CHICAGO (March 23, 2023) - The Chicago Fire Academy made their return home following a trip to Indiana and Michigan last weekend for MLS NEXT fixtures. This weekend the Fire managed to pick up a draw, win, win, draw and draw in their five matchups this weekend.
U-13 Academy
The youngest Academy group started their weekend up against Cincinnati United Premier SC finishing in a 0-0 draw on Saturday, March 18. The following day, they took on Sockers FC on Sunday March 19, resulting in a 1-1 draw at SeatGeek Stadium with the lone goal for the Fire coming from Miguel Edgar Campos. Chicago now sits in fifth place in the Mid-American division with a record of 8-4-6 with 30 points.
They look to gain momentum as they take a road trip to play Lou Fusz Academy on Sunday, March 26 at 10 a.m. CT. At the Lou Fusz Athletic Complex.
U-14 Academy
The U-14 started their weekend on a high, securing a 2-0 win against Cincinnati United Premier SC on Saturday, March 18, with goals from Xavi Cervantes, assisted by Juan Camacho, and Leon Smars, assisted by Cervantes.
The momentum from Saturday would propel the team to another thrilling victory as they ended the weekend with a 5-0 win against Sockers FC on Sunday, March 19. In the five-goal thriller, goals were recorded by Cervantes who scored twice, Smars, Christian Flores, and Nolan Weiss.
The U-14 Academy currently sits in first place in the Mid-American Division with 49 points and a record of 16-0-1. They remain undefeated this season. Their next game will take place on the road against Lou Fusz Academy at 12 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 26.
U-15 Academy
The U-15 squad started the weekend with a 0-0 draw against FC Dallas but would turn things around the next day with a 3-1 victory against Sockers FC.
Following their results, the U-15 Academy sits in second place in the Central North Division with eight points and a record of 2-0-2.
The team will next travel to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. For the 2023 Generation adidas Cup, in which they were placed in U15 Group 7 along with the Vancouver Whitecaps, Belgian side KRC Genk of and the LA Galaxy. The U-15 team will face Vancouver at 11:30 a.m. CT on Saturday, April 1, followed by Genk at 11:30 a.m. CT on Sunday, April 2. They will close out group play against the LA Galaxy at 11:30 a.m. CT on Monday, April 3.
U-17 Academy
The current oldest Academy group played a single fixture over the weekend, securing a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas. The U17’s sit in fourth place in the Central North Division, holding a record of 0-3-1.
They look to gain momentum as they go on the road to take on Indiana Fire Academy on Wednesday, March 22 at 7:00 p.m. CT at the Grand Park Sports Campus and Midwest United on Friday, March 24 at 5:30 p.m. CT.
Following the trip to Indiana, the U-17 squad will also trave to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. For the 2023 Generation adidas Cup, where they will face off against Seattle Sounders FC, FC Dallas and Argentina’s Club Atlético River Plate in U17 Group 1. The team will kick off tournament play against Seattle at 4:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, April 1, followed by a match against FC Dallas at 4:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, April 2. The U-17 team will finish group play against River Plate at 2 p.m. CT on Monday, April 3.
