Montreal Impact’s U17 team for the first time reached the U.S. Soccer Development League’s semi-finals during the 2017-2018 season.
The team lost to Atlanta FC during the U.S. Soccer Development League tournament held through June and July in California and Missouri.
The Impact U17 moved on to the third place game where they eventually lost to Barca Academy.
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Despite the outcome during the finals, the team remains proud of its 2017-2018 season and says the experience will benefit them moving forward.
Goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois and defender Lundon Durand Browne joined Global’s Gloria Henriquez to talk about the spectacular season, which saw them finish with a winning record of 17-6-3.
“All the great work we did during the season helped us a lot,” explained Durand Browne.
“It’s just the first time of many times it will happen again.”
Sirois and Durand Browne grew up playing soccer together on the pitches of Saint-Hubert on Montreal’s South Shore before joining the Montreal Impact Academy.
“We’re almost like a family. Every time we would go through hard times, we would just go through it and always come out strong,” said Sirois about staying positive.
Durand Browne added, “We’ve been playing together since kindergarten, having one another helps us get through it.”
The Impact Academy has been grooming outstanding youngsters since it started in 2011, with graduates signing contracts with either the Montreal Impact MLS squad or other professional clubs around the globe.
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Durand Browne has one year of eligibility left with the Impact U17 team, while Sirois has his sights set on either signing with the Impact’s U19 squad or moving onto playing for a university.
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