IMG Soccer Academy: 3rd place nationally (photos)!

Posted: Friday, July 17th, 2009

See below for photos by John Dorton… click to enlarge

With more than 70 of the nation’s best of the best youth soccer programs battling for months for one of 32 playoff spots in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy League, just earning a postseason placement is impressive.

Emerging from those 32 teams as one of eight battling for a National Championship in Carson, Calif., is a daunting task.

Finishing 3rd in the nation, including a 3-3 tie with the eventual champions, well… the IMG Soccer Academy U-18 boys’ team can tell you just how that feels. This year, the boys represented the Academy impeccably, as the team made its run through the Development Academy season.

With games of 1-1, 2-1, 3-3 (against champion Carmel United) and 1-0 overtime win against Real Colorado in the third-place game, the team showed that it belonged amongst the Development Academy final eight.

Congrats, boys… you earned it.