Minnesota United’s Development Academy welcomed the members of Internationals Development Academy in Royalton, Ohio, as well as the members of Columbus Crew’s Development Academy to the National Sports Center in Blaine this past weekend.
Saturday, March 23
1:00 p.m. | U15 vs. Internationals | 2-1
The Lil Loons opened their account early in this one, getting on the board in the 17th minute with a goal by Carlos Leatherman. Internationals struck back, though, knotting the game 1-1 in the 22nd minute off a strike by Dylan DiPero. It would be Leatherman once again in the 77th minute who would put MNUFC on top for good with a goal that won it 2-1 for the home side.
1:30 p.m. | U14 vs. Columbus Crew | 3-1
In their first game of the weekend, the U14s were led by Micah Burton, who rang up a hat trick with goals in the 38th, 42nd and 71st minute. The Crew’s Owen Presthus would eventually notch a consolation goal in the 76th minute but it would prove too little, too late for the visitors.
Sunday, March 24
11:00 a.m. | U13 vs. Internationals | 10-1
In the U13s only game of the weekend, the Lil Loons started off on the wrong foot after allowing a goal by Jack Roman in the first minute. From there, things went considerably better with a hat trick from Sho Luke Haggerty, braces from Bryan Espadero and Charlie Piller, and individual goals from Yahir Reyes, Lester Arthur and Justin Arias.
1:00 p.m. | U14 vs. Internationals | 7-0
A day after handing Columbus Crew a resounding defeat, the U14s racked up goal after goal in this one. The scoring was well-distributed as well, with no player getting more than one to his name. Merrick Schaefer opened the scoring with a goal in the 12th minute and he would be followed in short order by Evan Lockheart, Dominick Vargas, Ian Shaul, Eh Mu, Solomon Straub and — with less than two minutes to go in the game — David Hernandez.
3:00 p.m. | U15 vs. Columbus Crew | 0-1
In the final game of the weekend, MNUFC squared up against the visitors from Columbus Crew. Shortly after the opening whistle, the Crew jumped out in front when Kyle Pollard scored the game’s first goal in the eighth minute. MNUFC was unable to come with an answer, falling, in the end, 1-0 to the visitors.
Next up for the U13s and U14s are games against Cincinnati United Premier on Saturday, April 13. The U15s will face Saint Louis FC on Saturday, April 13 and follow that up with a game against Cincinnati United Premier on Sunday, April 14.
For the complete Academy schedule click here.
