The Sporting Kansas City Academy U16 and U18's continued their recent runs in the 2014-15 U.S. Soccer Development Academy with a pair of 4-1 victories over the Colorado Rush on Saturday at Swope Soccer Village.
The under-18 squad (9-7-3, 6th place) kicked off the doubleheader in successful fashion, with the win moving the team into playoff position via the wildcard pool with eight games remaining.
Dakota Karns opened the scoring in the 12th minute and Daniel Salloi recorded the game-winning goal four minutes later, giving the Hungarian youth national team forward 11 goals on the season -- third most in the Central Conference. Second-half goals from Logan Lucas (55') and Dominick Parry (77') sealed the victory as the U18's remain unbeaten over a seven-game stretch.
The U16's matched the opening game result with a 4-1 triumph of their own. Paul Whitener (pictured above) struck in the 10th minute before Andrew McLeod doubled the lead six minutes later. With time winding down, Felipe Hernandez (71') and Jared Crist (80') put the game out of reach against a Colorado Rush side which sits fourth in the standings.
After opening the season without a win in their first nine games (0-6-3), the Sporting KC Academy under-16's are now undefeated in their past nine matches (4-0-5) since the start of 2015. The turnaround has pushed the team into eighth place entering the final two months of the campaign.
Up next? Perennial powers FC Dallas. The U16 and U18 MLS Academy rivals will meet on Saturday, April 11 on the University of Tulsa campus. The FC Dallas U16's lead the Central Conference and boast a 14-1-2 record while the U18's sit in second place with a 10-4-3 mark.
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