In June, our U-15 Boys’ Academy participated in the Development Academy Summer Showcase in Oceanside, San Diego. The showcase gave the U-15s one last opportunity to test themselves against MLS academies and other top-tiered competition.
The U-15s were the victors against all three of their opponents, defeating Atlanta United 3-0, Houston Dynamo 2-0 and the Dallas Texans 7-0. Quakes forward Fynn Ruffner scored half of the team’s goals during the showcase and would go on to co-lead the competition’s top goal scorers list with six goals. The U-15s’ roster also featured midfielder Diego Luna and defenders Israel Carillo and Casey Walls who were all called up to the U.S. U-16 Boys’ National Team in 2018.
U-15 Boys' Academy vs. Dallas Texans highlights
"We are really proud of how the U-15s performed in the showcase as it was a reflection of the hard work that they put in during the whole season,” said Academy Director of Formation Paul Holocher. “Since last August, we have worked very hard on our model of play. We have a strong desire to be the dominant team in possession, and we have taught the boys positional insights that have helped supplement their hunger to collectively press and recover the ball. The boys embraced the concepts well and they just got stronger and stronger as the season went along.”
In the three matched leading up to the showcase, the U-15s defeated and secured shutouts against local rivals Sacramento Republic, De Anza Force and Ballistic United. In their last six matches, the U-15s had a +25 goal differential and secured six-straight clean sheets. The boys’ dominant form at the end of the season will surely boost their confidence as they continue to develop next season.
