Academy teams split games with PA Classics; U14s goes 1-0-2 in North Carolina

Michael Swift scored the lone goal of the game in the 25th minute and the defense did the rest to lead the Philadelphia Union Academy U18 team to a 1-0 win over PA Classics on Saturday on the training fields outside PPL Park.

The game's lone goal was the fourth of the season - and the second game-winner - for the Clemson commit. Derrick Jones Amaniampong paired with Lamine Conte to anchor the defense in front of goalkeeper Andrew Verdi. The start was Conte's first of the season.

Robert Campbell and Freeman Dwamena started as outside backs. Frederick Gil, Tiger Graham, Dawson McCartney, Emmanuel Perez, Yosef Samuel and Michael Swift rounded out the starting XI. Jerren Nixon, Matthew Real, Maximilien Sakiewicz, Raheem Taylor-Parkes and Abu Winter made appearances off the bench.

With the win, the U18s stayed three points ahead of New York Red Bulls in first place in the Atlantic Division with a 7-1-1 record. The Red Bulls have a game in hand with a 6-1-1 record.

U16

Isaac Hollinger scored in the 31st and 40th minute to lead PA Classics to a 2-1 win over the U16 team. Reserve Daniel Bloyou pulled one back late in the 80th minute for the Union U16's only goal of the match.

The starting XI included goalkeeper Michael Kalpokas, Andrew Aprahamian, Kalil ElMedkhar, Anthony Fontana, Evan Godfrey, Brandon Golden, Darius Lewis, Justin McMaster, Byron Josue Monge, Patrick Murphy and Kurtis Orrson. Daniel Bloyou, Isaiah Holquish, Juan Infante and Benjamin Ofeimu came off the bench.

With the loss, the U16 team fell to 5-2-2 on the season, three points behind New York Red Bulls for first place in the Atlantic Division.

U14

The U14s traveled to Advance, North Carolina for a showcase event that included three games in two days over the weekend.

The first game ended in a scoreless draw against New York City FC on Saturday morning, following by a 1-0 win over Oakwood Soccer Club in the afternoon. The third game ended in a 2-2 draw against Orlando City SC on Sunday morning.

Obafemi Awodesu scored his first of the season in the Oakwood Soccer Club win. Jason Aoyama and Cole Turner picked up the goals in the Orlando City draw. Aoyama is second on the team in goals with six on the year.

Up Next

U14 travel to Whitehall, Pa. to take on Lehigh Valley United on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Whitehall High School. The U18 and U16 will travel to Leesburg, Virginia to take on D.C. United at Evergreen SportsPlex at 10:30 a.m. (U18) and 1 p.m. (U16).