HOUSTON - It has all come down to one game, as both the Real Salt Lake Arizona Academy and Solar Chelsea SC will be vying for the U-15/16 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Championship when they take to the field tonight at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.
The U-15/16 championship game kicks off at 5 p.m. MT. This marks the first ever championship appearance for the Real Salt Lake Academy. In 2010-11, RSL Academy's first season, the U-15/16 team placed third in Finals Week.
Fans can watch the game for free online at USsoccer.com and the can follow all the action on the @grandesportsa Twitter.
Fans "meet" the team in our playoff bios.
Roster: 87-Damian German, 18-Chase Bishov, 21-Jose Hernandez, 26-Jason Eng, 29-Brooks Lennon, 30-Luis Lopez, 32-Alxander Knox, 33-Adolfo Ovalle, 50-Sebastian Saucedo, 47-Evan Waldrap, 48-Adam Ferguson, 49-Justen Glad, 58-Dillon Nino, 59-Moises Rodriguez, 63-Josh Doughty, 77-Diego Silva, 85-Jack Gayton, 88-Luis Barraza, 57-Bayley Scholz, 36-Elias Rieland, 79-Christian Herrera.
RSL's path to the championship game:
2012-13 Regular Season: Real Salt Lake AZ finished the regular season with a 21-7-6 record, good for second place in the Southwest Division, two points behind the division champions Chivas USA. RSL as a team scored a combined 68 goals and conceded 35 goals.
After the conclusion of the regular season, Jose Hernandez and Justen Glad were named to the U-15/16 West Conference Starting XI. As a team, U.S. Soccer named RSL as the "Style of Play" recipient.
As the season progressed, Christian Herrera, Fito Ovalle, Bofo Saucedo, Justen Glad and Brooks Lennon participated in U-17 MNT camps and international friendlies. Josh Doughty participated in a U-17 Canada tour of Europe.
2012-13 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs: Real Salt Lake was drawn into group 6 with: FC Dallas, Chicago Sockers and FC DELCO. Real Salt Lake opened up group play with a 2-0 victory over FC DELCO. Goals were scored by" Diego "Diablo" Silva and Saucedo. In the second game they played Chicago Sockers to a scoreless draw, which set up a must-win game against FC Dallas in the final group game. RSL wasted no team jumping out to an early lead and finished with 6 goals and a victory when the final whistle blew. Goals were scored by: Sacuedo (2), Lennon (2), Silva and Doughty.
2012-13 Finals Week: Real Salt Lake was drawn into group 1 with" Alberston SC, Houston Dynamo and Texans SC Houston. In the first game of group play, RSL defeated Albertson 3-1. Goals were scored by: Silva, Hernandez and Saucedo. In the second game, RSL dug themselves into a hole when the Houston Dynamo defeated them 1-0. Heading into the final group game RSL were not eliminated, but needed a few things to happen. They needed the Dynamo to lose or draw and RSL needed to defeat Texans. Both of these results came true when Albertson defeated the Dynamo and RSL defeated Texans 1-0. Lone goal from Damian German.
Scoring Leaders During Finals Week/Playoffs: Saucedo (4), Silva (3), Lennon (2), Doughty (1), German (1) and Hernandez (1)
