FRISCO - While the FC Dallas senior team began its title defense in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last week, a pair of FC Dallas Academy teams will do the same this week in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs.
The FC Dallas U-16 and U-18 teams enter this year's USSDA Playoffs with the opportunity to defend their national titles from last season.
Taking place at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana, the group stages of the USSDA Playoffs feature 32 teams divided into eight groups in each age bracket. The group winners then advance to the USSDA Playoff Quarterfinals, a match that either FC Dallas team would host thanks to superb regular seasons in which each team finished as a top eight national seed.
| U-16 Academy | U-18 Academy | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| W, 5-2 | vs. Baltimore Armour | L, 1-0 | vs. Beachside SC |
| W, 3-1 | vs. NYCFC | W, 3-2 | vs. Seattle Sounders FC |
| Mon., 1:30 p.m. | vs. Columbus Crew SC | Mon., 4:30 p.m. | vs. New York Red Bulls |
First Chance For Glory
While FC Dallas is the two-time defending champions in the USSDA U-16 age group, it has never been with the same roster of players.
For obvious reasons, each national title has been achieved in a unique way by head coach and FC Dallas Academy Director Luchi Gonzalez. This year's team is no different, and won 21 of its 25 regular season matches en route to claiming the top overall seed for the tournament.
"This is a really strong group," Gonzalez said. "We're excited to open up a new chapter in the postseason. It's a new season."
Drawn into Group F, the U-16s will face Baltimore Armour, Crew SC Academy Wolves and New York City FC in group play.
Dallas enters the postseason on a five-match unbeaten run in USSDA play, although Gonzalez has also used practice time and exhibition matches to keep the team sharp.
"It's a challenge, but it's something that we experience every year," Gonzalez said. "We'll be ready."
With 28 goals in 24 regular season games, forward Brayan Padilla will be a key part of the U-16s effort to secure a third consecutive title in the age discipline.
Creating A legacy
This year's U-18 team was last year's U-16 team, meaning it has an opportunity to become only the third-ever team to defend a USSDA National Championship. The previous two? The New York Red Bulls in 2012 and 2013, and FC Dallas in 2015 and 2016.
That's right, last year's U-18 squad completed the very same double that this year's team is after, although the pressure doesn't phase defender Blake Willis.
"People would think it's intimidating, but every game is just another game," Willis said. "Going for the three points every day."
To accomplish the feat, Dallas will have to emerge as winners of Group C, which also features Beachside Soccer Club, New York Red Bulls and Seattle Sounders FC.
"We have an identity in this program and we're going to keep on playing the same way we do," head coach Francisco Molina said. "We're not going to change our style."
If the regular season was any indication, that style is comprised of a fierce attack and a stubborn defense. Dallas conceded less than a goal per game during the season, going 17-5-3 which placed the team sixth in the country.
Offensively, four players scored eight goals or more for the team, including Homegrown Jesus Ferreira. This weekend, Reggie Cannon and Paxton Pomykal - two other U-18 players with senior team experience - will be with the team in Indiana.
"Sometimes our practices are more competitive than some of the games we play in," Molina said. "The boys are ready and focused."
With the chance to make history on the line, Willis can hardly think about anything else.
"I'm looking forward to winning it all again, baby. That's about it," Willis said.
Each team will contest its group stage matches on Thursday, Saturday and Monday. The U-16s opened play with a 5-2 victory against Baltimore and a 3-1 win against NYCFC, while the U-18s began with a 1-0 defeat against Beachside before recording a 3-2 win against Seattle.
The U-16s enter Monday's final group stage match top of their group with six points. The U-18s meanwhile are in a four-way tie for first, with all teams in their group on three points.
