MLS Next U16: Albion Colorado beat the Dynamo in seven-goal match

The MLS Next 2025-2026 season is entering the final weeks before its winter break, with matches involving teams in the newly-renamed Homegrown and Academy divisions taking place all over the country every weekend.   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.   On Sunday, we were on the sidelines for the match between the [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] U15 team and the Albion SC Colorado U16 side at the Houston Sports Park. Thanks to a strong second-half performance, Albion prevailed 5-2 on the road.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] U15 vs. Albion Colorado U16 - <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/11/mls-next-u16-houston-dynamo-vs-albion-colorado-photos/">Photos</a></li> </ul>   Albion got their first goal in the match in the 18th minute, when forward Kai Holcombe picked up a rebound inside the box and converted it. The Dynamo equalized in the following minute, after forward [player_tooltip player_id='295569' first='Kenzynton' last='Pierre'] crossed from the right and midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='295643' first='Eli' last='Georgas'] scored with a first-time finish. The home team got the lead in a similar play in the 37th minute, when midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='332692' first='Chris' last='Gonzalez'] crossed and Georgas rose above Albion's defenders to head it into the back of the net. Right before the halftime break, in the 44th minute, an Albion free kick cross found defender Gideon Tullius in the far post and he scored with a header.   Tullius appeared again to get the Colorado side ahead in the third minute of the second half, making another run to the far post on a corner kick and beating the Dynamo's defenders for the ball. Ten minutes later, wingback Matthew Garcia made a great run down the left and crossed to forward Dominick Brennan, who used his head to score. Brennan gave the final numbers to the match in the 31st minute, making a combination play with midfielder Diego Valenzuela and firing a low shot into the back of the net.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Match</h2>    Tullius' ability in the air was game-changing for Albion, as he scored twice in critical moments of the match and put his team in a good position to take control of it. The centre back also did very well in his primary defensive tasks, keeping things simple and defending the penalty box with great efficiency. Tullius also showed good ability to read the game, getting some nice interceptions inside and around the box. Despite his height and working against much faster and more agile players, he also held his own when he had to defend higher up on the field, forcing opponents back or, at least, delaying them.      Playing as a striker, Brennan scored Albion's last two goals in the match, helping them clinch the road win. The forward was very intense during the entire match and kept the Dynamo backline under constant pressure. Brennan worked well with his back to the goal and was also very dangerous with his runs behind the backline, getting into good spots to score on two occasions - the Dynamo goalkeeper stopped him in one of them and he finished the other over the bar. The forward made an excellent run to the far post to score the team's fourth goal and showed calm and composure to score the fifth.      Altman played as a right wingback and was very strong on both sides of the ball for Albion. He displayed great energy to go up and down the field and was very competent both offensively and defensively. When in the attacking half, Altman did a good job of appearing in good spots and was very precise with his passes and crosses. He was also very firm and focused when playing defense and dominated his zone, not allowing much to happen in there.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0143_ac95e6.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-340464" /></figure>    An attacking midfielder, Valenzuela was constantly dangerous for Albion in the final third. Very intelligent and technical, he worked very well with fellow midfielder Ethan Zielke as the two coordinated the team's ball movement in the attacking half with great intelligence and confidence. Valenzuela also had a good presence inside the penalty box and assisted Brennan in the team's last goal with a perfectly-weighted backheel pass.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0131_f10450.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-340458" /></figure>    Georgas started the match playing as an attacking midfielder and was the Dynamo's best player in the first half. He scored the team's two goals in the match thanks to his ability to get into the box and demonstrated impressive finishing skills, both with his feet and his head, sending the ball into the back of the net with difficult first-time touches. He also did a good job of dropping back to work with his back to the goal around the midfield line to offer his teammates a passing option and help them break Albion's press. Georgas moved to left wingback during the second half and continued to play with good intensity, but wasn't as present in the final third and inside the box.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0164_a6eb95.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-340475" /></figure>    Pierre was probably the Dynamo's most consistently dangerous attacking player throughout the match. He had an excellent start to the match, making plays on the right side of their attack and sending a perfect cross for Georgas to score the team's first goal. Pierre also had a shot that hit the crossbar in the first half. He continued to move well in the final third and find spots to get on the ball and make plays, but had his shots denied by Albion.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0188_e19793.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-340483" /></figure>    Even though his team conceded five goals, Guerra had a positive performance in the backline for them. Playing in the center of the team's back three, he was consistently in great spots to make stops and was always very precise when covering his teammates. Despite not being very tall, the defender also managed to clear crosses in the air. He was more exposed during the second half as the Dynamo pushed forward looking for goals, and made some key interventions in 1v1 plays.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0099_ca083a.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-340448" /></figure>

The MLS Next 2025-2026 season is entering the final weeks before its winter break, with matches involving teams in the newly-renamed Homegrown and Academy divisions taking place all over the country every weekend.