MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced on Thursday that the Impact U21 team has decided not to play in the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) in 2013.
The team will play approximately 30 exhibition games versus opposition that will provide a good challenge, including American universities, NASL and USL Pro teams. In addition, a number of U21 players will be invited to take part in MLS Reserve League games with the first team.
“In order to augment the development of our players, we have decided to focus their playing time in the MLS Reserve League and the USSDA,” said Academy director Philippe Eullaffroy. “This will also allow us to better manage our roster, which will be tested with a number of our players being invited to take part in the Canada Games and the Jeux de la Francophonie. We also hope to take advantage of the recent agreement between MLS and USL Pro.”
The Academy has been based in Montreal since 2010 and the organization launched its sport-etudes program in 2011.
In 2012, the Impact U21 finished the regular season in second place in the CSL, making it all the way to the championship game of the playoffs.
