The tryout dates for the 2014-15 Team Chicago Soccer Club teams are now available. The exact times are yet to be determined for the U7 – U14 Boys and Girls. The U15 – U18 Boys tryout dates and times are yet to be determined.

All tryouts are hosted at PlayUSA, Gentile Fields, 2323 Liberty St, Aurora, IL 60502

Please, register for the tryouts at http://www.teamchicagosoccer.org/tc_tryouts.htm

Saturday, May 3, 2014 U16G & U17G 6:00PM – 7:30PM

Sunday, May 4, 2014 U18 G 5:00PM – 6:30PM

Sunday, May 4, 2014 U15G 6:30PM – 8:00PM

Sunday, May 11, 2014 U16G & U18G 5:00PM – 6:30PM (Supplemental)

Sunday, May 11, 2014 U15G & U17G 6:30PM – 8:00PM (Supplemental)

Tuesday, May 27, 2014 U7 – U14 Boys and Girls
Wednesday, May 28, 2014 (Supplemental)
Thursday, May 29, 2014 (Supplemental)
Friday, May 30, 2014 (Supplemental)
Saturday, May 31, 2014 (Supplemental)

U15B – U18B TBD

Team Chicago Academy-Cruzeiro celebrated World Down Syndrome Day on Friday night in support of tri-captain Bailee Witt’s 16-month-old cousin Giada Moratti who has Down Syndrome.

The world-wide celebration encouraged participants to “Rock Your Socks” in support, and the Cruzeiro players did so in some style for their game against NSA at the Bridgeview Dome. Their socks were not the only flashy items on display, as the girls outplayed their cross-town rivals in a 2-1 win that easily could have been 2-3 goals bigger between two shots on the crossbar and two shots that hit the upright, as well as controlling 65-70% of the possession.

Below is an article from the Chicago Tribune about Team Chicago Academy-Cruzeiro midfielder Erin Sweda’s upcoming trip to Barcelona to train at the FC Barcelona Escola.

Teen gets to train with Barcelona soccer team!

By Jeff Banowetz, Special to the Tribune
3:58 p.m. CDT, March 18, 2014

When 13-year-old Naperville resident Erin Sweda heard that coaches from FC Barcelona, the Spanish soccer team that’s considered one of the world’s best, would be in the Chicago area for a clinic last summer, she was thrilled to participate. But thanks to her performance, she’s now one of only three girls in the United States who have been invited to Spain to train with the team’s coaches and participate in the FC Barcelona Escola tournament the week before Easter.

“It’s quite an honor,” said Ken Sweda, Erin’s father and a local soccer coach. “We’re unbelievably proud of her that she not only made it through a week of that kind of intensive training but that she stood out enough to be chosen.”

For Erin, an eighth grader at Crone Middle School, the chance to see FC Barcelona in person is still hard to believe.

“They’re definitely my favorite team,” she said. “I know all the players. We may get to meet some of them when we’re there, but just being there and practicing with the coaches is going to be great.”

Erin actually came to the game a bit later than most in the youth soccer-crazed western suburbs.

“I’m a big soccer fan, but I had never intended for her to be a soccer player per se,” Sweda said. “She was 5 or 6 when we took her to a soccer clinic from a local club. Frankly, she didn’t take to it too much. So we said, well, we gave it a shot.”

A few years later, after watching a lot of games on TV with dad and kicking the ball around in the back yard, Erin decided to try it again.

“She as about 8 then, and this time she really enjoyed it,” Sweda said. “And she’s progressed fantastically since then.”

“I think it’s just fun being out there (on the field),” Erin said. “I get to be surrounded by my friends and have a good time.”

She now plays a U14 club team with Team Chicago, and she’s looking at the FC Barcelona trip as a way to improve her overall game.

“I’m hoping to get the most out of it and put the most into it, effort-wise,” she said. “I like the way that (FC Barcelona) plays, and I want to be like that.”

“It’s really one of the best teaching academies in the world,” Sweda said. “This is pure soccer training. It’s really getting into the details of the game and how they play it. That’s where the enjoyment and fun come out of it, where you can see yourself getting better.”

Erin’s also looking forward to trying out her middle school Spanish while traveling — even if she’s worried about understanding the Catalonia dialect they use in Barcelona. And as a hopeful future architect, she’s interested in touring the city’s landmarks.

“I’m excited about getting to see everything in person,” she said.

While Sweda has been a lifelong soccer fan, his daughter’s success has caused him to get more involved and develop a coaching career.

“It’s really become a passion of mine as well, and I’m glad that we’re able to do it together,” he said. “It’s amazing that she’s going to be able to experience something like this at her age.”

Copyright © 2014 Chicago Tribune Company, LLC

Team Chicago Academy-Gremio players Bailey Bloedorn, Colin Tolbolski, and Bobby Barnard joined with Coach Andrew Taylor in shaving their heads to raise money for St. Baldrick’s. It’s great to see our Team Chicago players and coaches supporting a great cause.

Team Chicago Academy-Cruzeiro emerged victorious from the U14 Division of the 2014 Cincinnati Elite Spring Thaw tournament this past weekend. With the win Cruzeiro moved up three spots to become the top-ranked team in Region II.

Cruzeiro opened with a 5-0 win over Blast F.C. from Ohio. This was followed by a 3-0 win over Zionsville from Indiana, and a 0-0 tie with Michigan Rush Northville to clinch the spot in the final.

The final was against FC 1974 Libertyville, and a rematch of an MRL game from last November which Cruzeiro won 4-0. Putting together the best overall attacking performance of the year Cruzeiro cruised to a 9-0 win. The opening goal was scored 8 seconds into the game after a 5-pass sequence directly off the kick-off, and the girls never looked back after this perfect start.

Team Chicago Academy-Bahia finished 1-2-0 in the U13 Division after losing two heart-breakers 1-0 to the hosts Kings Hammer S.C. and Rochester Lightning from Michigan, and beating Ohio Elite Pre-ECNL 1-0. Bahia played some great soccer, but unfortunately did not have the “bounce of the ball” in front of goal this weekend.

Team Chicago Academy-Brasil Girls also participated in the Cincinnati Elite Spring Thaw in the U12 Division. This was the first major event for the Brasil Girls, and the girls did really well for themselves in this environment.

They opened with a very tight 1-0 loss, after a game that was see-sawing until the last five minutes. The second game was a learning experience for the girls with a 5-0 loss to a very strong Michigan Jaguars team. However, the girls bounced back with a great performance in the last game on Sunday morning, and earned a well-deserved 1-0 win against the hosts Kings Hammer SC.