Local teams wrap up group play at Development Academy Finals

By Dillon Mullan

The top eight Development Academy teams from both the U-15/16 and U-17/18 age groups have descended upon Carson, California’s Home Depot Center this week to crown a national champion at the 2010 Development Academy Finals.

The top thirty-two teams in both age groups from all ten of the Development Academy’s divisions were split into eight groups at the Development Academy playoffs in Greensboro, North Carolina in late June, but only the group winners earned tickets to Los Angeles. Those who advanced were split into two groups of four, with the winner of each facing off for title.

A reflection of the youth soccer talent in the area, three of the sixteen teams participating are from either Baltimore or Washington, DC.

U-15/16 DC United Academy
Since the inception of the United States Soccer Development Academy program in 2007, the DC United Academy has produced more National Team call-ups and players in Division I programs than any other academy in the country. This is one of the reasons that this year’s U-15/16 side should have felt confident about their chances ahead of 2010 finals week. Fresh off of an undefeated 2-0-1 record in the playoff group stage, the Black and Red opened their Finals campaign with a 0-0 draw with De Anza Force before being eliminated by Chicago Fire 2-0 in their second contest. United wrapped up their Finals week on Wednesday with a 0-1 loss to Sockers F.C.

U-15/16 Baltimore Bays Chelsea
The Bays went 3-0-0 in Greensboro to earn the top seed in the Finals, but unfortunately were unable to carry that momentum to Los Angeles as they drew their first two fixtures 0-0 to the Internationals and the CASL Chelsea FC Academy. On Wednesday Baltimore faced off with Group 2 winners Cal Odyssey, defeating them 2-0 on goals by Malcolm Harris and Michael Gamble. The Bays finished second in their group and will play in the third place match.

U-17-18 Baltimore Bays Chelsea
The older of the two Baltimore Bays Chelsea sides opened up their Finals week strongly by handling Concorde Fire 4-1. However, the Bays were unable to come back from an early two-goal deficit in their second match with Real So Cal and they fell 2-1. With a Finals spot on the line in their final match, Baltimore fell to Vardar 3-0 at The Home Depot Center, leaving them in third place. They will face FC Dallas in the 5th place match tomorrow.