CASA GRANDE, AZ. – For the fourth consecutive year, Grande Sports World announces their soccer academy, Real Salt Lake – Arizona Academy, has qualified its U-15/16 and U-17/18 teams for the United States Soccer Development Academy playoffs.
Both squads are currently in first place in the Southwest Division for their age groups, and will be looking to win the regular season division title. A feat that has never been accomplished in the four-year history at the Grande Sports Academy.
As of Friday, May 2, the Real Salt Lake U-17/18 Academy squad is ranked fourth overall in the playoff seeding with an 18-2-2 record. The U-17/18s have scored 54 goals and have conceded 17 goals. Eric Carbajal is the team leader with 12 goals, and is followed by Sam Gleadle who has notched 10.
The U-15/16s squad is ranked second overall in the playoff seeding with an 18-2-2 record. The U-15/16s lead their age group with 67 goals scored and have conceded 13 goals. Sebastian Sacuedo leads the age group with 20 goals scored.
In a change from the previous format that included a Final Weeks of four matches in seven days, the new rules will consist of a knockout round, semifinals and final.
The 2013-14 postseason will be held at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana, located just north Indianapolis from June 23-27 and will include the same Academy Playoffs and Showcase format as in previous years. The top 32 teams will be placed into eight groups of four teams. Academy teams that do not qualify for the Academy Playoffs will be placed in the Showcase bracket and will play three matches.
At the conclusion of the Academy Playoffs, the winning team from each group will be seeded based on their regular-season points-per-game average. The higher-seeded teams will host a knockout-round game on July 7th or 9th. Winners will advance to the semifinals and final round which will be held July 17th and 19th at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center in Carson, California.