Following wins for both age groups on opening day of the 2014-2015 season two weeks ago, the Impact U18 and U16 teams played a double-header with back-to-back games in New Jersey against NJCSA and Players’ Development Academy.
The U18s took the first game on Saturday 3-0 with goals by Heikel Jarras, Samuel Duffek and William Thavixay against league newcomers NJCSA before playing last season’s league champions Players’ Development Academy to a 2-2 draw. Pierre Lamothe and Marco Dominguez found the back of the net in the draw.
“It was a first for us to play two games in just two days,” said captain Marco Dominguez. “I think we managed the roster well. The physical preparation and week of training was important to prepare for this weekend. We have had a really good start to the year, but we have to be prepared for difficult moments, to be able to manage them so that we can improve on our third place finish from last season and become USSDA champions!”
NJCSA 0-3 Impact U18
XI : David Paulmin(GK), Nevello Yoseke, Thomas Meilleur-Giguère, Abdoulaye Samaké, Samuel Duffek, Marco Dominguez (cap), Heikel Jarras, Simon Lemire, Jimmy-Shammar Sanon, Leonardo Kossaka, Aron Mkungilwa
PDA 2-2 Impact U18
XI :Yann-Alexandre Fillion(GK), Thomas Meilleur-Giguère, Abdoulaye Samaké, Samuel Duffek, Leo Kossaka, Nevello Yoseke, Pierre Lamothe, Simon Lemire, André-Cédric Zibi, Heikel Jarras, Aron Mkungilwa (cap)
The U16s mimicked their older counterparts, taking their game on Saturday 4-1. Gabriel Balbinotti (2), Santiago Gonzalez and Don Bobe Junior found the back of the net before playing PDA to a 1-1 draw the next day, with Balbinotti scoring his third goal on the weekend.
“I am very happy with the way we played and performed as a collective group,” explained captain Luca Ricci. “The game against PDA was a little disappointing, but we represented our colours well and our opponents even came to congratulate us after the game. Last year, we set the bar high by finishing second in our division in the regular season. This year, we are aiming for first place, to progress in the playoffs and eventually become champions.”
NJCSA 1-4 Impact U16
XI : Charles Desrochers(GK), Mouhamed Touré, Don Junior Bobe, Jackson Pickard, Alexis Stevens, Gabriel Balbinotti, Steven Alberici, Moulay Kanzi-Belghiti, Santiago Gonzalez, Mathieu Choinière, Luca Ricci (cap)
Both teams are currently in first place in their respective divisions with identical 2-0-1 records and will travel to Brooklyn next weekend to take on BW Gottschee on Sunday.
