Baltimore Bays Chelsea victorious in opening game in U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs

The Baltimore Bays Chelsea won their opening game in the Under-17/18 age group of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs, defeating Lonestar SC Academy, 1-0, at the FC Dallas Stadium Complex in Frisco, Texas on Monday. Romilio Hernandez (Louisville) scored the game's only goal in the 65th minute, stealing the ball from a defender and finishing from 25 yards.

The Bays qualified for the playoffs for the third straight year, earning the top seed in the Mid-Atlantic Division with a 10-1-1 mark. They will next take on Crew Soccer Academy at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the second of three opening round games.

The playoffs expose players to U.S. national team scouts and college coaches. The top two teams from each of the Academy's 10 geographically-based divisions, in addtion to 12 wild card teams, are seeded from 1-32 and placed into eight groups of four.