FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution Academy teams began their U.S. Soccer Development Academy seasons’ last weekend, with the Under-18s kicking off the new campaign with a 3-1 win over Oakwood SC. Despite falling behind in the first half, the Revs responded with goals from Aaron James, Izaiah Jennings and Bryant Nardizzi to earn the season-opening victory.
Six of the 11 players that started for the Revolution U-18s were part of the Revolution Under-16 squad’s run to the Playoff Quarterfinals last year, while Tyler Freitas started at right back after spending the majority of the 2014-15 season with the Under-14s. Revolution director of youth development and U-18s head coach Bryan Scales was not fazed by the relative youth in his lineup.
“It’s a good challenge for them, it’s a good game for them to really have to concentrate and move the ball quickly and take care of little details in that game,” Scales said. “Guys like Isaac (Angking) and Tyler Freitas, these guys are (born in) 2000 and Rennicks and Jones and all of those guys that have come in and are still U-16 players, they will play a lot with the U-18s.”
After the U-18s fell behind in the 38th minute through a powerful header from Oakwood’s Noah Lussier, North Attleborough native Freitas responded quickly in his first-ever appearance with the U-18s, crossing for fellow fullback James to equalize on the stroke of halftime and send the teams into the break tied at 1-1.
“I know that Bryant (Nardizzi) shifted in more, which meant that me as a left back, I could get forward,” James said. “When I saw Bryant give that space for me, I saw that Freitas had the ball on the wing, whipped one in, I thought that I’d just go for it and the ‘keeper missed it and I was right there to mop it up.”
James, who spent time in D.C. United’s Academy while his family was living in the nation’s capital, was playing in an unfamiliar position at left back. Usually deployed as an attacking midfielder or a forward, the Amherst, Mass. native relished the opportunity in a new role.
“Coach Scales told me to stay extra wide so that when I did receive the ball on my left side, I’d be able to cut in onto my right to make it easier for me,” James said after the game. “It wasn’t really that much different for me, except for the fact that I had to overplay on my left side a little more, but I was able to get up the field a lot so I had a lot of joy on that side.”
New England took their first lead of the game 15 minutes into the second half through Jennings. After being played through by Andrew Barrowman, the forward from Barrington, R.I. fired a shot off the crossbar before heading home the rebound.
With most of the game being battled in the midfield, Jennings knew what he had to do to make an impact as a forward.
“Definitely a lot of moving up front, and definitely a lot of talking to the midfielders – make sure they’re playing in the right direction – and helping back as well in a defensive way,” he said.
The Revs added a third goal late on, with substitute Justin Rennicks sliding a low ball across to fellow forward Nardizzi, who finished first-time into the bottom corner to seal the win for the U-18s.
“You always want to get off to a good start,” Scales said. “You can see little glimpses that we’ve got some talented kids. As we’re able to speed our game up over the course of a season and try different systems and a different tactical alignment, we will be even more dangerous. These guys – today is a good day for them, they did well.”
Jennings echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“It’s good for the team morale,” he said. “We just know that getting started strong to the season is where we were last season of course, so we’re trying to make that stride again. Good win, good result.”
The Under-16s also beat Oakwood in their season opener 1-0, while the Under-14s were defeated by New York City FC in their first game of the season. All three sides will be in action this Saturday when they travel to Long Island, New York to take on Albertson SC.
