MLS Next U16: Dynamo come back to beat Minnesota United 3-2

The MLS Next League season continues to progress across the country, with multiple matches being held every weekend.   This season, we at Prep Soccer Texas have been following the matches involving the teams from the state very closely. On Saturday, March 1, we were at the Houston Sports Park, where the Houston Dynamo U16 team came back from an early goal to beat [program_tooltip program_id='280159' first='Minnesota' last='United'] 3-2 at home.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/03/mls-next-u16-houston-dynamo-vs-minnesota-united-photos/">Photos: Houston Dynamo U16 vs. [program_tooltip program_id='280159' first='Minnesota' last='United'] U16</a></li> </ul>   With the Dynamo missing some of their main playmakers, who were on international duty with Mexico, Minnesota started out aggressively and scored first, with an amazing goal. Center back Sully Maynes sent a great ball into the penalty box and midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='167864' first='Griffin' last='Giel'] made an acrobatic move, with a turn in the air, to send the ball into the back of the net with an incredible bicycle kick. Near the end of the first half, the Dynamo leveled the score after forward [player_tooltip player_id='210663' first='Maddox' last='Choate'] made a great cross from the right and found forward [player_tooltip player_id='280126' first='Sebastiao' last='Nzita'], who controlled the ball and fired a low shot to score.   The hosts started the second half very well and scored twice in a matter of minutes. Their go-ahead goal came from outside back Pierce LeDenmat, who escaped on the left and saw his low cross deflected on a Minnesota defender and go in. A few minutes later, LeDenmat made a perfect cross to Choate, who fired a shot to score 3-1. Minnesota scored again in the last play of the match, with midfielder George Porter taking a free kick over the wall to beat Dynamo's goalkeeper [player_tooltip player_id='148209' first='Eamon' last='Schorzman'].   It was the first victory for the Dynamo as they got to four points in the MLS Next League Central South Division - the team is in fourth place, with one win, six losses and one tie. Minnesota have the exact same campaign in the Central North Division and appear in fifth place.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Match</h2>    With the Dynamo missing central midfielders [player_tooltip player_id='210655' first='Matthew' last='Arana'] and [player_tooltip player_id='210657' first='Dylan' last='Reyes'], much of what they created against Minnesota came from the wings and Choate had a big role in it. Playing on the right, as a wingback, he was very intense offensively, going at defenders and sending good crosses into the penalty box, like the one that found Nzitas to score the team's first goal. Choate spent limited time playing as a striker and needed only one opportunity to score, finishing a cross with a firm, well-placed shot. He displayed great versatility, also playing some left wingback for the Dynamo and kept the level high everywhere he played. Besides his offensive contributions, Choate also worked hard off the ball, dropping back and playing with great energy on defense.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/03/2J4A0214.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-281084" /></figure>    The Dynamo's left wingback, LeDenmat was another offensive weapon heavily utilized by the team. After a somewhat slow first half, he started the second half very well, exploring the space on the left to appear decisively in two goals, scoring the first after his cross was deflected by a defender and went into the back of the net and finding Choate with an inch-perfect long cross from before the final third. LeDenmat had other dangerous runs out wide and also contributed with his intelligent passing in the attacking half. He picked up an injury during the second half and was moved to forward, where, despite his physical limitations, he still managed to keep the ball and to help on defense.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/03/2J4A0218.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-281085" /></figure>    Playing on the left of the Dynamo's back three, Menjivar had a solid shift for the team. He was very reliable defensively, appearing well to win duels and defending very well in space when Minnesota tried to hit on counters. The center back also appeared well in possession, helping the team move the ball forward. The Dynamo's defenders had the ball very often and Menjivar was arguably the most effective of them, displaying calm on the ball and connect solid short and long passes out of the backline.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/03/2J4A0172.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-281069" /></figure>    One of the Dynamo's forwards, Walsh had a busy game and was very active in the final third. He was heavily engaged in the team's playmaking and moved very well in the attacking half to get on the ball and create chances, be it with smart combination plays or with runs on the ball. Walsh did solid holdup game and also used his pace to explore the space on the wings, beating defenders with his pace. He fired a good shot int he first half but didn't have other great opportunities to score. Walsh's intensity appeared in every moment of the game, as he was also very energetic when chasing long balls and pressing defenders.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/03/2J4A0223.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-281087" /></figure>    With some players out, Hinds was asked to play a little more advanced than he typically does and he did a good job in the position. The midfielder wasn't extremely creative or goal-dangerous, but was very intelligent with his passing and moved the ball very well in the central area of the field, quickly finding the team's wide players with accurate passes. Hinds also made his usual contributions on the defensive side of the game, covering a lot of ground, stopping plays and making a major impact on the team's defensive efforts.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/03/2J4A0195.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-281077" /></figure>    Playing as a central midfielder, Giel was very active for Minnesota. He was very good at getting on the ball in the midfield to initiate plays and then sprinting into the penalty box to finish them. In one of those plays, he scored the team's first goal, displaying impressive body control to spin in the air and adjust his body to finish a cross with a beautiful bicycle kick. Giel was always very effective in possession, connecting good passes and intelligently using quick moves to create space in the center of the field.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/03/2J4A0201.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-281080" /></figure>    Playing as a right wingback for Minnesota, Schauf had a very solid game for the team. He was very good defensively for most of the match and was successful in his task of marking Dynano's dangerous forward [player_tooltip player_id='280126' first='Sebastiao' last='Nzita'] when he went into his zone. Schauf also displayed great offensive quality, making technical plays in the attacking half and supporting the team's offense by either making runs to the end line or coming inside to add to their playmaking with smart passes, some of them behind the Dynamo's backline. He only struggled at the start of the second half, when the Dynamo forced the game on his side and managed to score twice in plays from there - even though he didn't make a mistake or was clearly at fault for either of them.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/03/2J4A0209.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-281082" /></figure>    Porter was a steady presence in the center of the field for Minnesota and quietly put on a solid shift for them. He handled his duties well, providing good protection for the team's backline and helping their buildup with simple, but effective passes in midfield. He displayed great quality in set pieces, scoring the team's second goal with a well-placed free-kick shot that went over the wall and found the back of the net.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/03/2J4A0221.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-281086" /></figure>

