RSL U16 Elite lost to CCV Stars 97 Black, 2-1, on Sunday in the second game in the Arizona State Cup. Full recap from the game here. Click on one picture and a slider gallery will appear.
RSL U16 Elite – Arizona State Cup Weekend Rewind
With two Arizona State Cup games in two days, RSL U16 Elite knew that they needed a strong weekend. On Saturday, RSL defeated Valparaiso, 3-1, and on Sunday RSL lost to CCV Stars 97 Black. Below are the recaps from the games
RSL vs Valparaiso United Futbol 97 Boys
Picture gallery from the game here
Sometimes in a game you need something to wake you up. For RSL, that was Valparaiso taking the lead in the second half. After the goal, RSL scored 3 goals and cruised to a victory in the opening game of the Arizona State Cup.
RSL was outstanding in the first half keeping the ball and possession on Valparaiso’s side. Unfortunately for RSL they just couldn’t finish. Shots by Duncan Storey and Tevin Lowe both hit the post and bounced out. Jonathan Min and Patricio Cevallos also had shots saved. RSL came out strong in the second half controlling the game even further in Valparaiso’s half. It looked like a 5v3 hockey power play. However as it seems to be the case with the U16’s, the defense got caught out of position when Valparaiso countered and scored.
Down a goal RSL pushed forward after the restart and earned a corner. Josh Coan’s cross found the head of Miles Stray who powerfully headed the ball into the net.
Seven minutes later RSL took the lead when Octavio Ocampo sent a free kick long into the box. Danny Moreno kicked the ball back into the middle of the box. Brandon Sands then pounced on the ball and fired into the back of the net.
The third and final goal came in the 76th minute when Duncan Storey dribbled into the box and shot bottom left.
RSL closed out the game with an important, 3-1, victory.
RSL vs CCV Stars 97 Black
Picture gallery from the game here
An important first game victory put RSL in a great position. With a potential victory over CCV Stars, RSL could secure advancement to the quarterfinals.
RSL started out strong again and almost took the lead within the first few minutes. Terrell Lowe had a header that just missed wide and Octavio Ocampo hit a volley that also went wide. With these missed chances and control of the possession the game started to feel like the opening game versus Valaparaiso. And in eerie fashion the opening goal happened in the same way when CCV Stars countered and scored up the middle in the 26th minute.
The start of the second half was a little unorganized for both teams and they kept kicking the ball around not producing any threats. RSL started to calm down and started to move around the ball with more efficiency around the 50th minute. The break came for them in the 56th minute when Nate Deaton headed down a ball to Terrell Lowe. He took a touch and played it through to Javi Avelar. He cut into the box took a touch and fired, equalizing the game at 1-1.
Both teams kept pushing for the winning goal as CCV Star who lost the opening game needed a victory to stay alive. RSL needed a victory to advance. CCV Stars outlasted RSL as they grabbed the lead in the 78th minute when they countered again. RSL did have a chance to take the lead a minute before when Nate Deaton fired a curling shot far post. The CCV Stars GK made a remarkable save with prompted the counter attack.
With minutes remaining RSL tried to find the equalizer but were unlucky as time ran out. RSL now faces off against Sereno who is 2-0. A victory secures advancement and a draw could help depending on tie breakers. Complete Standings here.
RSL-AZ U16 Elite Weekend Review
Going into their last three group games of Far West Regional play Real Salt Lake U16 Elite put themselves in a good position to advance to the next round. Below are the recaps for each game.
Picture gallery from the games here
Game #1 – RSL vs Pumas Premier Academy FC
RSL Starting XI: Miguel Martinez, Miles Stray, Javier Avelar, Danny Moreno, Duncan Storey, Octavio Ocampo, Nate Deaton, Trent Lowe, Tevin Lowe, Patricio Cevallos, Terrell Lowe.
Summary: Two weeks ago, in the first three games of group play, RSL went 1-2 picking up 5 points. Second place in the group was Chiva Jr. who had 11 points and no games remaining. For RSL to advance they needed 7 points. A loss wouldn’t knock them out but would put them in a very bad position. Within minutes of the opening whistle RSL’s goal was under a heavy assault by Pumas attack. CB Miles Stray had two big clearances and GK Miguel Martinez stopped at shot in the 18th minute and again in the 28th minute when he ran out and blocked a Pumas shot on a 1v1. The impressive performance by Martinez kept the game scoreless going into the half.
Two minutes into the second half Pumas countered and caught the RSL defense napping scoring the opening goal. Martinez kept making diving saves and both Danny Moreno and Nate Deaton started to provide a spark for RSL. However their efforts ended minutes later for both who had to be subbed out for an injury. Pumas scored again in the 52nd minute when a free kick broke through the wall and into the net.
RSL then pushed many players forward and shots from inside the 18 by Deaton and Patricio Cevallos both missed their marks. Pumas kept their composure on defense and lasted out the clock defeating RSL, 2-0.
Game #2 – RSL vs FC Golden State
Starting XI: Miguel Martinez, Trent Lowe, Brandon Sands, Miles Stray, Nick Lamonica, Nate Deaton, Duncan Storey, Danny Moreno, Octavio Ocampo, Terrell Lowe, Patricio Cevallos.
