Team Chicago Academy-Palmeiras has gotten through the early stages of the newly developed State Premiership Division with great success. Palmeiras currently sits atop the standings of the U18 Premiership Division through the first couple of games with an undefeated start.

Palmeiras started off the inaugural premiership campaign with a draw against a very talented Southwest SC team, 3-3. David Sanchez had a fantastic hat-trick in a very wind-aided first game with assists from Matt Coley, Chris Freeman and Matt Bayna. In the second game of the league, Palmeiras was able to top Linces Tamayo 2-1 off another goal from David Sanchez and a fantastic strike from 35 yards out from Keath Levitt. The new league has been a tremendous opportunity for Palmeiras to get exposure top quality talent from throughout Illinois as they prepare for their State Cup run next week.

The Illinois Youth Soccer State Premiership Division (SPD) is a state-run competitive division for premier teams registered with Illinois Youth Soccer member competitive leagues (IYSA Member League). This elite competition was designed to reduce costs and travel expenses for elite teams and allow the best teams in Illinois an opportunity to compete against the other top teams in the state while meeting the requirements for State Cup and Midwest Regional League (MRL).

PFC Ryan Pertile, brother of Team Chicago Academy-Brasilia player Mary Pertile, will be honored during tonight’s Chicago Blackhawks playoff game v. Minnesota Wild. Ryan recently returned from a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan. Brasilia and the entire Team Chicago Family are proud of his service to our country and say “Welcome Home”

Team Chicago Academy-Cruzeiro defeated LTSC 3-2 under the lights at PlayUSA last night to move into first place in the MRL Girls U13 First Division West. With the win Cruzeiro remains unbeaten with a 4-0-1 record.

The first half was total Cruzeiro dominance and Kerry Abello got the opener 15 minutes in with a perfect far post finish after latching onto Lauryn Wesoloski’s inch-perfect through-ball. Jamie Goralski doubled the lead a few minutes later with another great far post finish off Mia Lakstigala’s assist.

LTSC got one back with 10 minutes left in the half, but Jordan King got the eventual game-winner off at Kerry Abello corner with 5 minutes left. In the dying minutes of the first half Cruzeiro had several opportunities to put the game out of reach, but to no avail.

The second half opened with more Cruzeiro dominance and chances, but again without the 4th goal to put the game out of reach. And as is often the case in soccer, when you don’t take your chances your opponent will find a goal to get back into the game. LTSC pulled to within one halfway through the second half and caused the final minutes to be a lot nervier than necessary for Cruzeiro.

However, the girls held onto to the 3-2 lead and can now secure a first place finish in MRL with a win against Campton at home on Wednesday, May 22nd at 6pm.

Team Chicago Academy-Brasilia meanwhile continued its unbeaten run in the MRL Girls U14 First Division West with a 1-1 draw away to Chicago-Inter. Emmerson Fuller got the all-important goal for Brasilia.

Brasilia will now travel to Wisconsin this weekend needing two wins to set up an exciting final MRL match of the season on Wednesday, May 22nd at 7:30pm at PlayUSA for first place and promotion to the Premier Division.

Playing on incredibly poor fields at Sportscore II in Rockford the three Team Chicago Academy MRL teams combined for an undefeated 4-0-4 record on the weekend.

Team Chicago Academy-Eagles moved into first place of the U14 Boys First Division West behind 2 wins and a tie. The Eagles opened a little sluggishly against JUSC from Iowa and gave up a goal just before halftime. However, in the second half the boys upped the intensity and Max Graf eventually found the equalizer. In the dying seconds Adam Bose hit the crossbar, but the Eagles had to settle for a slightly unfair tie.

The Eagles bounced back with a very impressive 2-1 win over a previously unbeaten Omaha FC team. An unfortunate slip on the poor surface led to an Omaha FC lead halfway through the second half. However, the boys responded in style with two goals in two minutes to secure the win. James Zhang tied the game from Max Graf’s cross and Wesley Anderson got the game-winner.

