The Red Bulls Academy had another stellar weekend during the Columbus Day holiday, with four squads combining for a 4-1 record.
The 2000 Red Bulls pre-academy came away with the biggest win of the weekend, earning an 8-0 victory their road match against Albertson. Valentino Ambrosio got the goal-scoring frenzy started with a free-kick from 30 yards out, and finished the day with two goals and an assist. Thriston Briscoe added a brace of his own, while Diego Moran, Jack Valderrabbano, Jordan Bailon and Gray Ricca each scored a goal, as well. Christian Puccio had two assists on the day, while Thomas Miazga also added a helper.
The U16's weekend saw them advance to the top bracket of the MLS Youth Cup with wins over D.C. United and the Philadelphia Union in Montreal. The team kicked off their weekend on Friday with a 3-1 win over United. Ethan Lochner scored off a pass from Chris Flores before D.C. equalized. Kyle Zajec responded for New York by finishing off a pass from Matt Olosunde to take back the lead, and Gideon Metrikin finished off the scoring with a second-half penalty kick to seal the victory.
On Saturday, the U16's followed up by beating the Union 2-0 off of goals by Lochner, who again opened the scoring off a pass from Marcello Borges, and Metrikin, who again scored a PK to put the game on ice. The squad can run their record in East Region group play to a perfect 5-0 on Monday when they play their finale against the Montreal Impact.
The U18's beat the Union 3-1 in a friendly on Saturday at home. Defender Kevin Politz opened the scoring for the Red Bulls with his first goal of the season off a pass from captain Arun Basuljevic in the 14th minute. The Red Bulls failed to capitalize on several other chances in the first half and took the 1-0 lead into half-time. Philadelphia equalized in the 56th minute on a direct free kick from 25 yards. The goal seemed to energize the U18’s as they regained the lead in the 60th minute when Basuljevic finished from a great thru ball from Derrick Etienne. The Red Bulls completed the scoring in the 83rd minute when Malcolm Dixon finished from an unselfish pass from newly signed midfielder Gabriel Vianna.
The U15s suffered the Academy's only loss of the weekend, losing their first of the season in a road trip to face Albertson. The 1998 age group is back in action next week against Pennsylvania's Delco.
