Real Salt Lake Academy Begins 2021 MLS NEXT Season

HERRIMAN, Utah (Thursday, September 2, 2021) – Two months after lifting the first-ever MLS NEXT Cup trophy, the RSL Academy U15 team is back in action this weekend at Real Colorado, beginning their quest for back-to-back championships. The U15s will kick off on Saturday, September 4 at 9:00 a.m. MT, with the U17s following behind at 11:30 a.m. MT.  

The 2021-22 MLS NEXT season will take place over the next 10 months, culminating in the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs in July of 2022. Additionally, there will be a winter event and a qualifying tournament for the playoffs.  

Both RSL Academy teams are currently slated to play a 30-game schedule in the upcoming MLS NEXT season with all matches being played on a regional basis. The teams will face other MLS academy squads from Colorado Rapids, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Additionally, they will face six independent clubs, including Ballistic United, Breakers FC, De Anza Force, Real Colorado, Sacramento Republic and Silicon Valley FC. 

In addition to the competition at the MLS NEXT level, the U17s will compete in 10 matches in the United Premier Soccer League, allowing players who have aged out to still compete at a high level. The first game in the UPSL Mountain Division will take place Wednesday, September 8 at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah, against FC Spider, with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m. MT. 

This summer several members of the RSL Academy made their professional debuts, including Seth Powder, and Blake Kelly who made history as the youngest goalkeeper to appear in a USL Championship match. Goalkeeper Gavin Beavers also made his professional debut earlier this summer. 

The entire U15 squad is new to the RSL Academy system, entering into their first year at the Zions Bank Real Academy. Meanwhile, a large number of the U17 roster consists of returners from the U15 2021 MLS NEXT Cup Championship team. New additions to the U17s include Tyson Carter from Utah, Jaden Jackson, Reyli Haro and Jeremiah Omishakini from California, Denis Prudencio from Nevada and Aiden Jarvis from Arizona. 

Real Salt Lake Academy U15 Squad

Head Coach: Andrew May

Dominic Berrios, Alan Carmona, Carlos Castrejon, Cannon Clark, Luke Denison, Gilberto Garcia, Dylan Garcia, Zavier Gozo, Armani Haro, Lewis Knecht, Juan Landeros, David Lora, Josiah Martinez, Jacob Miranda, Luca Moisa, Bryan Ramirez, Anthony Ramirez, Ty Rinker, Luis Rivera, Johan Romero, Kyle Stacy, Jah’mani Stapleton, Axel Uriostegui

Real Salt Lake Academy U17 Squad

Director of Academy Coaching and Head Coach: Arnold Rijsenburg

Izahi Amparo, Gavin Beavers, Abokye Bikyeomba, Carter Burrup, Aldo Carmona, Tyson Carter, Fernando Delgado, Chris Gote, Matthew Hagan, Joon Han, Reyli Haro, Gershon Henry, Jaden Jackson, Aiden Jarvis, Blake Kelly, Alex Lopez, Angel Montesinos, Angel Morales, Braydan Morrell, David Navarro, David Noguera, Adekunle Jeremiah Omishakini, Evan Pickering, Seth Powder, Denis Prudencio, Noah Segura, Marcus Vazquez, Jude Wellings, Terron Williams, Ethan Zamora, Javier Zaragoza