Over the weekend the RSL Academy hosted Crossfire Premier at the Zions Bank Real Academy as both the U-17s and U-19s aimed to solidify a spot in the playoffs. Mixed results came from the weekend as the U-17s flew past Crossfire while a tightly contested U-19 match saw RSL drop points.
In the first match of the day, the U-17s took 22 minutes to open the scoring as Pablo Caparelli notched the game’s opening goal as well as the game-winning goal. From then the flood gates opened as Daniel Rojas doubled the lead before Alejandro Silva added another before halftime. RSL didn’t let up in the second half, scoring five goals in a 31-minute span as Christopher Garcia notched a brace that was supplemented by goals from Abel Mendoza, Gabriel Miranda and Bode Davis. Earning the shutout in goal was Brennan Klein which helped RSL maintain the 8-0 victory at home.
The U-17s currently sit fourth in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Southwest Division standings with an 11-7-2 record (35 points) and could jump as high as second place in the coming weeks. With a goal at the weekend, Davis now has nine goals to his name this season, placing him second on the team’s scoring chart.
The U-19s faced a tougher battle over the weekend, dropping a 4-3 result to Crossfire but found goals from Bryce Duke, Ben Ortiz and RSL first team member Julian Vasquez. Ben Ortiz now has 11 goals on the season split between the U-17s and U-19s while Duke now has eight. The goal from Vasquez was his third of the 2018/19 season.
Despite the loss, the RSL U-19s remain in second place in the U.S.S.D.A. standings with an 11-4-5 record (38 points), tied with FC Golden State in a tight race for a solidified playoff spot.
Both teams now look forward to three regular season matches – all held in Herriman – before the playoffs begin.
The RSL Academy will return to regular season play on Saturday to host the LA Galaxy with the U-17s kicking off at 11:00 a.m. MT before the U-19s kick off at 1:30 p.m. MT. After its contest with the LA Galaxy U-17s, the RSL U-17s will travel to Frisco, Texas for the Generation adidas Cup where it will face other MLS Clubs in the tournament’s top flight, the Championship Division.
