Fire U-15/16 drops 1-0 decision to PA Classics in USSDA playoff opener

By Curt Herron

When you're competing in pool play in a tournament, the last thing that you want to do is open with a defeat.

Such a scenario means that a squad likely needs to win its next matches and then hope for a little assistance.

That's exactly where the Fire Academy's U-15/16 team finds themselves after Saturday's USSDA playoff opener.

Although Chicago had more chances than their opening foe, PA Classics found the net while the Fire could not.

As a result, the Pennsylvanians came away with a 1-0 victory over the Fire at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.

The Fire (12-6-6) needs to respond with a victory in Sunday's 8:00 p.m. match when it takes on North Meck SC.

In a clash of Carolinians, North Meck posted a 2-1 win over South Carolina United FC in the other pool match.

All four squads conclude pool play on Tuesday with the winner moving on to the national finals in Milwaukee.

It was Chicago's first shutout defeat since its 2-0 loss at Derby County on May 15 on a rainy day in Detroit.

PA Classics (18-7-3) collected the match's lone score during the 33rd minute and then kept the Fire at bay.

The match-winner came from Christian Kaschak, who got free in front of the net and put in a short attempt.

Chicago utilized the wind advantage during the final 40 minutes for several good tries but couldn't connect.

In the early stages of the second half, Jesus Medina and Joel Salmeron were denied by keeper Brent Arnold.

Just after the midway point of the half, Medina and Drew Conner both had good attempts that were stopped.

PA Classics didn't have many second-half chances, but the best came on a pair of shots from Joseph Julias.

Down the stretch, Louis Bennett was turned away on a long free kick as the Fire pushed for the equalizer.

In the late going, keeper Christian Lomeli got a free kick to Benjamin Kucera, whose header was just wide.

The Fire had a good early chance when Manny Chavez' deflected shot led to a liner on a corner by Salmeron.

About midway through the half, Lomeli deflected a shot by Zachary Herstek and halted the subsequent corner.

Late in the opening half, Charlie Oliver cleared a try by Kyle Bitterman and Kaschak was denied by Lomeli.