The Colorado Rapids Development Academy U-16/17s and U-15s traveled to Houston, Texas last week to participate in the second round of the Generation adidas Cup regional qualifying.
The U-16/17s opened the tournament against the host team, Houston Dynamo. Luke Mitchell gave the Rapids a leg up in the 20th minute after heading home a free kick. For the rest of the game, the Dynamo were searching for an equalizer, but Rapids Jario Barreras put the match on ice after finding the back of the net in second-half stoppage time to make the final scoreline 2-0 to Colorado.
Erik Bushey’s U-16/17 squad squared off against Toronto FC in the second day of the tournament and found themselves in an early hole after Ryan Robinson gave the Reds an the lead with a right-footed rocket past goalkeeper Win Ellis. The Rapids picked up momentum as they search for an equalizer and in the 85th minute, Oliver Larraz found it. The midfielder's shot from 25-yards out ultimately found the back of the net. Minutes later, Toronto's Theo Corbeanu gave his side the lead again as he scored near the penalty area making the score 2-1. In the 52nd minute, Logan Dorsey of the Rapids leveled the score 2-2. The game ended in a draw resulting in a penalty shootout that saw the Reds come out on top.
On the third and final day, the U-16/17s fell 3-0 to FC Dallas, and finished fourth in their regional qualifying standings. They will play again in the GA Cup Finals in March but did not qualify for the Champions Division.
The U-15s finished on the top of the Central Region with their only loss coming on the first day of the tournament via penalty shootout against the Houston Dynamo.
Chris Cartlidge's side bounced back on the second day of play with a dominant second half over South Texas ODP that saw them finish with a 4-0 victory. Luis Reyes opened the scoring right before the half as he buried a right-footed shot. After the break, The Rapids doubled the score as Ethan Ballek slotted home a rebound off a free kick from Reyes. Minutes later, Ballek earned a brace as he scored a left-footed rocket from the top of the 18-yard box. Defender Jaden Ohlsen rounded out the scoring with a right-footed shot in the 66th minute.
Overall, the U-15s ended the GA Cup on top of their group with a 4-1-1 record. There are no GA Cup Finals for the U-15 age group.