On Sunday morning, the Eagles defeated VSA from Iowa 1-0 on Victor Cuevas’ goal from Max Graf’s great touch and cross. Brady Moody capped off a very solid weekend with the shutout in goal. The Eagles have one final MRL game left against TCSA before their focus turns to State Cup.

Team Chicago Academy-Cruzeiro remain undefeated in the U13 Girls First Division West of MRL after a 2-0-1 weekend. Playing on a tiny, and very bumpy field, Cruzeiro and FC Milwaukee played out a pretty ugly stalemate. Emma Rydholm got Cruzeiro on the board first on a great header off a perfect Kerry Abello corner, but FC Milwaukee got the equalizer halfway through the second half. On the very last play of the game Sarah Avery made a great run and served in a cross that Kerry Abello met with a great header, but it went inches over the crossbar.

On Sunday Cruzeiro faced Waukesha SC from Wisconsin and took a quick 2-0 lead off a corner kick own goal and a great Kerry Abello finish far post on the ground from Sofia Papoutsis’ perfect pass out of the back. In the second half Waukesha halved the lead on a free kick, but Cruzeiro held on to secure the win.

In the matinee performance against MK Tosa from Wisconsin Madison Zaleski got a 10-minute hat-trick to lead Cruzeiro to a comfortable 4-1 win. Kerry Abello scored 32 seconds into the game off a Sarah Avery cross, but MK Tosa answered back on a questionable PK 10 minutes later. Cue the “Madison Zaleski Show” :-) as she got three quick goals off Sarah Avery, Riley O’Brien, and Katie Wieland’s assists to put the game out of reach.

Next up for Cruzeiro is an MRL game here at PlayUSA tomorrow night at 7:30pm v. LTSC.

Team Chicago Academy-Brasilia played two tough Kansas City teams in the U14 Girls First Division West of MRL and came away with two ties. On Saturday Brasilia took a 1-0 lead on Kansas City Legends on a Jasmine Ruiz goal from Maggie Roe. Unfortunately, the Legends tied the game up in the second half.

On Sunday Brasilia took a 2-0 lead on Kansas Rush. Jasmine Ruiz scored on the last play of the first half and Abby Severson scored on a great header from Allie Nornes’ perfect cross halfway through the second half. Unfortunately, Kansas Rush scored on the very next play and then again on a lucky strike with 3 minutes left in the game to secure the tie.

Next up for Brasilia is a 6pm MRL game at Chicago-Inter tomorrow night. With a win Brasilia will move into first play in the division, and winning out in the final four games of the season will secure them promotion to the U15 Premier Division next Fall.

Congratulations to TC Rangers U11 boys for winning the championship of the Eclipse Spring Classic U11 Boys White Flight.

The weekend did not get off to the best of starts with the boys losing a Friday evening game by a 2-3 score to the NSA Falcons. After the game Coach Brian Bierman challenged the boys to play harder, better and faster.

On Saturday morning TC Rangers won against the Celtic SC Premier team 3-1. That set up a must win game for the late afternoon which the boys won by a convincing 5-1 score over Zen Extra Black.

After a bit of a wait on results from other games TC Rangers secured the wild card and a spot in the semi-finals on Sunday morning against Eclipse Premier East Black. TC Rangers rose to the challenge and won a tight 2-1 game to advance to the finals.

Sunday afternoon TC Rangers faced the NSA Falcons in a rematch of their Friday evening game. The NSA Falcons scored early in the first half and took a 1-0 lead into half time. Mid-way through the second half Ali Khorfan put in the equalizer off an assist from Nick McGrath. Just a few minutes later Ali Khorfan got into the box and was taken out by the keeper which earned a penalty kick. Ali put the PK into the back of the net and put TC Rangers up 2-1. The boys held on to the 2-1 lead to win the championship and avenge their only loss of the weekend.