With the fervent backing of Minnesota United’s supporters groups behind them, the MNUFC Development Academy U13 and U14 teams continued their winning ways over the weekend, going unbeaten, 3-0-1, in four matches against the Columbus Crew SC Academy Wolves and Vardar at the National Sports Center.
MNUFC U13 vs. Crew SC Academy Wolves
After taking a 2-0 lead after 63 minutes, the U13 team held off Crew SC Wolves, 2-1, and got the academy’s weekend started on a winning note. Micah Burton opened the scoring in the 56th minute and Simeon Friesen followed that up with a strike of his own in the 63rd minute. The Crew’s Simon Sawyer cut the lead to one in the 65th minute, but that was as close as the visitors came.
MNUFC U14 vs. Crew SC Academy Wolves
The U14s started the scoring early and never looked back as they cruised to a 2-0 victory over their Crew SC Wolves counterparts. Daniel Lainsbury got things going in the 22nd minute and Chex Burton provided the match-sealing strike in the 49th minute.
MNUFC U13 vs. Vardar
Burton’s second goal of the weekend, and third in the U13s’ last three matches, proved to be the difference as the team edged Vardar, 1-0. After a scoreless opening stanza, Burton scored just 11 minutes into the second half in the 46th minute — providing the U13s with all the offense they needed as they closed out the one-goal triumph.
MNUFC U14 vs. Vardar
In the final game, the U14s battled Vardar to a scoreless draw to cap the academy’s unbeaten weekend. With the hard-fought draw, the U14s sealed the academy’s second straight weekend without a setback. Neither academy side has been beaten since April 29.
The U13 and U14 teams return to action on Saturday, June 2 on the road against FC United Soccer Club in Waukegan, Illinois. Start times for both matches have yet to be announced. The full schedules for both programs can be found here.
MNUFC announced the trial dates for its Development Academy (DA) teams and assessment dates for the Pre-Development Academy program. Trials will be for U13 (2006), U14 (2005) and U15 (2004) DA teams, along with placement trials for the U11 (2008) and U12 (2007) Pre-Development Academy programs. All trials will be held at the Minnesota United Training Ground located at the National Sports Center in Blaine. Visit this link for more information.
