Naperville Central junior Chris Prince scored a team-high three goals in a 7-0 season-opening win against Minooka on Tuesday. He also added two assists for an eight-point game.

Not a bad way to start the season -- good thing he was allowed to play.

Prince, a member of the Fire Academy, ended his training season with the developmental team just in time last month.

The academy is a program designed to develop the best young talent in the Chicago area as part of MLS's Home Grown Talent Initiative. In the future, perhaps as soon as next year, this program could overlap the high school soccer season, keeping kids from playing for their schools.