RSL TO HOST REAL CUP HIGH SCHOOL TOURNAMENT THIS WEEKEND AT RIO TINTO STADIUM
Alta, Jordan, Juan Diego & Sky View to Participate in First Annual Event, Taking Place Friday & Saturday at “Utah’s Home of Soccer”
SANDY, Utah (Monday, April 9, 2012) – Real Salt Lake is proud to welcome four UHSAA Boys Soccer teams to Rio Tinto Stadium this weekend for the first annual Real Cup tournament. The action starts this Friday, April 13, when Sandy’s Alta H.S. will play host to Logan-based Sky View H.S. for a 3:00 p.m. kickoff, followed by a local match-up between Jordan H.S. (Sandy) and Juan Diego H.S. (Draper) at 6:00 p.m.
On Saturday, April 14, the four teams will reconvene at the home of Real Salt Lake, with the Consolation Game at 1:00 p.m. preceding the Championship at 4:00 p.m.
“Events like the Real Cup provide our organization another opportunity to give young soccer players from across Utah the chance to play on the state’s biggest stage, and we will look forward to doing so for years to come,” said Real Salt Lake President Bill Manning.
Tickets for each day of the Real Cup will cost $4 for students and $6 for adults, while a two-day “superpass” is also available for $6 for students and $10 for adults. Parking will be available in the Rio Tinto Stadium on-site lots for $5.
Media interested in covering this weekend’s Real Cup are asked to RSVP with RSL Asst. Director of Media Relations John Koluder via email at jkoluder@RealSaltLake.com by Friday at noon. Please note that 2012 RSL season credentials will be honored for the event, and the 4th floor press area will be open during the contests.
Rio Tinto Stadium has hosted dozens of high school soccer games since opening its doors in October of 2008, including the Utah High School Activities Association’s State Championships for both girls (fall) and boys (spring) since the 2009-10 school year.
About the Real Cup Participants
Current 5A title holder and five-time State Champion Alta currently holds a 4-1-1 record (2-0-0 in Region 3) in 2012 after posting 3-0 wins over both Cottonwood and Jordan last week. The Hawks will face off in a road contest at West Jordan on Tuesday before participating in the Real Cup this weekend in Sandy.
“We are really excited to be able to participate in the Inaugural Real Cup. It's a great experience for the boys to be able to play on the Rio Tinto field and in the stadium.” – Lee Mitchell, Alta H.S. Head Coach
Juan Diego Catholic H.S. will look to improve upon its Class 3A runner-up status from a year ago, and an opening 8-2-0 mark (5-1-0 in Region 10) has served notice that the Soaring Eagles will again be in the title hunt. Juan Diego will put its five-game winning streak, in which it has outscored the opposition 21-2, on the line during Friday’s Real Cup nightcap against its local rival Jordan, the two schools separated by just a three-mile stretch of State Street.
“Juan Diego is excited about being included in the inaugural Real Cup. We know the competition is tough, but look forward to the opportunity to prove ourselves on such a grand stage. The chance to play in such a beautiful venue on a world-class field is relished by every member of the Juan Diego program. We look forward to the experience and very much appreciate the invitation from Real Salt Lake.” – Scott Platz, Juan Diego H.S. Head Coach
The traditionally-strong Jordan H.S. program has gotten off to a rough start in 2012, losing four straight after opening the season with a 1-0 road win at Kearns. The Beetdiggers have collected three State Championship crowns in their history, including the 2005 and 2007 5A titles.
Sky View H.S. has had nearly three weeks off since starting the season with a 1-1-1 mark, its last game coming back on March 20. The two-time 4A champions (2004 & 1994) will make up for lost time this week, as the Bobcats open up Region 4 play with road contests at Mountain Crest (Tuesday) and Box Elder (Thursday) before making the trek south to Rio Tinto Stadium.
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