LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Lamorinda Soccer Club team competes in Texas at MLSNEXT program


Back row: Skyler (De La Salle), Alejandro (San Leandro), Joseph (Miramonte), Liam (Acalanes), Israel (Oakland), Oscar (Oakland), Isaias (Making Waves Academy); middle row: Christian (De La Salle), Fabricio (Washington), Jared (Making Waves Academy), Luc (Campolindo), Juan (Latitude), Miguel (De Anza), Brendan (College Park), Kai (Miramonte), Coach Castillo;?front row: Jose (Skyline), Chris (Oakland); not pictured: Ben (Campolindo), Elouan (Berkeley), Ulysses (Making Waves)? Photo provided

Lamorinda Soccer Club's (LMSC) Under 16 Boys MLSNEXT team traveled to Frisco, Texas to compete in the highly competitive league, which is by MLS's acceptance only, where not every club soccer program qualifies. In LMSC's second year being part of the newly created MLSNEXT development program, the U16 boys team qualified for the playoffs which represent the nation's top 32 teams per age group. In days past, LMSC was known for fielding players mostly from the Lamorinda area. However, these days only the best qualify for the MLSNEXT roster for LMSC where LMSC's MLSNEXT program consists of players from surrounding areas such as Richmond, Oakland, Concord, Berkeley, as well as Lamorinda players.

The U16 roster includes Lamorinda players such as Joseph Chalwin (Midfielder - Miramonte class of 2024), Kai Thomas (Winger - Miramonte class of 2024), Ben Young (Defender - Campolindo class of 2024), Liam Murdin (Defender - Acalanes class of 2024), and Luc Narido (GK - Campolindo class of 2025). Coached by Christian Castillo, a former DC United Academy player (and other international professional teams), he embodies LMSC's philosophy in rostering and playing the best players regardless of age or background and fostering an environment of family in the team.

LMSC took home a win in the first round of the playoffs with a final score of 2-0 against a team that went 16-2-1 and was featured by MLSNEXT as a team to watch in BW Gottschee from New York. Up next in the round, 16 LMSC squared off against an MLS Academy in DC United. Lamorinda entered the second half down 1-0 and in the first 5 minutes of play, one of their players was issued their second yellow card and LMSC was forced to play a man down for the rest of the game. In the 76th minute LMSC scored a tying goal forcing a PK shootout. LMSC ultimately ceded a loss to DC United in the PK shootout 7-8. DC United would eventually win the Championship for the U16 bracket.