A LOOK BACK:
U20s:
The Red Bull U20s are not in season.
U18s: The Red Bull U18s are not in season.
U16s: The Red Bull U16s are not in season.
U15s: The Red Bull U15s are not in season.
U14s: The Red Bull U14s are split into two groups, the U14 1996 team and the U14 Pre Academy team. The U14 1996 team posted two impressive wins, while the U14 Pre Academy side dropped a close match.
On Saturday, November 7, the Red Bull U14 1996 team defeated U14 PDA, 4-1. U14 PDA, who had just been crowned U14 State Champions, posed a great challenge for the young Red Bulls, but from the first minute the Red Bulls showed that they were a side that had significant talent. In the tenth minute new signing Tyler Pinho (Cranford, NJ) opened the scoring. Ten minutes later Derrick Etienne (Patterson, NJ) put the Red Bulls 2-0 up with a cool finish. Juan Pablo Rojas (Piscataway, NJ) made it 3-0 after scoring off a breakaway.
In the second half the U14 1996s continued to create chances and in the 47th minute Javier Gonzalez (North Bergen, NJ) found the net from just inside the PDA penalty area to give the Red Bulls an insurmountable, 4-0, lead.
On Sunday, November 8, Pinho made it two goals in two games for the Red Bulls after opening the scoring in the first five minutes against U14 LSTS, after great work from Etienne. Rojas made it 2-0 soon after as he cut into the inside the LSTS defense and finished well. It was much of the same in the second half for the Red Bulls with LSTS trying to find the way to break the Red Bulls down to no avail. Vincent Brunetti (Wyckoff, NJ) put in the third goal and Gonzalez completed the scoring to provide the final score line of 4-0. Evan Louro (South River, NJ) went the distance in goal with the shutout.
"The results were great, and it was pleasing to score eight goals in two games and give up only one," said head coach Antonio Meza. "The scores seemed easier than the games were, as PDA has a good team and are current U14 State Champions, and LSTS is ranked in the top-5 in the state, so the competition was very good. I would say that this weekend has been the best I have seen the team play. Of course, there is still a lot of work to do, but what makes me happy is to see the players improving and understanding the game by themselves."
On Saturday, November 7, the U14 Pre Academy team ended up on the wrong side of a 1-0 score line in their match with U14 Pre Academy PDA. PDA had the better first half and was able to score a scrappy goal to head to the half with the lead. The Red Bulls had the better of the play in the second half, creating several scoring chances while holding PDA to zero shots on goal, but were unable to find the equalizing goal.
"We were out competed in the first half but got back to playing well and competing in the second half," said head coach Rob Elliott. "Today was a good lesson in making sure you compete at an appropriate level. We have had some easier games lately and this was a good reminder of how hard we have to work."
A LOOK AHEAD:
Saturday, November 14
U14 1996 Red Bulls @ MAPS 2009 FALL CHALLENGE (Ft. Dix, NJ)
Sunday, November 15
U14 1996 Red Bulls @ MAPS 2009 FALL CHALLENGE (Ft. Dix, NJ)
U14 Pre Academy Red Bulls @ Oakwood SC
