CHICAGO FIRE ACADEMY TEAMS POST IDENTICAL 1-1 DRAWS IN WEEKEND PLAY
The Chicago Fire U-18 and U-16 Academy squads posted 1-1 draws against regional rivals Sockers FC Saturday afternoon on the Nike Park Turf Field in Naperville, Ill.
The Fire U-18s kicked off first Saturday, Oct. 6 against the Sockers. Jeffrey Farina found the first goal of the match and put the Fire up 1-0 in the 30th minute. The Fire were able to hold the Sockers off until the 94th minute when Simon Megally found the late equalizer for the home side, ending the match 1-1.
Farina’s goal in the 30th minute of Saturday’s match marked his eighth goal of the season. Farina has scored in all of the U-18s matches this year, tallying more than half of the team’s 14 total goals.
In the second match of the day, Luca Giovine put the Fire U-16s up 1-0 in the 33rd minute but the Sockers were again able to equalize behind John Freitag’s goal in the 66th minute as the match ended 1-1.
Both teams remain undefeated. The U-18s (3-0-1) sit in first place of the Mid-America Division of the Central Conference. The U-16s (1-0-3) currently sit in sixth place in the Mid-America Division of the Central Conference.
The Chicago Fire Developmental Academy teams return to action when the U-18 and U-16 teams travel to Faribault, Minn. to take on Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Soccer Academy at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School on Saturday, Oct. 13. The following day the U-18 and U-16 teams take on Minnesota Thunder Academy at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn.
CHICAGO FIRE U-10, U-11 AND U-12 ACADEMY TEAMS PARTICIPATE IN CREW FALL CLASSIC
The Chicago Fire U-10, U-11 and U-12 Academy teams took part in the Crew Fall Classic over the weekend. All three teams, playing in older age brackets, reached the finals on Sunday, Oct. 7.
The U-10s reached the final match of the U-11 Flight A bracket and posted a decisive 7-2 win over the Crew Juniors Gold East.
The U-11s reached the final match of the U-12 Flight A bracket but fell 2-1 to Carmel United SC Indiana Fire.
The U-12s reached the final match of the U-13 bracket, defeating Crew Juniors Gold II by a score of 2-1.
ACADEMY PLAYERS CALLED UP FOR CHICAGO FIRE RESERVE MATCHES
Two Academy players have been called up for the Chicago Fire vs. FC Dallas Reserve match on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at FC Dallas Sports Park and the Chicago Fire vs. Houston Dynamo Reserve Match at Houston Dynamo Sports Park on Saturday, Oct. 13
Forward Marcus Epps and goalkeeper Christian Lomelli of the Fire U-18 Academy team will travel with the team and be available for selection by Chicago Fire Reserve Head Coach Leo Percovich.
