The Academy went down to the Windy City this past weekend to take on MLS rivals Chicago Fire, putting together mixed results across the three age groups. A rough outing for the U18s made way for a pair of closer affairs for the U16s and U15s, ending with just a single win for the Loons in league play.
U18
Chicago Fire 10 - 0 MNUFC
Big losses are just as important in development as big wins; they just aren’t as fun. Head Coach Alex Morawiecki’s U18 side fell to the Fire by a big scoreline this weekend, and while it wasn’t the note that they wanted to end their 2025 away schedule on, they’ll have a chance to correct some mistakes and finish this portion of the regular season with positive momentum after this coming weekend’s matches at the National Sports Center.
U16
Chicago Fire 1 - 2 MNUFC
The U16s earned themselves a tough win, with Head Coach Jamie Carroll-Rolfe noting the attitude and effort of his squad as the key reasons behind the three points. Though they could have put the game out of reach with a few more clinical moments in front of goal, the visiting Loons applied effective pressure through midfielders Mario Vera-Martinez and Collin Barnes, both of whom helped their side progress the ball into dangerous areas.
Sorren Nelson also earned special recognition from his coach, as his runs behind and 1v1 defending showcased the fullback’s full range of skills in the tight win. This result makes it two wins in a row for the U16s, and they’ll be hoping to make that four when they host a pair of matches in Blaine this weekend.
U15
Chicago Fire 3 - 2 MNUFC
Head Coach Amin Qasim and the U15s took a slightly different approach to the Fire compared to their last meeting with the Chicago side, a heavy loss for the Loons. The boys came into this one focused and ready to go. Forward Lorenzo Uribe grabbed his fourth goal of the season to get things started, winning the ball and dribbling down the line before sending his shot into the top of the net for the early lead.
A relatively even game played out from there, as both sides looked for the upper hand. The Loons pressed the hosts into wide areas, where they subsequently tried to win the ball to produce something akin to what Uribe pulled off for the opener. The Fire found the next goal, though, capitalizing on some defensive miscommunication during a corner kick.
After going into the half tied at 1-1, the Loons came out with some small adjustments, ultimately finding another go-ahead goal from a corner of their own. The hosts scored a controversial leveler while the game was still in the balance and ended up punching home the winner with just two minutes left in the match.
Overall, Coach Qasim was pleased with the fight and resilience his team showed. He noted just how far his side has come since the season began in August and is excited to see how they finish the fall season this coming weekend.
With just two matches remaining before MLS NEXT Fest, the young Loons are beginning to wind down the fall portion of the 2025/26 season. Before they officially enter rest mode, though, they’ll be hosting both the Colorado Rapids and Chicago FC United up in Blaine this Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
