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U18 team had a impressive showing the the Presidents’ Day Tournament. Check out the recap with quotes here
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Is Now Barça Residency Academy USA
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U18 team had a impressive showing the the Presidents’ Day Tournament. Check out the recap with quotes here
Click on one picture and a slider gallery will appear.
Make sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more news
The U16 and U18 RSL Elite teams had impressive showings at the Presidents’ Day Cup hosted by SC del Sol over this past weekend. Even though both teams failed to win the championship for their age group the players and teams looked impressive throughout the tournament. Below are recaps for each team
RSL U18 Elite
Check out the U18 picture gallery from the tournament
Going into the tournament RSL knew their opening game was going to be tough. SC del Sol, one of the strongest teams in the tournament, defeated them 3-1, with two goals coming from set pieces. Based of the way the tournament is set up the loss to SC del Sol eliminated RSL from advancing to the next round. The team responded to this by winning their next three games and were so dominant in their final game against Colorado United the opposing teams Head Coach asked the referee to end the game ’18 minutes early.
Quotes from the tournament:
Martin Vasquez – What do you take away from the tournament? “We were disappointed when we went to Surf Cup because we did not take the opportunity to do well in a very prestigious tournament. This tournament is very prestigious coming in and one of the goals was we need to show better because there are a lot of college coaches here along with good teams. Obviously we wanted to go to the final and the first game was against the best team in the tournament. A tie would have been great because that gives us an opportunity to advance but we lost and it essentially eliminated us. The approach we took after this game was make the best of it in the next three games. Three wins when they obviously were the best team, no doubt. Individually some of them had a great tournament and our forwards scored a lot of goals it was a big plus. We take away a big plus from this tournament and knowing the next tournament is even tougher Dallas Cup we know that we’re heading in the right progression that we are taking.
Eric Gonzalez – You’re thoughts on the tournament. “It was a little disappointing in the end for us but the tournament itself wasn’t too bad. We played a couple of decent teams and in the first game we were unlucky that we couldn’t get a better result. It cost us the tournament but the team put a good effort and were happy with that.”
Aiden Tucker – You scored 5 goals, how does this feel and what are your thoughts? “It feels good. We played well this whole tournament especially the last three games we played as a team. Together we kept possession and this is the way we played and we did a really good job and if we keep doing it in practice we can do it in Dallas Cup as well.”
Friday, February 15th, 2013
U18 RSL Elite vs SC del Sol 98 Boys Armstrong (AZ) – 6:00pm, 1-3
Saturday, February 16th, 2013
U18 RSL Elite vs MN Thunder Academy Elite 94/95 (MN) – 1:45pm, 5-0
Sunday, February 17th, 2013
U18 RSL Elite vs Calgary Foothills 95s (CND) – 8:30am, 4-1
U18 RSL Elite vs Colorado United White 6005 (CO) – 1:45pm, 4-0
RSL U16 Elite
Check out the U16 picture gallery from the tournament
RSL U16 Elite wanted to build on their previous tournament championship victory last week. In the first game the team losing came back from a Duncan Storey strike and a Miles Stary header. After this RSL cruised to victories in their next two games winning their group and securing a place in the quarterfinals. Playing against SC del Sol in the QF’s, RSL looked strong throughout the games. A finesse shot by Tevin Lowe just outside of the 18 with his left foot gave RSL a 1-0 lead. They held on for the rest of the match advancing to the semifinals. This matchup was against Colorado Rush. After a nail-biting first half controlled by Rush, RSL started to pick up the pace in the second half. Tired legs ultimately doomed them as Rush scored the game winning goal with 10 minutes left. RSL sent everything they had forward and a last second header by Tevin Lowe was blocked by the Rush GK.
Quotes from the tournament:
Assistant Coach Michael Kraus – How do you some up the tournament and how has this team grown? “It was positive. It was physically exhausting playing 5 games in three days and it took a toll on them but mentally they battled last night. Today they battled for a good part of the game. when we still got behind we had the energy and mental toughness to push at the end and try to even it out. Over the last 6 months they have been getting better and playing much better soccer. The results weren’t there in the beginning but now they are playing good soccer and have combined the mental toughness and mental fortitude to go with it and now the results are coming.
