FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution Academy’s Under-18, Under-16 and Under-14 teams all began their 2015-16 seasons in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy on Saturday afternoon at Gillette Stadium. The U-18s kicked off the day with a 3-1 win over Connecticut rival Oakwood SC, with six players in the lineup that were part of the Under-16s team that reached the Playoff Quarterfinals last season. The U-16s also faced Oakwood and earned a 1-0 victory, before the U-14s suffered a 6-1 defeat at the hands of new MLS Academy team New York City FC.
UNDER-18s
The Under-18s began the day with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Oakwood SC. The visitors took a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute through Noah Lussier but the Revs were able to equalize in first-half stoppage time. Tyler Freitas (North Attleborough, Mass.) dribbled to the endline on the right and swung a deep cross into the area that the Oakwood goalkeeper misjudged, and Aaron James (Amherst, Mass.) was on hand to knock the ball in at the far post, sending the two sides into the halftime break tied at 1-1.
The Revolution took the lead in the 60th minute when Izaiah Jennings (Barrington, R.I.) was played through by substitute Andrew Barrowman (Marshfield, Mass.). Despite his first effort coming back off the crossbar, Jennings looped a header over the ‘keeper and into the back of the net at the second time of asking to make the score 2-1.
The Revs brought on recent U.S. Under-18 National Team trio Calvin Aroh (Glastonbury, Conn.), Daniel Jones (West Hartford, Conn.) and Justin Rennicks (South Hamilton, Mass.) in the 65th minute, and it was Rennicks who set up the final goal of the game. The forward dribbled through the Oakwood defense on the left and cut a low ball back to the waiting Bryant Nardizzi (Framingham, Mass.), who coolly finished into the bottom corner to make the final score 3-1.
New England Revolution U-18s vs. Oakwood SC U-18s
Saturday, September 5, 2015 – Gillette Stadium Practice Field (Foxborough, Mass.)
New England Revolution 3, Oakwood SC 1
Scoring Summary:
OSC – Noah Lussier 38’
NE – Aaron James 1 (Tyler Freitas 1) 47+
NE – Izaiah Jennings 1 (Andrew Barrowman 1) 60’
NE – Bryant Nardizzi 1 (Justin Rennicks 1) 90’
New England Revolution: Bill Sinibaldi; Tyler Freitas (Daniel Jones 65’), Nick Woodruff, Ben Waithe (Calvin Aroh 65’), Aaron James; Max Diamond, Joe Brito (Andrew Barrowman 53’), John Wilkins, Isaac Angking (Justin Rennicks 65’); Bryant Nardizzi, Izaiah Jennings (Santi Cardona 86’).
Substitutes Not Used: Trey Miller.
Misconduct Summary:
NE – Bryant Nardizzi (Yellow Card) 27’
OSC - #5 (Yellow Card) 52’
UNDER-16s
The Under-16s opened up their season with a 1-0 win over Oakwood SC behind a late goal from Gabriel Meireles (Everett, Mass.). Despite controlling most of the play throughout the game, the Revs struggled to break down a stubborn Oakwood defense, with the Revolution taking eight shots on the day and scoring with their final chance of the afternoon.
The Revolution U-16s finally broke the deadlock in the 76th minute, with Meireles scoring on his Revolution Academy debut. After intricate interplay between Gustavo Cassemiro (Framingham, Mass.) and Andrew White (Boxborough, Mass.) at the top of the box, the latter slipped the ball through to Meireles just inside the area, and the forward finished past the Oakwood goalkeeper and into the bottom corner to give the Revs a 1-0 victory. Revolution goalkeeper Eddie Walsh (Westwood, Mass.) was tested at the other end, making four saves to ensure his side kept a clean sheet.
New England Revolution U-16s vs. Oakwood SC U-16s
Saturday, September 5, 2015 – Gillette Stadium Practice Field (Foxborough, Mass.)
New England Revolution 1, Oakwood SC 0
Scoring Summary:
NE – Gabriel Meireles 1 (Andrew White 1) 76’
New England Revolution: Eddie Walsh; Andrew White, Prince Loney-Bailey, Jose Mendoza, Chris Ciullo; Alex Shterenberg © (Elio Firmino 63’), Paulo Da Silva (Ohad Yahalom 53’), Kevin Vang; Gustavo Cassemiro, Gabriel Meireles, Laz Dorogi (Jonathan Ferreira 53’).
Substitutes Not Used: Pat Quinn, Jose Gonzalez, Camden Blackburn.
Misconduct Summary:
None
UNDER-14s
The Under-14s wrapped up the day with a 6-1 defeat to New York City FC, who were playing their first-ever game in the Development Academy. NYC FC found themselves 2-0 up midway through the first half through a pair of goals from Gio Reyna, the son of former U.S. National Team captain Claudio Reyna, who is currently NYC FC’s Sporting Director. Will Citron made the score 3-0 in favor of the visitors, before Connor Bagdon (Sunderland, Mass.) pulled a goal back for the Revs in the 31st minute, cutting his side’s deficit to 3-1. Trevor Burns (Southborough, Mass.) swung over a free kick from the left into the middle of the NYC FC area, and Bagdon rose highest to head the ball into the bottom corner.
That was as close as the Revs would come to mounting a comeback, with Reyna completing his hat trick before halftime and NYC FC adding further goals through Alexsi Morel and Joe Suchecki in the second half to make the final score 6-1.
New England Revolution U-14s vs. NYC FC U-14s
Saturday, September 5, 2015 – Gillette Stadium Practice Field (Foxborough, Mass.)
New England Revolution 1, NYC FC 6
Scoring Summary:
NYC – Gio Reyna 8’
NYC – Gio Reyna (Penalty Kick) 15’
NYC – Will Citron 24’
NE – Connor Bagdon 1 (Trevor Burns 1) 31’
NYC – Gio Reyna 38’
NYC – Alexsi Morel 62’
NYC – Joe Suchecki 76’
New England Revolution: Bailey Monteiro (Connel O’Brien 41’); Pierre Spiegel, Camden Blackburn, Connor Bagdon, David Medeiros (Sergio Zacarias 41’); Kaoru Fujiwara (Kyle White 71’), Trevor Burns ©, Samuel Deossa (Caleb Williams 65’); Michael Balleani (Aydin Jay 71’), Luis Blanco, Bryce Visnick (Declan Sung 41’).
Substitutes Not Used: Luke Fagerson.
Misconduct Summary:
NYC – Gio Reyna (Yellow Card) 51’
All three Academy teams are back in action this weekend, when they travel to Long Island to take on Albertson SC on Sunday, September 13 at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Garden City, N.Y. The Under-18s will start the day at 11 a.m., followed by the Under-16s at 1:30 p.m. before the Under-14s finish up at 3:45 p.m.
