Kia Toronto FC Academy’s Under-16, U14 and U12 teams recently travelled to just outside of Washington, D.C. to participate in the Annandale Premier Cup in Reston, Virginia. The young Reds came away from the trip with two championship trophies due to dominating performances from the U12 & U14 squads.
Using the trip as a preseason team building event, the teams made sure to take in all the history and culture of Washington, D.C. before hitting the pitch. Teams went on day trips to the White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and Smithsonian.
With all the sightseeing done, it was time to get down to the business at hand.
Tournament Breakdown
TFC U16 Academy (98’s) – competed in the U16 (96’s & 97’s) Showcase
TFC U14 Academy (99’s) – competed in the U15 (98’s & 99’s) Premier Division
TFC U12 Academy (00’s) – competed in the U13 (99’s & 00’s) Premier Division
Toronto FC U16 played against teams that were two years older, pushed themselves and took away some valuable experience. They kept the matches close, losing 2-1 in a pair and drawing 2-2 in another but enjoyed a positive preseason experience.
The U14s dominated their two round robin games on Saturday with a 6-0 and 3-0 wins, advancing to the semifinals on Sunday morning. That game ended in a 2-0 win for the squad, taking them to the final that afternoon. The boys secured the championship trophy with a 3-0 triumph.
The U12 team also played a lively, dominating and attractive attacking soccer throughout the tournament. Resulting in two round robin wins on Saturday with 8-0 and a 4-2 margins. The team advanced to the quarter finals on Sunday morning, where a 6-0 win pushed them forward to the semifinals. There another 4-2 victory saw them to the final. The U12 boys took the Championship winning 2-0, completing the U12 & U14 double.
Toronto FC Academy Director Thomas Rongen, the coaches and Academy staff expressed their pride in the team performances and are looking forward to building on this foundation for a great season.
Next tournament stop for the Kia Toronto FC Academy is Dallas, Texas with the Senior Academy Team in the Dallas Cup Super Group, where they take on the likes of Aalborg BK, Tigres and Fluminense FC.
