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The Chivas USA U-17/18 and U-15/16 Youth Academy teams did not pass to the next round of the US Soccer Development Academy playoffs held at FC Dallas Sports Park in Frisco, Texas this week. The U-16s performed better than the U-18s, having won 2 of 3 games, thus reflecting their overall better regular season record in comparison to the U-18s.
The U-15/16s went 22-4-5 in regular season play while the U-17/18s went 15-11-5.
Postseason play
The U-17/18s fell in all three of their first round games in Dallas, Texas, first 2-0 to Indiana Fire Academy, 2-0 to Baltimore Bays Chelsea, and finally 1-0 to Northern California side De Anza Force.
Surprisingly, top Chivas scorers Caleb Calvert, Romario Lomelí and Sueño MLS Winner Armando Flores were shut out in all three U-17/18 games.
The U-15/16 squad won 2 and lost 1 of their first round matches, with a 1-0 win over South Carolina Battery, a 2-0 loss to Texans SC Houston, and a 3-1 win over Oakwood Soccer Club of Glastonbury, Connecticut. Texans advanced to the next round in Houston after winning all three of their first round matches.
Adonis Amaya scored in Chivas' first match and provided an assist in the 3-1 win over Oakwood. Forward Jorge Ruiz scored twice against Oakwood and midfielder Axel Méndez scored the second goal of that match.
So ends the USSDA season for the junior Goats. The future of the Chivas USA organization is critically tied to the success of its Academy. The new directors at Chivas USA will look to emulate the grassroots player development model at Chivas de Guadalajara, so it's absolutely vital for the LA side to develop and promote players to the first team, and have them get results when there, in order for Chivas USA to have a future.
Regardless, well done to both Academy squads this year!
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