2013 Soccer Class

Nick Semintendi Announces Fall 2013 College Commitment

Grande Sports Academy, Casa Grande, Arizona – Updated August 25, 2012 – Nick Semintendi, Class of 2013 midfielder for Real Salt Lake – Arizona, announced his college commitment this week. Semintendi intends to continue his soccer and academic studies at Boston University in the fall of 2013.

Nick Semintendi - Real Salt Lake - Arizona - Soccer - Class of 2013 — Nick Semintendi – RSL-AZ Class of 2013

Semintendi started 9 of the 17 games he played in during the 2011-12 RSL-AZ U-17/18 season. Semintendi’s outstanding soccer play at the midfield position provided the opportunities for the team to place third overall in goals-for in the USSDA West Conference with 73 goals in 30 games. Three of those goals came from the foot of Semintendi in assisting the team to a wildcard playoff bid in the United States Soccer Development Academy National Tournament.

Boston University Terriers 2011 soccer program finished the season with an overall 9-9 record and earned the American East Conference regular season title with a 5-2 record. The Terriers, lead by Coach Neil Roberts, claimed their second consecutive and 11th overall American Conference regular season soccer title.

As one of the senior leaders of the team, Semintendi will continue his play on the soccer pitch and prep-school academic studies with RSL-AZ during the 2012-13 USSDA season.

RSL-AZ Academy Soccer Teams are in the 2012 USSDA Playoffs

Soccer News

The United States Soccer Development Academy has released the draw set for the 2011-12 Development Academy soccer playoffs. The draw set contains 32 teams from the U15/16 and 32 teams from the U17/18 USSDA soccer clubs around the United States.

In only its second year of competition, the Grande Sports Academy’s soccer team, Real Salt Lake – Arizona, has again qualified for both the U15/16 and U17/18 USSDA playoffs. RSL-AZ teams ramp up for the playoffs as they begin to focus on playing in the June 25th tournament in Frisco, Texas.

The first round of Academy Playoff play contains 8 Groups of four teams. The winner of each group advances to the Development Academy Finals Week from July 16 -23 in Houston Texas.

RSL-AZ U17/18 garnered a third seed in Group 5 along with FC Dallas from Frisco Texas, Sockers FC from Palatine Illinois, and McLean Youth Soccer from McLean Virginia.

RSL-AZ U15/16 secured a second seed in Group 4 along with the Chicago Fire from Bridgeview Illinois, Seattle Sounders FC from Tukwila Washington, and the Clearwater Chargers from Clearwater Florida.

The U17/18 soccer squad finished the season in third place in the SoCal Division of the West Conference with 31 points.The team scoring leader Maikon Orrellana ended the season with 13 goals. Joining Orrellana is Danny Gavin and Jordan Allen with 7 goals, Etiandro Tavares with 6 goals, and Dylan Kelly with 5 goals.

The U15/16 team finished the season in second place with 34 points. Jose Navarro lead the team in goals this season with 15 goals. Andrew Brody contributed 9 goals and Trevor Hyman kicked in 7 goals for the season.

Game schedule:

U17/18 Team
June 25, 2012 – 8:00pm – Field 9 – Sockers FC (H) vs Real Salt Lake – AZ (A)
June 26, 2012 – 8:00pm – Field 11 – Real Salt Lake – AZ (H) vs FC Dallas (A)
June 28, 2012 – 11:00am – Field 7 – Real Salt Lake – AZ (H) vs McLean Youth Soccer (A)

U15/16 Team
June 26, 2012 – 4:00pm – Field 17 – Real Salt Lake – AZ (H) vs Seattle Sounders FC (A)
June 27, 2012 – 6:30pm – Field 14 – Clearwater Chargers (H) vs Real Salt Lake – AZ (A)
June 29, 2012 – 9:00am – Field 15 – Chicago Fire (H) vs Real Salt Lake – AZ (A)

