All three Academy teams were back at the National Sports Center this past weekend, taking on two clubs from the Mitten State. On Saturday, October 7, all three squads took on the Michigan Wolves, with Michigan Vardar coming to town the very next day. 

MNUFC came out of the weekend with four wins out of a possible six. The U15s and U17s both split their fixtures, while the U19s found a way to put together back-to-back wins behind the exceptional efforts of Kage Romanshyn, Justin Arias, Julian Banks, and Max Uribe. VP of Youth Development Amos Magee was happy with the program as a whole, noting the importance of several players getting the chance to make their MNUFC Academy debuts. 

“It was an important weekend where we were able to reward some players that have worked extremely hard over the last two months with match opportunities,” Magee said. “We learned a lot about our groups this weekend, which was really important as we continue to build our academy. The spirit of the group continues to be excellent, and we’re looking forward to three really tricky games against the Michigan Jaguars this weekend.”

For the U15 squad, Moises Huerta, Max Harwood, and Keane Perkins put in fantastic shifts, contributing more than their fair share to their team’s efforts against their Midwestern rivals. For Justin Ferguson’s U17 squad, Donovan Sinicropi, Ethan Mueller, and Emin Lilic were the standout performers from a solid two-game slate. 

The MLS NEXT season continues this weekend with another home showdown with Michigan’s finest. All three age groups will be taking on the Michigan Jaguars on Saturday, October 14, on Field 49 at the National Sports Center. Kickoffs are scheduled for 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 1:00 p.m., starting with the U19s and ending with the U15s. Then, on Sunday, the U19s will round out the weekend with a matchup with the Indy Eleven Pro Academy from the Crossroads of America. Sunday’s match will likewise begin at 9:00 a.m. on Field 49.