The Real Salt Lake Academy sides returned to the America First Field pitch for the first time in nearly a month as the U-17s and U-19s hosted San Diego Surf on Saturday. The U-17s toppled the visitors 3-0 in the first match of the day before the U-19s trounced Surf 8-0.
Kicking off proceedings in Sandy were the U-17s led by FW Ben Ortiz who had a hand in all three of RSL’s goals as he added two more goals to his name – bringing his season total to eight – before adding an assist to MF Julian Vazquez in the 89th minute.
In goal for the U-17s was GK Rafael Guerrero as he played the full 90 minutes in goal, earning the shutout.
The afternoon match showcased the RSL U-19s firepower as five players earned goals for the Claret-and-Cobalt with FW Sebastian Soto leading the charge with four goals in the match. Others notching goals were MFs Diran Bebekian, Zahir Vasquez, Glademir Mendoza and Luis Arriaga who scored the game-winner in the third minute with his penalty kick.
GK David Ochoa started the match and played the full 90 minutes in goal for RSL, earning the shutout.
The U-19s have now scored 34 goals in six matches in 2017 and are led by the country's top goalscorer in Soto, who brought his season goal-tally to 13 in the win over Surf.
The RSL Academy sides will return to action when they travel to Real So Cal for a November 18 match before facing Arsenal FC for the second time this season the following day. The sides will return to the Salt Lake Valley on December 9 for the first match at the Zions Bank Real Academy in Herriman against Strikers FC.
