Youth Soccer
Recap: College Cup
Former D.C. United Academy player Tyler Rudy and the Georgetown University men’s soccer team ended a historic run with a 1-0 loss to Indiana in the NCAA National Championship game.
Rudy – who was in the starting XI – had the first golden opportunity of the game in the 17th minute when he sent in a laser toward goal, but Hoosier goalkeeper Luis Soffner made the save. Indiana would find the game-winner in the 63rd minute off of a rebound.
Nigerian Dreams
A gaggle of talented young Nigerian players has traveled across the Atlantic for an extended visit to the Washington, D.C. area in search of exposure to college scouts and other Stateside soccer opportunities.
Two FASA teams take aim at USL Super Y glory in Fla.
Two of the Fredericksburg Area Soccer Association’s top teams are going hunting for national hardware in Florida this weekend.
Former Academy products ready for College Cup duel
Almost exactly a year and a half ago – June 7, 2011 – sophomores Mikias Eticha (University of Maryland; Falls Church, Va.; Arlington Soccer Association) and Tyler Rudy (Georgetown University; Olney, Md.; Olney Boys and Girls Club) impressed as Academy players in a D.C. United Reserve match, a 2-2 draw against the New England Revolution. Tomorrow (Friday, December 7; 5:00 p.m. ET), they are set to square off on opposite sides of the pitch, Eticha with the storied Terrapins program and Rudy with an emerging Hoyas side.
Congratulations to the D.C. United U-16 Development Academy who will go into their winter break as the number one team in the nation. The Academy is the only division leader who boasts an undefeated record over the first 13 matches. With a 2.69 points per game average, they also lead their age-group in goals. 15 year old Gerson Umana, sits atop the individual standings with 11 goals on the season.
Recap: Academy Winter Showcase
D.C. United’s U-18 and U-16 squads returned home from Bradenton, Fla., after strong Development Academy Winter Showcase performances from an extended weekend trip, going 2-1-0 and 2-0-1, respectively.
Former Academy players will meet in College Cup Semis
Two former D.C. United Academy players, sophomore Mikias Eticha (University of Maryland; Falls Church, Va.; Arlington Soccer Association) and sophomore Tyler Rudy (Georgetown University; Olney, Md.; Olney Boys and Girls Club), and their respective universities moved past the quarterfinals of the College Cup this past Saturday. Both colleges will take each other on in the semifinals on Friday, December 7 at 5:00 p.m. ET in Hoover, Ala., and one will emerge to meet either No. 12 Creighton (17-3-3) or No. 16 Indiana (14-5-3) in the final on Sunday, December 9 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Academy teams head to Florida for Winter Showcase
This weekend, the D.C. United U-18’s and U-16’s travel south to Bradenton, Fla., to participate in the annual Development Academy Winter Showcase. With most coaches from top colleges and universities in attendance, United’s Academy players will have another opportunity to gain additional national exposure. Both squads will match up against the North Carolina Fusion, FC Dallas and Chivas USA in their respective age divisions.
Academy Update - Two former players reach quarterfinals of College Cup
Two former D.C. United Academy players, sophomore Mikias Eticha (University of Maryland; Falls Church, Va.; Arlington Soccer Association) and sophomore Tyler Rudy (Georgetown University; Olney, Md.; Olney Boys and Girls Club), and their respective universities reached the quarterfinals of the College Cup this past weekend. Freshman goalkeeper Cody Niedermeier (Arnold, Va.; Olney Boys and Girls Club) is another former Academy product who features for Maryland, but a recently reinjured wrist has kept him from seeing action.
Academy update - U-18
This past weekend, the D.C. United U-18 Development Academy team capped off the fall season with a tough loss at PDA in Zarephath, New Jersey.
In a tough-as-nails defensive battle, the U-18’s fell 1-0 to PDA, conceding the match’s only goal in the 48th minute off of a quick counter-attack from a turnover at half-field. Despite controlling the ball for much of the game, United was unable to consistently create or convert its chances.
