Chicago Fire Player Development Update
December 10, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release
FIRE ACADEMY SUCCESSFUL AT WINTER SHOWCASE
The Chicago Fire Academy teams traveled to Lancaster, CA to participate in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy League's Winter Showcase from December 4-8. The Fire Academy under-16 and under-18 teams played three games each during the four day span. The Fire U-18 squad opened play on Fox Soccer Channel as they faced the Chivas USA Academy, earning a 2-2 tie. Both Fire Academy goals were scored by Andy Huftalin. The U-18s went undefeated in the tournament, beating BW Gotschee (NY, NY) 3-1 and the Player Development Academy from New Jersey 5-0. The U16 squad posted a 2-1-0 record in the tournament, falling 3-2 to the Chivas USA Academy but defeating Gotschee 2-0 and PDA 3-0.
CHICAGO FIRE ACADEMY WEEKLY AGENDA
** Sites/times subject to change. Please call 708.496.6725 to confirm training schedule. All times Central.
Thursday, Dec. 11 Village of Bridgeview Golf Dome 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Sunday, Dec. 14 Village of Bridgeview Golf Dome 8:00am - 10:00am
Tuesday, Dec. 16 Village of Bridgeview Golf Dome 7:00pm - 9:00pm
NEWS AND NOTES
-Fire Academy Head Coach Louis Mateus recently served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Soccer Under-14 Boys National Team during a camp in Orlando, Fla. from Nov. 26-Dec. 1. The son of Fire first team assistant coach Mike Jeffries, A.J., was a participant at the camp.
-2008 Chicago Fire Premier player Brandon Barklage (St. Louis University) has been invited to participate in the 2009 adidas MLS Player Combine. The annual player combine will be held at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Jan. 9-13.
-Four players, Isaac Lee (North Park University), Pat McMahon (University of Illinois-Chicago), Brandon Barklage (SLU), and J.C. Mack (NA) from the Fire Premier and Super-20 squads have been invited to the third annual USL Men's Player Showcase presented by UMBRO. The event will be hosted by the Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium, Dec. 14-16. Top professional coaches will have an opportunity to scout potential professionals from the PDL and college ranks.
-Fire Juniors Technical Director Larry Sunderland will coach one of teams in the USL Men's Player Showcase.
-Chicago Fire Academy player Charlie Lyons has been accepted an invitation to train with the U.S. Soccer U-17 program from Thursday, Dec. 11 through Wednesday, Dec. 17 in Bradenton, Fla. Lyons will join 2007 Fire Academy standout Victor Piñeda, who entered the U.S. Soccer U-17 Residency program last Fall.
CHICAGO FIRE JUNIORS
Eight Chicago Fire Juniors players from CFJ-Mississippi made their Olympic Development Regional Pools. Congratulations to Attak Yai-U17B White (named to 91 Regional Team), Gentry Smith-U17B White, Eljay Allen-U17B White, Stephen Roberson-U16B Blue, James Gulley-U17B White (named to 92 Regional Team), Kellen Gulley-U16B Blue (named to 94 Regional Team), Sara Coleman-U15 Girls. Also from CFJ-Mississippi, Hailey Brohaugh has been invited to U-14 National Development Camp.
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