Soccer tennis is a highly contested event at the Grande Sports Academy. Bragging rights are always on the line and when a player challenged a coach the stakes are even higher. Today, Jonathan Stadler challenged coach Freddy Juarez. The video picks up with Stadler holding onto a slim 8-7 lead.
Weekend Soccer Preview – Final Regular Season Game
The 2012-2013 Real Sale Lake Academy season has come down to one game. The U18’s & U16’s have already qualified for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs and need victories this weekend to secure the best possible seeding in the playoff draw.
U18′s
RSL U18’s are in a position to win the Southwest Division for the first time in history. Right now they are tied with LA Galaxy on points, 58 a piece, but are in second place due to goal differential. Galaxy have a +41 differential and RSL have a +32 differential. Third place in the division is Real So Cal who have 55 points.
RSL wins Southwest Division if…
Real So Cal defeats LA Galaxy and RSL defeats or draws Arsenal FC
Real So Cal draws LA Galaxy and RSL defeats Arsenal FC
If Real So Cal defeat LA Galaxy and RSL losses to Arsenal FC then nothing changes in the Division due to the goal differential. RSL needs to defeat Arsenal FC to pick up three more points to improve their playoff position in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs. Currently they are #8 in the overall playoff positioning which puts them in pot #1. Below are the official rules for the Playoff group draw.
Once a team has qualified for the Playoffs, teams will be seeded into 4 pots based on overall points per game throughout the Academy season.
Pot #1: Teams seeded #1-#8
Pot #2: Teams seeded #9-#16
Pot #3: Teams seeded $17-#24
Pot #4: Teams seeded #25-#32Teams will be drawn from each pot and placed into a Playoff Group of four teams. Teams will be placed back in their respective pot if drawn into a Playoff Group with a division opponent. Each of the 8 Playoff Groups will contain 4 teams each. The same procedure applies to both age groups.
The rules above also apply for the U16’s.
U16′s
RSL U16′s are in second place, 55 points, in the Southwest Division and will not move up or down in the Division based on this weekend’s outcome vs Arsenal. Chivas USA, 1st place with 65 points, won the division a few weeks ago. Third place Real So Cal has 51 points on the season.
In the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs, RSL is currently #13 and have no chance to move up into the top 8. RSL need to win so remain in pot #2.
For more in-depth coverage of the Academy team standings U18/U16 click here.
Saturday, June 1st, 2013
RSL U18 vs Arsenal FC – 11:00am at Grande Sports Academy
RSL U16 vs Arsenal FC – 1:30pm at Grande Sports Academy
RSL U16 & U18 Academy Standings Update – May, 22nd (One More Game To Go)
Once per week we will take a look at the current standings for our Real Salt Lake U18 and U16 Academy teams in the Southwest Division.
RSL U18 Academy Overview –U18′s have done well in 2013, going W8-D1-L3 and have already qualified for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs. They are tied for first in the Southwest Division.
Last Game – Defeated Pateadores, 4-1, on Saturday. Goals were scored by: Coco Navarro, Kostas Kotselas, Amer Sasivarevic, Aidan Tucker his first on the year. Recap here and pictures here.
Right Now – RSL is W18-L5-D4 on the season and tied for first place in the Southwest Division on points, 58. LA Galaxy have the #1 spot due to goal differential. Galaxy are +41, RSL is +32. Real So Cal is in third place with 55 points and will face Galaxy on June 1st. If Real So Cal wins they will still finish in third place regardless of RSL’s result due to their lower goal differential +19.
RSL’s next game is important for playoff seedings int he U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs. Right now they are #9 in overall playoff positioning. If they finish out of top 8 they will have to face a top 8 team in the playoffs.
Up Next – U18’s are off this weekend and will host Arsenal FC on June 1st, who are W6-D6-L15 and out of the playoffs. Last time these two teams played RSL defeated them 2-0 in March.
For full standings click here.
RSL U16 Academy Overview – A bit of Déjà vu from the U18’s overview. U16′s have done well in 2013 going W9-D1-L3 and have already qualified for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs.
Last Game – Defeated Pateadores, 4-0, on Saturday. Goals were scored by: Brooks Lennon, Bofo Saucedo, Damian German and Luis Lopez his first on the year. Recap here and pictures here.
