The Chicago Fire teams are showing great success across all levels. The Fire Premier Development League team remains undefeated this season, while the Super-20 team began their season just like they finished their last - with a victory over the Toronto Lynx. Although the Fire Academy under-16 team lost this past weekend, the squad is still ranked in first place in the Frontier Division and five of the Fire Juniors Boys teams won their matches this past weekend at the Illinois State Cup to advance to the semi-final round.
CHICAGO FIRE PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
** Sites/times subject to change. Please call 708.496.6725 or 6726 to confirm training schedule. All times Central.
Wednesday, June 3
• Super-20 team vs. Kalamazoo @ 4:00 PM CT - TOYOTA PARK Training Field
• Fire PDL vs. Kalamazoo @ 6:00 PM CT - TOYOTA PARK Training Field
Thursday, June 4
• Fire Academy vs. Chicago Sockers FC @ 6:30 PM CT (U-16) and 8:30 PM CT (U-18) - Schaumburg Olympic Park
Friday, June 5
• Chicago Fire (first team) vs. Houston Dynamo - TOYOTA PARK - 8:00 PM CT
Saturday, June 6
• All five Fire Juniors teams will play in the semi-finals of the Illinois State Cup
• Fire PDL @ Cleveland - 7:00 PM CT
Sunday, June 7
• Fire Academy vs. Chicago Sockers FC @ 11:00 AM CT (U-16) and 1:00 PM (U-18) - TOYOTA PARK Training Field
• Illinois State Cup finals (for teams who win their semi-final matches)
Tuesday, June 9
• Fire PDL vs. Milwaukee Bavarians @ 5:00 PM CT - TOYOTA PARK Training Field (Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup game)
FIRE PREMIER REMAIN FIRST IN GREAT LAKES DIVISION
The Fire Premier Development League (PDL) team remains unbeaten so far this season with a record of 4-0-1. After winning their game against the Toronto Lynx on Saturday, May 30 with a score of 2-0, the Fire PDL team holds onto the first place ranking in the Great Lakes Division. Andy Adlard (Indiana University) supplied the opening goal in the 43rd minute off of a penalty kick opportunity while Andre Akpan (Harvard University) contributed a second in the 73rd minute. Goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer (University of South Carolina) recorded his fourth shutout in five matches, and is tied for the league's lead in shutouts.
SUPER-20 TEAM BEGINS THIS SEASON ON A HIGH NOTE
The Super-20 team defeated the Toronto Lynx with a score of 4-0 in their season opener game on Saturday, May 30. The Super-20 team beat the Toronto Lynx in the championship final last year by a score of 2-1, and they are continuing their superior level of play this season. Goals came from Ryan Gracia (George Mason), Eric Marofske (Loyola Chicago), Stefan Antonijevic (Valparaiso University), and Josh Thiermann (Notre Dame). Goalkeeper David Meves (Akron) recorded the shutout. This game marked the debut of Brad Horton and Eric Marofske, the first Fire Academy alumni to join the Super-20 program.
Additionally, the defending Men's United Soccer Leagues Super-20 League Champion, the Chicago Fire Super 20 team, will host the Fourth Annual Super-20 League North American Finals. The 20-team Super-20 North American finals (men's and women's) will begin Thursday, July 30 and run through Sunday, August 2.
FIRE ACADEMY SUFFER TOUGH LOSS THIS WEEKEND
The Fire Academy U-16's dropped their first match in 20 games this past weekend, falling 3-1 to the Chicago Magic. Despite the loss, the U-16's remain in first place in the highly competitive Frontier Division with an overall record of 16-3-4. They are currently ranked second in the U.S. out of the 74 Academy clubs in that age group. The U-18 team remains in the thick of the Frontier Division despite also suffering a defeat to the Magic. The U-18 group has an overall record of 12-4-7. The Academy teams will break back into action this week with a local home and home derby against the Chicago Sockers.
FIRE JUNIORS RACK UP GOALS IN ILLINOIS STATE CUP
The Chicago Fire Juniors U-15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 Boys teams all won their games this past weekend to advance to the Illinois State Cup semi-finals, which will take place on June 6th. The Fire Juniors are the only club in Illinois to have teams in every age division in the semi-finals for Boys. In addition to all their wins this weekend, the Fire Juniors also posted high scores. In both rounds of play, goals scored by the five teams combined were 42, and only 4 goals were given up by the teams. Each team played two matches, except for the U-19 team, and the combined record from the weekend was 9-0-0.
For more information about Chicago Fire Player Development, visit the team's official website at www.chicago-fire.com.
