LAGSD Player Abby Colton | April 07, 2018, Development Academy Spring Showcase in Greensboro, NC.
Big congratulations to our LA Galaxy San Diego U15 and U16/17 Girls Academy teams who have qualified for the inaugural U.S. Soccer Girls’ Development Academy Playoffs, which will take place between June 23-30, 2018, at the SoCal Sports Complex in Oceanside. Both teams have been placed into a four team league that they will have to win in order to qualify for the quarter finals, which will also take place in Oceanside. Should they be fortunate enough to make it through the quarters, the semi finals will take place at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Mo. on Sunday, July 9, 2018, with the championship games to be played on July 11.
To add to this great news, our GU14 Academy team, who have had a fantastic season, have been invited to play a ‘year up’ in the Academy Showcase that will run alongside the Playoffs at Oceanside. Our 2003 Boys Elite team have also been invited to participate in the Academy showcase, which is a tribute to them as a team and to our Boys Academy program (which currently only has up to 2004 allocation).
“Qualifying for the playoffs is a fantastic achievement by our Girls DA teams and is a reflection of all the hard work that the coaches and players have put into the season,” commented GU15 Academy Coach and LAGSD Director of Girls, Carl Higham. “Playing in this inaugural Girls DA has given us different challenges over the season playing against some of the best teams in the Country and to be recognized by the US Soccer is very exciting for are club . I am so impressed by how are players have adapted to the DA program. Great job girls I’m really looking forward to next weekend in Oceanside.”
Girls Academy Director and GU14 Academy Coach, Michael Duggan added, “The strength of our girls DA program is prevalent with our U15 and U16/17 teams qualifying for playoffs. The standards set forth by U.S Soccer has made us better and you can see it every day in our training environment. We have one of leading goal scorers in the Nation on our GU15 team, in Emily Colton, and a U14 team that has been asked to play up in the U15 Showcase because of how they have excelled throughout the season. All of these achievements are a true testament to our entire coaching staff, who have pushed each one of our teams and players individually. This program will only continue to get stronger and gain recognition every year.”
LAGSD Girls College Liaison and GU16/17 Academy Coach, Courtney Drummond, concluded, “The college exposure and experience our players have received while playing at the highest level of youth soccer has been instrumental in their development. The environment these players have been placed in is so professional but has kept us accountable as a club and that, in turn, has made us both better on and off the field. The success we have had in our inaugural year couldn’t have happened without all of our partners who have played such important roles in our players development. We are looking forward to the playoffs!”
For more information about the 2018 U.S. Soccer Girls’ Academy Playoffs please visit:
http://www.ussoccerda.com/20180614-news-group-pairings-announced-2018-girls-da-playoffs