Right Now – RSL is now W17-L6-D4 and have already locked up the #2 spot in the Southwest Division. Leaders Chivas USA have 65 points and third place Real So Cal has 51 points.
Like the U18’s RSL’s next game is important however it might be a too late for a better seeding. Currently they are #14 in overall positioning and need 3 points to secure a “second” pot seeding.
Up Next – U16’s are off this weekend and will host Arsenal FC on June 1st. Arsenal is #4 in the Southwest Division and would currently qualify for the playoffs as the #8 wildcard seed. Last time these two teams played RSL defeated them 3-0 in March.
Dallas Cup Day 6, 7 & 8 Recap – Off-Day, Quarterfinals & Drive Home
To keep everyone up to date with all the happenings going on here in Dallas we will be proving wall-to-wall coverage every single day with pictures, video and a blog entry.
Day 1 recap, pictures and video here
Day 2 recap, pictures and video here
Day 3 recap, pictures here
Day 4 & 5 recap and pictures here
Day 6 – Thursday, March 28th
After defeating Lewisham College, 6-2, the day before RSL won their group and earned a much-needed day off before a big quarterfinals match against IMG Academy. In group play RSL had two victories and 1 draw scoring 9 goals and conceding 3. Goals in group play were scored by: (3) Aidan Tucker, (2) Coco Navarro, Jose Hernandez, Corey Nemeth, Ishan Atit, Tigran Tiraturyan.
The players went through a quick and easy morning training session before heading over to a local church for an outstanding lunch provided by the staff and volunteers. After lunch the players were given the opportunity to either stay at the hotel and rest/work on homework or head over to the 6th Floor Museum, the location when Lee Harvey Oswald shot President John F. Kennedy.
Before bed we all went over to Olive Garden for a big dinner.
Day 7 – Friday, March 29th
Going into the quarterfinals, Real Salt Lake and IMG knew the importance of the match.
The starting XI for RSL: Luis Barraza, Corey Nemeth, Jon Zabasajja, Eric Gonzalez, Brandon Marquez, Tigran Tiraturyan, Andrew Brody, Adam Ferguson, Jose Hernandez, Coco Navarro and Aidan Tucker.
Note: CB Santi Carrillo was suspended for the match due to back-to-back yellow cards in the previous two games.
As it has been the case for RSL in every match in Dallas a strong wind blew throughout the entire game. RSL attacking into the wind found themselves down a goal within minutes after a IMG counter attack. GK Luis Barazza blocked two shots in quick succession but the rebound from the last shot found the head of a IMG player who put it into the back of the net.
RSL behind for the first time this tournament struggled to find a rhythm after the goal. Passing wasn’t as crisp, free kicks missed their mark and turnovers in the midfield held RSL back for the majority of the match. However, RSL continued to fight and had their first chance in the 30th minute when Jose Hernandez played a ball up top to Coco Navarro. He collected the ball just outside of the 18 and took two touches that were both a little too strong as the IMG GK ran out and collected the ball.
Minutes RSL missed out on a big opportunity to equalize when Andrew Brody crossed a ball into the box. A IMG defender had his arm extended which blocked the ball in front of the linesman. RSL screamed for a handball in the box but their efforts were not rewarded as the ref let play go on.
RSL found themselves down another goal right before halftime when IMG countered again. Barazza came out to challenge the attacking player. The player dribbled around a diving Barazza and took a shot that hit off the back post and into the goal.
With heads hanging low RSL went into the half down 2-0. RSL came out the whistle a little stronger than IMG but failed to connect in the final third. This remained a constant theme for RSL in the second half. They found themselves down another goal in the 60th minute when IMG scored again. RSL had a few more opportunities but were held back by a strong IMG defense that kept numbers behind the ball. When the final whistle blew IMG had defeated RSL, 3-0.
Though it wasn’t the finish the team wanted the players were pleased with the overall success they had in the tournament.
After the game the players went back to the hotel and rested before the drive back home.
Day 8 – Saturday, March 30th
The bus departed around 10am for the near 20 hour drive back to Casa Grande. We stopped along the way for some food and watched some movies but were mostly entertained by the Mafia game Assistant Coach Mike Kraus coordinated. We arrived at the Grande Sports Academy around 3am and all went to bed seconds later.
Thank you everyone for the support this past week!