COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Friday, July 12, 2013) – The Colorado Rapids Under-16 Team will open play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finals Week this Sunday, July 14 in Houston, aiming to earn the top spot out of the eight clubs that have advanced to this stage. The Rapids will play three group stage matches and one final game to determine the club’s final placement out of 80 top youth teams around the U.S.
The Rapids earned their spot in Finals Week by finishing first in their group at the Development Academy Playoffs in Dallas at the end of June, going 2-0-1 and allowing just one goal. In the 2012-13 Development Academy regular season, the Rapids had an 18-8-3 record, led by Jovanni Chavez and Edward Venta-Yepes, with nine goals each. Defenders Kortne Thompson-Ford and Quentin Pearson were each named to the Central Conference Starting XI for their strong play throughout the season.
Colorado Rapids U-16 Team Schedule – Development Academy Finals Week
Sunday, July 14, 4:30 p.m. MT - Colorado Rapids vs. De Anza Force (San Francisco / Bay area)
Tuesday, July 16, 7:00 p.m. MT - Colorado Rapids vs. Solar Chelsea SC (Dallas, Texas)
Thursday, July 18, 4:30 p.m. MT - Colorado Rapids vs. Crew Soccer Academy Wolves (Columbus Crew affiliate based in Livonia, Michigan)
Saturday, July 20, TBD - Colorado Rapids vs. TBD at BBVA Compass Stadium.
The other U15/U16 group consists of Albertson SC, Houston Dynamo, Real Salt Lake AZ, and Texans SC Houston. The winners of each group will square off on July 20 for the first and second place game, teams that finish second in each group will meet for third and fourth place, and so on.
For up-to-date information on the Colorado Rapids Under-16 Team as it participates in the Development Academy Finals Week, follow @RapidsAcademy or @ColoradoRapids on Twitter, and click to Like the Colorado Rapids on Facebook. To follow the entire U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finals Week at @ussoccer_ynt or by using the hashtag #TURNHEADS.
Colorado Rapids Under-16s Team:
Jovanni Chavez, Hayden Davis, Ellis Remington, Hayden Heinrich, Daniel Jimenez, Quinn Liebmann, Bryce Montes, Elijah Mwenebitu, Enda O'Neill, Quentin Pearson, Esdrel Peinado, Dakota Peterson, Victor Rolph, Tucker Schneider, Jacob Smits-Kagishima, Kortne Thompson-Ford, Edward Venta-Yepes
Coaches: Mitch Murray, Brian Crookham, Gary Evans
