RSL-AZ U-15/16 to host San Jose Earthquakes in USSDA playoff quarterfinals

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – The defending National Champions continue on their path to the finals on July 8th at 7:00 pm, when Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16 play host to the San Jose Earthquakes at Grande Sports World in the quarterfinals of the 2013-14 US Soccer Development Academy Playoffs.

RSL-AZ U-15/16 qualified for the quarterfinals by winning two of three games this past week in the opening round of the playoffs in Westfield, Indiana. Wins against New Jersey Soccer Academy 04 and Georgia United in group play were enough to qualify despite a loss in the final match against St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri.

RSL-AZ (23-5-2) earned the right to host this quarterfinal match by finishing the regular season as the second overall seed and one of the four highest remaining seeds in the playoffs. They finished the season with an undefeated home record, winning 12 games and drawing one at Grande Sports World.

San Jose Earthquakes U-15/16 (16-5-8) finished the regular season in second place in the Northwest Division, leading the division in goals allowed, with only 29 conceded in 29 games. In March, San Jose defeated RSL-AZ 4-3 when a stoppage time goal from San Jose overcame a 3-0 RSL-AZ half time lead.

In the rest of USSDA quarterfinal action, New York Red Bulls host Strikers FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC host Chicago Magic PSG and LA Galaxy host Vardar. A win against San Jose would send RSL-AZ to the Development Academy semifinals, where they would be only two wins away from repeating as the U-15/16 US Soccer Development Academy Champions.