CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – Toronto FC U-14 defeated Real Salt Lake U-14, 1-0, on Friday afternoon at the Grande Sports World.
NOTE: Click on one picture and a slider gallery will form.
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CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – Toronto FC U-14 defeated Real Salt Lake U-14, 1-0, on Friday afternoon at the Grande Sports World.
NOTE: Click on one picture and a slider gallery will form.
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – The coaching staff at the Grande Sports Academy home of the Real Salt Lake – Arizona Academy is preparing for one massive weekend of soccer, as the RSL-AZ U-16 & U-18 Elite teams are set to participate in Presidents Day Tournament in Phoenix, while the Real Salt lake U-17 and U-15 will play hosts to a handful on Major League Soccer Academy teams at the Grande Sports World for the second leg of the 2013-14 Generation Adidas Cup. FULL WEEKEND SCHEDULE BELOW
Generation Adidas Cup
The GA Cup is a showcase of MLS’s U-17 Academy teams. Academies are divided into three regions; east, central and west, and will participate in two qualifying events per region, and then they compete in a national event during April 2014 alongside international teams. The RSL U-17 Academy team has been placed in the central region with: Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City.
In the first leg of the GA Cup, which was held in Denver, Colorado, the RSL U-17 Academy team dropped the opening match 3-2 to hosts Colorado Rapids and rolled to a 5-1 win over Sporting Kansas City in the second match. Currently, the RSL U-17 team holding the third position in the Central Region standings with three points.
This weekend the RSL U-17 Academy team will open up second leg play against FC Dallas on Friday, February 14th, at 6:00 PM and the following day the Claret-and-Cobalt will square off against Chicago Fire with kick off set for 6:00 PM. The U-17s will wrap up the 2013 GA Cup against Houston Dynamo on Monday, February 17th, at 10:00 AM.
An MLS Academy U-15 showcase will be held alongside the GA Cup this weekend at the Grande Sports World. The RSL U-15 Academy team participated in a similar event at the first leg of the GA Cup. There they lost the opening match to Colorado Rapids 5-3, drew Chicago Fire 2-2 in the second match and close out the showcase with a 2-1 win over FC Dallas.
This weekend the RSL U-15 Academy team will face Toronto FC on Friday, February 14th at 2:00 PM and will take on FC Dallas on Saturday, February 15th with kickoff set for 11:00 AM. The U-15s will close out the showcase against Colorado on Monday, February 17th at 9:00 AM.
Presidents Day Tournament
The RSL-AZ U-16 Elite team will be looking to continue to impressive start to its 2014 campaign, while the RSL-AZ U-18 Elite team will be participating in its first action of the new calendar year.
Last week, the RSL-AZ U-16 Elite team won all three matches at the Desert Classic Tournament and won the Gold Group. This weekend the U-16 Elite team will kick off Presidents Day Tournament against Alaskan club Cook Inlet SC Velocity on Friday, February 14th, at 6:00 PM. The will face New Mexico club Rio SC Red Gunners on the following day at 5:15 PM and will square off against Trebol SC on Sunday, February 16th, at 10:15 AM. Depending on results, the U-16s may play Sunday night or Monday morning
The U-18 Elite team will open its 2014 campaign on Friday, February 14th against Arsenal Colorado Royal at 7:45 PM. The following day they will take on Foothills SC 96 at 3:30 PM and will close out group play on Sunday, February 16th against Forza DC 96. Depending on results, the U-18s may play Sunday night or Monday morning. Tournament rules are as follows:
DETERMINATION OF GROUP WINNERS/WILD CARDS: In group play, there will be no overtime matches
Date | Time | Team | Team | Location | |
Friday, Feb. 14 | 2:00 PM | RSL U-14 | vs. | Toronto FC U-14 | Grande Sports World |
Friday, Feb. 14 | 6:00 PM | RSL-AZ U-16 Elite | vs. | Cook Inlet SC Velocity | Reach 11 Field #18 |
Friday, Feb. 14 | 6:00 PM | RSL U-17 | vs. | FC Dallas U-17 | Grande Sports World |
Friday, Feb. 14 | 7:45 PM | RSL-AZ U-18 Elite | vs. | Arsenal Colorado Royal | Reach 11 Field #3 |