Miles Stray – What is your take on the tournament? “It’s positive because in the beginning of the year we played a lot of these teams and didn’t do very well, tying or losing. We came back and it kinda summed up the fact that we have progressed over the 6 months that we have been here. It is about winning and we want to win. But the main point is to become better and get to that next level.
Miguel Martinez – Tough loss, how do you feel the team did? “We had really good games did what we could. We played our best after all but we were just tired and they were more mentally tough than us.”
Friday, February 15th, 2013
U16 RSL Elite vs Real Colorado National (CO) – 7:45pm, 2-1
Saturday, February 16th, 2013
U16 RSL Elite vs Ballistic SC U16 Boys (ID) – 8:45pm, 2-0
Sunday, February 17th, 2013
U16 RSL Elite vs LV Premier ’97B White (NV) – 12:00pm, 6-2
U16 Quarterfinals – U16 RSL Elite vs SC del Sol 97 – 7:oopm, 1-0
Monday, February 18th, 2013
U16 Semifinals – RSL U16 Elite vs Rush Colorado – 10:15am, 0-1
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It is going to be a very busy weekend down here a the Grande Sports Academy as the U16 Academy & U18 Academy teams will be hosting the San Jose Earthquakes and the U16 Elite & U18 Elite will be participating in the Presidents’ Day Tournament.
Recap of last week’s action – U18 Academy defeated Strikers FC 4-2. U16 Academy defeated Strikers FC 4-0.
This weekend RSL-AZ will host U16/U18 San Jose Earthquakes at Grande Sports World. The U18 game will kickoff at 11:00am and will be a clash between two first place clubs. RSL-AZ leads the Southwest Division and San Jose leads the Northwest Division. RSL-AZ U16, Southwest Division leaders, will play San Jose at 1:30pm.
Assistant Coach Mike Kraus – “It’s another MLS Academy team so there is a little bit of extra pride on the line. It’s a team you don’t get to see twice because of not being in the same division. Definitely a little extra incentive added in there.”
Notes – RSL-AZ U16 is currently on a 3 game winning streak and have outscored opponents 15-1 during this time. U16’s Bofo Saucedo is the second highest goal scorer in the Southwest Division with 11 goals. RSL-AZ U18 has outscored opponents 9-3 over the past two games. U18’s Coco Navarro has scored 10 goals in his past 4 games.
Elite Teams
Recap of last week’s action – U16 Elite team won the U16 Championship in the Desert Cup and you can read and see all about that right here.
This weekend both Elite teams will be participating in the Presidents’ Day Tournament. Games will be played Friday-Sunday with Championship games being held on Monday. Both Elite teams are placed in Brackets with 3 opposing teams. Each team will play each other once and the winner of the group will automatically advance to the next round. On the U16 side teams can also earn a wildcard spot (2 total). No wildcard spots in the U18 division as there are only 2 brackets for their age group. Winner of their specific U18 group automatically advance to Championship game. For further rules you can check out their website here.
