defending Super Y League North American Champions -- opened the game tentatively. However, the midfield gradually gained control and it was in the 20th minute that the first goal in Red Bull Academy history was scored.
After mounting some pressure, the Red Bulls were awarded a corner kick, where Steven Amaya and John Tardy played a short corner. Amaya then found David Reed at the top of the penalty box, who unleashed a 25 yard rocket the ricocheted off the crossbar and goalkeeper's head and into the goal.
The goal seemed to spark the Red Bulls as they continued to surge forward. In the 29th minute Stanley Touze scored off an assist from Walter Hines.
The pressure continued and the Red Bulls were unlucky not to score two more goals before halftime, as Matt Kassel went close on both occasions.
The second half saw the Red Bulls come close to adding to the lead on several more occasion. In the 77th minute, Mario Rios completed the scoring with an unassisted goal.
"We have opened the 2006 season on a great note," said Red Bulls director of youth soccer and player development Giovanni Savarese. "To beat a quality FC Westchester team by this score shows that we are continuing where we left off last season with the Under-16's."
In the second game of the doubleheader, the U-15 Red Bulls played some brilliant attacking soccer in a 3-1 victory.
Putting FC Westchester under pressure from the opening whistle, the Red Bulls scored in the 21st minute with a precise through ball from Evans Asiamah for Drew Fulton's opening goal. Six minutes later Giorgi Chirgadze made it 2-0 when he connected from a Rob Santaniello pass.
However, FC Westchester made it 2-1 when they were awarded a free kick and scored in the 33rd minute.
In the second half the Red Bulls continued to dominate with fierce pressure as FC Westchester were reduced to 10 men. Zachary Gomez scored the final goal with a beautiful volley from a Giorgi Chirgadze assist in the 55th minute.
"For the first game of the year, we were happy with the result, but the coaches and players know we can take our game to the next level at the Dallas Cup" said team captain and U-15 U.S. national team pool player Jossimar Sanchez.
LINEUPS
U-17 Red Bulls: Rusnak, Reed, Cuevas, Vazquez, Fartura, Tardy, Amaya, Kassel, Bernardo, Touze, Hines. (SUBS: Lester, Faustino, Rios, Khosroshvili, O'Driscoll, Exantus, Sotelo).
U-15 Red Bulls: Paul, Sanchez(capt.), Howard, Londono, Naumoski, Gomez, Jorgensen, Bosman, Asiamah, Fulton, Ghirgadze. (SUBS: Hot, Lawrence, Rodio, Fergusson, Gamero, Santaniello, Rosenzweig).
