Standings

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-#32

Teams 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

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.

For full standings click here.

Weekend Soccer Preview – Final Regular Season Game

RSL U16 & U18 Academy Standings Update – May, 22nd (One More Game To Go)