U-16 Fire faces must-win match with FC Milwaukee

Sockers FC defeat U-18s and play to draw with U-16s

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By Curt Herron

The Chicago Fire U-16 squad heads into Sunday's match with FC Milwaukee realizing one very simple fact.

If they win, they will advance to the Development Academy playoffs later this month in Greensboro, North Carolina.

That scenario was set up following Saturday's scoreless draw with the Sockers FC at the Toyota Park practice field.

Chicago (9-4-3, 30 points) will earn three points if they claim a win over FC Milwaukee in Sunday's 11 a.m. match.

That would move the Fire into a first place tie with Real Colorado (9-3-6, 33 points) in the Frontier Division standings.

The Fire likely needs to be one of the top two finishers in their division in order to advance to the academy playoffs.

FC Milwaukee, who the Fire defeated 1-0 on May 25, can't make the playoffs but certainly could prove to be a spoiler.

Chicago is 4-0-4 since falling 1-0 on May 15 to the Kansas City Wizards, who are currently holding on to second place.

Saturday's draw prevented the Sockers (7-2-7, 28) from possibly claiming a share of the division championship.

But the Sockers will qualify for the playoffs as a wildcard, thanks to their high points per game ratio.

The start of Saturday's match was delayed for awhile due to lightning and heavy rains that were in the area.

When the squads finally took the field, it quickly became clear that neither side would threaten very often.

Damien Sampson recorded the first shot on goal, on a liner that was hauled in by Fire keeper Sam Euler.

Victor Pineda responded some time later with a liner and a free kick which were stopped by keeper Jeff Gal.

David Selvaggi of the Sockers and the Fire's Patryk Ruta also were denied in the final minutes of the first half.

It was more of the same after the break as Selvaggi saw a liner deflected away and Pineda was stopped on an attempt.

With the Fire a man down late, Selvaggi saw a long free kick halted while Ruta sent a grounder that Gal collected.

Joining Euler, Pineda and Ruta in Saturday's starting lineup were Keaton Albert, Luis Barajas and Peter Beasley.

Rounding out the first 11 for the Fire were Elliot Borge, David Caban, Drew Conner, Luis Medina and Anthony Torres.

The day began on a down note for the Fire, who dropped a 2-0 decision to the Sockers in the opening U-18 match.

Chicago (10-3-3, 33) would have captured the Frontier Division crown with a pair of victories over the weekend.

Instead, the Sockers (11-3-2, 35) can win the championship today if they defeat the Chicago Magic in DeKalb.

If the Sockers lose or draw today, then Colorado Rush AJ Auxerre (10-1-7, 37) will claim the division title.

But even though the Fire can't win the division, they'll advance to the playoffs as one of the wild card teams.

Their opponent today, FC Milwaukee, still had a chance to claim a wild card spot as it headed into the weekend.

In Saturday's match, the Fire were missing a number of regulars who were either injured or had other commitments.

They included Billy McGuinness, Harry Shipp, Mitch Albrecht and Chris Prince among those who've played recently.

The Sockers got the only goal that they needed in the 26th minute when Ryan Dodson connected on a long-range try.

Nick Janus was stopped twice and Tom O'Brien was also denied by Fire keeper Tom Serratore shortly after the goal.

One of the lone threats for the Fire in the first half were a pair of dangerous corner kicks from Patrick Doody.

In the 49th minute, Janus connected on a liner which was set up by a pass from Dodson to make it a 2-0 match.

Tyler Engel and Mike Enghofer both sent attempts over the net before Trevor Wheeler was denied on a long liner.

Doody and Art Garza were also later stopped on threatening shot attempts by Sockers keeper Zach Hosler.

As heavy rains fell late in the match, a late try by Engel looked like it caused a handball, but no call was made.

Joining Doody, Enghofer and Serratore in the starting lineup were Jacob Bushue, Manny Guzman and Connor Holloway.

Other Fire players in the first 11 were Scott Lakin, Brian Lunar, Oliver Mayer, Jesse Ortiz and Wojciech Wojcik.