jose tapia

PHOENIX – The RSL-AZ U-16 & U-18 Elite teams traveled up to Phoenix over Presidents Day Weekend to participate in President Day Tournament.

For a full run down on all the weekends action, check out the recaps below

RSL-AZ U-16 Elite

Match #1: RSL-AZ U-16 Elite vs. Cook Inlet SC Velocity 98B Blue (Group Play)

After kicking off Presidents Day Tournament with a less than stellar opening 40 minutes of play in which the RSL-AZ U-16 Elite team found themselves down a goal, a four goal second half outburst carried the U-16s to an opening win and signaled more to come from what would be an impressive weekend. Alejandro Parra opened up his goal tally from a Diego Robles assist. Javi Avelar scored the eventual match winner on a penalty kick after Ryan Flood was taken down in the box. Austin Tucker found the back of the net from a Robles assist and Flood added RSL’s fourth and final goal from a Parra assist.

Match #2: RSL-AZ U-16 Elite vs. Rio SC Red Gunners (Group Play)

RSL-AZ U-16 Elite continued to dominate the opposition scored four more goals against Rio SC Red Gunners in the second match of group play. Diego Robles scored two goals, the first from a Mikey Lanzetta pass and the second from a Ryan Flood through ball. Flood scored RSL’s third goal on a beautiful free kick and Alejandro Parra added a fourth goal from a Zane Zarris assist.

Match #3: RSL-AZ U-16 Elite vs. Trebol SC White (Group Play)

Photo Gallery

RSL-AZ U-16 Elite posted their first shutout and scored a tournament best five goals over Colorado side Trebol SC White. RSL pounded the Trebol SC defense early on with a three goal effort in four minutes, the first goal in the 16th-minute when Austin Tucker won a ball in the midfield. He played to Parra down the wing, who sent a cross to the back post. Mikey Lanzetta chested the ball and finished. Three minutes later Marcos Hernandez to Lanzetta to Parra sprung Robles free in the box. In the 20th-minute Parra cut up the Trebol defense and crossed to Robles for his second goal. Ryan Flood added a second half brace from two Parra assists. With the win the RSL-AZ U-16 team advanced to the U-16 PDT championship.

Match #4: RSL-AZ U-16 Elite vs. Foothills SC 98 (Final)

In the PDT final match, RSL-AZ U-16 Elite jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Mikey Lanzetta collected a loose ball and beat a defender before playing to Alejandro Parra on top of the box. He played a square ball to Ryan Flood who then rifled a shot into the upper-v. The second half was the Diego Robles show, as he capped off an impressive weekend with a hat-trick. He scored his first goal moments into the second half and added a second from an Ethan Shacknai throw-in. The third goal was scored when Lanzetta played to Parra who chipped the backline. Robles ran up and finished the effort.

RSL U-16 Elite Season Stats (Tournament, AZ State League and FWRL: 31 Matches)
Goals: (15) Diego Robles, (9) Ryan Flood,  (7) Alejandro Parra, (6) Robby Orona, (5) Mikey Lanzetta, (5) Gallo, (5) Javi Avelar, (5) Austin Tucker, (4) Gio Alcocer, (4) Kris Fourcand (3) Josh Allison, Ethan Shacknai, Marcos Hernandez, Patrick Ring, Aristotle Zarris
Assists: (15) Parra, (6) Gallo, (3) Duncan Storey, (5) Robles, (2) Avelar, (2) Alcocer, (2) Flood, Allison, Alex Valdez, Fourcand, Ring, Lanzetta, Zane Zarris, Shacknai
Clean Sheets: (5) Conor Orton, (4) Marcel Ruzan, Avelar, Jared Osgood

RSL-AZ U-18 Elite

Match #1: RSL-AZ U-18 Elite vs. Arsenal Colorado Royal (Group Play)

The RSL-AZ U-18 Elite team jumped out to an impressive start at the PDT defeating Arsenal Colorado Royal with a three goal second half effort. Jose Tapia scored the first goal and almost recorded a brace, but his piercing free kick was saved, which was then blasted into the back of the net by Like Novick. Paul Bin scored RSL’s third goal from an Adam Ferguson assist.

Match #2: RSL-AZ U-18 Elite vs. Foothills SC 96 (Group Play)

RSL suffered a 0-3 loss in the second match of PFT

Match #3: RSL-AZ U-18 Elite vs. Forza FC 96 Premier (Group Play)

Photo Gallery

RSL-AZ U-18 Elite bounced back and defeated Forza 2-1 with first half goals from Jose Tapia and Danny Moreno. The win moved RSL into the third place match at the PDT

Match #4: RSL-AZ U-18 Elite vs. Croatian Eagles U18 Boys MRL Red (Third Place Match)

In the third place match at PDT, the RSL-AZ U-18 Elite team suffered a 2-1 loss on two defensive errors. Radu Marcu scored the lone goal for the Claret-and-Cobalt on a penalty kick.

RSL U-18 Elite Season Stats (24 matches)
Goals: (14) Luke Novick, (8) Paul Bin, (6) Albert Molina, (6) Radu Marcu, (5) Matthias Binder, (4) Josh Taylor, (4) Ishan Atit, (3) Danny Moreno, (2) Kiuno Cann, (2) Victor Alvarez,  (2) Jose Tapia, Trent Lowe, Gavino Carranza, Nate Deaton, Nicholas LaMonica, Tevin Lowe,
Assists: (7) Binder, (6) Atit, (3) Novick, (3) Alvarez, (3) Bin, (3) Moreno, (2) Aaron Herrera,(2) Trent Lowe, (2) Adam Ferguson, Judah Rashirai, Deaton, Jonathan Min, Carranza
Clean Sheets: (8) Miguel Martinez