CHICAGO – Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16 and U-17/18 now know the teams they’ll be facing in the opening round of the 2014 US Soccer Development Academy Playoffs. Following Tuesday’s draw, the 32 teams that qualified for the group stage of the playoffs have been drawn into eight groups of four teams each.
Real Salt Lake-AZ U-15/16, the West Conference and Southwest Division winners at 21-4-2, are the number two overall seed in the playoffs after New York Red Bulls U-15/16. RSL-AZ U-15/16 were drawn into Group F with St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri, Georgia United and New Jersey Soccer Academy 04.
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri U-15/16 finished in second place in the Mid-America Division and third in the Central Conference with a record of 15-5-7. The 14th overall seed, SLSG MO are on a good run of form heading into the playoffs, finishing the season on a seven-game undefeated streak.
Georgia United U-15/16 were the fourth place finishers in the Southeast Division and 11th overall in the East Conference, good for the third wildcard with a record of 19-6-11. United’s leading goal scorer is Chris Mikus, who scored 12 goals in 32 games this season.
New Jersey Soccer Academy 04 U-15/16, the 10th wildcard team, finished in seventh in the Atlantic Division and 15th in the East Conference at 12-9-4. Joshua Goldstern netted 13 goals in 23 games played this year and leads NJSA 04’s attack.
Real Salt Lake-AZ U-17/18 finished in second place in both the West Conference and Southwest Division with a record of 18-4-5, earning the eighth overall seed in the U-17/18 Development Academy Playoffs. Seattle Sounders FC, Concorde Fire and Indiana Fire Academy will join them in Group H.
Seattle Sounders FC U-17/18 finished just behind RSL-AZ U-17/18 with a record of 17-4-6, finishing first in the Northwest Division, third in the West Conference and earning the ninth overall playoff seed. They drew 2-2 against RSL-AZ earlier this season at Grande Sports World.
Concorde Fire U-17/18’s record of 20-10-6 was good enough for the 18th overall seed in playoffs along with a third place finish in the Southeast Division and ninth place in the East Conference. Concorde’s Cameron Moseley scored 20 goals this season in 28 games, putting him in a tie for seventh overall in goals scored.
Indiana Fire Academy finished the regular season with a record of 14-8-5, placing fourth in the Mid-America Division and eighth in the Central Conference, earning them the sixth playoff wildcard spot. Indiana will have the home field advantage as the group stage of the Development Academy Playoffs is being held at their home complex, Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana.
2014 Development Academy Playoff Groups (U-15/16)
Group A: FC Dallas, Orlando City, San Jose Earthquakes, Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Soccer Academy
Group B: PA Classics, Montreal Impact FC, Seattle Sounders FC, Strikers FC
Group C: Weston FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Match Fit Academy FC, Houston Dynamo
Group D: LA Galaxy, D.C. United, Concorde Fire, Sockers FC
Group E: Kendall SC, Chicago Magic PSG, Albertson SC, Philadelphia Union
Group F: Real Salt Lake AZ, St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri, Georgia United, New Jersey Soccer Academy 04
Group G: New York Red Bulls, Crew Soccer Academy Wolves, Bethesda-Olney, Colorado Rush
Group H: Players Development Academy, Pateadores, Vardar, Crossfire Premier
2014 Development Academy Playoff Groups (U-17/18)
Group A: Capital Area RailHawks Academy – CASL, New England Revolution, Houston Dynamo, Chivas USA
Group B: LA Galaxy, Montreal Impact FC, Chicago Magic PSG, Real Colorado
Group C: Players Development Academy, Real So Cal, De Anza Force, Crew Soccer Academy
Group D: Chicago Fire, FC Dallas, Charlotte Soccer Academy, Portland Timbers
Group E: New York Red Bulls, Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Soccer Academy, D.C. United, Nomads SC
Group F: Bethesda-Olney, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Oakwood Soccer Club, Georgia United
Group G: Carolina Rapids, Colorado Rush, Solar Chelsea SC, Philadelphia Union
Group H: Real Salt Lake AZ, Seattle Sounders FC, Concorde Fire, Indiana Fire Academy
Does anyone know whether the Playoff games (all or any) will be steamed live or re-played? If so, can someone offer a site, as I am interested in the upcoming Weston FC games. Thank you.