Saturday, Feb. 15 | 11:00 AM | RSL U-14 | vs. | FC Dallas | Grande Sports World |
Saturday, Feb. 15 | 3:30 PM | RSL-AZ U-18 Elite | vs. | Foothills SC 96 | Reach 11 Field #8 |
Saturday, Feb. 15 | 5:15 PM | RSL-AZ U-16 Elite | vs. | Rio SC Red Gunners | Reach 11 Field #15 |
Saturday, Feb. 15 | 6:00 PM | RSL U-17 | vs. | Chicago Fire | Grande Sports World |
Sunday, Feb. 16 | 10:15 AM | RSL-AZ U-16 Elite | vs. | Trebol SC | Reach 11 Field #11 |
Sunday, Feb. 16 | 1:45 PM | RSL-AZ U-18 Elite | vs. | Forza FC 96 | Scottsdale Sports Complex Field #7 |
Monday, Feb. 17 | 8:30 AM | RSL-AZ U-18 Elite | vs. | Croatian Eagles U18 Boys MRL Red | Reach 11 Field #8 |
Monday, Feb. 17 | 9:00 AM | RSL U-14 | vs. | Colorado Rapids | Grande Sports World |
Monday, Feb. 17 | 10:00 AM | RSL U-17 | vs. | Houston Dynamo | Grande Sports World |
Monday, Feb. 17 | 10:15 AM | RSL-AZ U-16 Elite | vs. | Foothills SC 98 | Reach 11 Field #12 |
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – The Grande Sports Academy home of the Real Salt Lake Academy is pleased to announce the verbal commitment of junior midfielder Evan Waldrep to Creighton University.
Waldrep is set to become the first player from the GSA to play for the historic Creighton Blue Jays men’s soccer program, which have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 18 out of past 19 seasons and have had over 20 players turn professionally since 1996.
“That was a big factor,” Waldrep said. “I want to play professional soccer and when I looked at Creighton’s record over the past 15 years and how they performed in the NCAA Tournament it showed they had consistency. During those years they performed well and made it far in the tournament.”
Waldrep is currently in the midst of his second season at the GSA in which he has started in all 12 matches played. Last year Waldrep joined the RSL-AZ U-16 Academy team in January 2013, and was featured in sixteen matches. During the U-16s run to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finals Championship, Waldrep was featured in six out of seven postseason matches, and in the title match win over Solar Chelsea on July 20th, 2013, Waldrep scored RSL’s fourth goal when he broke through the Solar defense and calmly slotted the ball past the diving goalkeeper.
Academically, Waldrep currently holds a 4.6 GPA, and finding a school that plays a similar style to the RSL-AZ Academy as well as providing a good academic program was a must.
“First I looked at their soccer team and during the college process I looked at which teams play like the RSL Academy and Creighton was one of them. I was also looking at academics and Creighton has a really good academic program.”
There is a connection between Creighton and the RSL-AZ Academy, as assistant coach Mike Kraus played for the Blue Jays between 2003-06, and before Waldrep set foot on the campus he spoke to Kraus about the school.
“Before I went on my visit, I told him I was going to Creighton. I asked him how he liked it and how the soccer program was. He said it was a nice campus and that the program was top notch.”
When Waldrep traveled to Creighton he experienced how cold the temperature may drop in the state of Nebraska in the winter months. Waldrep an Arizona native is already looking forward to the cold weather.
“I’ve always loved cold weather whenever my club team traveled to colder states. It might take a little to get used to, but I’ll get used to it.”
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – Real Salt Lake – Arizona U-16 Academy goalkeeper Christian Herrera and forward Sebastian Saucedo wrapped up a recent spell with the U-18 Men’s National Team, who was making its first appearance at the Copa del Atlantico tournament in Las Palmas, Spain.
Photo gallery at bottom of page
The U-18s were the youngest team at the tournament and went winless against Spain, Argentina and Canary Islands, losing three matches by a one-goal margin with two of three defeats inflicted by last minute concessions.
Saucedo was named to the starting XI vs. Spain and was brought on as a second half substitute against Argentina and Canary Islands. Herrera did not feature against Spain and Argentina, but was named to the starting XI in the final match against the Canary Islands.
