Four Team Chicago Academy teams went to Rockford last weekend to begin their MRL journeys and finished with a combined 6-2-1 record.

Team Chicago Academy-Internacional finished the weekend with a perfect 3-0-0 record in the U18 MRL Premier II Division after beating Lou Fusz 4-1, Sporting Iowa 4-1, and Michigan Fire Jrs 3-1.

In the opening game on an extremely poor field, Internacional found itself down by 1-0 after 8 minutes, but the early goal proved to be the perfect wake-up call. For the remaining 82 minutes Inter controlled the proceedings in one of its best performances ever.

Jori Romano got subbed into the game in the 19th minute, and her very first action was to hammer home a perfectly struck free-kick from 25 yards into the upper-90 to tie the game. A few minutes later Miranda Lambert attacked the end-line and drove-in a great cross, which Keely Theobald dummied with perfection at the near-post and Alena Sidwell ran onto and finished for the eventual game-winner. With 12 minutes left in the first half Miranda stole the ball from a Lou Fusz defender, beat the last defender, and calmly slotted the ball home at the foot of the far post. Five minutes into the 2nd half Miranda got her second goal to finish off the game after Erin Johnston’s great through-ball found left back Tati Espinoza’s perfect run, and Tati squared it unselfishly to Miranda for the easy tap-in.

In the 2nd game Inter went down 1-0 against the run-of-play again, but Jori Romano quickly evened the score-line on a PK against Maddy Pokora, and Keely Theobald got the game-winner before the half. In the 2nd half Keely made it 3-1 before Quincy Kellett made it 4-1 final score.

The final Inter game was won pretty easily by a 3-1 score-line. Miranda Lambert scored first off Erin Johnston’s assist, and Keely Theobald and Quincy Kellett got the other two goals to cap off the perfect MRL weekend for Inter.

An injury-riddled Team Chicago Academy-Brasilia started its U16 MRL Premier I Division play this past weekend in Rockford with three games. Saturday’s competition proved to be very challenging for Brasilia and started off with Futura Academy Forte Premier out of Missouri. The game ended in a 3-0 loss with Brasilia creating a few opportunities, but unfortunately did not find the net. In the afternoon game Brasilia faced WAZA FC East 99 Juniors from Michigan. Completely different style of play was shown by the Michigan team which chose to sit in and counter with long balls. As a result Brasilia had much more possession, but were denied on several opportunities and the match ended 3-1. Brasilia’s only goal came when Callie Vitro served an excellent ball from the left side of the box where Jasmine Ruiz scored a fantastic header that beat the fully-extended WAZA keeper.

In Sunday’s game Brasilia faced another tough challenge with Lou Fusz – Wipke (MO) who was a Region II Championship semi-finalist. The game proved to be very physical with end-to-end excitement. The opening goal was a result of great build-up coming out of the back with Callie Vitro playing a ball into the final third to Safia Hannin. Safia drove toward goal beating her opponent inside prior to releasing a shot toward goal that was slightly deflected prior to reaching the back of the net. Brasilia’s second goal came off some hard work with Makenna Schoolman sending a ball toward the back post which Rachel White finished. Lou Fusz countered each goal with one of its own until the final minutes. Play started in the midfield where Maddie Lambert collected a ball and beat her opponent inside to allow time for her perfectly weighted pass into Safia Hannin. Safia drove toward the right side of the box beat two players to go one on one with the keeper and she placed a great ball into the far side netting for the game-winner. Great way to end the weekend against some great competition.

Team Chicago Academy-Cruzeiro began its quest for an MRL Premier I Division championship repeat with a convincing 3-0 win against Alliance SC from Michigan. The game-winner came half-way through the first half when GK Bailee Witt served a perfect 50-yard outlet pass to Jamie Goralski, who beat two opponents down the left flank before delivering an inch-perfect cross into the path of Alyssa Bombacino in front of the Alliance goal. Alyssa did not disappoint and gave Cruzeiro the lead for good.

About 10 minutes later Alyssa beat her defender 1v1 in the Alliance penalty box before getting taken down for an obvious penalty kick. Jordan King stepped up to hammer it home for the 2-0 lead. And in the 2nd half Jordan King’s corner found Alyssa Bombacino at the top of the penalty box, and her shot was parried by the Alliance GK into the path of Sarah Avery who slotted it home for the 3-0 win. Bailee Witt got the shutout in goal for Cruzeiro.

Team Chicago Academy-Bahia kicked off its U14 MRL Premier II Division play with a 3-1 victory against KC Select Spirit USA (MO) on Saturday morning. The early-morning game was played on a very slick field, which made it difficult to play good possession-soccer, but the Bahia players handled the conditions well. Paige Miller scored the first goal of the match created by a great run down the left side by Molly Grant who served an excellent ball toward the back post. Paige made a great first touch to then set herself up for a fantastic finish over the goal keeper. Bahia continued to dominate possession especially in the middle of the park with Natalie Massa, Sophia Majher, and Megan Olah controlling the tempo. Through their efforts the next goal was a result of great build-up that ended with Paige Miller driving end-line and serving an excellent ball across the goal-mouth where Sophia Majher buried her shot first-time. Against the run-of-play Bahia gave up a goal on a restart to make the score 2-1. Bahia kept its poise and through its pressure they created the final goal. Paige Miller came back into the midfield and overturned the ball to feed Emma Crosswaite inside the penalty box. Emma beat the defender going to her left and drilled a shot to the opposite corner for an excellent finish.

In Sunday’s game, Bahia faced Lou Fusz Walsh Red (MO) which proved to be more physical. The game ended with a 1-1 tie in a game that lacked rhythm for long periods of the game. Bahia didn’t give up many scoring opportunities and only through a defensive mishap did the opponent have an opportunity to score. Bahia’s goal came off some hard work on the left side that eventually ended with Paige Miller sending a ball toward the back post and Abby Ford calmly finished her chance to tie the game up. Bahia had chances in the last ten minutes to secure the win but just couldn’t find the back of the net.

Great start to the MRL season for Bahia.

All four teams are back in Rockford this weekend for another round of MRL games.