The Real Salt Lake Academy sides returned to action this weekend, playing its first home matches in over a month as they hosted Strikers FC for the inaugural matches at the Zions Bank Real Academy in Herriman. The U-17s opened the weekend with an emphatic 7-0 win before the U-19s played to a 2-2 draw.
Academy Technical Director Martín Vasquez led the sides into the first-ever matches in Herriman, generating yet another milestone in the development of the world-class facility at the south end of the valley.
Having not won a match since Nov. 18, the U-17s returned to winning ways in an emphatic 7-0 victory over Strikers FC. RSL was led by FW Ben Ortiz who returned to the scoresheet in sublime fashion, scoring a first half hat trick to bring his goal tally for the season to 12 goals in as many matches in U.S. Soccer Development Academy regular season action. Ortiz now ranks in sixth place in the U-17 Southwest Division, just two goals behind the leader in five less matches played.
Also adding goals in the victory were MFs Luis Arriaga and Adrian Virgen with Zackery Farnsworth adding two goals on either side of halftime. GK David Ochoa played the full match in goal for RSL, earning the shutout.
In the second match of the day, the U-19s earned a 2-2 draw with Strikers FC as FW Sebastian Soto continued his blistering goal scoring run, scoring both goals for RSL in the draw. Soto remains the leader in the “Golden Boot” race on the U-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy scoring charts with 23 goals in just 12 matches with six goals in his last four matches.
The U-17s currently sit in second place in the league’s Southwest Division with a 7-2-3 record (24 points). The U-19 group also sits in second place in the league’s Southwest Division and after its first draw of the season, carries with it a 9-2-1 (27 points) record through 12 regular season matches.
Entering a lengthy break for the holiday season, the Academy sides will look ahead to a matchup with the Santa Cruz Breakers Academy on January 20 at the Zions Bank Real Academy in Herriman. The U-17s will open proceedings after the holiday break at 11:00 a.m. MT with the U-19s following at 1:30 p.m. MT.