The MLS Next League season continues to progress across the country, with multiple matches being held every weekend.

This season, we at Prep Soccer Texas have been following the matches involving the teams from the state very closely. On Saturday, March 1, we were at the Houston Sports Park, where the Houston Dynamo U16 team came back from an early goal to beat Minnesota United 3-2 at home.

Photos: Houston Dynamo U16 vs. U16

With the Dynamo missing some of their main playmakers, who were on international duty with Mexico, Minnesota started out aggressively and scored first, with an amazing goal. Center back Sully Maynes sent a great ball into the penalty box and midfielder Griffin Giel Griffin Giel M #120 Nation MN made an acrobatic move, with a turn in the air, to send the ball into the back of the net with an incredible bicycle kick. Near the end of the first half, the Dynamo leveled the score after forward Maddox Choate Maddox Choate 6'0" | F/M Acellus Academy | 2028 State #113 Nation TX made a great cross from the right and found forward Sebastiao Nzita Sebastiao Nzita 5'7" | F State TX , who controlled the ball and fired a low shot to score.

The hosts started the second half very well and scored twice in a matter of minutes. Their go-ahead goal came from outside back Pierce LeDenmat, who escaped on the left and saw his low cross deflected on a Minnesota defender and go in. A few minutes later, LeDenmat made a perfect cross to Choate, who fired a shot to score 3-1. Minnesota scored again in the last play of the match, with midfielder George Porter taking a free kick over the wall to beat Dynamo's goalkeeper Eamon Schorzman Eamon Schorzman 6'4" | GK #24 Nation TX .

It was the first victory for the Dynamo as they got to four points in the MLS Next League Central South Division - the team is in fourth place, with one win, six losses and one tie. Minnesota have the exact same campaign in the Central North Division and appear in fifth place.

Players of the Match

Maddox Choate

TX #7

F/M #4

HEIGHT 6'0"

POS F/M

CLASS 2028

View Player

Maddox Choate

State: Texas

School: Acellus Academy

Club: Houston Dynamo Academy

With the Dynamo missing central midfielders Matthew Arana Matthew Arana M/F State #10 Nation TX and Dylan Reyes Dylan Reyes M State #42 Nation TX , much of what they created against Minnesota came from the wings and Choate had a big role in it. Playing on the right, as a wingback, he was very intense offensively, going at defenders and sending good crosses into the penalty box, like the one that found Nzitas to score the team's first goal. Choate spent limited time playing as a striker and needed only one opportunity to score, finishing a cross with a firm, well-placed shot. He displayed great versatility, also playing some left wingback for the Dynamo and kept the level high everywhere he played. Besides his offensive contributions, Choate also worked hard off the ball, dropping back and playing with great energy on defense.