Four members of the Dynamo Academy, presented by Statoil, were named to their respective U.S. Soccer Academy Starting XIs. Bryan Salazar, who finished his Academy season before joining the Dynamo first team full-time, was the lone Dynamo representative on the Central Conference U-17/18 list. Elo Ozumba, Christian Lucatero and Andy Rios made the team on the U-15/16 side.
Salazar, Houston's most recent homegrown signing, scored 12 goals in 24 appearances for the Dynamo Academy U-18s en route to a 15-8-7 record and an Academy Playoffs appearance.
U-16 forward Elo Ozumba led his age group in total goals, scoring 25 times in 29 games. Ozumba played two games at the U-17/18 level, scoring a hat trick in his first appearance. Midfielder Christian Lucatero added 15 goals in 27 games. The pair combined for all eight goals the Dynamo U-16s scored at the Academy Playoffs, earning them a birth at Academy Finals Week here in Houston.
Goalkeeper Andy Rios started all 30 games and kept 11 clean sheets in the process.
The Dynamo were the most well-represented team in their conference at the U-15/16 level; three teams had two players honored.
The Academy XI incorporates the 11 players among each conference who represent the Academy principles of dedication, effort and integrity. The starting XI includes one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards.
Development Academy players and coaches have received postseason recognition since the Academy's inaugural 2007-08 season, and the End of Year awards are voted upon by U.S. Soccer Technical Advisors.
U-15/16 Central Conference Starting XI
GK - Andy Rios (Houston Dynamo)
D - Jimmy Fiscus (Crew Soccer Academy Wolves)
D - Jordan Cano (FC Dallas)
D - Kortne Thompson-Ford (Colorado Rapids)
D - Quentin Pearson (Colorado Rapids)
M - Abuchi Obinwa (Chicago Magic PSG)
M - Christian Lucatero (Houston Dynamo)
M - Kosti Moni (Crew Soccer Academy Wolves)
F - Elochukwu Ozumba (Houston Dynamo)
F - Santiago Agudelo (FC Dallas)
F - Mark Segbers (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri)
U-17/18 Central Conference Starting XI
GK – Andrew Putna (Chicago Magic PSG)
D – Kris Reaves (FC Dallas)
D – Trevor Haberkorn (Solar Chelsea SC)
D – Andrew Kendall-Moullin (Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Soccer Academy)
D – Bennett Kim (Indiana Fire Academy)
M – Justin Reyes (Texans SC Houston)
M – Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas)
M – Michael Bajza (Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Soccer Academy)
F – Jeffrey Farina (Chicago Fire) F – Bobby Edet (FC Dallas)
F – Bryan Salazar (Houston Dynamo)
