Newcomer Flores scores in Philadelphia Union Academy debut

On the drive over to YSC Sports where he was set to make his debut for the Philadelphia Union Academy last Saturday, U17 midfielder Danny Luis Flores was imagining himself scoring a goal.

That’s just what he did a half hour in when Selmir Miscic sent a low liner off a corner kick to him at the top of the D and the California native, who joined the Union from Shattuck-St. Mary’s this summer, stepped back and unleashed a beautiful strike.

After scoring, he ran directly to the stands to celebrate with his housemates.

“It felt incredible because before the game I was imagining it the whole ride to YSC,” he said.

The goal held up as the winner for the Union in a 4-0 shut out of Virginia Development Academy. Aboubacar Camara had a brace and Tiron Shatku added a goal to make it two wins out of two to start the season. Lukas Burns had the clean sheet in goal.

The U19s picked up their first win of the season in the last game of the day on Saturday at YSC. Nick Blacklock scored in the 58th minute and after a 68th minute equalizer for the visitors Tonny Temple put the Union back on top for good in the 75th minute.

An own goal in the 88th minute sealed the 3-1 final.

The Union U15s won their second straight match to start the season with a 3-0 win over VDA. Owen Moore registered the clean sheet in goal and Andrew Johnson had the game-winning goal in the 30th minute. Sam Jones and Zion Scarlett scored goals in the second half.

Akron, Ohio native Levi Stephens, a newcomer from Cleveland Internationals Academy, made his Union debut in the starting lineup and played all 80 minutes at center back.

The U14 matched their offensive outburst in their season opener with another 10-goal shellacking, giving them 20 goals already through two matches.

Caden Grabfelder had a hat trick, Dylan Lacey a brace and Francis Westfield, Favian Loyola, Thomas Hastings, Dominic Dubon and Beckham Aiman all added goals. Grabfelder and Dubon both lead the team with 5 goals each.

Noah Schlosser kept his second straight clean sheet in goal.

The U13s also had their second straight clean sheet with a 4-0 win. John Andrus had a brace and Antonios Horozoglou and Dominic Wilson added goals.

The academy teams were originally scheduled to travel to Richmond this weekend but the trip was postponed due to pending weather. The teams will return to Development Academy play on September 22 at YSC Sports against Bethesda SC.