MLS Next U16: Lamar and Olowu lead Dallas' comeback over Atlanta

The 2026-2027 MLS Next season is officially underway, and until June, the top boys' teams in the country will go against each other week in, week out, fighting for victories on the field.   Prep Soccer Texas continues to cover the league in the Lone Star State, providing the best coverage in the region, including match recaps, performance recaps, photo galleries, and social media posts that highlight local players' hard work and impressive talent.   On Saturday, October 10, [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] welcomed Atlanta United at Toyota Soccer Center, in Frisco, for a U16 league match. After starting behind, the home team fought back and earned a 4-2 win.   Atlanta scored first in the 24th minute when forward Michael Emoghene got the ball on the left, dribbled past a defender, and fired a low driven cross shot. Dallas leveled the score before the halftime break, as defender [player_tooltip player_id='378004' first='Rowan' last='Lester'] played an excellent long pass out of the back that found forward [player_tooltip player_id='300583' first='Quincy' last='Lamar'] open to chip the ball over Atlanta's goalkeeper in the 37th minute.   The home team jumped ahead when forward [player_tooltip player_id='381398' first='Kevin' last='Monday'] made a good play down the left and crossed the ball to [player_tooltip player_id='377996' first='TJ' last='Olowu'], who finished with a first-time left-footed shot in the 60th minute. The two combined to score again in the 76th minute, when Monday got on the ball around the midfield line and fed Olowu, who drove it into the box and fired a right-footed shot. Olowu was also involved in Dallas' fourth goal, scored in the 81st minute, by dropping to get on the ball in his own half and delivering it to Lamar, who dribbled it past Atlanta's goalkeeper and finished it into an open net. Atlanta got their second goal in the match in the 88th minute, when Donovan Crawford slid to redirect a low driven cross into the goal.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Game</h2>    Olowu scored two goals and registered an assist in [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']' comeback win. He played more to the right side of their attack and did a good job of consistently finding space to make plays in that zone of the field, even if he couldn't capitalize on any of them. That changed in the second half, when Olowu scored twice - first by closing into the box to finish a cross and then by timing his run very well and darting towards the goal. He also demonstrated excellent vision to assist Lamar in Dallas' fourth goal and was very committed off the ball, tracking back to help on defense until the final whistle.     Lamar also scored twice and had an integral role in Dallas' victory. He was very busy in the first half, dropping back to get on the ball and drifting wide to be an option for his teammates, and became even more dangerous in the second half, when he played on the left side and made strong runs there. Lamar stood out for his calm and composure in front of the goal to convert the two chances he had - first by chipping the ball over the goalkeeper as he challenged him and then dribbling it past him in a quick transition play. The forward was very active with his press and also dropped back to play defense.     Monday came in during the second half and made an immediate impact on the game, registering two assists in under 20 minutes. He played as a center forward but was very mobile, drifting primarily to the left to make plays, like the one in which he assisted Olowu in Dallas' second goal. Monday also worked well with his back to the goal and had impressive vision and impeccable timing to release the ball to Olowu in the team's third goal. He almost scored a goal of his own, getting into the box after a strong run on the left, but was blocked by an Atlanta defender.     Lester led Dallas' backline in the match and was very busy and efficient in his defensive duties. The center back showed excellent positioning and impeccable timing with his defensive actions, making more than a few critical stops inside and around the penalty box. Lester was very confident on the ball, too, and was a central figure in Dallas' buildup, efficiently moving it out of the back. The defender demonstrated excellent vision and remarkable accuracy to assist Lamar in the team's first goal with a very long pass out of the back right after stopping an Atlanta attempt.     Modersohn was put to work in what was a very open game and responded well every time he was called to action. The goalkeeper was always well-positioned and was very reliable with his actions. He wasn't to blame for any of Atlanta's goals and also made some nice saves, which may have prevented other goals from the visitors, who had 12 shots on target throughout the match. Modersohn also showed calm and quality on the ball, and, even if he took some risks in certain moments, passed it efficiently out of the back.

The 2026-2027 MLS Next season is officially underway, and until June, the top boys' teams in the country will go against each other week in, week out, fighting for victories on the field.

Prep Soccer Texas continues to cover the league in the Lone Star State, providing the best coverage in the region, including match recaps, performance recaps, photo galleries, and social media posts that highlight local players' hard work and impressive talent.

On Saturday, October 10, FC Dallas welcomed Atlanta United at Toyota Soccer Center, in Frisco, for a U16 league match. After starting behind, the home team fought back and earned a 4-2 win.

Atlanta scored first in the 24th minute when forward Michael Emoghene got the ball on the left, dribbled past a defender, and fired a low driven cross shot. Dallas leveled the score before the halftime break, as defender Rowan Lester Rowan Lester D State TX played an excellent long pass out of the back that found forward Quincy Lamar Quincy Lamar F State #29 Nation TX open to chip the ball over Atlanta's goalkeeper in the 37th minute.

The home team jumped ahead when forward Kevin Monday Kevin Monday 5'10" | F McKinney North | 2029 TX made a good play down the left and crossed the ball to TJ Olowu TJ Olowu F State TX , who finished with a first-time left-footed shot in the 60th minute. The two combined to score again in the 76th minute, when Monday got on the ball around the midfield line and fed Olowu, who drove it into the box and fired a right-footed shot. Olowu was also involved in Dallas' fourth goal, scored in the 81st minute, by dropping to get on the ball in his own half and delivering it to Lamar, who dribbled it past Atlanta's goalkeeper and finished it into an open net. Atlanta got their second goal in the match in the 88th minute, when Donovan Crawford slid to redirect a low driven cross into the goal.