Trevor Hyman – Cultural Diversity paves Way for Success

Uncategorized

Growing Up I found myself in a unique position as a young child. My mother was born in South Korea and moved to the United States when she was two years old, and my father was born in Alabama. After meeting in their college years, my parents moved to California to go to law school. Later, they married, and had me in 1995. My little sister, Jessica, was born in 1997. There was always a blend of culture in my home and the blend manifested itself more and more as I got older. The distinct Korean tradition and strong ties to family was always apparent, which always led me to subconsciously question how my father felt about his mother and father’s divorce. But my equal love for my three sets of grandparents, parents, and sister, led to my ultimate amalgamation of identities into who I am today: Trevor Hyman. I draw multiple characteristics from my different heritages, which is why I can associate myself with multiple social groups. In Southern California, there is a tremendous Hispanic population. Therefore, when I went to participate in team sports, namely, soccer, I always played against Latinos, Asians, or Caucasians. Fortunately for me, all three groups accepted me: my half-white part with the white kids, my half-Asian part with the Asian kids, and again, the Latinos considered me Asian so I could fit in with them. Throughout my life I have adapted to the environment, be it academically, socially, or athletically, all thanks to my mixed ancestry.

Now, at 16 years old, I am adapting, once again, to an unfamiliar environment here in Casa Grande, Arizona, playing for the youth-professional academy Real Salt Lake. I left my family eight months ago and turned my back on the life a normal junior in high school lives. I left the car rides with friends, the football games on Friday nights, and the tender embrace of a loving mother. I traded it all for sweat, work, hardship, but at the same time, camaraderie, opportunity, and the thing I love most in this world: soccer. These past eight months have been some of the greatest of my short life, and although I’ve had some boring weekends, I’ve had my fair share of memories that I will hold onto forever, one specifically, being the weekend we flew to San Jose to play San Jose Earthquakes. We were down 1-0, in a foreign place, and against a good opponent. At halftime, we collectively took a deep breath and refocused our minds and pulled together as a team. In the first 20 minutes of the second half, we put in two goals. I scored one off of a cross from one of our players, Corey Nemeth, and then had the assist to Junior Juarez for us to go up. Closer to the end of the game, Andrew Brody netted a phenomenal finish and we ended at 3-1. The feeling of coming together as a team and a family has yet to leave me since that day. These boys here are my family, I eat, sleep, study, play, and fight side by side with them, and I do not see that changing any time soon.

In the end, though, I am here, in Arizona, to become a better player and person, and to play Division I soccer. I am a lucky kid to be in this situation, with facilities and coaches that most professional athletes do not even have access to. I will stop at nothing to achieve my goals, and I do not know where my endeavors will guide me, however, for now, I know that Real Salt Lake-AZ is the right place for me and I will use the tools provided to me to take my love of the game as far as I can, be it at the professional or collegiate level.

Real Salt Lake – Arizona Soccer Academy Split with Real So Cal

Soccer News

Real Salt Lake-Arizona’s U18 soccer academy team started with a bang versus Real So Cal. Etiandro Tavares score in the seventh minute lead the initial attack, but the RSL-AZ soccer academy boys could not hold on to the lead as they lost a heartbreaker 1-2 to the visiting Californian academy.

The morning game started brightly as Tavares knifed his way through the RSC’s defense, before combining with Ricardo Velasco, crashing the ball high into the net. RSL-AZ continued their tough attack of the Californian’s goal, but could not finish the attack and missed several good opportunities for goals.

The second half started in the same fashion as RSL-AZ continued its attack and Real So Cal stoutly defend their end of the pitch. Halfway through the second period, Jordan Allen, whose exploits down the left flank had caused RSC’s defense all kinds of problems, was pulled down as he cut into the penalty area for a penalty kick. Allen stepped up to the spot but although his effort beat the goalie, but the ball crashed off the upright and away from danger.

