Team Chicago Academy-Santos continued the current trend of successful MRL participation for Team Chicago Academy teams by earning an emphatic 3-0 victory away to Strikers of Fox Valley.

This was Santos’ first outing out the season in the MRL U17 Girls First Division Green bracket, and the team dominated the game from start to finish with Hannah Rodgers leading the way with a goal and an assist on the night.

10 minutes into the game Co-Captain Kaela Leskovar recorded the eventual game-winner off a great training-ground sequence. Winger Olivia Schmitt found right-back Talise Romain in an overlap and Talise drove in a perfect cross at the top of the 6-yard box, which Kaela then calmly slotted back across the GK and into the far post side-netting. With 10 minutes left in the first half the other Co-Captain Kristen Brots finished another training ground sequence, when she walked around the helpless GK and scored in the empty net. The move started with a great pass from center-back AJ Jakuszewski into target forward Hannah Rodgers’ feet, and Hannah then held off the defender and slipped in a perfect through ball for Kristen.

Up 2-0 at the half it was all about keeping the momentum in the 2nd half and then finding the 3rd goal to seal the victory. Santos came out like gangbusters, and a little bit more composure in the final third would have seen the team run away with the game early in the 2nd half. Instead they had to wait until the 75th minute when Hannah Rodgers found Olivia Schmitt on the wing, and Olivia trickily beat her defender in the corner and hooked back a perfect pass to Rodgers, who finished the move she herself had started to assure Santos’ victory.

Next up for Santos in MRL is an MRL weekend in Michigan 10/6-7 with 3 games against Michigan teams.

With the win the 5 Team Chicago Academy teams in MRL are 15-0-3 this Fall with a combined goal-score of 56-10.

Team Chicago Academy teams remain undefeated in Midwest Regional League (MRL) after another successful weekend with 2 wins and 2 ties.

Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo started off the weekend in blustering conditions, but on an absolutely perfect pitch against Eclipse Elite at the Oak Brook Polo Grounds. Without every rising to its usual high standards, Botafogo recorded a relatively comfortable 2-0 win to maintain its perfect record atop the MRL U18 Premier Division.

Megan Geldernick recorded her 3rd straight shutout in goal while Zoe Swift and Zoey Goralski each scored a perfect goal 10 minutes in and with 10 minutes left. Swift’s goal came after great combination play between Ashley Handwork, Zoey Goralski, and Swift before Swift expertly slotted the ball past the on-rushing GK to the corner of the far post.

Zoey Goralski’s goal came after a great pass from Gianna Dal Pozzo, where Goralski calmly walked the ball into the penalty box and found the foot of the far post.

Next up for Botafogo in MRL play is this Saturday against FC United in a re-match of the State Cup Final.

Saturday morning Team Chicago Academy-Eagles faced Omaha FC in Muscatine, IA. The teams went into half time level at 0-0. Unfortunately, Eagles gave up a quick goal early into the 2nd half. Battling back and creating chances, they were rewarded in the final seconds of the game when Wesley Anderson connected with a cross from Calum Nettleton to earn Eagles a deserved 1-1 draw.

Eagles then faced Juventus Phoenix from NE in the afternoon game. Trailing 1-0 going into half time, Eagles fought back with strong team play and goals by Max Graf and Calum Nettleton. Unfortunately, after giving up a goal with 10 minutes to go the game resulted in a 2-2 draw.

Eagles remain unbeaten through 7 games and currently sit in 3rd place.

Late on Sunday night Team Chicago Academy-Internacional continued its dominance in the MRL U16 First Division White with a 4-0 win over Campton United. Kiley Czerwinski got Internacional on the board early when she stripped the ball from a Campton defender and blasted a low far post finish.

A few mins later Miranda Lambert slotted a ball to Alena Sidwell who easily beat the goalie, and placed the ball past a recovering Campton defender into the back of the net. Just before the end of the 1st half, Internacional struck again when Megan Buchanan drove a long ball over the top of the Campton defense to Abby George who finished the opportunity in the far corner.

With 15 minutes left in the 2nd half, Jori Romano played a beautiful through ball to Miranda Lambert who poked it past the Campton goalie for Internacional’s final goal of the match.

Internacional has not given up a goal in MRL play thus far thanks to the solid defensive work by Megan Buchanan, Tori Christiansen, Tati Espinoza, Abby Flynn, Sophia Moreau and Nikki Molino. Sam O’Brien picked up the shutout for Internacional who is currently 3-0 in MRL.

Next up for Internacional in MRL is a couple of games in St. Louis this weekend.

Team Chicago Academy-Santos forward Hannah Rodgers has accepted a very generous scholarship offer to continue her soccer career at Illinois State University. Hannah, who plays her prep soccer at Normal Community H.S., will be part of ISU Redbirds Head Coach Drew Roff’s 2014 Freshman class.

The Redbirds were both the Missouri Valley Conference Regular Season & Tournament Champions in both 2011 and 2009 and participated in the NCAA Tournament both years. At ISU Hannah will link up with Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo midfield Brooke Ksiazek who is part of the Redbirds’ 2013 Freshman class.

Team Chicago Academy-Santos right-back Talise Romain has accepted a very generous scholarship offer to continue her soccer career at the University of Florida. Talise, who plays her prep soccer for Joe Moreau at Neuqua Valley H.S., will be part of Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh’s 2014 Freshman class.

Florida is a perennial SEC powerhouse that has participated in 15 NCAA Post-Season tournaments – including its 1998 NCAA National Championship.

Traveling to Muscatine, IA this past weekend for the 2nd week of MRL play Botafogo, Brasilia, and Eagles kept the unbeaten streak alive for Team Chicago Academy teams.

Team Chicago Academy-Brasilia now sits atop the Girls U14 First Division West Green division with a perfect 4-0 record after defeating KC Legends from Kansas 1-0 on Saturday and then KS Rush Wolves 3-2 on Sunday. Next up for Brasilia in MRL is an away game at Chicago Inter-Homer Glen next Saturday. 2 wins in the final 3 games should be enough to secure a spot in the MRL Premier Division for the Spring season.

Team Chicago Academy-Eagles also sits atop its Boys U14 First Division West White division with a 4-0-1 record. On Saturday Eagles defeated Scott Gallagher U13 Elite 4-0 with Max Graf and Wesley Anderson each bagging a brace. Later in the day Eagles defeated Scott Gallagher U14 Premier 5-2 behind Max Graf’s hat-trick and 2 goals from Michael Vivo. On Sunday, Eagles faced a strong McMahon Stauder team and tied 0-0. Eagles will head back to Muscatine this Saturday for 2 more MRL games.

Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo begin its defense of the MRL Premier Division title with two convincing 5-0 wins over Harembi Viati and Sporting Kansas. Megan Geldernick and Kiley Dunning shared the shutouts in goal and the goals were scored by Zoey Goralski (2), Zoe Swift (2), Ashley Handwork, Bryce Banuelos, Darby Moran, Hope D’Addario, Jenna Romano, and Meegan Johnston. Gianna Dal Pozzo lead the way in assists with 5 on the weekend. Next up for Botafogo in the MRL is a 9am game v. Eclipse this Saturday in Oakbrook.