MNUFC Academy is back in action, having opened their season this past weekend down in St. Louis. All three sides braved the heat to put in their first performances of the year, and despite struggling to find wins, a number of goals and bright spots laid a solid foundation from which to build.
U19s
St. Louis CITY 2 (4) - 2 (2) MNUFC
Alex Morawiecki’s U19s started out the action early, with their match moved to 8:00 a.m. due to an excessive heat warning. The squad played well and generated a number of chances, though they struggled to convert and conceded early in the second half. The tides turned when Will Maynes scored off a corner kick shortly thereafter. Maynes has spent the past three weeks training primarily with MNUFC2 and brought that experience into his Academy play, remaining steady in the build-up and providing a solid defensive presence in addition to taking the young Loons level. Morawiecki started 15-year-olds, and despite playing in an older age group, all of them showed great resolve and work rates. Mario Vera-Martinez and Jose Orta Ruiz, in particular, put in solid shifts, with Vera-Martinez showcasing his versatility between center and left back and Ruiz serving as the creative engine of the attack.
St. Louis was able to score off a quick counter to regain the lead, but Minnesota’s Jake O’Brien drew a late penalty kick, and Lazar Angelovski converted from the spot to send the game to a shootout. Minnesota ultimately fell 2-4 in penalty kicks, but overall, Morawiecki was pleased with a good showing despite the nine-hour bus ride and extreme heat. Moments of pressing and strong combination form a solid foundation to build on as the U19s head into week two.
U17s
St. Louis CITY 5 - 0 MNUFC
The U17s had a rough go of it on Saturday, falling 5-0 after conceding early and lagging with the intense heat. In terms of bright spots, Nikita Bulychov demonstrated top-tier work ethic, Leo Sabesan consistently found space in the central midfield to progress the ball, and Mofe Jimoh came in strong off the bench to combine with his teammates and drive up-field progression. The squad worked hard to get on the scoreboard, but ultimately allowed too many openings for St. Louis’ motivated attack.
“[It was] a game I feel will be a one-off in a successful season of development,” said U17 Head Coach Jamie Caroll-Rolfe.
U16s
St. Louis CITY 3 - 2 MNUFC
Amin Qasim’s U16 squad created a game plan with three core principles: closing the middle, establishing attacking shape, and progressing the ball quickly. The start of the first half saw the team do all of these things consistently, organizing defensively to limit central spaces and showing purpose in progressing forward.
During the final 15 minutes of the half, however, a series of lapses in concentration resulted in three conceded goals, changing the momentum of the match in short order. Qasim opted not to make major tactical changes at the half, instead focusing on regaining traction and moving the ball faster and with greater intention.
Shortly thereafter, Callan Bezdicek’s goal changed the game as he got the young Black and Blue on the board. Joseph Jallah presented a dangerous presence going forward, scoring again for the visitors and bringing the goal deficit down to one. Kaidyn Katanik provided a strong defensive presence in back, helping direct traffic and remaining steadfast.
“Overall, the match was a positive and important learning experience for the group,” Qasim said. “There was clear evidence that the players can execute our principles effectively, particularly during the opening stages of the game. The next step is developing the consistency and concentration required to maintain those behaviors throughout the entire match, especially during difficult periods when momentum begins to shift.”
