Stock Watch: MLS Next U15 Teams

<p class="p1">With under three months until the start of the postseason in MLS Next, there are some teams making a statement in March with eyes on postseason success. The quest for a playoff spot starts early in spring with most coaches hoping to ride the moment into a successful showing during the postseason in June.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">This month, teams from all over the country have returned to the field in the MLS-run club soccer league. There were a dozen teams to accumulate a perfect record from the first three weekends of the month.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1"><b>On the Rise<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p> <p class="p1">In the 2007/U15 age group, New York Red Bulls strung together a three-game winning streak this month. Red Bulls sit in the top spot in the East (North) Division. The New York squad includes rising 2008 talent Jack Mize as well as youth national team players [player_tooltip player_id="13111" first="Nathan" last="Worth"] and [player_tooltip player_id="13008" first="Jeremiah" last="White"]. New York Red Bulls is one of the favorites in the 2007 age group and will be tested during the Generation Adidas Cup in Dallas in April.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">Houston Dynamo Youth has been riding a wave of positive results over the last two months. The MLS affiliate club is on a four-game winning streak with victories over Louisiana TDP Elite, RISE Soccer, San Antonio FC, RGV Toros, and Real Colorado. Dynamo Youth have a big game this weekend against Solar SC.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">Solar SC is also perfect on the month with a 3-0 record. The potent Solar attack led by [player_tooltip player_id="15928" first="Caleb" last="Swann"] seems to be just hitting its stride. The attacking midfielder has been one of the top players in Texas to watch in the 07 age group. Chris Salazar has been another bright spot int he attack. He had two goals in the win over San Antonio FC. The forward has good size and gets on the end of aerial services. Wyatt Harding and Toby Rafique also scored for Solar in that win. Center back [player_tooltip player_id="16480" first="Luke" last="Munson"] has been a standout defensively this month. He led the team in passes completed in the win over San Antonio.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">Charlotte FC, despite being a very young academy, looks like a group to consider as a favorite in this age group. Talented winger Nimfasha Berchimas has been a bright spot for Charlotte’s academy this season.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">Weston FC, Midwest United, PDA, BW Gottschee Academy, Sacramento Republic, LA United Futbol Academy, LAFC, and Hoover-Vestavia are also perfect in March. FC DELCO continues to put up impressive results in the notebook. The Pennsylvania team is 2-0-1 in March and has yet to concede a goal.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">One of the surprising results of the month was Breakers FC holding Real Salt Lake to a draw in the battle in Northern California. [player_tooltip player_id="10648" first="Ethan" last="Martinez"] scored the lone goal on the day for the Breakers in the 1-1 result. Breakers also picked up a win over SVSA this month. Fernando Duarte scored twice in that game.</p> The race for the MLS Next U15 Championship this summer might have to go through LAFC though. The Southern California MLS academy has been dominant on the pitch for over two years in the 07 age group. They kept that streak alive in March with another perfect month. Winger Charlie Rosenthal, pictured above, earned the attention of Youth National Team scouts with his play for LAFC.