HENDERSON, Nev. – The RSL-AZ U-18 Elite team participated in the 2014 Las Vegas Players College Showcase this past weekend.
For a full run down on all the weekends action, check out the recaps below. Season stats at bottom of page.
Match #1: RSL-AZ U-18 Elite vs. LVSA 96 Boys White (group play)
RSL-AZ U-18 Elite opened up the LVPCS with a 2-4 loss to LVSA 96 Boys White on Friday afternoon at Heritage Park. Ten minutes into the match the Claret-and-Cobalt found themselves down 0-2 and would go into the half with a three goal deficit. The Claret-and-Cobalt cut away at LVSA’s lead with a goal in the opening minutes of the second half. Adam Ferguson played a long ball to Paul Bin, who dribbled to the touchline. He crossed the ball in, which found Tyler Buckley for a bottom corner finish. Midway through the second half Paul Bin doubled RSL’s lead on a blast from inside the box from a Danny Moreno pass. Unfortunately for RSL their efforts went to the wayside when LVSA scored another goal in the dying minutes of the match.
Match #2: RSL-AZ U-18 Elite vs. Crossfire Oregon (group play)
RSL-AZ U-18 Elite rebounded from the opening match loss and rolled to a 3-1 win over Crossfire Oregon on Friday night. RSL opened their goal tally four minutes into the second half on a beautiful finish from Jose Tapia, who started his run from the halfway line. Crossfire equalized the match midway through the half, but found themselves trailing just one minute later. Paul Bin charged down the right-wing with pace and cut into the box before he was taken down from behind. He stepped up, converted the penalty and capped it off with a Gangnam Style celebration. Victor Alvarez scored RSL’s third goal in the 75th-minute after Tyler Buckley stripped a defender on top of the box. He quickly played to Alvarez, who took a touch and finished.
Match #3: RSL-AZ U-18 Elite vs. San Diego FA (group play)
RSL-AZ U-18 Elite dropped the final match of group play, 1-2, to San Diego FA on Saturday afternoon. Trailing 0-1 at halftime, RSL scored an equalizer eight minutes into the second half when Adam Ferguson played a ball through traffic to Tyler Buckley. He then turned and passed to Paul Bin, who dribbled into the box and finished far post for this third goal in as many matches. San Diego pushed to retake the lead and would have had it if not for a huge save by RSL goalkeeper Miguel Martinez in the 52nd-minute. However, Martinez’s efforts went to the wayside in the 71st-minute when he stopped a San Diego shot, but failed to clear the danger. A San Diego FA player ran up and slotted the ball near post for the match-winner. Jose Tapia and Ishan Atit each had a look in the final minutes, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Match #4: RSL-AZ U-18 Elite vs. LA Galaxy South Bay (playoff consolation)
After closing out group play with a 1-2-0 showing, RSL-AZ U-18 Elite defeated LAGSB, 2-1, in a playoff consolation match on Sunday afternoon. RSL saved their best for last and jumped out of the gate with immediate pressure on the LAGSB goal. Their efforts paid off in the 30th-minute when Jose Tapia curled in a free kick which hit the post and bounced out. Victor Alvarez ran up and headed the ball back into the box. The goalkeeper was able to get a hand, but wasn’t able to clear before Kiuno Cann ran up and finished from close distance. Three minutes before the halftime break, LAGSB equalized on a free kick that was redirected into the back of the net. Ten minutes after the restart, Paul Bin intercepted a pass in LAGSB’s half. He played to Jose Tapia who crossed to Ishan Atit for a one-time finish. Both sides closed out the match with 10-men, as Tapia earned a second yellow in the 54th-minute and was sent off. An LAGSB player kicked an RSL player in the head in the 63rd-minute and was shown a straight red. RSL outlasted LAGSB and closed out the weekend with a 2-2 record.
RSL-AZ U-18 Elite: Tournament play, Arizona State League, Far West Regional (31 matches) UNOFFICIAL
| Goalkeeper | Clean Sheets |
| Miguel Martinez (U-18 Elite) | 8 |
| RSL-AZ U-18 Elite | Goals | Assists |
| Victor Alvarez | 4 | 3 |
| Ishan Atit | 5 | 6 |
| Paul Bin | 11 | 4 |
| Matthias Binder | 5 | 7 |
| Tyler Buckley | 1 | 2 |
| Kiuno Cann | 3 | |
| Gavino Carranza | 1 | 1 |
| Nate Deaton | 1 | 1 |
| Adam Ferguson | 2 | |
| Aaron Herrera | 2 | |
| Nicholas LaMonica | 1 | |
| Tevin Lowe | 1 | |
| Trent Lowe | 1 | 2 |
| Luke Novick | 14 | 3 |
| Radu Marcu | 6 | |
| Jonathan Min | 1 | |
| Albert Molina | 6 | 1 |
| Danny Moreno | 3 | 4 |
| Judah Rashirai | 1 | |
| Jose Tapia | 3 | 1 |
| Josh Taylor | 4 |