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CHICAGO (Sept. 17, 2008) – Nomads SC (La Jolla, Calif.) head into their second year as part of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy with a renewed spirit from their ambitious preseason schedule. Both the U-15/16 and U-17/18 teams conducted a two week preseason camp, with most of their preparation taking place in La Jolla, but rounding out with four days at the U.S. Olympic Committee’s ARCO Training Center in Chula Vista.
The team took full advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities, which acts as a home to many of the athletes featured in last summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing. The Nomad’s team spent four days taking in lectures, watching film and training twice per day at the $65 million center that includes four soccer fields, training rooms, dorms and dining facilities.
“It was the proper environment for setting our season off on a serious note,” said Nomads Director of Coaching Derek Armstrong. “We wanted to show our team how serious we were about the Development Academy. The first lecture when we arrived at ARCO set the pattern for the weekend and the season and the level of commitment we want from the players, coaching staff and everyone involved.”
The Nomads will finish their preparations by facing the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team on Saturday, September 20 at Kinsell Field. The matchups are the second stop on the National Team’s Academy Exhibition Tour that pits them against top Academy clubs from across the country over the next eight months. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. PT for the U-15/16s and 2:30 p.m. PT for the U-17/18s.
As the team prepares to take on the U-17 MNT, the Nomads preparation has been geared more toward the nine-month season than the exhibition game, but Armstrong believes that Saturday’s matches will be a good test for his squads.
“We know the National Team will have quality players who are going to make things difficult,” he said. “We’re looking forward to the opportunity. We’ve organized ourselves for the bigger pictures of the season, but we’re looking forward to the opportunity. The ultimate challenge to start our season is to play our National Team.”
Armstrong feels that even though the results weren’t always seen on the scoreboard throughout the Nomads first Academy season in 2007-08, the team played well on the field and improved in many ways. The club has implemented a new level of commitment in response to the high standards set by U.S. Soccer’s efforts in the new Academy program.
“The biggest thing is that the Development Academy is challenging everybody,” said Armstrong. “The standard U.S. Soccer has set with the Showcases, it’s challenging everybody to upgrade including administrators, directors, coaches, assistant coaches, players and groundskeepers. I see a great enthusiasm to build clubs to be the best. I think that’s what’s caught fire a bit; it has for us anyway. We know we need to step it up.
Last Weekend’s Results:
U-15/16
Bridge FA 2 – 1 Richmond Strikers
Miami FC Kendall 2 – 0 AFC Lightning
Virginia Rush 1 – 1 Richmond Kickers
U.S. Under-17 MNT 2 – 0 Chivas USA
Schulz Academy 4 – 0 AFC Lightning
U-17/18
Bridge FA 3 – 4 Richmond Strikers
Miami FC Kendall 2 – 2 AFC Lightning
Virginia Rush 0 – 1 Richmond Kickers
U.S. Under-17 MNT 3 – 3 Chivas USA
Schulz Academy 2 – 1 AFC Lightning
Upcoming Matches:
Under–15/16
Saturday, Sept. 20
Kickoff Match-up Venue
12 p.m. PT Nomads SC vs. U.S. Youth National Team Kinsell Field
1 p.m. ET Birmingham United vs. IMG Soccer Academy Sports Blast Soccer Complex
1:30 p.m. CT Andromeda vs. FC Dallas Andromeda Training Facility
2 p.m. ET Atlanta Fire United vs. Clearwater Chargers Scott Hudgens Park
2 p.m. ET Richmond Kickers vs. Concorde Fire Sports Backers Stadium
4 p.m. ET Miami FC Kendall vs. Virginia Rush Tropical Park
4 p.m. ET Schulz Academy vs. Bridge FA Central Broward Regional Park
6 p.m. PT Mustangs SC vs. Santa Cruz County Breakers Mustang Soccer Complex
Sunday, Sept. 21
Kickoff Match-up Venue
9 a.m. ET Richmond Strikers vs. Concorde Fire Striker Park
10 a.m. ET Schulz Academy vs. Virginia Rush Central Broward Regional Park
10 a.m. ET Atlanta Fire United vs. IMG Soccer Academy Scott Hudgens Park
10 a.m. ET Birmingham United vs. Clearwater Chargers Sports Blast Soccer Complex
10 a.m. ET Miami FC Kendall vs. Bridge FA Tropical Park
2 p.m. CT Solar FC vs. Dallas Texans University of Texas at Dallas
Under–17/18
Saturday, Sept. 20
Kickoff Match-up Venue
2:30 p.m. ET Nomads SC vs. U.S. Youth National Team Kinsell Field
3 p.m. ET Birmingham United vs. IMG Soccer Academy Sports Blast Soccer Complex
3:30 p.m. CT Andromeda vs. FC Dallas Andromeda Training Facility
4 p.m. ET Atlanta Fire United vs. Clearwater Chargers Scott Hudgens Park
4 p.m. ET Richmond Kickers vs. Concorde Fire Sports Backers Stadium
6 p.m. ET Miami FC Kendall vs. Virginia Rush Tropical Park
6 p.m. ET Schulz Academy vs. Bridge FA Central Broward Regional Park
8 p.m. PT Mustangs SC vs. Santa Cruz County Breakers Mustang Soccer Complex
Sunday, Sept. 21
Kickoff Match-up Venue
11 a.m. ET Richmond Strikers vs. Concorde Fire Striker Park
12 p.m. ET Schulz Academy vs. Virginia Rush Central Broward Regional Park
12 p.m. ET Atlanta Fire United vs. IMG Soccer Academy Scott Hudgens Park
12 p.m. ET Birmingham United vs. Clearwater Chargers Sports Blast Soccer Complex
12 p.m. ET Miami FC Kendall vs. Bridge FA Tropical Park
4 p.m. CT Solar FC vs. Dallas Texans University of Texas at Dallas
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