The USSDA (U.S. Soccer Development Academy) season starts this weekend for the Impact U16 and U18 teams, against the Empire Revolution on Sunday.
As playing in this league represents the best competition level for this age category in North America, the goal of the Impact teams is to qualify for the playoffs each year, while putting the focus on principles of play and identity.
“The goal is to make the playoffs and after, you never know what can happen,” explained Impact U18 midfielder David Choinière. “We have a new group, so we will want to find our own identity with this group and see what happens from there. We need to be consistent in the short term and put in good performances each week. If we are good in training, we will be good when the weekend comes.”
The U18 reached the USSDA semifinals two consecutive years, something rare in this competitive league. Following this last qualification, eight players graduated to FC Montreal in the USL, while head coach Jason Di Tullio was promoted to interim assistant coach with the Impact’s first team.
“Two years ago, the U18 did really well by finishing third and last year, we finished fourth,” said U18 defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguère. “I think now we simply want to keep doing better and finishing higher.”
For the U16s, they finished last season a few spots out of the playoffs. USSDA competition is also something new for players who join the Academy and those who graduate from the U14s, which adds to the challenge of reaching the playoffs.
“We have to start with good performances, which will bring good results,” said Impact U16 midfielder Mathieu Choinière, David’s brother. “Then, we have to raise our level of play as the season goes on. We try to find our identity of play and make the other team pay.”
The identity of play is a message that comes back often at the Academy. Over the years, Montreal teams have been known for its style and principles of play.
“We are always proud, we are a club that wants to play with the ball and we try to show it with our quality,” added David Choinière.
“It’s a great pride for us and recognition that shows the coaches and technical staff work well, it makes us proud to say we play for the Impact,” explained Thomas Meilleur-Giguère.
Both games to open the season will be played on Sunday, September 13, at 10am (U18) and 12:30pm (U16) at the Montreal Impact training center.
