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-18’s, U-16’s SPLIT WEEKEND MATCHES IN CALIFORNIA
The Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-18’s and U-16’s both split a pair of USSDA matches in Southern California last weekend.
The U-18 team won its first match of the weekend, getting a brace from Jose Navarro and a goal each from Tony Murillo and Benji Lopez to defeat De Anza Force 4-2 on Dec. 15. Unfortunately, the U-18’s couldn’t make it a clean sweep on Dec. 16, falling 3-2 to Santa Cruz Breakers Academy despite a goal each from Murillo and Navarro.
The RSL-AZ U-16’s dropped its first match of the weekend, losing 1-0 at De Anza Force on Dec. 15. The U-16’s bounced back in a big way on Dec. 16 however, getting a hat trick from Brooks Lennon and a goal each from Adolfo Ovalle and Josh Doughty to beat Santa Cruz Breakers 5-1.
RSL-AZ COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL WEEKEND AT USSDA WINTER SHOWCASE
The Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-18 and U-16 teams were very successful at the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy Winter Showcase in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., posting a combined record of 4-1-1 in six non-conference games.
The U-18’s went 2-0-1 on the weekend, beating the Montreal Impact 4-1 on Nov. 30, downing the Crew Soccer Academy Wolves 1-0 on Dec. 1 and tying Sporting KC 1-1 on Dec. 3. Benji Lopez and Jose Hernandez had big weekends for the squad, with Lopez notching two goals and Hernandez scoring one goal and adding two assists.
The U-16’s weren’t quite as successful as their older counterparts, beating Montreal 5-3 on Dec. 1, losing 0-2 to Crew Soccer Academy Wolves on Dec. 2 and beating Sporting KC 3-1 on Dec. 4 to finish the showcase with a 2-1-0 record.
FOUR RSL-AZ PLAYERS COMPETE IN WINTER SHOWCASE SELECT MATCHES
Four RSL-AZ players competed in the 2012 Winter Showcase Select matches featuring the top U-18 and U-16 players from across the USSDA. U-18 player Tony Murillo featured in the ’95 Select match, suiting up for the winning Blue Team, which defeated the Red Team 1-0.
Three U-16 players featured in the ’97 Select match, with Brooks Lennon playing on the Red Team that defeated Justen Glad and Sebastian Saucedo’s Blue Team 4-1. Lennon recorded an assist in the match.
