Some of the nation’s top college soccer coaches spent Dec. 27-30 down in Boca Raton, Fla., scouting some of the top youth teams around the nation at the Disney Boys Soccer Showcase.
The competition was broken down across each respective age level, ranging from U-15 through U-18. Teams were then placed into divisions, and then four-team brackets across the three days of competition.
In all, 224 youth clubs from around the world descended upon Florida, including English Premier powerhouse Chelsea’s U-16 team. A sponsor of the tournament, Chelsea has formed partnerships with a number of youth clubs across the US that were present at the showcase.
One of those is the Baltimore Bays Chelsea, a member of the US Soccer Federation Development Academy. Both the U-16 and U-18 sides fared well at the event, finishing as runners up on each level in their respective bracket.
Here’s a look at some of the other top teams of the Open Division:
Dallas Texans Academy (Texas)
The Texans played at both the U-16 and U-18 levels. The U-16 side won two out of three in Bracket B of the Blue Division, and won the final against Baltimore Bays Chelsea U-16.
The U-18 side went undefeated, but only managed the consolation match with two draws and a win – a 3-2 victory over the Clearwater Chargers – to finish on top.
Lonestar Academy (Texas)
Lonestar had a strong run of form in the U-18 Bracket B Blue Division, winning all three of their games and outscoring their opponents 5-1. They came away victorious against the Baltimore Bays in the Championship.
The Lonestar U-16 side managed two wins in three games in their Black Division, and lost in the consolation match to North Meck SC.
Texas Rush AJ Auxerre U-16 Academy (Texas)
Winners of all three matches in Bracket A, Blue Division games, Texas Rush made it four against Sockers FC in the final, outscoring the opposition 6-1 en route to taking the trophy.
Sockers FC Chicago U-16 Academy (Illinois)
The Sockers won all three of their Bracket B, Blue Division games, but came up short in the final against Bracket A winners Texas Rush AJ Auxerre.
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