Real So Cal capitalized on the miscue catching Real Salt Lake-AZ’s goalkeeper in possession of the ball and forward Richard Martinez stole the ball and tied the game for Real So Cal at 1-1. With two minutes left in regulation RSC forward Lucas Reilly, scored off a corner kick as he arrived at the front post area, heading the ball home for the lead. As time expired, Real So Cal held on to take all three points.

The Real Salt Lake-AZ’s U16 squad fought a fierce battle against a resolute Real So Cal team determined to go home with at least a share of the spoils.

The first half went by with RSL-AZ having the advantage in territory and possession, but at the end the half, the score was still nil to nil.

The second half was a little different as RSL-AZ winger, Bay Kurtz, wrestled the ball away from a Real So Cal defender before finding Trevor Hyman at the top of the box. Hyman took a touch and then hammered the ball past the Real So Cal goalkeeper for a 1 to nil RSL-AZ lead.

Ten minutes later Real Salt Lake – Arizona soccer academy would go two up. This time it was Jose Navarro, who found space in the penalty area and made sure of his chance.

In the 57th minute Real So Cal pulled one back as Real Salt Lake-AZ defender Jon Zabasajja, in an attempt to clear the ball, deflected it into his own goal, giving the travelling team a glimmer of hope.

Determined not to throw away the game, RSL-AZ forward Jose Navarro took the game by the scruff of the neck, finding the net in the 73rd minute and closing out the game in a 3-1 win, giving RSL-AZ U16’s all three points.

Real Salt Lake-AZ U18 and U16 soccer academies return to the field at the Grande Sports World fields on Saturday, May 19 at 10:00am and 12:30 pm respectively.

Jose Navarro – Being on the Right Path

Soccer Academy

I was born in Los Angeles, California on May 16, 1995. I was raised in Inglewood and it is a city of trouble and gangs. I grew up knowing a few members of those gangs. I never got involved thanks to my beautiful family that kept me out of trouble. Being the first boy in my family after the birth of my two wonderful older sisters, I was also the first introduced to futbol by my father J. Socorro Navarro Martinez at the age of four years old. When I was beginning to start my youth futbol era, my parents decided to have my younger brother, adding another futbol player to the family. Thanks to my father and my gorgeous mother Maria Navarro, I grew up having an amazing family. Without my grandma, I probably wouldn’t be here because she helped my parents raise my sisters, my brother and I. Both of my sisters always cared for me and were always there for me no matter what. My little brother Richie even now helps me keep going and working hard. When we were younger we fought many times, but at the end of the day we love each other. He treats me like his role model and I work hard to never disappoint him. I could go on and on about my family because they mean the world to me and they are my support system. I want to use futbol, the love of my life, to make them proud.

The hardest part of coming to the academy was leaving my family. Not seeing them everyday has been hard, but has made me a much stronger person. The coaches are all great coaches, especially Coach Freddy. He always reminds me to stay humble and to keep my feet on the ground, which my teammates and I also like to call “tough love”. No matter how well I play, Coach Freddy always has a way to make me a better player on the field and a better person off the field.

My teammates are the best friends I have ever had. They make me stronger and smarter on and off the field and they make futbol so much more fun. Our motto, “As One”, is very big in the academy because we are a family and fight for each other. I would go to war with any of my teammates because I know they would fight for me till the end, the same way I would fight for them till the end.

I’ve grown up dreaming of one day playing with Real Madrid. I know that is a big dream, but how my mother use to tell me “no cuesta soñar” or in other words, it doesn’t cost to dream. My goals are to play professionally and also to go to college. To reach my goals, I have to focus on school and on my team, Real Salt Lake – Arizona. With hard work and the help of my team and family I know I will reach my dreams. This year I want to help my team win Nationals. Last year we received third place, but this year we are going to take first!

Clash of the Top USSDA Soccer Academies Game Recap

Soccer News

In a weekend that pitted Real Salt Lake-Arizona’s soccer academy against one of the best academies in the country, the Los Angeles Galaxy, there was a feast of goals as RSl-AZ’s Under 18 academy scored seven goals in 3-1 and 4-1 victories. RSL-AZ Under 16 academy lost 3-0 and tied 2-2.

