Is Now Barça Residency Academy USA
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – The Real Salt Lake U-16 Elite team defeated Banat 3-0 in Arizona State League play on Saturday morning at the Grande Sports Academy with a second half brace from Gio Alcocer and a first half goal from Josh Allsion.
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PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Real Salt Lake U-16 & U-18 teams participated in their second tournament of the season when they traveled up to Phoenix on Saturday and Sunday for the 2013 Tuzos Challenge.
The U-16 Elite team finished first in their group by going unbeaten in three matches for a 1-0-2 finish. They advanced to the U-16 title match and defeated Fuerza Azul 4-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Match #1 goals: Diego Robles (Assist: Josh Allison), Mikey Lanzetta (Assist: Alejandro Parra)
Match #2 goals: Ethan Shacknai
Match #3 goals: NO GOALS
Title Match goals: Robby Orona, Javi Avelar (Assist: Diego Robles), Diego Robles (Assist: Gallo), Austin Tucker
RSL U-16 Elite Season Stats (8 Matches)
Goals: (3) Orona, (2) Gallo, (2) Robles, Parra, Lanzetta, Shacknai, Avelar, Tucker
Assists: (2) Parra, (2) Gallo, Robles, Allison
Clean Sheets: (3) Orton
The photo gallery below is from the weekend’s action. Click on one picture and a slider gallery will form.
A new season means new players and to help introduce and welcome our new players we have provided a player profile and a quick Q&A below.
Name – Marcos Hernandez
Hometown – Petaluma, CA
Age – 15
Position – DEF
Previous Club – Marin FC
Q- Why did you join Grande Sports Academy?
A – Heard about it through a friend, Miles Stray.
Q – What made you interested in joining the Academy?
A – Came out here and the whole setup was professional, which made me want to come out and play.
Q – What plans do you have for your future?
A – College and then see where it takes me.
Hobbies – Hanging with friends
Favorite Team – Real Madrid
Favorite Player – Sergio Ramos
Team in FIFA 14 – Real Madrid
Name – Jose Miguel Tapia
Hometown – Guadalajara, Mexico
Age – 16
Position – MID
Previous Club – C.D. Guadalajara
Q- Why did you join Grande Sports Academy?
A – Miha Kline invited me out and I really liked it.
Q – What made you interested in joining the Academy?
A – I really liked the franchise, the work system and how they play hard and work every day.
Q – What plans do you have for your future?
A – Graduate from college go to MLS.
Hobbies – Soccer
Favorite Team – Real Madrid
Favorite Player – Mario Balotelli
Team in FIFA 14- Real Madrid
Name – Patricio “Pato” Yrizar
Hometown – Queretaro, Mexico
Age – 18
Position – MID/FW
Q- Why did you join Grande Sports Academy?
A – Be a soccer player and be a better person.
Q – What made you interested in joining the Academy?
A – I was here two years ago, but I couldn’t play because of a FIFA rule. Now I’m 18, can play and I’m very excited.
Q – What plans do you have for your future?
A – If not professional, then college in America.
Hobbies – Practicing with the ball, gym
Favorite Team – Barcelona
Favorite Player – Andrés Iniesta
Team in FIFA 14- Brazil or Bayern Munich
Name – Erik Holt
Age – 16
Hometown – San Diego, California
Position – DEF
Previous Club – Surf
Q- Why did you join Grande Sports Academy?
A – The level of play, caliber of player and it’s a MLS club.
Q – What made you interested in joining the Academy?
A – The talent level. Just how good the team was when I played against them.
Q – What plans do you have for your future?
A – Go to college and maybe become a pro.
Hobbies – Gym, training, beach, surfing
Favorite Player – Bayern Munich
Player – Pepe
Team in FIFA 14 – Bayern Munich
Name – Austin Tucker
Hometown – Brooklyn, New York
Age -14
Position – MID
Previous Club – FC Westchester
Q- Why did you join Grande Sports Academy?
A – Because my brother was here and he enjoyed it a lot. I want to share the same experience.
Q – What made you interested in joining the Academy?
A – My brother.
Q – What plans do you have for your future?
A – Play pro.
Hobbies – Music, soccer
Favorite Team – Chelsea
Player – Marco Reus
Team in FIFA 14 – Borussia Dortmund
Name – Michael Lanzetta
Hometown – Bronx, New York
Age – 15
Position – MID
Former Club – FC Westchester
Q- Why did you join Grande Sports Academy?
