Sunday, Nov. 23, saw two DC Stoddert Advanced Training teams take on D.C. United’s U16 and U18 Youth Academy teams at recently renovated Ft. Stevens.Coach Sona Walla organized two weeks of training for Stoddert players drawn largely from U15, U16, U17 and U19 teams, plus one gifted U13 player. The 25 boys turning out in sub-zero temperatures showed the level of commitment and hard work needed to challenge the gifted D.C. United Academy squads.

The games were part of the D.C. United Academy’s continued preparation for the upcoming U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. The DCU Academy teams defeated Real Maryland Academy teams earlier in Novemeber, and faced D.C. United Academy Affiliate Club Freestate last weekend. The Black-and-Red rounded out its preseason schedule against D.C. United Academy Affiliate Club D.C. Stoddert on November 23.

A mixed DC Stoddert team including a 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18 year olds initially held the United U-16 thanks largely to some tight defense and brilliant saves from Larry Knight before conceding two second half goals. The U-18 D.C. United Academy team were more dominant as several DC Stoddert alumni featured in a 5-1 defeat of the DC Stoddert team. While out gunned, the discipline and shape of the DC Stoddert teams proved a hard nut to crack for the United players and provided good preparation for upcoming competitive games.

"This was another great opportunity to play against our Affiliate Club, DC Stoddert, who has supplied our Academy teams with several very talented players that currently play for our U18 Academy Team: Mike Funes, Marcus Douglas, and Harold Tchameni," said United’s Director of Youth Development John Maessner. "We have a very good relationship with DC Stoddert and this gives us the chance to nurture that relationship and look at other players who might be able to play for D.C. United in the future."

The U16 squad turned in a great performance against DC Stoddert’s U17 team on Sunday, earning a 2-0 victory on the strength of goals by Luiz Cartagena and Josh Ellis.

"We were very pleased with the quality of play and number of chances created, though not necessarily with our level of conversion," commented U16 coach Richie Burke. "The training match enabled us to look closer at a number of our squad members in a game situation and allowed us to work on two separate formations leading into our first real test of the year in L.A. in two weeks."

The U18 side took the field second and dominated DC Stoddert’s U19 squad by a 5-1 scoreline. Chris Hegngi scored two goals while Adel Sarras, Peabo Doue, and Harold Tchameni all added one.

"It was a good showing for our boys," said U18 coach Judah Cooks. "We got some good patterns of play throughout the game and I was happy to see the team playing an attacking style. Many chances were missed but to score five goals is a good day. It’s only our second game together but you can see some growth throughout our roster and that is a good sign."

DC Stoddert Boy’s Technical Director Sona Walla who heads the Advanced Training Program commented: "I was very pleased to feel the positive emotion this experience generated amongst our DC Stoddert players. It was a revealing moment for them as they made a multitude of discoveries. As part of  a squad drawn from various age groups they discovered each other and the depth of talent within our club. In their interaction with the D.C. United Academy they discovered first hand the level of play required to compete with the top young players in the country. In their former Stoddert teammates now starring for United they found confirmation that if their talent is accompanied with determination and hard work, they too can attain a similar level.
I hope this experience will fuel their motivation during training, they key to their development."

For DC Stoddert Travel Director Kate Samsot, "attending the scrimmages was a wonderful experience that confirmed our ability to field some extremely talented teams." She called the boys’ performances "a credit to Sona Walla’s dedicated training regimen," and she looks forward to "the continuation, and perhaps the expansion, of his Advanced Training Program." 

DC Stoddert Boys Travel Commissioner David Sarley added "I know from my own experience growing up in East London that my game was really developed playing with older boys in the Parks and school playground. You had to be quicker and tougher to compete with older boys, a number of whom went on to professional and international careers. The ATP provides that opportunity for our players to face new challenges at a higher level than is possible just playing within their age group."

The DC Stoddert Advance Training Program provides high-level, competitive training for the best Stoddert travel players and has
helped several boys make the step up to the D.C. United Academy play, including the boys mentioned above and Aaron Rilling, who also featured in the U18 game. ATP players continue to play with their club teams in NCSL but do additional training as part of the ATP.

The games were played at the immaculate Ft. Stevens field renovated thanks to a $23,000 donation from DC Stoddert to the D.C. Department of Parks  and Recreation.