The United States Soccer Development Academy has named two NYCFC Academy players in its U-15/16 Eastern Conference Best XI for the 2016-2017 season.
Gio Reyna and Nico Benalcazar headline a Best XI that features eight other MLS Academy players. This is yet another accolade for the NYCFC Academy this season, during which the U-15 squad won the Generation Adidas Cup, beating Mexico's Tigres in the final by a score of 1-0.
The team also featured at the Development Academy playoffs earlier this summer, and put multiple players on United States Youth National Teams. Most recently, Benalcazar and Reyna featured for the United States U-16 squad that competed in a tournament in Japan earlier this summer.
Benalcazar lead the NYCFC Academy defense this season with 27 starts during the Development Academy season, while Reyna netted nine goals in 18 starts on the front line.
Everton FC Westchester's JJ Jimenez, who will join NYCFC's U-19s as a player this coming season, was also named to the Eastern Conference Best XI for his performances this season. The midfielder made 24 starts for his club, scoring seven goals.
