The march through the Top 10 stories of 2015 for Real Salt Lake continues at No. 7 where we find a flurry of accolades for the RSL-Arizona Academy, highlighted by the continuing growth of Jordan Allen.
The Arizona-based Academy has long produced talented players and they had an emergence in 2015. Names like Jordan Allen, Justen Glad, Phanuel Kavita and Sebastian Saucedo all appeared for Real Salt Lake while 12 different players saw time with Real Monarchs in the USL. In addition, players from in and out of the Academy saw time with the U.S. National Team at various youth levels.
Allen leads the charge with his standout season. The 20-year-old multi-purpose player saw time all over the field for RSL, seeing his greatest season highlight when he scored the game-winning goal on March 29 in a 2-1 win over Toronto FC at Rio Tinto Stadium. He finished the season with 11 starts in his 23 appearances, landing one goal and two assists.
But that was just a small part of the story, as Allen spent May and June in New Zealand with the U.S. U-20 National Team for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. There he played in all five matches as the U.S. got out of the Group Stage with a 2-1-0 record. In the Knockout Stage, the U.S. started with a 1-0 win over Colombia before falling in a shootout to Serbia in the quarterfinals.
The accolades continued, as Allen and Glad were selected to play in the 2015 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game, while Glad and Saucedo frequently saw time with the U.S. U-18 National Team. Others in the Academy have garnered similar attention as the Casa Grande-based Arizona complex continues to churn out solid professionals and internationals.
In addition, the Academy’s U-18 team reached the national championship match for the third time in the team’s cycle, outscoring the opposition 176-38 while posting a 32-3-4 record. Head Coach Martin Vasquez was named U-18 Coach of the Year, midfielder Jose Hernandez was named Player of the Year and defenders Danilo Acosta and Diego Silva joined Hernandez on the Best XI for the West Conference. At the U-16 level, McKay Eves was named to the regional Best XI, too.
Even outside of the Academy products, RSL has found success in its youth. Luis Gil and Boyd Okwuonu both played significant roles for the U.S. U-23 National Team in its quest to play in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. The U.S. finished third in CONCACAF qualifying and will face Colombia in a showdown for the final spot in Rio.
Top 10 RSL Stories of 2015
10. Maund Emerges on Defense
9. The Launch of the Monarchs
8. Waibel Climbs the Ladder
7. Youth is Served at RSL
6. 11/4
5. 11/4
4. 11/5
3. 11/5
2. 11/6
1. 11/6
