The Dynamo Academy squads stayed local last weekend, traveling to The Woodlands to take on the the Texas Rush. After two hard-fought games however, the teams came away winless, with the U-18s (1-3-2) drawing 1-1 and the U-16s (2-4) falling 1-0.
The 18s got off to a slow start but had the opportunity to take the lead in the 22nd minute when Josue Morales (Houston Chavez) found a streaking Martin Castillo (Pasadena Sam Rayburn) in the penalty box. Castillo took a touch to get around the Rush defender but the goalkeeper scrambled to his feet to block Castillo's shot. In the 41st minute, Dynamo forward Jade George (Lone Star College Cy Fair) was clipped from behind in the box to earn a penalty kick. Abe Matamoros (Strake Jesuit) stepped up for the Dynamo but was denied by the Rush goalkeeper to keep the game scoreless.
Houston came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and took advantage of an error by the goalkeeper to grab the lead in the 46th minute. Diego Velazquez (Lone Star College) tapped in the loose ball after the goalkeeper dropped a left-footed cross from Leo Ayala (Houston Sharpstown). Although Houston kept the pressure on in the second half, the Dynamo were unable to get the second goal to put the Rush away. In the 82nd minute, Rush midfielder Javier Vazquez converted a free kick from outside the 18-yard box. Dynamo goalkeeper Graham Wheeler (Katy Taylor) was tested once more in stoppage time but made a diving save to preserve the 1-1 draw.
In the second game of the day, the Dynamo U-16 team came out strong and held most of the possession in the first half. Houston's Isaiah Noreiga (Humble Kingwood Park) tallied six shots on the day but could not beat the Rush goalkeeper. In the 32nd minute, Kekutah Manneh converted a penalty kick to give the Rush a lead they would not relinquish. With little time left on the clock, Dynamo defender Bradley Bourgeois (Cy-Fair) snuck into the box and beat the Rush goalkeeper but was called offsides. Although the Dynamo recorded 12 shots on the day, they struggled to find the net and were shut out for the third time this season.
Both Dynamo Academy teams have a bye next weekend and return to league action on Sunday, November 7, for matches against Andromeda in Plano. The U-18s kick off at 2 p.m., with the U-16s to follow at 4 p.m. On Sunday, the U-18s will play against Regals FC in a match to benefit Franco Olascoaga, a former Regals FC player who passed away recently after being struck by lightning.
U-18: Houston Dynamo 1, Texas Rush 1
October 23, 2010 -- John Cooper School, The Woodlands, TX
USSF Development Academy -- Texas Division
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Diego Velazquez 1 (unassisted) 45
TEX -- Javier Vazquez (unassisted) 82
Dynamo Academy -- Graham Wheeler, Christopher Sutherland (Siegfried Casar 61), Alan Hernandez, Erik Tello, Leo Ayala, Martin Castillo (Juan Lopez 62), Josue Morales (Mario Diaz 85), Bryan Celis (Marco Chacon 84), Abe Matamoros, Jade George (Sebastian Karpen 52), Diego Velazquez.
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
U-16: Houston Dynamo 0, Texas Rush 1
October 23, 2010 -- John Cooper School, The Woodlands, TX
USSF Development Academy -- Texas Division
Scoring Summary:
TEX -- Kekuta Manneh (penalty kick) 32
Dynamo Academy -- Juan Navarrete, Nelson Castro (Raffi Gregorian 53), Bradley Bourgeois, Christian Manisck, Alex Ochoa, Gabriel Moreno (Christian Camera 41), Jorge Andrade, Raymundo Marquez (Giovanni Najar 66), Branco Ramirez, Isaiah Noreiga (Luis Mendoza 80), Lorenzo Salazar (Fortine Wamutega 26, Bryan Salazar 41)..
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
