Must-Win Situations
U14 Boys: Schulz Academy 3 PDA 0
 Sunday, November 18
By: Tommy Cassell for USLSoccer.com
TAMPA – Schulz Academy, a Southeast superpower in youth soccer, had control over their own destiny on Sunday as they squared off against PDA in the U14 boys North American Finals at Ed Radice Park in Northwest Tampa. The Boca Raton based side needed a win against PDA if they wished to advance into the semifinals of the Super Y-League ultimate event.
PDA of Zarephath, New Jersey held an enormous advantage in goal differential heading into the contest. A tie would do Schulz no good. They needed an outright win if they wanted to obtain bragging rights for Group B. With the Schulz on the ropes, PDA hoped to play David, or just the spoilers, by either defeating or drawing even with Schulz Academy in order to advance into the semifinals.
Cameras rolling, players from both squads brought an intense and sometimes fierce attitude towards the game. The game lived up to its hype as it was a high-energy battle in which both squads fought hard to win. Schulz Academy took advantage of their opportunities and capitalized on them in the first half. Forward Sekani Sinclair knocked in a deflected ball, saved initially by PDA goalkeeper Nick Cerrone, to get the Academy on the board, first, in the 20th minute.
Shortly afterwards, Daniel Henderson redirected a crisp corner kick into the back of the net to put Schulz up 2-0 just before the half.
The second half was much more of the same as PDA could never fully take advantage of their opportunities and were shut out by the entire Schulz Academy defense. The game was riddled with physical play and became a little choppy in the second half before the referee settled the mood with some warnings and yellow cards.
Sinclair added another goal in the latter portion of the second half to raise his total to two goals on the day. Schulz defeated PDA by the final of 3-0 which pushed Schulz Academy into first place in group B with a (2-0-1) record and dropped PDA to a (1-1-1) mark.
Before the contest, PDA head coach Sam Nellis said that the tilt between PDA and Schulz Academy would most likely decide the outcome of the Super Y-League, U14 boys’ Championship. Unfortunately for Nellis, in this battle of heavyweights, his boys of PDA were unable to tame the boys of Schulz Academy thus advancing Schulz into the Super Y-League U14 semi-finals.
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