Revs Make Development Academy Debut

Under-17/18 Squad Goes 2-1 in Winter Showcase

December 9, 2008

LANCASTER, Calif. – The New England Revolution’s Development Academy debut went well, with the new Under-17/18 squad going 2-1 in the Winter Showcase over the weekend.

(CHRIS ADUAMA/ aduama.com)

The Revs’ youth club was one of the 12 new clubs that were involved in their first ever Showcase, including eight from Texas, two in the San Francisco area and one in Los Angeles.

“The part that is been most beneficial is the fact that we're competing against the best,” said Revolution Academy coach Mario Prata, who went up against teams from Washington, North Carolina and Texas. “That alone makes the players better. The level of the games is always good and the players are forced to become the best that they can be.”

The club got off on the right foot on Friday. A goal from Homero Morais in the 52nd minute gave the Revolution Academy a 1-0 win over the Dallas Texans in its first game of the Showcase.

In the Revs’ second game on Saturday, they surrendered three second-half strikes and fell, 3-0, to Greensboro Youth Soccer.

The club wrapped up its three-game slate with a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Washington Premier FC on Monday. Scott Caldwell opened the scoring for the Revolution Academy in the 29th minute. That would be all the scoring in the first half.

Two Washington Premier goals in the 54th and 75th minutes put the Revs down, 2-1. But again it was Morais who delivered the big strike, this time netting goals just four minutes apart in the 78th and 83nd minute to give New England a 3-2 victory.

For the full results from the Development Academy’s Winter Showcase, click here.

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