The Real Salt Lake Academy sides returned to U.S. Soccer Development Academy action for the first time since December 9, taking on the Santa Cruz Breakers at the Zions Bank Real Academy in Herriman. The U-17s opened proceedings with a 5-1 win over the Breakers before the U-19s topped Santa Cruz 3-1 under the direction of Academy Technical Director MartÃn Vasquez.
In the first match of the morning, U-17s MF Noah Beck opened the scoring with a thundering header in the 17th minute before MF Bode Davis chipped the goalkeeper roughly 90 seconds later for a quick two-goal cushion. MFs Bryce Duke and Alex Villanueva each added to the scoring in the second half for the 5-1 victory as Villanueva scored twice as a second half substitute.
In the second match of the afternoon, the U-19s pressured the Breakers goal for 38 minutes before MF Richard Ledezma took the match into his own hands. In the 38th minute Ledezma lined up a free kick from 25 yards out, curling a wonder goal into the far top corner for the game’s first goal. Ledezma went onto score a hat trick in the 3-1 win after notching two more goals in the second half to secure the victory.
The U-17s remain in second place in the U.S.S.D.A. Southwest standings with a 8-2-3 record (27 points), just seven points behind leaders Pateadores. The U-19s also sit in second place in the U.S.S.D.A. Southwest standings behind Pateadores, holding steady at six points behind the division leaders.
The RSL Academy will take on Pateadores in a battle of the division leaders in its next game week, travelling to Southern California to try and close the gap between first and second place. The U-17s will kick off at 12:00 p.m. MT with the U-19s following at 2:00 p.m. MT. The rest of the Real Salt Lake Academy’s match schedule can be viewed here: rsla.ussoccerda.com.
