Across the Academy - March 31, 2011

Across the Academy is a weekly summary of news related to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, highlighting Academy clubs, current and former players, youth national team activity and media coverage of the Academy. Across the Academy will be available for the duration of the 2010-11 season.

ACROSS THE ACADEMY
A Weekly Summary of Development Academy News – March 31, 2011

WHAT’S AHEAD:
U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team Aims for Quarterfinals: The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team defeated Suriname 4-0 in the team’s first game of the 2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. Former Dallas Texans forward Conor Doyle scored the third goal and Crossfire Premier midfielder Kelyn Rowe scored the fourth goal in the win. The U.S. U-20 MNT, led by 10 players who previously spent time with Academy clubs, faces Panama at 6 p.m. ET, on April 2 in the second group match. If the U.S. wins or ties against Panama, the team will advance to the quarterfinals. The quarterfinal winners will advance to the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

All Four Conferences in Action for First Time since Winter Showcase: The Development Academy will have a busy weekend with 96 games scheduled. All four conferences will be in play for the first time since the 2010 Winter Showcase in December.

LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS: 
South Conference:

• North Carolina opponents, NC Fusion and Charlotte Soccer Academy, faced off this past weekend in divisional play. The NC Fusion teams walked away with a tie at the U-15/16 age groups and a win for the U-17/18s. 

Central Conference:

• The Detroit Derby: The U-15/16 Vardar team won 1-0 and tied at the U-17/18 age group against Derby County Wolves. 
• St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri traveled to Chicago and Milwaukee for the first trip of the spring. The club went 3-0-1 against Sockers FC and FC Milwaukee.

East Conference:

• The U-17/18 Oakwood Soccer Club climbed three places in the Northeast Division after a 4-1 win against Match Fit Chelsea on Saturday and a 3-1 victory against NJSA 04 on Sunday.

West Conference:

• Pateadores went undefeated in both age groups during the weekend.. The U-15/16 team earned a 5-1 win against the LA Galaxy and a 4-1 win against Chivas USA. The U-17/18 team defeated the LA Galaxy 2-0 and posted a 3-3 draw against Chivas USA.
• Maikon Orellana posted a hat trick for the U-17/18 Real Salt Lake squad in the 4-0 win against Nomads SC.

PEAK PERFORMERS:
U-15/16 Performer of the Week: Joseph Julius – Forward, PA Classics
Julius started both games for PA Classics and scored a total of four goals to guide the team to a 1-0-1 record against the New York Red Bulls and Players Development Academy. Julius grabbed a hat trick against the Red Bulls in their 4-1 victory, and scored the game-tying goal in a 2-2 draw against PDA.

U-17/18 Performer of the Week: Chris Somerville – Forward, Baltimore Bays Chelsea
Somerville scored four goals in Baltimore Bays Chelsea’s two matches this past weekend. Somerville’s hat trick led the way for Baltimore’s 4-0 win against Empire United and he scored the lone goal in the 1-0 win against Seacoast United. He has started in 10 of Baltimore Bays Chelsea’s 11 games this season, scoring eight goals.

Referee of the Week: Neil Barbulescu
Barbulescu is a 23-year-old Grade 6 referee from New Jersey. After traveling to Pennsylvania to officiate the U-17/18 match between PA Classics and Players Development Academy, Barbulescu earned Referee of the Week honors due to his high marks and positive evaluations. A relative newcomer to the Development Academy fold, he works PDL and W-League matches.

ACADEMY ALUMNI NEWS AND NOTES:
Luna and Leyva Score for FC Dallas Reserves: Former FC Dallas Juniors Ruben Luna and Bryan Leyva scored in FC Dallas’ reserve-league season opener against Real Salt Lake. Also in Reserve League action, Bill Hamid minded the net for D.C. United, who earned a 4-1 win against the New England Revolution.

Dillon Powers Takes on a New Role: Dillon Powers, the 2008-09 Development Academy Player of the Year and Andromeda alum, was one of the youngest members of the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team during the FIFA 2009 U-20 World Cup. Two years later Powers joins the team again, this time as a leader bringing his experience and skill to Thomas Rongen’s talented squad that’s working towards securing a spot in the FIFA 2011 U-20 World Cup.

Agudelo Scores for U.S. Men’s National Team against Argentina: Former New York Red Bulls Academy striker Juan Agudelo scored the game-tying goal in the U.S. Men’s National Team’s 1-1 draw against Argentina on Saturday, March 26, at New Meadowlands Stadium. The 18-year-old forward’s second-half strike from close range and goalkeeper Tim Howard’s Budweiser Man of the Match performance secured the result for the United States, whose record against Argentina now stands at 2-6-2.

ACADEMY IN THE NEWS:

• U-20 Conversation with Conor Doyle – concacaf.com 
• Get to know U.S. U-20 MNT player and Development Academy alum Dillon Powers – ussoccer.com 
• Forward Juan Agudelo Nets Second Career Goal in 59th Minute – ussoccer.com 
• Los Angeles Galaxy U-15/16 Development Academy team striving to be the best – goal.com 
• Madrid: A Learning Experience for FC Dallas – FCDallas.com 
• More on Development Academy alum playing for U.S. U-20 MNT – lasoccernews.com 
• San Jose Earthquakes Development Academy is making strides – sjearthquakes.com 
• New England Revolution call up five players for reserve game – revolutionsoccer.net 
• New York Red Bulls Academy update – newyorkredbulls.com 
• FC Dallas Reserves Defeat RSL 2-0 – fcdallas.com