SECAUCUS, NJ- Red Bull U16 goalkeeper Keith Cardona was named to 2008-09 U15/16 Development Academy Starting XI, as well as the USDA East Conference U15/16 Starting XI, and was joined on the East Conference Starting XI by teammates Brian Gallego and Victor Manosalvas. In addition, Red Bull U16 head coach Rob Elliot earned East Conference Coach of the Year honors. The awards, announced by U.S. Soccer, were voted upon by Development Academy clubs and U.S. Soccer National Staff Coaches.
Cardona (Glen Rock, NJ) was one of only two U-15/16 honorees present at Finals Week, as he helped his New York Red Bulls team to an 18-4-7 regular season record and one of the top seeds during Academy Playoffs. He was selected to be a part of the Development Academy Select Teams that matched up with the U.S. U-17 Men's National Team at the Spring Showcase held earlier this year, and was part of U.S. U-17 MNT head coach Wilmer Cabrera's 30-player training camp held in Greensboro, N.C., in conjunction with Development Academy Playoffs.
Of the U15/16 teams that qualified for Finals Week at The Home Depot Center, the New York Red Bulls Academy was well represented, with three players, goalkeeper Cardona, defender Gallego (Kinnelon, NJ) and midfielder Manosalvas (Clifton, NJ), named to the East Conference Starting XI, while head coach Rob Elliot also earned Coach of the Year honors. Only one other team from all of the USDA regions had more players honored, but no other program had three players and their coach receive conference recognition.
The Academy program was created to enhance the player development environment for elite youth players in the United States, according to U.S. Soccer Best Practices, with specific focus on increasing the number of training sessions, decreasing the total number of games while increasing the number of quality games and maintaining the highest level of coaching, refereeing and competition available in an everyday environment.
In its second year, the Academy program has already dramatically impacted the player development process in the United States. In 2008, more than 100 players from Academy clubs were included in U.S. Youth National Teams and almost 800 graduates from the inaugural Academy class participated in college soccer the following fall. Virtually all college programs use the Academy program as a scouting vehicle and the program has received increased attention from professional scouts representing domestic and international clubs.
2008-09 East Conference U-15/16 Starting XI:
GOALKEEPER (1): Keith Cardona (New York Red Bulls)
DEFENDERS (4): Dane Kenny (Albertson SC), Marquez Fernandez (Baltimore Bays Chelsea), Taylor Washington (FC Westchester), Brian Gallego (New York Red Bulls Academy)
MIDFIELDERS (4): Scott Thomsen (PDA), Victor Manosalvas (New York Red Bulls Academy), Andy Najar (D.C. United Academy), Aaron Denis (BW Gottschee)
FORWARDS (2): Brian Span (FC Westchester), Juan Pablo Correa (Match Fit Chelsea)
East Conference Coach of the Year: Rob Elliot - New York Red Bulls Academy
U-15/16 Development Academy Starting XI
GOALKEEPER (1): Keith Cardona (New York Red Bulls Academy)
DEFENDERS (4): Marquez Fernandez (Baltimore Bays Chelsea), Ricardo Hernandez (Arsenal FC), Torey McGaw (Mustang SC), Bryan de la Fuente (Chivas USA Academy)
MIDFIELDERS (3): Riley Wolfe (Los Angeles Galaxy Academy), AJ Corrado (Carmel United), Joseph Schmid (FC DELCO)
FORWARDS (3): Victor Chavez (Real So Cal), Ruben Luna (FC Dallas), Zak Foxhoven (Colorado Rush)
