Here's how FC Cincinnati's academy teams did on the first road trip to Nashville

For FC Cincinnati's academy teams, it wasn't about the results or individual performances when they took to the field last weekend in Nashville for their first-ever competitive matches.

Sure, the teams got plenty of both during the matches. FC Cincinnati's Under-17 and Under-15 sides combined for three wins and a 16-7 goal differential in four matches.

But what was most important, Director of Player Development Larry Sunderland said, was the players continued building for the future in line with the club's playing philosophy, along with the widespread interest in the academy's general progress.

In Sunderland's experience, he said, the early stages of building out an academy don't typically produce results like FC Cincinnati saw in its first four games. He's not letting coaches or players get too high on the positive early returns. 

"The key thing for us is we're trying to set a foundation and a playing style for the future," Sunderland told The Enquirer. "I was happy with the fact that we really maintained possession of the ball and as we got more familiar with other, we got more comfortable... Our objection for this first year is setting that foundation for the style we want to play."

More:FC Cincinnati Academy unveils U15, U17 rosters

Going forward, the FCC academy teams are expected to conduct inter-squad scrimmages and study their Nashville performances.

Scheduling is tough at this time of year, hence the need to travel to Nashville for friendly matches. 

"I think, really, the next benchmark for us is to get (the teams) into the 2020 season," Sunderland said. "To get that moving and then as the academy starts to roll, then we'll look at some other player development initiatives that we have coming down the line like next year with the Under-19's. That's gonna be on us before you know it and with that's going to require some outside scouting and some outside recruiting, which means home-stay, residency programs and things like that. So, we have a lot of things coming online and we're going to have them buttoned up around January."

The club's under-19 team is scheduled to come online next summer, Sunderland said. 

Sunderland is of the mindset that people in his position should fall back and let others stand in the limelight. On Saturday at Nippert Stadium, he couldn't avoid the interest in his position and the teams he's overseeing.

"It was crazy for me walking around (Nippert Stadium) on Saturday night how many people came up to me and asked how the academy games are going. I mean, I haven't had that anywhere else," Sunderland said. "From people in the organization, from groundskeepers, front office staff to fans in The Bailey asking. So, really appreciate that people care about the project and we'd love to see, when we get things going (at the Mercy Health Training Center), we'd love to have people out here. That'd be awesome."