Senior Trevor Hyman made an awesome Gopro video that tells the story of an Acamey player leaving home, traveling in the airport, training session, spending time with the guys and other activities at the only residency academy affiliated with an MLS team in the United States, Real Salt Lake-AZ. A Gopro is a “wearable” camera that Trevor mounted on his head. Enjoy the video!
Grande Sports Academy – RSL End Of The Year Video
Last week was the graduation party for the seniors at Vista Grande High School. Before they received their diplomas at the graduation ceremony a dinner was held at Fransisco Grande and a “End of the Year” video was shown.
The video has pictures of all the players, hilarious stories, interviews with the coaches and a few goals we were able to film this year. Enjoy the video below.
24 Grande Sports Academy Players Celebrate Graduation
Grande Sports Academy would like to congratulate the 24 seniors who celebrated graduation last night.
Andrew Brody, Ive Burnett, Luis Chavez, Cesar Cobos, AJ Esparza, Elijah Evans, Danny Gavin, Eric Gonzalez, Trevor Hyman, Brandon Johnston, Isaias “Junior” Juarez, Kostas Kotselas, Riggs Lennon, Benjamin Lopez, Brandon Marquez, Antonio “Tony” Murillo, Jose “Coco” Navarro, Amer Sasivarevic, Jonathan Stadler, Tigran Tiraturyan, Aidan Tucker, Haedan Turner, Jose “Bean” Vasquez, Jon Zabasajja.
Before the players went over to Vista Grande High School (13 players attend this school) for the ceremonies, a dinner was held at Francisco Grande Hotel for the players family and friends. Ron Burks & Michael Saunders spoke to the graduates before a “end of the year” video full of highlights, jokes and a special message from the coaches was shown.
The ceremony was held on the football field and was full-blown airfare with skydivers, kicking off the ceremonies, and fireworks ending the special night. Non-graduates from the academy attended the ceremonies and rushed to the field and essentially took over the graduation with numerous chants and celebrations. The video below is one of those celebrations. Pictures are below the video. Congratulations to all our seniors and good luck at the next level.
Click on one picture and a slider gallery will form
Weekend Recap – Real Salt Lake U18’s & U16’s Defeat Pateadores By Combined Score Of 8-1
Real Salt Lake Academy U18 and U16 teams have already qualified for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs and now they are looking to improve their playoff positioning. Below are the game recaps, pictures and video from this weekend’s action.
Starting XI: Luis Barraza (’82), Ive Burnett, Santi Carrillo (’80), Corey Nemeth (’76), Jonathan Stadler, Andrew Brody, Jose Hernandez, Jon Zabasajja (’80), Trevor Hyman (’44), Coco Navarro (’70), Kostas Kotselas (’67)
Bench: Amer Sasivarevic (’44), Te Wihongi (’76), Luis Chavez (’80), Brandon Marquez (’80), Christian Herrera (’82), Aidan Tucker (’67), Jose Vasquez (’70)
Picture from the game here
Kostas Kotselas PK goal here
It took Real Salt Lake U18’s fifty-three minutes before the could find the back of the net and once they did the onslaught was on. Four second half goals helped RSL cruise to a 4-1 victory over Southwest Division foes Pateadores.
Amer Sasivarevic opened up the scoring when Kostas Kotselas headed a ball far post finding an unmarked Sasivarevic who headed it in. Four minutes later Pateadores were called for a hand ball in the box. Kostas Kotselas stepped up and converted the PK.
Coco Navarro, called up by RSL to play in a reserve league match on Monday, scored his 19th goal on the season in the 66th minute and Aidan Tucker, playing in his final academy game, scored his first goal of for the team in the 80th minute. Pateadores did score in the 73rd minute off of a counter but there was little doubt RSL U18’s dominated the game and the entire second half.
RSL played well in the first half but just couldn’t finish in the final third. Jose Hernandez, Trevor Hyman, Coco Navarro and Andrew Brody all had outstanding looks but shot’s were off target or blocked by the Pateadores GK.
One theme that did pick up near the end of the first half was the buildup of physicality between both teams. Four Pateadores players were shown a yellow card and one player was sent off in the 70th minute when he picked up his second yellow. As the Pateadores became way too concerned with the yellow’s, RSL kept their focus and moved on taking advantage of a Pateadores team that was unorganized.
The highlight of the game for the players was when Tucker, who was not named to the summer roster, scored the last goal in the game. Tucker has played in 6 academy games and was primarily used as an Elite team player where he scored double-digit goals this season.
