US Development Academy Finals To Be Broadcast on ESPN Classic

For the second consecutive year, the U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy season will finish on a high note during Finals Week with the championship match in both age groups being broadcast live on ESPN Classic. Both matches will be played at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., with the U-17/18 championship taking place on Thursday, July 16, at 9 p.m. and the U-15/16 championship a day later on Friday, July 17 at 9 p.m. .

Throughout Finals Week, ussoccer.com will provide in-depth coverage on everything happening in Carson, Calif. The Youth National Teams Blog will have complete coverage of the matches and the educational activities off the field. The most up-to-date scoring information will also be available on U.S. Soccer’s official twitter page at twitter.com/ussoccer. Also, less than 24 hours after the conclusion of every game, with the exception of the two championship matches on July 16 and July 17, all Finals Week matches will be streamed the following day on ussoccer.com.

U.S. Soccer has unveiled the 2008-09 Development Academy Starting XI honorees. The awards, which will be followed by Coach and Player of the Year announcements later this week, were voted upon by Development Academy clubs and U.S. Soccer National Staff Coaches. Both the U-15/16 and U-17/18 Starting XI teams are made up mostly of players who have experience at the U-17, U-18 and/or U-20 Men’s National Team level.

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)

U-17/18 Development Academy Starting XI
GOALKEEPER (1): Larry Jackson (IMG Academy)
DEFENDERS (4): Matt Wiet (Crew Soccer Academy), Taylor Kemp (Real Colorado), Anthony Arena (Crossfire Premier), Daniel Villegas (Miami FC Kendall)
MIDFIELDERS (3): Dillon Powers (Andromeda), Andrew Wenger (PA Classics), Norberto Ochoa (Arsenal FC)
FORWARDS (3): Ryan Finley (PDA), Rodolfo Godinez (Nomads), Will Bates (Richmond Strikers)