A – I came her for a trial and feel in love with the place.
Q – What made you interested in joining the Academy?
A – The environment of soccer every day. It’s 24/7.
Q – What plans do you have for your future?
A – Become a pro player.
Hobbies – Gold and ping-pong
Favorite Team – Juventus
Favorite Player – Cristiano Ronaldo
Team in FIFA 14 – USMNT
Name – Avery Ferrara
Hometown – Hammond, Louisiana
Age – 14
Position – DEF
Previous Club – Baton Rouge Soccer Club (BRSC)
Q- Why did you join Grande Sports Academy?
A – To get better at soccer.
Q – What made you interested in joining the Academy?
A – When they won the U.S. Soccer Academy U-16 National Championship.
Q – What plans do you have for your future?
A – To go to college and then become a pro player.
Hobbies – Soccer, golf and fishing.
Favorite Team – USMNT
Favorite Player – Cristiano Ronaldo
Team in FIFA 14 – USMNT
Name – Alex Valdez
Hometown – Maui, Hawaii
Age – 15
Position – FW
Previous Club – Matanusca Soccer Club (MSC)
Q- Why did you join Grande Sports Academy?
A – Everything is just good here. The player here are stronger and faster.
Q – What made you interested in joining the Academy?
A – Heard about them and saw them play. Then I came for a summer camp.
Q – What plans do you have for your future?
A – Major League Soccer
Hobbies – Dirt biking, video games and working out.
Favorite Team – Real Madrid
Favorite Player – Cristiano Ronaldo
Team in FIFA 14 – Barcelona
Name – Luke Novick
Hometown – Mill Valley, California
Age – 16
Position – FW
Previous Club – Marin FC
Q- Why did you join Grande Sports Academy?
A – Just how good the players are here.
Q – What made you interested in joining the Academy?
A – I knew someone who was here.
Q – What plans do you have for your future?
A – Play college and then go pro.
Hobbies – Hanging out with friends.
Favorite Team – Chelsea
Favorite Player – Drogba
Team in FIFA 14 – Chelsea
Name – Thomas Ziemer
Hometown – Santa Rosa, California
Age – 17
Position – MID
Previous Club – Dinamo Zagreb
Q- Why did you join Grande Sports Academy?
A – I think it’s a good place to improve as a soccer player. Incredible facilities and a great coaching staff.
Q – What made you interested in joining the Academy?
A – The reputation as a soccer environment.
Q – What plans do you have for your future?
A – Play pro.
Hobbies – Movies, music
Favorite Team – Tottenham
Favorite Player – Sergio Busquets
Team in FIFA 14 – Tottenham
Name – Josh Taylor
Hometown – Anchorage, Alaska
Age – 16
Position – MID
Previous Club – Alaskan North Stars
Q- Why did you join Grande Sports Academy?
A – A couple of friends from ODP spoke very highly of it.
Q – What made you interested in joining the Academy?
A – I came to the summer camp and improved a lot in just the one week I was here.
Q – What plans do you have for your future?
A – Play Division I then go pro.
Hobbies – Skydiving, fishing, hiking, biking, hanging out with friends
Favorite Team – Manchester City
Favorite Player – Neymar
Team in FIFA 14 – Manchester City
Name – Corey Baird
Hometown – Escondido, California
Age – 17
Position – MID
Previous Club – Surf
Q- Why did you join Grande Sports Academy?
A – I wanted to be on another high level team.
Q – What made you interested in joining the Academy?
A – Justen Glad helped convince me.
Q – What plans do you have for your future?
A – Go to Stanford, I’ve already committed.
Hobbies – Soccer
Favorite Team – Manchester United
Favorite Player – Mario Götze
Team in FIFA 14 – Chelsea or Real Madrid
On Saturday night, Grande Sports Academy held a welcome dinner for the 20 new players we will have this season. After the dinner, two videos were shown. One showed what the new season will be like and the other was one goalkeeper coach Ignacio “Nacho” Hernandez made for the U-16s during their playoff run. Below are pictures from the dinner.
Danilo Acosta, Giovany Alcocer, Corey Baird, Matthais Binder, Avery Ferrara, Marcos Hernandez, Erik Holt, Michael Lanzetta, Luke Novick, Rory O’Meara, Miguel Jose Tapia, Joshua Taylor, Austin Tucker, Alex Valdez, Fahat Yogol, Pato Yrizar, Thomas Ziener, Pablo Paleaz, Kiuno Cann, Paul Sunkyu Bin.
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