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Sweet 16: FC Dallas signs local phenom Acosta
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Last month, Plano native Kellyn Acosta was named to ESPN NEXT as one of the top 10 prep athletes in the country.
FC Dallas is the latest to support the hype as the Major League Soccer team has signed the 16-year-old phenom as part of the league’s Hometown Player initiative.
“FC Dallas is excited to sign Kellyn Acosta to a professional contract,” said Schellas Hyndman, FC Dallas head coach. “Kellyn is a very gifted player. He was the youngest member of the U.S. U17 National Team last year and he has played a lot of different positions during his time with the U.S. U17 Residency Program.”
FC Dallas has seen Acosta closer to home too in the club’s development program.
Playing for FC Dallas during academy season, Acosta started 27-of-28 games for the U16 team, scoring nine times and helping lead his side to the playoffs. Acosta also played up with FC Dallas’ U18 squad eight times, logging 907 minutes. The 16 year old’s toughest test may have come June 16 when he was on the pitch for the entirety of an MLS Reserve League match against the Houston Dynamo, scoring a goal in the 31st minute of a 3-2 loss.
Acosta tickled the twine as a midfielder, but the 5-foot-10, 150-pounder is also an adept defender.
“We see [Acosta] as a player that may start off as a defender, but eventually he will make his way into the midfield,” Hyndman said. “He brings a lot of athleticism. He is a two-way player and he seems to be a very courageous player.”
Acosta will be available for selection at the start of the 2013 MLS season.
Plano named No. 2 soccer city in U.S.
Plano has been named the No. 2 best soccer city in the country by Livability.com.
To determine criteria for the list, Livability.com editors followed the lead of US Youth Soccer.
Plano, the only Texas city in the top 10, finished behind Overland, Kan.
Editors looked for small to mid-size cities with the best soccer programs and facilities. Plano fits the bill. In addition to the aforementioned MLS signing of Acosta, US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup win and runner-up finishes, Plano ISD alums have captured NCAA Titles and the city has won more UIL State Soccer Championships than any other in the state.
More than 11,000 Plano children participate in youth soccer each year.
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