United States Soccer sent its U17 Youth National Teams to La Canada on Saturday night to face LAFC Development Academy teams at La Canada High School. LAFC earned the right to play in these games based on spectacular performances last season, sending both U16 and U18 teams to the National Finals at The Home Depot Center in July. Both teams lost overtime games in front of large crowds and ESPN television cameras, but earned high marks from National Team coaches for the high level of professionalism demonstrated by coaches and players, on and off the field.

US Soccer’s Development Academy is a program started in 2007 “to improve the everyday environment for the elite youth player.” Using the U-17 National Team Residency program as a model of training and focus, teams in the Academy program only compete in Academy matches, thus increasing the amount of time that can be spent training and improving the quality of matches. LAFC, which recently inked a sponsorship deal with London-based Chelsea FC, and is headquartered in La Canada, was one of only 64 clubs across the nation originally selected for the program. The club fields two teams; one each in the U16 and U18 age brackets. Academy teams train 3 times per week, following specific training guidelines established by US Soccer, and play 30 games per year.

Locally, La Canada is well represented in LAFC’s Academy program. La Canada High students Aram Bagramyan, Keith Becker and Cameron Meeker all play on the U16 team, as do Flintridge Prep’s Peter Chodas, Brice Gumpel and Riley Wasson. St Francis High is represented on the U16 team by Glendale’s Kian Chachi, and the U18 team by Pasadena resident Michael Gates.

In Saturday’s action, LAFC grabbed an early lead in the 15th minute of the U16 game on a goal by Cameron Meeker. In a crowded penalty area, Meeker held off a defender, and spun the ball into the far lower corner of the goal, out of the reach of the diving Spencer Richie, National Team goalkeeper. Less than 10 Minutes later, the National Squad benefited from a hand-ball call in the LAFC penalty area and converted the free kick to tie the score 1-1. Soon after that, the visitors showed why they’re the National Team, stringing together several precision passes, and finishing with a laser-beam shot to the lower right corner. LAFC Goalkeeper Keith Becker, who was rock-solid throughout, made a valiant attempt but was unable to parry the ball wide. The first half ended 2-1. The second half was a back-and-forth affair with scoring chances coming at both ends. On more than one occasion, Peter Chodas made goal-saving defensive plays, exhibiting an uncanny ability to show up at the right place and time. Brice Gumpel had his hands full defending Jonathan Brown, probably the most athletic player on the US team, and did amazingly well to keep him off the score sheet. The National Team did finally manage to convert a header in front of the LAFC goal, and the game ended 3-1.

The U18 game was thrilling from beginning to end. Both teams displayed incredible skill and fortitude. Most observers felt that, on the whole, the older LAFC team held the advantage throughout, but the National Team was ever dangerous. Much of the National Team’s defensive focus was on LAFC’s Kevin Mejia, a Marhsall High School student, who has already signed an early letter of intent to play soccer at Boston College next fall, and was considered one of the nations top 20 recruits this season. During the game’s second half, LAFC right midfielder Giovanni Rollie made several spectacular runs, putting the National Team defense on it’s heals. With about 1 minute to go in regulation, Alex Burguette smashed home a corner kick with his head to give LAFC a 1-0 win.

On the whole, the night was a huge success for LAFC and for soccer fans in La Canada, over 500 of whom showed up to watch both games. After the 2 games, LAFC President and La Canada resident Don Sheppard said, “The message is clear, the top youth players in the country are being developed at LAFC.” This weekend, both LAFC Academy teams will travel to Lancaster for the Winter Showcase tournament which will feature all 144 teams from around the country.

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