In the opening match at the tournament, an 88th-minute goal by Spain (Watch: match highlights) midfielder Yelko Pino Caride doomed the U-18s after an otherwise impressive showing; Saucedo played 59 minutes before being subbed out. Against Argentina (Watch: match highlights), Saucedo was brought on as a 61st-minute substitute and less than five minutes later Rodrigo Contreras scored the eventual match-winning goal for La Albiceleste.
In the final match, Herrera was named to the stating XI and Saucedo was brought on in the 60th-minute. Canary Islands scored the late winner with one minute left to play.
Herrera and Saucedo spoke about the tournament below.
Herrera: “I feel like we were unlucky to lose the three matches, but it was good to see us competing against the best teams in the world. It was good for me to see a higher level of play. It was a good experience seeing how fast the ball moved around.”
Saucedo: “I think that in general it was a good experience going out there and playing against the top international teams in the world, especially playing against Spain and Argentina knowing that they are the best teams in the world. I think overall, we came in as a team and only trained the whole week we were there and we were there for four days before everyone else was. We outplayed every season game except Canary Islands, which gave us a little big of a challenge even though they are not an international team. We outplayed every team and we couldn’t finish our chances. That was what coach Javier (Williams) had mentioned capitalized scoring opportunities and I think Argentina and Spain managed to handle that and what really mattered at the end was the score and the results. Like everyone said at the press conference, they complimented us on how we were the best team and how we were supposed to be the best team and win the tournament, but we just didn’t handle our business.”
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Saucedo #24 / Herrera #12 (pictures from: picasaweb.google.com)
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – For the second straight year the Seattle Sounders have participated in a friendly match at the Grande Sports Academy, and a familiar face was among the Rave Green.
Eriq Zavaleta, who spent a portion of his youth career at the Grande Sports Academy was one of four players who have ties to the GSA to make his professional debut in 2013. Zavaleta was selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2013 MLS draft by the Sounders and a little over two months later he made his professional debut against the San Jose Earthquakes.
GSA had an opportunity to speak to Eriq about his life at the GSA after a recent Sounders 2-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Photo gallery of Eriq playing in Sounders vs. Whitecaps match after Q & A.
Grande: Eriq it’s good to have you back at the Grande Sports Academy, how does it feel?
Zavaleta: “It’s interesting. It’s a different experience coming back with a professional team versus an academy kid who was watching these professional teams and aspiring to be them. But at the same time it’s a cool experience it brings back memories. In the short time I was here I learned a lot and made some good relationships.”
G: As an Academy player at the GSA you had the opportunity to watch the professionals train. Did that help you in any way?
Z: “It gives you something to aspire to. You see the level first hand and it’s not every day you watch the professionals practice. You watch games a lot, but it’s a lot different being on the field level and seeing how they work out and how they are in the gym. You see the everyday life of these guys and you understand that it takes a lot to be a pro and it definitely helps.”
G: The GSA is one on the few full time residential Academies in the U.S. How did being immersed in this environment help you?
Z: “First and foremost this facility is incredible. You have everything you need here from good fields, to a great weight room, to ice tubs and everything else you could possibly need. It helps you learn how to become a pro because you have the facilities that are necessary to become a good pro. Greg (Vanney) was a great leader for us and I learned a lot from him. We had good talent on the team and the level was great.”
G: Looking back on your rookie season, what were your thoughts on how you performed for the Sounders and San Antonio Scorpions while on loan?
Z: “It was a learning experience and I feel like I’ve taken it in stride. This year is not so much about can I adjust can I learn. It’s now how can I contribute. I didn’t contribute and help the team as much as I would have liked last year. I felt like I wanted to contribute more and I felt like I could, but now coming in after a season in I’ve learned the ropes and I know what it takes and I’m ready to help this team.”
G: If you could go back to and give yourself advice while you were here at the Academy, what would you say?
Z: “I think coming here is one step in learning on how to be a pro and learning how to work hard. But until you get to the professional level you really don’t know how to work had and that was something for me to learn. A lot of these Academy kids have talent. You cannot make it on talent alone, especially in the professional level. If you can learn and watch these how these guys treat this job like it’s a job and understand that not every day is for taken granted, but then use the talent you have as well. That is how you are going to be successful.
