crossfire premier

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – The Real Salt Lake – Arizona U-16 and U-18 Academy teams will be looking to extend their combined eight match undefeated streak at home against Northwest Division foe Crossfire Premier on Saturday in the first match of 2014.

The RSL U-18 Academy, ranked #2 by Top Drawer Soccer, is the Southwest Division leader (6-1-3). Through ten matches, the RSL U-18 team has conceded a U-18 USSDA league best seven goals. Jose Hernandez leads the team in scoring with five goals. Corey Baird and Eric Carbajal have each scored four goals.

Earlier this month, U.S. Soccer held a January camp and U-20 MNT head coach Tab Ramos called in one RSL U-18 Academy player: Corey Baird.

Before the winter break, the RSL U-18 team traveled to Florida to participate in the 2013 winter showcase. In the first match, the U-18s played Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Soccer Academy to a scoreless draw and were defeated 2-1 by the New York Red Bulls in the second match. The U-18s bounced back and drew D.C. United 1-1 in the third and final match.

The RSL U-16 team, ranked #3 by Top Drawer Soccer, is the Southwest Division leader (8-1-1) and went into the winter break riding a seven match unbeaten streak. Through ten matches, the RSL U-16 team has conceded just four goals – tied with NYRB for a U-16 USSDA league best – and has earned seven clean sheets. The RSL U-16s average 3.6 goals per match and are led by Sebastian Saucedo, who has scored eight goals. Josh Doughty and Tate Schmitt have each scored five goals. Goalkeeper Christian Herrera has earned seven clean sheets.

Earlier this month, U.S. Soccer held a January camp and U-18 MNT head coach Javier Perez called in three RSL U-16 Academy players: Justen Glad, Saucedo and Herrera.

Before the winter break, the RSL U-16 team traveled to Florida to participate in the 2013 winter showcase. In the first match, the U-16s defeated Chicago Magic PSG 6-1 and played the Chicago Fire to a scoreless draw in the second match. In the third and final match, a Saucedo goal from the halfway line gave the RSL U-16 team a 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Union.

The U-18 match is set to kickoff at 10:00am and will be followed by the U-16 match at 12:30pm.

RSL Academy coaches have scheduled a friendly against local club SC del Sol that will be played after the Academy matches.