Congratulations to the Internationals U16 Academy team and Head Coach Jared Embick on qualifying for the National Academy Playoffs being held at Bryan Park Soccer Complex in Greensboro, N.C. This event includes the top 32 Academy teams in the nation. Each team is placed into eight groups of four and each team will play three games in four days. The winner of each group will advance to Finals Week in the Carson, California from July 10-17. In addition to the competition, the players and coaches will be evaluated by U.S. Soccer staff for potential inclusion in the future national team programming.

“We are excited to be in the playoffs, but we still have other goals to accomplish. This is a talented group of players. I am most proud about the way we play the game. We are an attractive side to watch play and I believe our best is yet to come. The key is that the players have bought in to the team philosophy, style and identity. It is what makes this a special team”, says head coach Jared Embick.

" It is a pleasure to work with a very talented group of young players. They have ability to play quality soccer. This is a team with great energy and desire to work and be successful", says assistant coach Tavi Muresan.

“This is a great accomplishment for the team and for youth soccer in the Ohio North. We are competing with clubs from much larger soccer markets not to mention MLS teams. This is a total effort for everyone involved with this program, players, coaches, parents, and administrators”, says George Nanchoff, director of Internationals Soccer Academy Program.

The Internationals Soccer Club is the only soccer club in Northern Ohio licensed by the US Soccer Federation to administer an academy program for U16 and U18 age groups. This year the Internationals has also initiated a pre-academy program for U14 and U15 age groups in affiliation with the Mid-West Soccer Academy to structure a farm system and to develop premier soccer players for possible inclusion in the future Academy teams.

Again, congratulations to the Internationals for a tremendous accomplishment and for delivering true quality premier soccer players during past three decades.

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