MLS Next U16: Olsen and Munoz score as the Dynamo beat Austin FC

The MLS Next 2025-2026 season kicked off last weekend, with matches involving teams in the newly-renamed Homegrown and Academy divisions taking place all over the country after a two-month break following the 2024-2025 season.   Like we did last season, Prep Soccer Texas will continue to follow the teams from the Lone Star State throughout the season, covering matches and producing photos, articles and social media posts of the duels involving the most talented players from the state.   We started our coverage last Saturday, September 6, when the [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo']'s and [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s U16 teams clashed in their season-opening match at the Houston Sports Park. The Dynamo had more intensity throughout the match and started their campaign with a 2-0 victory.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/09/mls-next-u16-houston-dynamo-vs-austin-fc-photos-3/">Photos: [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] U16 vs. [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] U16</a></li> </ul>   The Dynamo started to build their victory in the 19th minute of the first half, when forward [player_tooltip player_id='211230' first='Oscar' last='Olsen'] was taken down inside the penalty box after a cross. He took the ball and sent Austin's goalkeeper Harrison Roberts-Bardwell the wrong way to convert from the spot.   In the 19th minute of the second half, Austin had a chance to equalize in the same way after Houston's goalkeeper Shay Sellers collided with forward [player_tooltip player_id='210659' first='Roberto' last='Monarres'] and a penalty kick was called. Sellers, however, stopped Zayden Seyhoon's shot and quickly started an excellent counter-attack, getting the ball to [player_tooltip player_id='211224' first='Keegan' last='Ahrens'], who found fellow midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='210673' first='Alexander' last='Munoz'] in a great position to score - which he did, with a well-placed left-footed shot.   After their opening-match victory, the Dynamo will head to Denver to face the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, September 13. On the same day, Austin will play their second road match of the season, facing [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] in North Texas.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Match</h2>    Sellers came in at the halftime break and made a major impact in what was certainly the most important play in the entire match. Besides doing a great job of stopping Seyhoon's penalty kick, the goalkeeper showed great maturity to remain focused and take advantage of Austin's momentary lack of organization to set his team up to score. Sellers did well before and after the penalty kick too, producing some strong saves, most notably one in which he dove to the feet of Austin's forward [player_tooltip player_id='210659' first='Roberto' last='Monarres'] to prevent him from finishing. Fellow goalkeeper [player_tooltip player_id='210675' first='Marcelo' last='Rossetti'], who played in the first half, also deserves a lot of credit for the team's clean sheet, as he made a couple of big saves, including one with his feet.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0205_fef185.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321161" /></figure>    The forward was the Dynamo's most consistently dangerous attacking player in the match, getting very involved in the team's offensive plays. Olsen was the team's center forward, but moved a lot in the final third, making runs behind the opposing backline and dropping deeper to get on the ball and help his team make plays in the central area of the field. He used his first touch very efficiently to create separation from defenders and also made some intelligent turns to get into the penalty box. Olsen was very calm from the penalty kick spot and did a good job of waiting for Austin's goalkeeper to pick a side before going the other way.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0102.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321122" /></figure>    A new face with the Dynamo this season, having joined from [program_tooltip program_id='283243' first='Albion' last='Hurricanes FC'], Anumele formed a strong center back duo with [player_tooltip player_id='211229' first='Dami' last='Samuel'] and helped his team start the season with a clean sheet. A physical defender, he was particularly important in the second half, when the visitors pushed forward, clearing crosses and performing strong defensive actions inside the penalty box. Anumele also demonstrated good mobility to defend in space and was very effective with how he protected the space behind his back, making it hard for opponents to put him in bad spots with through balls and passes over the top. The center back didn't take many risks with his possession game and connected his passes at a very good rate.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0209_7e23e4.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321162" /></figure>    Ahrens had a solid shift on the right side of the Dynamo's midfield, playing with good intensity and making an impact on both sides of the game. He worked very well alongside right back [player_tooltip player_id='210666' first='Brogan' last='Fitzsimons'] as the two combined to successfully contain the left side of Austin's offense. Besides remaining disciplined to track back and help on defense, Ahrens had good energy to support the attack, and he did so with smart combination plays out wide and strong runs through the middle, also getting in good spots inside the penalty box. The midfielder was very intelligent when assisting Munoz for his team's second goal, making the right choice with his passing and releasing the ball at the right time.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0189_2c4978.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321155" /></figure>    The right winger was Austin's main offensive weapon during the match and was involved in most of the team's attacking plays. Monarres was very good at reading the space in the final third and understanding when to run behind the Dynamo's backline and when to drop back and combine with his teammates. He had a couple of good runs at the start of the second half, being stopped by Sellers in one of them and drawing a penalty kick on the other. Playing as a left-footed inverted winger on the right, he was also successful in 1v1 duels, doing a good job of creating space and sending good crosses into the penalty box.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0170_1ea126.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321149" /></figure>    An offensive-minded left back, Brown had a busy first half, getting on the ball a lot and getting involved in many of his team's attacking plays. He was always very wide on the left and helped his team stretch the field and create space for combination plays in the center. Despite always having a Dynamo player near him, Brown still managed to be successful on some of the occasions he pushed forward, beating them off the dribble and making strong runs to get to the endline and cross the ball. During the second half, he was moved to the right wing after Monarres was taken off, but seemed fatigued and didn't get on the ball as much.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0093.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321118" /></figure>

The MLS Next 2025-2026 season kicked off last weekend, with matches involving teams in the newly-renamed Homegrown and Academy divisions taking place all over the country after a two-month break following the 2024-2025 season.