VANCOUVER, BC - Both Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency squads are busy preparing for the first round of the United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) Playoffs later this month and now they can put names to the opponents they'll be facing.
On Tuesday morning, the USSDA conducted the draw for the first round of the playoffs, which run from June 23 to 26 for the U18s and from June 24 to 27 for the U16s.
Whitecaps FC U-18 Residency, who finished second in the West Conference, Northwest Division with a 16W-6L-5D record, were placed in Group F alongside Bethesda-Olney, Oakwood SC, and GA Academy.
Bethesda-Olney is the marquee matchup of the three. Armed with a 23W-2L-0D campaign, they sat first not only in the Atlantic Division, but first overall in the playoff standings
Oakwood SC should prove to be a test of the Blue and White as well, as they ended the season ranked fourth in a very competitive Northeast Division. Georgia United also fared well this past year, finishing fifth in the Southeast Division with an 18W-13L-5D record.
Whitecaps FC U-16 Residency, who claimed the West Conference, Northwest Division title thanks to a 15W-5L-7D record, were placed in Group C along with fellow MLS-affiliated club Houston Dynamo U-16, Weston FC, and Match Fit Academy.
The group promises to pose a formidable challenge to the ‘Caps, as Weston FC ranked first in the Southeast Division in the regular season with a 23W-7L-5D season, Houston heads into the playoffs ranked second in the Frontier Division with an 11W-5L-11D record, and Match Fit finished fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 14W-7L-4D campaign.
The USSDA Round of 32 kicks off June 23 in Westfield, Indiana at Grand Park. The winning team from each group will then advance to a knock-out round match, with the winners moving on to the semifinals. Stay tuned to whitecapsfc.com for complete coverage.