U-18 Game Recaps:

The Galaxy has one of the stingiest defenses in the country giving up only five goals in nine league games and 12 goals overall in 18 games played. Real Salt Lake-Arizona led by Maikon Orrellana and Jean Pierre Bello, scored seven goals against the Galaxy in two games.

In the first game of the weekend, LA Galaxy took the lead on a goal by Jose Villarreal in the 31st minute. Ten minutes later the game was even as Orrellana, on a great feed from Ricardo Velasco, drove the ball home.

RSL-AZ continued to attack as the Galaxy defense wilted in the heat. Orrellana was again the scorer, notching his second, after a great individual run from the United States U-18 International player, Jordan Allen. Allen, who was tormenting the Galaxy defense with his exploits down the left flank, finished the scoring in the 66th minute with a superb goal.

In the U-18’s second game of the weekend, Real Salt Lake-AZ continued its attack. The LA Galaxy held firm throughout the first half, but they could not stop the eventual goal rush. Seven minutes into the second half, Bello went in on goal all alone and was upended by the Galaxy goalkeeper. The referee had no hesitation pointing to the spot and Bello stepped up to hammer the ball past the goalie and into the net.

Barely 10 minutes later, Real Salt Lake-Arizona went two up. Carlos Salcedo on a tremendous individual effort, pushed forward from his defensive position, to challenge the Galaxy goalkeeper. Again the keeper pulled down the Real Salt Lake-Arizona player and the referee once again indicated a penalty kick. Bello stepped up and put the goalkeeper the wrong way with his well-placed spot kick. Bello completed his hat trick in the 75th minute giving his team a three goal cushion.

LA Galaxy showed their quality, not willing to go home with their tails between their legs and they continued to push forward. In the 87th minute they were rewarded. Pedro Lugo, redirecting a free-kick from the left wing, pulled one back for the Los Angeles academy, but it was not enough as RSL-AZ continued to attack.

RSL-AZ was stung by the loss of the shutout and turned up the heat. Etiandro Tavares finished off the scoring with a fine individual effort in the 90th minute giving Real Salt Lake – Arizona the three points and all six points available on the weekend.

U-16 Game Recaps:

RSL-AZ’s U-16 squad started their first game of the weekend in good form, tied 0-0 at half time despite having several good chances. RSL-AZ became undone in the second half as central midfielder, Luis Chavez, was shown a straight red card for a two-footed tackle. Down a man, it was only a matter of time before the LA Galaxy would press home their advantage.

Within two minutes after the sending off, Galaxy was awarded a penalty kick. Rolando Munoz stepped up and finished his chance. Galaxy continued to possess the ball taking full advantage of their extra player. Two quick Galaxy goals from Josue Espana and Justin Dhillon in the 64th and 69th minutes, respectively finished of the game and gave Galaxy the three precious away points.

The U-16’s second game of the weekend started off similar to the first, but this time RSL-AZ took their chances and went two goals up at halftime. Trevor Hyman scored the first with a well-placed shot into the back of the net. Benji Lopez then hit an unstoppable shot from all of 30 yards that the Galaxy goalkeeper did not see until it hit the net behind him.

The second half was another story as Real Salt Lake-Arizona faltered in the heat. In a seven minute spell, RSL-AZ gave up two goals. Despite pressing forward and taking the game to the Galaxy, Real Salt Lake-Arizona could not capitalize on their possessions and the Los Angeles team hit them on the break, Juan Reyna scoring the Galaxy’s first goal.

LA then got the equalizer as the RSL-AZ defense dropped off, leaving the opposition’s midfielders open and with no pressure on the ball. Danil Slepukhin hit a long drive over the outstretched hands of RSL-AZ goalkeeper Cesar Cobos for the tying goal and a share of the spoils.

Real Salt Lake-AZ’s soccer academies continue their season at the Grande Sports World on Sunday, May 6 versus The Seattle Sounders.