NOTE: Click on one picture and a slider gallery will form.
Grande News, GSA Exports, Performance News, Real Salt Lake, Soccer Academy
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – Grande Sports Academy Exports is a feature in which we track the progress of former Grande Sports Academy players who are playing professionally. There are currently nine professional players in five different countries that have ties to the Grande Sports Academy. GSA Exports will track players who have been called up to national team duty and Real Salt Lake Reserve League matches.
In picture: Justen Glad (orange).
NOTE: Nico Muñiz originally signed with RSL, and is without a team. Romain Gall has signed a youth contract with FC Lorient.
For a full run down on all the weekend’s action, check out the capsules below.
Match recaps from: February 4th-11th
National Team
Christian Herrera, RSL-AZ, U-18 MNT: Did not feature in U-18 MNT’s 0-1 losses to Spain and Argentina at the Copa del Atlantico on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Started, played 90 minutes in a U-18 MNT 2-3 loss to Canary Islands on Friday.
2014 stats: 1 game
Sebastian Saucedo, RSl-AZ, U-18 MNT: Started, played 59 minutes and 61 minutes in the U-18 MNT’s 0-1 losses to Spain and Argentina at the Copa del Atlantico on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Saucedo was a 60th-minute substitute in a U-18 MNT 2-3 loss to Canary Islands.
2014 stats: 3 games, 2 starts
Preseason
Justen Glad, RSL-AZ U-16: Glad was invited by Real Salt Lake to participate in their 2014 preseason, which is currently being held in California. On Saturday, Glad was a 46th-minute substitute in RSL’s 1-1 draw against UC Irvine.
Major League Soccer
Carlos Salcedo, D, Real Salt Lake: Started, played 45 minutes in RSL’s 1-1 draw against UC Irvine on Saturday. RSL will wrap up its preseason by participating in the Desert Diamond Cup from February 17th-March 1st, and will start the 2014 season against LA Galaxy on March 8th in Los Angeles.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Benji Lopez, F, Real Salt Lake: Lopez was a 46th-minute substitute in RSL’s 1-1 draw against UC Irvine on Saturday. RSL will wrap up its preseason by participating in the Desert Diamond Cup from February 17th-March 1st, and will start the 2014 season against LA Galaxy on March 8th in Los Angeles.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Lalo Fernandez, GK, Real Salt Lake: Fernandez was a 46th-minute substitute in RSL’s 1-1 draw aganst UC Irvine on Saturday. RSL will wrap up its preseason by participating in the Desert Diamond Cup from February 17th-March 1st, and will start the 2014 season against LA Galaxy on March 8th in Los Angeles.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Jordan Allen, M/D, Real Salt Lake: Allen was a 46th-minute substitute and was subbed out on the 81st-minute in RSL’s 1-1 draw against UC Irvine. RSL will wrap up its preseason by participating in the Desert Diamond Cup from February 17th-March 1st, and will start the 2014 season against LA Galaxy on March 8th in Los Angeles.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Eriq Zavaleta, F, Seattle Sounders: Zavaleta was a 46th-minute substitute in a 2-0 win over Vancouver on Saturday, and a 60th-minute substitute in a scoreless draw against portland on Saturday. Zavaleta did not feature in the Sounders 2-1 win over Vancouver on Sunday. The Sounders will kick off the 2014 season against defending MLS champions Sporting Kansas City on March 8th.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Tippeligaen (Norway – First Division)
Ben Spencer, F, Molde FK: The 2014 Tippeligaen kicks off on March 30th for Spencer and Molde.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Superliga (Denmark – First Division)
Maikon Orellana, F, Brondby IF: Brondby IF is currently on winter break and will return to league play on February 23rd against AaB.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Bundesliga (Germany – First Division)
Kainoa Bailey, F, Bayer Leverkusen: Not in the 18 for Bayer Leverkusen II’s 2-1 win over Rot-Weiss Essen on Friday.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Ligue 1 (France – First Division)
Romain Gall, F, FC Lorient: FC Lorient is on winter break and returns to league play on January 19th against Stade Laval U-19.
Season: 0 games, 0starts