Following a successful 2018-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, the Houston Dynamo Academy today announced the recipients for the season’s Academy Awards.
Forward Kaya Ignacio, a member of the Dynamo U-16/17 team, has been named as the recipient of the Houston Dynamo Academy Player of the Year.
“Kaya exhibited a really high level of performance throughout the year; very consistent in his ability to impact games, to create and score goals,” coach Paul Holocher said of Ignacio. “We saw a tremendous amount of growth from him throughout the year.”
In his 21 regular-season appearances with the U-16/17 team during the 2018-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, Ignacio scored 19 goals, and converted on 84.0% of his shots. Ignacio also appeared in three matches in the U-16/17 Summer Showcase and added two goals. Additionally, he made one appearance with the U-18/19 team during the season.
Ignacio joined the Houston Dynamo Academy prior to the 2018-19 season from Lonestar SC, where he played from 2015-17 with the U-13/14s, U-14, U-15/16, and U-16/17 teams.
Midfielder Alex Borsos, a member of the Dynamo U-15 team, was been named as the recipient of the Ricardo Clark Leadership Award.
“I thought he was an absolute team player,” coach Brian Reed said of Borsos. “I was very proud of the way he took his captaincy this year, and he demonstrated an ideal amount of character and vocal leadership.”
During the 2018-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, Borsos made 19 appearances for the U-15 team, helping the team reach the U-15 Summer Showcase in Oceanside, California. Additionally, he made five appearances as a member of the U-16/17 team.
Since joining the Dynamo academy before the 2016-17 DA season, Borsos has played at five different levels at the academy. After spending his first season with the U-12 and U-13 teams, Borsos joined the U-14 and U-15 teams during the 2017-18 season.
Defender Ivan Leon, a member of the Dynamo U-18/19 team, has been named as the recipient of the Memo Rodriguez Iron Man Award.
“Ivan was a fantastic member of the Houston Dynamo this whole year, playing almost every game, almost every minute of every game as center back for us,” Holocher said of Leon’s season. “An incredibly coachable leader on the field, and somebody that all the guys really have a lot of respect for through his performances.”
During the 2018-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, Leon made 25 appearances for the U-18/19 team, adding two goals.
Leon joined the Houston Dynamo academy prior to the 2015-16 DA season. He spent the 2015-16 season with the U-13/14 team, the 2016-17 season as a member of the U-15/16 squad, and the 2017-18 season as part of the U-16/17 team.
Forward Zacarias Escobar-Bowie, a member of the Dynamo U-14 team, has been named as the recipient of the Brian Ching Golden Boot.
“He’s a natural striker,” coach Hiro Suzuki said of Escobar-Bowie. “He’s got good speed, got good instincts in the box. He’s a really good finisher, so I’m really pleased to see that he was very consistent during the entire season and ended up with the Golden Boot for the Academy.”
Escobar-Bowie earned the Golden Boot as part of his 21 goals scored in his 26 appearances for the U-14 side during the 2018-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. Additionally, he made one appearance for the U-15 team.
Escobar-Bowie joined the Dynamo academy prior to the 2017-18 DA season. He spent the previous season with the U-13 team, appearing in 31 matches and scoring 20 goals.
