FRISCO - The FC Dallas U-15 Academy team became the first Dallas Academy side to win a Dr Pepper Dallas Cup title on Saturday afternoon at Toyota Stadium.
After the U-13s fell just short in their Final opportunity, the U-15s needed just seven minutes to get on the board en route to a 5-0 victory over FC Boulder to take the Dallas Cup U-16 age group Championship.
"It's an amazing feeling," head coach Jesse Suarez said. "We focus a lot on the tactical side [in training] and I think that's what made the boys exceed to that next level in each and every game. Respect to all the other opponents, but I just think these boys wanted it more. It wasn't an easy road to get here and win it."
"It felt good," said midfielder Luis Pacheco, who scored the game-winner in the opening 10 minutes. "It gave the team motivation, it brought the entire team together and it brought the momentum up."
After Pacheco's strike, Dallas dominated the play for most of the half, but couldn't convert any more chances - that is until the flood gates opened in the second half.
Jaden Servania doubled the lead in the 42nd minute, Kevin Bonilla made it 3-0 in the 65th and Tanner Tessman notched a four-minute brace in the 73rd and 77th minutes to seal the win.
"It was a great feeling for my team, my team helped me do that," Tessman said. "It was just an amazing thing - the first time we won Dallas Cup."
The U-15s might not be able to claim their title as most recent champions for long, though, as the U-18s compete in the Gordon Jago Super Group Final on Sunday night at 6 p.m. Tickets for the Final at Toyota Stadium are available at DallasCup.com
U-13s Fall Just Short in Dallas Cup Final
The U-13 Academy team played a complete Dallas Cup U-14 Final, but could not overcome the Queretaro FC U-14s in a 3-2 loss.
Justin Che scored the opening goal in the first minutes of the match, bringing a long cross down on his chest before sending a volley upper 90. FCD would hold the 1-0 lead into the second half, until Queretaro scored in the 41st and 60th minutes.
Dallas was looking to tie it up late in the 70-minute match, and the visitors took a 3-1 lead in the 70th minute. Ryan Greener would convert a corner from Che in the final minute of stoppage time to pull one back as the U-13s finished second in their group.
"It was a great experience," said the team's head coach. "We are here to train players and make them winners and this is the way we do that. In these young age categories we are promoting the idea of Busca la Forma, 'Find the Way.'"
U-16s Complete Generation adidas Cup with 2-0 Win
The FCD U-16 Academy side played their fifth and final GA Cup match on Saturday afternoon in a Seventh Place match against the LA Galaxy U-16s.
Leading-scorer Brayan Padilla tallied both goals in the opening half as the 16s finished the tournament 2-2-1 and seventh overall in the Champions Division.