Juan Flores scored two goals, including the game-winner early in the second half, as the Houston Dynamo Academy U-16 team secured a 3-1 win over the Houston Dash in a preseason scrimmage on Wednesday afternoon at Houston Sports Park.
The match, played on a rainy, wind-blown afternoon, was the first scrimmage between the Dash and a club from within the Houston Dynamo Academy.
Flores received his first scoring opportunity in the 21st minute, breaking in behind the Dash defense and forcing a good save from Dash goalkeeper Erin McLeod, who dove to her right to parry away Flores’ shot from 20 yards.
12 minutes later, Flores was fouled by Arianna Romero inside the penalty area and the Academy was awarded a penalty kick. Flores took the spot kick and drove it low and into the center of the goal for a 1-0 lead.
The Dash equalized just two minutes later from a corner kick. Nikki Washington sent a floating delivery inside the six-yard box and Dynamo Academy goalkeeper Johan Welch claimed the cross before a slight bobble allowed Tiffany McCarty an opening, and the forward nodded the loose ball into the net from close range to even the score.
Both teams made several changes to their lineup at halftime. One holdover was Flores, who struck again five minutes into the second half. The forward took a quality pass from Alex Quintanilla and drove a low finish past Dash goalkeeper Bianca Henninger from 12 yards for a 2-1 lead.
Flores’ two-goal performance continues a strong campaign for the Dynamo Academy forward, who has 17 goals in 18 games this season, leading the U-16s, who are currently in second place in the Central Conference of the U.S. Development Academy.
The Academy added to its lead two minutes later. Moments after entering as a substitute, Academy midfielder Mason Schuster collected the ball 25 yards from goal and quickly drove a low shot into the bottom corner of the net, stretching the U-16s’ lead to 3-1.
The Dash created two quality scoring chances late in the 75-minute scrimmage.
First, trialist Lindsay Elston played a short free kick to the feet of Jordan Jackson, who had a good view of goal from 15 yards and forced a quick reaction save from Academy goalkeeper Rene Chavez.
Then, a minute later, Romero intercepted a pass in the offense half of the field and played a nifty pass to trialist Sara Campbell, who drove a shot from the left side of the area but Chavez was on the spot again for another important save.
The Dash continue preseason on Saturday when they host Texas Tech University at 2 p.m. at Houston Sports Park. The scrimmage is free and open to the public.
The Dash open their inaugural season on April 12 at BBVA Compass Stadium against the defending NWSL champion Portland Thorns. Tickets are available by clicking here or by calling 713-276-GOAL.
Houston Dash vs. Houston Dynamo Academy U-16s
March 26, 2014 – Houston Sports Park
Scrimmage
Scoring Summary:
Dynamo Academy U-16s: Juan Flores (penalty) 33
Houston Dash: Tiffany McCarty (unassisted) 35
Dynamo Academy U-16s: Juan Flores (Sergio “Alex” Quintanilla) 50
Dynamo Academy U-16s: Mason Schuster 52
Houston Dash – Erin McLeod (Bianca Henninger 46); Arianna Romero (Kika Toulouse 46), Emilee O'Neil* (Marissa Diggs 46), Holly Hein* (Dominique Richardson* 46), Nikki Washington (Arianna Romero 61); Becky Edwards (Tori McCombs* 46), Brittany Bock (Holly Hein* 61), Teresa Noyola (Jordan Jackson 46); Tiffany McCarty (Sara Campbell* 46), Kealia Ohai (Lindsay Elston* 46), Stephanie Ochs (Anisa Guajardo* 46)
Houston Dynamo Academy U-16s – Johan Welch (Rene Chavez 46); Cameron Walker (Kendrick Kwan 53), Giandemir Jaen (Mason Schuster 50), Noe Ochoa (Edwin Gomez 53), Sergio Mejia (Jorge Benitez 53); Andrew Giraldo (Nixon Urrutia 50), Christian Molina (Wilmer Baron 53), Sergio “Alex” Quintanilla (Roberto Marquez 53); Juan Martinez (Jacob Salome 53), Juan Flores, Deniz Sipahi (Efe Umaka 35)
*Trialist
