The two Pateadores U.S. Development Academy teams firmly established themselves amongst the nation’s best youth club teams with impressive performances at the 2011 U.S. Development Academy Winter Showcase in Brandenton, Florida.
In the Under-15/16 age group, the Pateadores U-15/16 went undefeated against three top teams. The highlight was a top-to-bottom dismantling of the Houston Dynamo 2-0. Head Coach and Pateadores Academy Director, Matt Tutton, had his team playing technical, possession-oriented soccer to go along with a stubborn defense. The shutout victory over the Dynamo continued Coach Tutton’s winning streak against Major League Soccer (MLS) academy teams.
In the Under-17/18 age group, the Pateadores Academy U-17/18 peaked on the final day with a thrilling 4-2 defeat of Kendall SC (Miami, FL.). Pats’ Head Coach George Larsen’s team played stylish soccer at the week’s end in Florida, and has now chalked-up an impressive 20 points in 11 games with a 6-3-2 overall record.
In other Winter Showcase news, Pateadores Academy U-15/16 star, Brian Pacheco, was selected to the Academy Select “All Star” Team. Select Team players are picked by the Development Academy scouting network, technical advisors and youth national team coaches.
In the Select Team game, Pacheco converted a penalty after being fouled during a scintillating run into the box, to lead his “Red” team to a 2-1 victory over the “Blue” squad. The game was watched by over 500 fans, including numerous scouts and U.S. Under-17
Men’s National Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera.
Pacheco was also named to ESPNHS’s list of the top 10 performers from the Development Academy 1995 Age Group.
Fellow Pateadores U-15/16 player, Brian Torres, was featured at the Winter Showcase as well. His electric, scoring run against the Dynamo was selected as “Goal of the Day” and the video can be viewed on the Development Academy website.