It was a challenging weekend for the MNUFC Academy teams, as they faced the powerhouse Chicago Fire Academy at the National Sports Center on Saturday. This week’s tripleheader produced three exciting games, and while just one ended in a Loons win, all three were fantastic learning opportunities for the young men involved.
U18
2-3 Loss
A close contest for the U18s ended in a one-goal deficit, but there was plenty to build on for the Loons. After conceding an early goal, the Black and Blue responded with a strike of their own—courtesy of Emory Ortwein—from a corner kick. A level score at the half left everything to play for in the final 45.
The Loons grabbed the lead against the run of play, cashing in on a counterattack to make it 2-1 early in the second half. Unfortunately, failure to close space on a set piece later in the match saw the Fire nab an equalizer, and slow feet in transition allowed the visitors to find the go-ahead goal before the half was over.
Between the effective press and chance creation shown by the Loons, this one could have easily ended in a draw. Issa Saidi’s excellent play up top showed a willingness to take on defenders, leading to several penetrating runs that ended in chances. Carlos Casillas-Lopez likewise put in a good shift, playing 90 minutes and demonstrating the kind of workrate and composure that coaches love to see from their midfielders. Ty Perkins rounds out the standout performers from this one, helping to set the tempo for his side in possession and connecting the field.
U16
3-0 Win
The U16s put in their best performance of this young season so far, dominating the Fire from the start and establishing a threat early. Three unanswered goals in the first half put the competition to bed early, and the Loons were good value for the scoreline.
Tim Dennis got things started quickly, creating a chance just minutes into the match. Sustained pressure from there culminated in a goal from Brody Schauf, assisted by Justin Sosnouski. Alex Holst’s brace before the halftime whistle put the Fire out, and though there were a few notable chances for both teams in the second half, the Loons’ starting group had already set a dominant tone that was only raised by the substitutes that came on.
Following the match, Head of Player Development and Pathways Amos Magee highlighted a few of the standout performers, including midfielder Max Harwood. Harwood’s ability to cover ground and distribute the ball in the middle of the park set the tempo for his team and was made even more impressive by the fact that he was facing a US Youth National Team player from the Fire. Will Maynes earned a shoutout as well for his outstanding performance in his first start for the club in the middle of the back line, remaining composed and physical throughout the match. Finally, goal scorer Alex Holst earned plaudits for his effectiveness in the team’s press, making the most of his energy and athleticism.
U15
1-3 Loss
The final match of the day saw the U15 side fall short after a weather delay. Chicago came out fast, scoring first after some miscues from the Loons left an opening. A quick bounceback saw the home team grow into the match, gaining confidence and shaking off the impact of the concession. An equalizer from Julian Vasquez just before half echoed the events of the U18 match, as did the eventual result.
Following some adjustments meant to help the team win the ball higher up the field, the boys were back at it. The Fire went ahead about midway through the half, and though they had a few chances to equalize, the Loons couldn’t level the score before a late free kick made it 1-3 and effectively put the match to bed. It was a closer game than the final score might suggest.
Head Coach Amin Qasim was happy with his team on the day, highlighting Donatien Nzambimana, Mario Vera-Martinez, and Nosazena Osagie as the standouts of the match. Nzambimana and Osagie were both active in chance creation, while Vera-Martinez’s substitute appearance saw him inject some energy and threat into the attacking third.
The Loons won’t be back at the NSC for a little while now, with nearly a month’s worth of away matches waiting for them. First up, they’ll be heading to St. Louis for a doubleheader against St. Louis CITY SC and Lou Fusz Athletic this weekend. This will be the first double-game weekend of the year for the boys, presenting another learning opportunity in this still young 2024-25 MLS NEXT season.