Summary: After the loss earlier in the morning RSL had to win this game and win by a few goals or concede none. RSL started out a little sharper but were stilled plagued by poor passing and communication. GK Miguel Martinez was busy again having to make 3 saves in the first 26 minutes. RSL’s chances were limited on the attack and both teams went into the half scoreless.
Like in the previous game RSL found themselves down again in the second half when FC Golden State scored in the 64th minute off of a counter. They then doubled their lead in the 65th minute when another defensive breakdown led to a goal.
RSL tried to push forward but couldn’t find a way to land a shot on target. Time ran out for RSL who lost 2-0 eliminating them from Far West Regional.
Game #3 – RSL VS Tucson Soccer Academy
Starting XI: Miguel Martinez, Trent Lowe, Nate Deaton, Miles Stray, Nicholas LaMonica, Duncan Storey, Javi Avelar, Patricio Cevallos, Terrell Lowe, Jonathan Min, Octavio Ocampo.
Summary: With the two losses the day before RSL went into the game on Sunday with pride on the line. A much sharper effort in the first half allowed RSL to control the game. GK Miguel Martinez was called upon a few times but nothing was too threatening from TSA.
RSL kept pushing forward but was unable to grab a goal resulting in a scoreless draw. With the result RSL finished in 5th place in the group.
Photo Gallery – RSL U16 Elite
Pictures from RSL-AZ U16 Elite Far West Regional play versus Pumas Premier FC Academy and FC Golden State. Click on one picture and a slider gallery will form.
RSL-AZ Multiple Chances Win at the 2012 USSDA Winter Showcase
On Tuesday, December 4th, the Real Salt Lake – Arizona U16 soccer academy team wrapped up an exciting soccer-packed five days at the 2012 United States Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase. Their last game was against another Major League Soccer academy team, Sporting Kansas City. It was a fantastic performance from the Real Salt Lake – AZ U16 academy team and it resulted in a convincing 3-1 win.
The RSL-AZ players, in their sporting white uniforms, were able to set up their signature fast paced possession game from the opening kickoff and dominated every part of the field. They pressured the opposing team high-up in their attacking third, creating chance after chance, and the crosses were flying in from the left and right hand side of the field. A goal for RSL-AZ was literally “hanging in the air”.
In the 21st minute, Damian German made one of his many nice runs down the left flank to find an open Josh Doughty. Doughty’s shot from close range was saved by the goalkeeper allowing SKC to run with a fast counter attack that scored the game’s opening goal. The goal did not discourage the Real Salt Lake-AZ players who kept playing their style of soccer, pressuring the opponent in seeking the equalizer.
Only a few minutes after falling behind, Brooks Lennon and Diego Silva had a beautiful combination on the left side of the pitch to feed Sebastian Saucedo, who’s shot just sailed over the bar. Adolfo Ovalle, playing in his natural position as a holding midfielder for the first time in the tournament, brilliantly chipped the ball over the SKC back line and found Doughty who charged into the penalty box. Once again the shot was pushed a bit too high over the crossbar.
In striving to find the equalizer, Saucedo made a great run behind the SKC defenders to face the goalkeeper one on one. Saucedo was about to make his shot when he saw Lennon running on his left completely unmarked. Unselfishly, Saucedo passed the ball to his teammate who easily tapped the ball into the back of the net. The assistant referee who wasn’t able to have the best perspective, raised the flag up for offside. The equalizer continued to elude the RSL-AZ team after so many great opportunities.
The RSL-AZ players continued their total control of the midfield as their speedy wingers created more and more problems for the SKC defense. In the 35th minute, speedy Silva ran down the left-wing once again to find Lennon. Lennon’s cross was just an inch too high for German and another lost opportunity plaque the team.
RSL-AZ was finally able to convert on a chance when Lennon dribbled passed SKC defender as he passed a strong ball on the ground to Saucedo. As RSL-AZ leading goal scorer, Saucedo routinely placed it into the back of the net to set the equalizer and to end what was a very exciting first half.
The second half started with a boom when Ovalle scored with a long fierce unstoppable shot for a 2-1 lead in favor of RSL-AZ. Play continued in the same spirit as RSL-AZ stayed with their style of game.
In the 57th minute, Saucedo reacted well to a pass from the left in the penalty box but his shot bounced off the crossbar. German captured the ball and sent the rebound slightly over the bar.
After a number of substitutions by both teams, the pace of the game began to slow as the subs were feeling their way into the play. Ten minutes before the end, subs Elias Rieland and Terrell Lowe finally raised the tenacity. Lowe, the youngest member of the RSL-AZ team, and the team still could not convert on chances to extend RSL-AZ’s lead.
As time was lapsing, three RSL-AZ players combined beautifully in the SKC penalty box, with Rieland finding Jason Eng who scored a phenomenal goal with his left foot into the top right hand corner of the helpless SKC goalkeeper. Seconds later, the referee blew the final whistle and it meant three new points for the Real Salt Lake-AZ U16s as they stand firmly at the top of the Southwest Division of the West Conference of the USSDA.
Starting lineup:
Bishov – Eng, Nino, Glad, Silva – German, Ovalle, Gayton, Lennon – Doughty, Saucedo