Coaches at the Grande Sports Academy home of Real Salt Lake Arizona Academy having been pushing the players hard in preparation for the upcoming U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs.
Both the U16 & U18 Academy teams have qualified for the playoffs and to help better prepare the team, the coaches have laid out a grueling training schedule that features numerous two-a-days that are mixed in between three friendlies for each team.
Earlier this morning, second friendly, RSL U18 Academy team traveled down south to take on FC Tucson of the PDL. FC Tucson has done very well this season advancing to the 3rd round of the U.S. Open Cup defeating two professional clubs along the way. FCT’s roster also includes a few familiar faces, Dylan Kelly (University of Incarnate Word), Miggy Salazar (Elon University) and Ricardo Velazco (University of Louisville).
After the game our current players had a chance to catch up with their former teammates. Below is what the former players had to say about playing against their former team.
Ricardo – “It was bittersweet because I know everyone on the team. Playing with the new team and playing against the old team is a good feeling but also sad to see these new guys taking your spots.”
Miggy – “It was nice to see all the guys back. It was really tough playing against them because you know how they play and when they play against you it’s really tough. It was really nice to see all of them to see how they developed, they are all at a different level know.”
Dylan – “They are looking really good. The same as always; good style of play, good soccer. It was fun seeing all my friends.”