The dome is up, and the Academy is back in town. This weekend, the Loons took on Vardar SC and SC Wave at all three levels, outscoring their opponents by a combined 29-4 across all six games. The players demonstrated just how far they’ve come this season alone, and that demonstration went beyond the scoreline. It was a weekend full of good soccer from the lads and a fantastic way to defend their home turf.
U18
MNUFC 1 - 1 Vardar SC
MNUFC 4 - 2 SC Wave
In Saturday’s matchup against Vardar SC, a club out of Southeastern Michigan, the U18s found the net early. By dominating possession, they were able to dictate the rhythm for the bulk of the match. Unfortunately, that dominance didn’t result in another goal, leaving a thin one-goal margin deep into the second half. A late PK gave Vardar the chance to equalize, and the points were split.
The next day, SC Wave—a club out of Wisconsin—made their way to the dome. Sunday’s match started much differently, with an early concession forcing the Loons to fight their way back. Head Coach Alex Morawiecki’s men showed their resilience, though, firing home three first-half strikes in response. An aggressive attacking push and efficient defending enabled the home side to assert themselves effectively, and it carried into the second half. A fourth goal within the first quarter of an hour saw the Loons all but seal the result, though they conceded a late consolation goal before the final whistle.
A number of players stepped up this weekend, including goal scorers Gio Cruz, Issa Saidi, and Irvin Hernandez (2). Cruz’s defensive leadership was key to his team’s point on Saturday, not to mention his goal. Saidi put in a very impressive shift in the second game, demonstrating fantastic movement and a willingness to press that spurred his team forward. Hernandez showed composure in a performance that saw him improve in his ability to take on physically larger opponents, leading to an important brace.
Other standouts from the weekend include Carlos Casillas-Lopez and Bryan Lopez, both of whom provided a secure presence on the ball throughout admirable shifts. Will Smith likewise elevated his team with an impressive workrate, bringing an energy up top that helped his teammates get involved.
U16
MNUFC 5 - 0 Vardar SC
MNUFC 2 - 1 SC Wave
The U16s continued their good form this weekend, starting with a 5-0 clean sheet victory against Vardar SC. An assertive performance saw the Loons on top from start to finish, as a consistent hunger for more allowed Jamie Carroll-Rolfe’s team to play on the front foot.
A much closer contest on Sunday saw the U16s fight for a one-goal win. Despite tired legs, some good game management from the Loons made up for what the boys were lacking physically. While the intensity never reached the levels of the previous day’s big win, the home side earned the victory by different means, showing maturity in what was a professional performance.
Loons goal-scorers Tim Dennis, Alex Holst (2), Arvin Tabukum, Jadan Bernard, and Darlington Dickson all put in good shifts, with Holst and Tabukum earning special shoutouts from Carroll-Rolfe for their work rate and attacking ability. Brett Isaacson impressed in his first start for the U16s, putting in a confident and composed performance with progressive passing and excellent defending. Sully Maynes likewise showed his skill in the midfield, managing space well against a very direct opponent on Sunday.
U15
MNUFC 11 - 0 Vardar SC
MNUFC 5 - 0 SC Wave
Head Coach Amin Qasim’s U15s had another bumper weekend, outscoring their opponents by a combined 16-0. They were on the front foot from the very beginning against Vardar SC on Saturday, winning the ball and turning it into effective counterattacks. A 7-0 scoreline at the half proved to be only the beginning, as four more goals in the second half saw players rotating onto the field to raise the level and acquit themselves well.
In their second consecutive home game, the U15s earned another shutout win. The Loons rode the good vibes from the prior day to another fast start, scoring early from a corner and applying pressure straight away. A three-goal second half put the game away, with fantastic contributions from the bench helping to secure all three points.
Well, I listed the rest of the goal scorers; I guess I need to keep that going. The U15s are really making me earn my money here! Stop scoring so much, guys. Here’s the full list:
- Alexander Densley (2)
- Julian Vasquez (2)
- Donatien Nzambimana (3)
- Sam Roseblade (3)
- Nosa Osagie (2)
- Collin Barnes (2)
- Aydin Begic
- Hector Cruz
In such a successful weekend, it’s hard to pinpoint specific individuals for their performances. An all around monumental effort from the boys set up opportunities for players to get time with the U16s in the coming weeks, making room for some of the younger players to step up and fill in behind them.
The Academy will be back at the NSC Dome next weekend for their final leagames of 2024, taking on St. Louis CITY SC on Saturday, November 23. Then, the MLS NEXT Fest tournament in Indio, California will close out the year and introduce the winter break, before the young Loons return to the field for the final stretch of the 2024-25 season.
