Academy Update: Red Bulls Sides Post Perfect Weekend

It was another stellar weekend for the New York Red Bulls Academy teams, as the five squads combined for a perfect 5-0 record.

The 2000 Red Bulls Pre-Academy team kept up their winning ways with a 4-0 win over Met Oval. Christian Puccio recorded a brace in the match and added on an assist, while striker Thriston Briscoe and defender Jordan Bailon tallied a goal each to close out the scoring and secure the shutout.

The U-14 Red Bulls defeated the New England Revolution Academy Sunday, 3-1. Omir Fernandez and Kazu Shingenubo each found pay dirt off assists from Zach Ryan in the first half to give New York a 2-0 lead heading into the break. In the second, Ryan found the back of the net as well, allowing the Red Bulls to close out the match with a 3-1 victory. The win improves the team’s record to 3-0 in league play and 5-0 overall.

Matching the U-14 scoreline, the Red Bulls’ U-15 squad defeated Met Oval Saturday afternoon, 3-1, at the Red Bulls Training Facility in Hanover. It took a good 30 minutes for the offense to click, but when they did the goals came quickly, allowing the Red Bulls to head into the half with a 2-0 lead. Despite allowing a goal in the second half, New York tagged on another to ensure the win and continue the U-15’s undefeated run.

In U-16 action, the Red Bulls improved to 6-0 on the season after beating the Revolution Academy 3-0 Sunday afternoon. Ryan Mingachos was the first to strike when he finished off an Ethan Lochner cross to give the Red Bulls a 1-0 lead heading into the break. In the second half, Lochner buried his second of the match before Gideon Metrikin put away a PK to close out the win. Nick Giordano secured the shutout in goal.

Last but not least, the Red Bulls’ U-18 side defeated the Revolution with a convincing 5-1 victory. Forward Amando Moreno opened up the scoring in the 17^th minute when he finished off a pass from Alex Tejera. Two minutes later it was Moreno again, this time blasting a shot from 20 yards out into the bottom right corner of the goal. In the 24^th minute it was Tejera’s turn, as he finished off a cross from Anthony Viteri. New England answered back with a goal of their own in the 42^nd minute, putting the halftime score at 3-1 in favor of the Red Bulls. In the second, New York dominated possession and tagged on two more goals – one from Derrick Etienne in the 51^st minute off a Moreno feed, and another from Arun Basuljevic in the 83^rd - to cap off the day.