It was a tough weekend of Academy action for the Loons, as all three squads fell to the Colorado Rapids in League play. This was the young Loons’ longest road trip of the season thus far, and it brought with it plenty of moments to learn from as they head into their next Flex matchups this coming weekend.
U18
Colorado Rapids 4 - 0 MNUFC
For the U18s, a bright start saw the lads produce some good moments going forward. Aside from conceding a goal from a quick counterattack, the first half went much to plan, with several quality chances cropping up before heading into the break 1-0 down.
They started the second 45 with more of the same, as leading goal scorer Tim Dennis made an immediate impact after subbing on. The Loons began to step up their pressure in search of the goal they needed, leaving them more exposed in the back and leaving space for their hosts to play into.
Though the match ended 4-0, Head Coach Alex Morawiecki felt that the scoreline was harsh and was proud to see his team executing several of the training topics from the week prior. Defender Emory Ortwein earned special recognition from his coach for his composure, as well as moments of 1v1 defending and progressing the ball down the field. Moving forward, the squad will be turning their attention toward efficiency in the final third.
U16
Colorado Rapids 4 - 1 MNUFC
Similar to their older counterparts, Head Coach Jamie Carroll-Rolfe felt that the scoreline was unfair to the performance of his U16 squad. The boys weren’t lacking in effort in what proved to be a well-contested match, with two late goals inflating the final score. With a few bounces their way, this one could very well have ended much differently.
The Loons’ goal scorer on the day was winger Julian Vasquez, who bagged his first of the season, having provided two assists in prior matches. His movement and ability to get behind the last line of defense made him a constant threat, and the assist from forward Donatien Nzambimana helped him to cash in on his good work.
U15
Colorado Rapids 5 - 0 MNUFC
A tough first half saw the youngest Loons start too cautiously, according to Head Coach Amin Qasim. A reluctance to take chances allowed the aggressive hosts to win first and second balls, peppering the MNUFC U15s with shots and putting them down 3-0 at the half.
After addressing the mindset of the team at the half, the boys went back out without making any structural adjustments. They came out on the front foot, creating a few chances that ultimately didn’t find the back of the net. The final score ended up being 5-0 in what was an overall valuable learning experience for this young group of players.
The Academy will be back in Blaine this weekend, as every level of the club is set to host Sporting Kansas City right here in Minnesota — from the U15s to the first team. This weekend’s Academy matches will see the boys return to Flex play, and the coaches will be hoping that the lessons learned in Colorado will translate into three confident performances.
