The Sporting Kansas City Academy U-16s and U-18s have learned their group stage opponents for the 2016 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs, set for June 22-26 at Toyota Park in Frisco, Texas.
For the first time in Sporting KC Academy history, the U-16s and U-18s have both qualified for the USSDA Playoffs in the same year. The tournament’s official draw on Wednesday split 32 teams at each age level into eight groups of four. All group stage winners will then advance to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Championships from July 14-16 at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, California.
The U-16s, who clinched a playoff berth as a top-three finisher in the Central Conference’s Frontier Division, were drawn into Group G alongside Georgia United and fellow MLS sides LA Galaxy and New England Revolution. Forward Max Rugova led Sporting KC with 11 goals during the regular season, while midfielder Grayson Barber added nine of his own. Both players have trained with the Swope Park Rangers this spring.
Group G is highlighted by the LA Galaxy, who led the U-16 age group nationwide with 101 goals during the regular season.
U-16 USSDA PLAYOFFS: GROUP G
<strong>Team</strong> |
<strong>2015-16 USSDA record</strong> |
<strong>GF / GA</strong> |
Sporting Kansas City |
12-9-5 (1.58 ppg) |
64 / 51 |
LA Galaxy |
24-9-3 (2.08 ppg) |
101 / 48 |
New England Revolution |
13-5-8 (1.81 ppg) |
42 / 26 |
Georgia United |
18-12-3 (1.73 ppg) |
60 / 43 |
The U-18s punched their playoff ticket as a wild card team after finishing fourth in the Frontier Division. Joining them in Group H are the San Jose Earthquakes, Capital Area Railhawks (North Carolina) and Blau Weiss Gottschee (New York). Goalkeeper Steve Tekesky, defender Ezra Armstrong and midfielder Will Little signed Academy contracts with the Swope Park Rangers in March and have played prominent roles in leading the U-18s to a 14-8-4 regular season mark.
Group H includes the highest-scoring team and the best defensive team in the U-18 age group. The Capital Area Railhawks exploded for 109 goals in 33 matches, while Blau Weiss Gottschee conceded just 12 goals in 26 contests en route to a national best 2.81 points per game.
U-18 USSDA PLAYOFFS: GROUP H
<strong>Team</strong> |
<strong>2015-16 USSDA record</strong> |
<strong>GF / GA</strong> |
Sporting Kansas City |
14-8-4 (1.77 ppg) |
47 / 33 |
San Jose Earthquakes |
16-11-5 (1.66 ppg) |
50 / 37 |
Capital Area Railhawks |
23-7-3 (2.18 ppg) |
109 / 53 |
BW Gottschee |
24-1-1 (2.81 ppg) |
62/12 |
Two other Sporting KC Academy squads will also be competing for national honors at the end of June. The U-15s and U-13s — playing in the U-14 age group — both won the Kansas State Cup this past week to qualify for the 2016 U.S. Youth SocceR Region II Championships, running from June 24-29 at Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield, Indiana.
Follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter and Instagram for the latest updates as all four Sporting KC academy squads take the field in national competitions later this month.