With the victory, RSL U18’s are now 3 points behind LA Galaxy for first in the Southwest Division. They have also moved up to #9 in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs. They need to finish top 8 for secure the best playoff position.
Starting XI: Chase Bishov, Jason Eng, Justen Glad, Dillon Nino, Moises Rodriguez, Luis Lopez, Fito Ovalle, Bofo Saucedo, Damian German, Josh Doughty, Brooks LennonBench: Adam Ferguson, Alex Knox, Terrell Lowe, Miguel Martinez, Diego Silva, Elias Rieland, Miles Stray, Evan Waldrep
Picture gallery from the game here
Luis Lopez free kick goal here
Real Salt Lake U16’s exhibited a little bit of a monkey see, monkey do attitude when taking on Pateadores this past weekend. Not wanting to be outdone by the older team, the U16’s also scored four goals against Pateadores and then claimed the bragging rights for the weekend by holding the opposition scoreless.
RSL took the lead in the 16th minute when Josh Doughty, back from participating with the Canadian U16 team, showcased some fancy footwork inside the box, passing to an unmarked Bofo Saucedo who scored his 14th goal of the season. Pateadores tried to answer back quickly but a big save from Chase Bishov kept the game scoreless. A Pateadores player broke free and Bishov ran out and smothered the ball before the Pateadores player could take a shot.
Damian German doubled RSL’s lead in the 40th minute when he fired a shot near post from a Brooks Lennon pass that was started by Josh Doughty.
Brooks Lennon then reclaimed his team lead in goals, 15 on the season, when he cut in from the wing. He touch two touches on the 18 and sent a curling ball far post. Two minutes later in the 66th minute Luis Lopez stepped up and converted a free kick from 22 yards out. His first goal on the season.
Pateadores showed signs of life in the 73rd minute when a turnover in the midfield by RSL led to a counter. Outstanding defense by Dillon Nino and Jason Eng slowed down the counter which resulted in a weak shot outside the 18. Pateadores had another chance minutes later but back-to-back saves from ‘keeper Miguel Martinez kept the game scoreless preserving the 4 goal lead.
With the victory, RSL has now clinched second in the Southwest Division. U16’s also did not improve their playoff chances and will most likely be in the second pot for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs which means they will have to take on a top 8 team.
Picture Gallery – Real Salt Lake Academy U18 vs Pateadores
Real Salt Lake Academy U18 defeated Pateadores, 4-1, with all goals for both teams coming in the second half. Goals were scored by: Amer Sasivarevic, Kostas Kotselas, Coco Navarro, Aidan Tucker. We also recorded the goal Kostas Kotselas scored. Check the goal out here.
Game recap here.
Click on one picture and a slider gallery will appear.
Community Service: Soccer Clinic For Elementary School Children
Once per month Grande Sports Academy players participate in a local community service project. In February, players cleaned up a local park. In March, players visited the Boys & Girls Club and in the following month they invited the Boys & Girls Club to the Academy. When our players participate in these projects it is usually just a small group, however this month was a little different.
Forty-three of our players visited three Elementary Schools on Friday morning. Our players became coaches for the day and led the participants through drills, shooting exercises and games. As with every community service project our players enjoyed the experience and the opportunity to share the game they love so much. The schools players visited were: Mesquite Elementary School, Cactus Middle School and Desert Willow Elementary School.
Player who participated: Patricio Cevallos, Christian Herrera, Luis Barraza, Jaime Payamps, Bayley Scholz, Elias Rieland, Terreel Lowe, Miles Stray, Fito Ovalle, Jason Eng, Brandon Johnston, Amer Sasivarevic, Luis Chavez, Moises Rodriguez, Andrew Brody, Eric Gonzalez, Javi Avelar, Jack Gayton, Trevor Hyman, Aaron Herrera, Diego Silva, Nicholas LaMonica, Elijah Evans, Kostas Kotselas, Jose Hernandez, Te Wihongi, Brandon Marquez, Cesar Cobos, Tevin Lowe, Trent Lowe, Corey Nemeth, Octavio Ocampo, Renzo Perez, Brandon Sands, Chandler Maynes, Jonathan Min, Radu Marcu, Alex Knox, Haedan Turner, Andres Irigoyen, Josh Coan, Nick Reyes, Tigran Tiraturyan, Coco Navarro.
Special thanks go to RA’s Lauren Crum and Chris Braybooks who set up the event.