Academy teams go 1-0-1 against Bethesda-Olney

Jerren Nixon's 85th minute goal was the difference in a 3-2 win for the Union Academy U-18 team on Saturday. The forward, who checked into the game in the 70th minute, tallied his first goal of the season in Development Academy play five minutes after Academy newcomer Emmanuel Perez scored his first goal to tie the game at 2-2.

Tiger Graham opened the scoring for the Union in the 14th minute to tie the game at 1-1 after a Jordan Dove goal in the 7th minute put the visitors in front. Bethesda-Olney took the lead in the 41st minute on a goal by David Mason.

Justin Bajek started in goal for the Union, which also had Robert Campbell, Joseph DeZart, Freeman Dwamena, Mark McKenzie, Frederick Gil, Tiger Graham, Emmanuel Perez, Alexander Soto, Yosef Samuel and Michael Swift in the starting XI. Dawson McCartney, Jerren Nixon, Abu Winter and Matthew Real were used as subs.

With the win, the U-18s moved into a three-way tie for first place in the Atlantic Division standings with 16 points (5-1-1) through seven games.

U-16s

The U-16 team blew a two-goal lead and had to settle for a draw with Bethesda-Olney. After a scoreless first half, Darius Lewis opened the scoring in the 51st minute with this fourth of the season and Issa Rayyan made it 2-0 in the 61st minute with his third.

But Bethesda-Olney answered back with a 70th minute goal from Gabriel Segal and an equalizer seven minutes later from Dorion Dixon.

Andrew Aprahamian, Anthony Fontana, Brandon Golden, Isaiah Holquist, Juan Infante, Michael Kalpokas, Seth Kuhn, Darius Lewis, Kurtis Orrson, Issa Rayyan and Nykolas Sessock were in the starting lineup. Brenden Aaronson, Khalil ElMedkhar, Rayshaun McGann, Justin McMaster and Bryon Josue Monge came off the bench.

With the draw, the U-16s stay three points behind New York Red Bulls in second place in the Atlantic Division with 14 points (4-1-2).

Up Next

The U-18 teams plays Seacoast United Saturday at 11 a.m. at YSC Sports followed by the U-16 team against Seacoast United at 1 p.m. and the U-14 team hosts New York Red Bulls at 3 p.m.

Matthew Ralph

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

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