Welcome to the Real Salt Lake Youth Soccer Update. This regular release will include information on matches, tournaments, events and achievements involving RSL’s youth initiatives.
RSL-AZ U-16’s REMAIN UNBEATEN IN DEVELOPMENTAL ACADEMY SEASON
The Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-16’s kept its unbeaten record intact in its last time out, tying the L.A. Galaxy U-16’s 2-2 at the Grande Sports Academy on Nov. 17 to move to 6-0-3 on the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy season.
The U-16’s got off to a hot start against the Galaxy, getting a pair of early goals to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. Unfortunately, the team couldn’t hold onto its advantage, giving up a goal early in the second half before conceding a free kick equalizer in the closing minutes.
The RSL-AZ U-16’s still lead the West Conference’s Southwest Division, sitting four points ahead of second-place Chivas USA.
RSL-AZ U-18’s LOSE FOR FIRST TIME IN DEVELOPMENTAL ACADEMY SEASON
The RSL-AZ U-18 squad lost its first match of the Developmental Academy season on Nov. 17, falling 3-2 to the Galaxy U-18’s at Grande Sports World.
It was a back-and-forth match, with both teams scoring early in the second half before RSL-AZ was shown a controversial red card in the 65th minute. The Galaxy capitalized on its man advantage, taking the lead on 10-man RSL-AZ shortly after the sending off. The Claret-and-Cobalt battled back to nab an equalizer, but it was all for naught, as LA scored deep into second-half stoppage time to hand RSL-AZ its first loss of the season.
The Nov. 17 loss dropped the RSL-AZ U-18’s to 6-1-2 on the season, putting the team in second-place in the West Conference’s Southwest Division, two points behind the first-place Galaxy.
USSDA WINTER SHOWCASE UP NEXT FOR RSL-AZ
The Real Salt Lake-Arizona U-18’s and U-16’s will head to Lakewood Ranch, Fla. this weekend for the annual USSDA Winter Showcase. All 80 Developmental Academy clubs will play a total of 240 non-conference matches at the Winter Showcase, which begins on Nov. 30 and runs until Dec. 4.
The RSL-AZ U-18’s and U-16’s will both play three matches while in Florida. The U-18’s will play Montreal Impact FC on Nov. 30, Crew Soccer Academy Wolves on Dec. 1 and Sporting Kansas City on Dec. 3. The U-16’s will face off against the same squads, playing each corresponding match one day later than the U-18’s.
SIX RSL-AZ PLAYERS TO PLAY IN WINTER SHOWCASE SELECT MATCHES
In addition to the three non-conference games on the schedule, six RSL-AZ players – Benji Lopez, Jordan Allen and Tony Murillo from the U-18’s and Sebastian Saucedo, Justen Glad and Brooks Lennon from the U-16’s – will play in a Showcase Select match in Lakewood Ranch.
Lopez, Allen and Murillo will play in the ’95 Select match while Saucedo, Glad and Lennon will play in the ’97 Select match.
The Showcase Select matches put the top Developmental Academy players from each age group on the same field, at the same time. The matches will both be played on Dec. 1.
LOPEZ, ALLEN AND MURILLO COMPLETE U.S. U-18 NATIONAL TEAM CAMP
RSL-AZ U-18 players Benji Lopez, Jordan Allen and Tony Murillo all recently completed a U.S. U-18 National Team training camp from Nov. 17-24 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
The U.S. U-18’s played two friendly matches against the Canada U-18’s during the camp, winning the first match 3-1 on Nov. 21 and tying the second 2-2 on Nov. 23.
Allen and Lopez played in the first match, with Allen starting and playing 82 minutes and Lopez coming on as a sub in the 82nd. Lopez was the only RSL-AZ player to feature in the second match, coming on as a sub in the 70th minute and contributing on the U.S.’s late equalizer.
ABOUT THE U.S. SOCCER DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
The U.S Soccer Development Academy is a nationwide youth development initiative, organized by the U.S. Soccer Federation, featuring 80 of the top youth teams in the country competing in a league system at both the U-18 and U-16 levels. The 80 youth programs are divided into 7 geographically based divisions, each of which will send a single qualifier to the national finals after the regular season concludes in late June. For more information on the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy, please visit www.ussoccer.com.