Map to the right —>
Rules of the tournament for group play:
3 points win
1 point tie
Schedule for the teams:
Winning team in BOLD
Friday, February 15th, 2013
U18 RSL Elite vs SC del Sol 98 Boys Armstrong (AZ) – 6:00pm at Reach 11 #5, 1-3
U16 RSL Elite vs Real Colorado National (CO) – 7:45pm at Reach 11, Field #9, 2-1
Saturday, February 16th, 2013
U18 RSL Elite vs MN Thunder Academy Elite 94/95 (MN) – 1:45pm at Reach 11, Field #11
U16 RSL Elite vs Ballistic SC U16 Boys (ID) – 8:45pm at Reach 11, Field #1
Sunday, February 17th, 2013
U18 RSL Elite vs Calgary Foothills 95s (CND) – 8:30am at Reach 11, Field #5
U16 RSL Elite vs LV Premier ’97B White (NV) – 12:00pm at Reach 11, Field #13
U18 RSL Elite vs Colorado United White 6005 (CO) – 1:45pm at Reach 11, Field #3
Possible games if teams win group or earn wildcard spot
Sunday, February 17th, 2013
U16 Quarterfinals – 7:oopm at Reach 11, Field #15, #16, #17, #18
Monday, February 18th, 2013
U16 Semifinals – 10:15am at Reach 11, Field #2 or #3
U18 Championship – 12:00pm at Reach 11, Field #14
U16 Championship – 1:45pm at Reach 11, Field #12
Gallery, Grande News, Performance News, Real Salt Lake, Soccer Academy, Soccer News
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Real Salt Lake (RSL) has now been in Arizona at two different times for a portion of their 2013 preseason. The first time they came down was when they stayed and trained at the Grande Sports World. After spending about a week here they left and have now returned back to participate in the Desert Diamond Cup (DDC) hosted by FC Tucson. The other three teams that are playing in the tournament are: New York Red Bulls (NYRB), Seattle Sounders and New England Revolution.
One player that has been traveling with RSL is former Academy defender Carlos Salcedo who joined the club during the summer of 2012 after graduating from high school signing a Home Grown Player contract.
Wednesday was the first day of the DDC and in the early game Seattle defeated the Revolution 2-0, with goals from Eddie Johnson and Phoenix native Brad Evans.
After this game RSL took to the field to take on NYRB. Jason Kreis, Head Coach of RSL, started an inexperienced team against an experienced NYRB team that featured Thierry Henry, Tim Cahill, Dax McCarty, Jámison Olave, Fabián Espíndola and Juninho.
Salcedo, starting at CB, performed well throughout the game making some important stops on the wing. He also saved a potential goal when Henry received a cross on the left side, dribbled straight at the goal and passed into the box which went into a dangerous empty zone in front of RSL’s goal. Salcedo emerged out of nowhere and cleared the ball before Cahill could one time the shot. Salcedo played the entire first half and a portion of the second half before he and 9 other teammates were all subbed out at the same time in the 62nd minute.
GSA had a chance to catch up with Salcedo and Kreis after the game.
GSA – A lot has changed in 8 months for you. What is it like looking across the pitch and seeing players like Henry and Cahill?
Salcedo – It feels good, but at the end of the day we’re professionals. We sacrificed a lot of things at the Academy but it pays off and it feels really good to be on the pitch playing against those guys.
GSA – Last year you joined RSL while the season was in progress. How has it been different this year?
Salcedo – It’s way better. Feels way better to start at the real season versus the middle of the season. I feel like I’ve been really good but still little details and stuff like that to improve.
GSA – What did you think of Salcedo’s performance tonight?
Kreis – I thought he was good. really quite good. he is a guy that is very young. but doesn’t show it. mature for his age and his play and tactical thinking. Impressed with where he is but he has a lot of room to grow still but I the future is looking food for him.
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A few weeks ago after the U18’s and U16’s defeated Nomads SC we posted picture sequence goals for Andrew Brody’s header and Moises Rodriguez’s PK.
This week we were able to catch Bofo’s free kick. Just click on one picture and a slider gallery will appear. For a full game report click here: RSL-AZ U16 defeat Strikers FC 4-0.
On Sunday, RSL Elite defeated CCV-Stars 1-0 in the U16 Championship game of the Desert Classic. The lone goal was scored by Terrell Lowe who was assisted by Nicholas LaMonica.
Elite advanced to the Championship game by going undefeated in Group play and outscoring their opponents 6-1.
Congratulations players!
Elite Schedule
Friday, February 3rd
Group Game – RSL-AZ Elite 2 – Scottsdale 97B Blackhawks Red 1
Saturday, February 4th
Group Game – RSL-AZ Elite 3 – TSA 97 Blue 0
Sunday, February 5th
Group Game – RSL-AZ Elite 1 – LV Premier SC 97B Grey 0
Championship Game – RSL-AZ Elite 1 – CCV Stars 0
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