Team Chicago Academy-Santos midfielder Madi Harris has verbally committed to continue her soccer career at the prestigious Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. Vassar is one of the most selective and elite liberal arts colleges in the country.

At Vassar Madi will be playing for Head Coach Laura Williamson who was Team Chicago Elite Academy Director Phil Nielsen’s assistant coach during his final year as the Head Coach at Smith College in Northampton, MA. Vassar competes in the NCAA Division III Liberty League.

Happy Halloween to all the Team Chicago players and families. Stay safe and (hopefully) dry tonight as you go “trick or treating”. May your night be fun and your bellies full.

Enjoy this great piece of pumpkin art created by Team Chicago Academy-Gremio under Head Coach Orlando Hadzic.

It was a busy MRL weekend for Team Chicago Academy teams. Team Chicago Academy-Internacional traveled to Waukesha, WI for 3 all-important games in its quest for promotion to U18 Premier Division status next year.

Go into the matches Internacional was a perfect 2-0-0, and the team emerged from the weekend still perfect with a 5-0-0 record. On Saturday morning Milwaukee Sports Club was beaten 2-0 by goals from Erin Johnston and Maddie Pokora assisted by Kiley Czerwinski and Sam O’Brien.

Saturday afternoon Bloomfield Force from Michigan was the opponent and Internacional got another shutout win for GKs Hannah Parrish and Shelby Stitz. Kiley Czerwinski got the eventual game-winner early in the first half, and Miranda Lambert made it 2-0 before the break from Kiley Czerwinski and Sam O’Brien. Abby Flynn made it a 3-0 final on an olimpico goal in the second half.

Sunday morning Internacional came out swinging and went up 3-0 on the host SC Waukesha early in the first half on goals by Alena Sidwell, Miranda Lamber, and Alena Sidwell again, assisted by Kiley Czerwinski, Sam O’Brien, Tati Espinoza, and Sam O’Brien again. Sam O’Brien then made it 4-1 early in the second half from Alena Sidwell, before Mallory Mollenhauer made it a 5-1 final from Sam O’Brien and Alena Sidwell.

With the win Internacional just needs one point in its final two games to win promotion to the Premier Division. The first chance will be this Saturday at PlayUSA at 7pm in a MRL double-header with Team Chicago Academy-Santos who plays its MRL Premier Division game at 5pm. Santos will also play a big MRL game tomorrow night at 6:30pm at the Commissioners Park turf field.

Team Chicago Academy-Brasilia came into the week with two tough matches against #1 NSA and #3 Libertyville 1974 in the U15 MRL Premier Division. Going into the game versus Libertyville Brasilia was determined to achieve a result after losing a tough game to NSA during the week.

Brasilia traveled to Libertyville on Saturday and recorded a great 1-0 win. Brasilia came out firing on all cylinders and scored in the first two minutes of the game. On a great combination play, Abby Severson collected a ball in the midfield third and played a nice ball into MaKenna Schoolman who played a one-two with Rachel White on top of the box to spring her behind the Libertyville defense to finish a great goal. It was a very tight game, that presented many scoring opportunities for both sides throughout the match.

Overall it was a very strong performance by Brasilia especially defensively. The whole team defended very well with special kudos to Jade Erickson-Russo, Nicole Mondi, Emmerson Fuller, Rachel Erdman and Madison Lockhard.

Up next for Brasilia are two MRL games in Valparaiso this upcoming weekend.

Team Chicago Academy-Cruzeiro needed one point in its last two games to win the U14 MRL Premier Division Qualification group, and the first chance to get the point was Sunday night at arch-rival Campton. In a very tightly contested match Campton came away with a 1-0 win.

Cruzeiro now has to get the point this Sunday at 8am at PlayUSA against Libertyville 1974.

Team Chicago Academy-Bahia battled to two 0-0 draws in its U13 MRL Premier Division Qualification group this past weekend against SC Waukesha and FC Barrington.

Bahia has two games left and two wins will see it qualify for the U13 MRL Premier Division this upcoming spring. The first game will be at Eclipse Elite West this Saturday at 8:30am.

As most people are aware October marks the month of breast cancer awareness support across the globe. Many sports teams take a moment to reflect on the importance of life and the importance to support things like breast cancer awareness. Many of us have been impacted either directly or indirectly by this disease and the Team Chicago Academy-Brasilia players decided they wanted to show their support. Read on to see what it means to some of the Brasilia girls.

“Breast cancer has been a big factor in my life and especially within the past two years. I support breast cancer awareness because two years ago my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I know that all the money raised for breast cancer research has played a big role in helping her become a survivor. I’m very blessed and thankful for the way things turned out, and I hope the best for anyone who is being affected by breast cancer today.” – Maggie Roe

“The reason I support breast cancer is because my mom’s step mom and my dad’s mom both are survivors.” – MaKenna Schoolman

“Breast cancer awareness is not just about knowing what it is, it’s about coming together to support, love, and empower women to heal a life.” – Jade Erickson Russo

“We are all blessed with the opportunity to play this great game of soccer and I thought it was really cool to recognize what it means to Brasilia to support such an important cause. Soccer is just a part of the journey, and I appreciate the opportunity to share a small piece of it with such a great group of people.” – Head Coach Matt Chura

Team Chicago Academy-Santos finished as runners-up in the U18 IYSA State Cup this past weekend after a heart-breaking 3-2 double overtime loss to Windy City Pride in the final.

Santos qualified for the final with a 3-1 victory over Chicago-Inter Homer Glen on Saturday. Kristen Brots opened the scoring in the 2nd minute from a great Heather Handwork cross. Hannah Rodgers got the eventual game-winner with 12 minutes left in the first half when she ran onto Gianna Marconi’s perfect through-ball. Chicago-Inter halved the lead with 15 minutes left to play in the game, but Sara Stevens put the game out of reach in the 90th minute.

Santos dominated the first half of the final both in terms of possession and chances. Kristen Brots hit the post early on, and several other chances went begging in the first half, so both teams were scoreless at the interval.

The second half became a very physical affair as Windy City stepped up its intensity. Santos got on the board first though, as AJ Jakuszewski found Katie Ciesiulka who in turn found Heather Handwork on top of the penalty box. Heather beat two defenders and the on-rushing GK give Santos the 1-0 lead 15 minutes into the 2nd half.

10 minutes later Santos doubled its lead when Talise Romain served a great corner-kick into the box, and Heather Handwork headed it towards the goal and Sara Stevens headed it over the line. Up 2-0 with 20 minutes left in the game Santos looked like it had the game under control.

However, Windy City proved the old saying “2-0 is the most dangerous lead in soccer” true when they battled back to tied the game at 2-2 in the final 10 minutes of the half. First off a corner-kick and then with a shot from outside the box in the 88th minute.

The two 15-minute overtime periods were even more physical and intense. Windy City did everything within its power to stop the Santos forwards. And 7 minutes into the first overtime Windy City got what proved to be the game-winner.

The Santos players threw everything at the Windy City defense and GK in the remaining 23 minutes, but unfortunately the tying goal never came. The Windy City GK made a couple of spectacular saves, and the referee was kind not to judge a couple of the fouls by Windy City last defenders more harshly. And the in the end Windy City emerged victorious after an impressive battle.

Santos will have one more chance to qualify for the US Youth Soccer Region II Championships in Dayton, OH next June. 4 games remain in the MRL Premier Division I and 4 wins will earn Santos the MRL berth into Regionals. First up is a game against Academy SC on Wednesday, 10/30 at 6:30pm at the Commissioner’s Park turf field.