-town matchups, Solar SC (Dallas, Tex.) picked up two positive results against the Dallas Texans (Dallas, Tex.), winning 1-0 in the Under-15/16 game and drawing 0-0 in the Under-17/18 game. In the other Dallas fixture, FC Dallas (Frisco, Tex.) and Andromeda (Plano, Tex.) each earned a victory, with Under-15/16 FC Dallas picking up a 3-2 win, and Under-17/18 Andromeda winning 2-0.
“I think the players were a bit nervous before the first game but that’s good,” said Solar SC Under-17/18 head coach Kevin Smith. “We’ve raised the expectations for everybody here. It was a high-paced game and the substitution rules are a bit of an adjustment. Our players will get used to this level, though, and that will help them greatly in the long run.”
Similar to the learning process experienced by last year’s Academy clubs, the coaches and players from the Dallas area clubs are adjusting to the international rules of the Academy, the renewed focus on meaningful training and a healthy diet of competitive games.
“From both the players’ and coaches’ standpoints there are some major adjustments in our first year,” said Hassan Nazari, head coach of the Dallas Texans Under-17/18 team. “They’re all good adjustments though, and we’ve very pleased with the results so far.”
The coaches have seen changes in the way their players approach the games. With more training sessions and fewer games, teams can now prepare for each game individually, knowing that it will be against a strong opponent. Nazari has seen his players develop more of an appreciation for practice during the week, but also more energy surrounding game days.
“There are more thoughts about the games,” said Nazari, who has noticed a change in his team’s mental approach. “Going into a tournament against teams that you know, a lot of times we would know that we should win certain games. In Academy games, every team is very good. We pay a lot of attention to our preparation and as a result they developed the way they approach the game.”
Joining the four Dallas clubs in the 2008/09 Academy admissions class are Texas SC (Spring, Tex.), Texas Rush AHFC (Houston, Tex.), Classics Elite (San Antonio, Tex.) and Lonestar (Austin, Tex.).
Under-15/16 Results:
Saturday, Sept. 20
Nomads 1 – 3 U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team
Birmingham 1 – 0 United vs. IMG Soccer Academy
Andromeda 2 – 3 FC Dallas
Atlanta Fire United 1 – 3 Clearwater Chargers
Richmond Kickers 0 – 0 Concorde Fire
Miami FC Kendall 2 – 2 Virginia Rush
Schulz Academy 2 – 0 Bridge FA
Mustangs SC 2 – 1 Santa Cruz County Breakers
Sunday, Sept. 21
Richmond Strikers 2 – 1 Concorde Fire
Schulz Academy 4 – 0 Virginia Rush
Atlanta Fire United 2 – 3 IMG Soccer Academy
Birmingham United 3 – 1 Clearwater Chargers
Miami FC Kendall 2 – 3 Bridge FA
Solar FC 1 – 0 Dallas Texans
Under-17/18 Results:
Saturday, Sept. 20
Nomads SC 3 – 5 U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team
Birmingham United 1 – 2 IMG Soccer Academy
Andromeda 2 – 0 FC Dallas
Atlanta Fire United 3 – 2 Clearwater Chargers
Richmond Kickers 1 – 0 Concorde Fire
Miami FC Kendall 1 – 2 Virginia Rush
Schulz Academy 4 – 3 Bridge FA
Mustangs SC 1 – 1 Santa Cruz County Breakers
Sunday, Sept. 21
Richmond Strikers 2 – 3 Concorde Fire
Schulz Academy 3 – 3 Virginia Rush
Atlanta Fire United 0 – 2 IMG Soccer Academy
Birmingham United 0 – 3 Clearwater Chargers
Miami FC Kendall 3 – 2 Bridge FA
Solar FC 0 – 0 Dallas Texans
Under–15/16 Upcoming Matches:
Saturday, Sept. 27
Kickoff Match-up Venue
12 p.m. ET AFC Lightning vs. Clearwater Chargers McCurry Park
1 p.m. ET Richmond Kickers vs. Atlanta Fire Sports Backers Stadium
1:30 p.m. PT Nomads vs. LA Galaxy Kinsell Field
5 p.m. ET Richmond Strikers vs. Birmingham United Striker Park
5 p.m. PT Santa Cruz Breakers vs. De Anza Cabrillo College
6 p.m. PT Mustang vs. Washington Premier Mustang Soccer Complex
Sunday, Sept. 28
Kickoff Match-up Venue
9 a.m. ET Richmond Kickers vs. Birmingham United Sports Backers Stadium
10 a.m. ET Concorde Fire vs. Clearwater Chargers Georgia Soccer Park
10 a.m. ET Richmond Strikers vs. Atlanta Fire United Striker Park
10 a.m. PT Chivas USA vs. San Diego Surf Cerritos College
1 p.m. PT Santa Cruz Breakers vs. Washington Premier Cabrillo College
Tuesday, Sept. 30
Kickoff Match-up Venue
6 p.m. CT Dallas Texans vs. Andromeda University of Texas at Dallas
Under–17/18 Upcoming Matches:
Saturday, Sept. 27
Kickoff Match-up Venue
2 p.m. ET AFC Lightning vs. Clearwater Chargers McCurry Park
3 p.m. ET Richmond Kickers vs. Atlanta Fire Sports Backers Stadium
3 p.m. PT Nomads vs. LA Galaxy Kinsell Field
7 p.m. ET Richmond Strikers vs. Birmingham United Striker Park
7 p.m. PT Santa Cruz Breakers vs. De Anza Cabrillo College
8 p.m. PT Mustang vs. Washington Premier Mustang Soccer Complex
Sunday, Sept. 28
Kickoff Match-up Venue
11 a.m. ET Richmond Kickers vs. Birmingham United Sports Backers Stadium
12 p.m. ET Concorde Fire vs. Clearwater Chargers Georgia Soccer Park
12 p.m. ET Richmond Strikers vs. Atlanta Fire United Striker Park
12 p.m. PT Chivas USA vs. San Diego Surf Cerritos College
3 p.m. PT Santa Cruz Breakers vs. Washington Premier Cabrillo College
Tuesday, Sept. 30
Kickoff Match-up Venue
8 p.m. CT Dallas Texans vs. Andromeda University of Texas at Dallas
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