GILBERT, Ariz. – With everything on the line in the weekend’s slate of Arizona State League games, Real Salt Lake-Arizona Elite earned a pair of 2-0 wins to secure their place in AZSL Division 1 for next season.
Fort Lowell Soccer Club 0-2 Real Salt Lake-Arizona Elite U-18
Having already clinched promotion into Division 1 for next season, Real Salt Lake-Arizona Elite U-18 entered their final match of the season against Fort Lowell Soccer Club with first place virtually secured.
Needing to lose by four goals or less to clinch first place, the Claret-and-Cobalt stepped on the field showing a desire to get the win instead of settling for a result.
Both Andres Lopez and Judah Rashirai scored goals in the 2-0 win, earning RSL-AZ Elite U-18 first place in Division 2 and riding on a high as the team moves up to Division 1 for next season.
Sereno Soccer Club 0-2 Real Salt Lake-Arizona Elite U-17
Already competing in Division 1 this season, Real Salt Lake-Arizona Elite U-17 needed a win or draw in order to avoid relegation and move back down to Division 2 in a jam-packed AZSL U-17 table.
Sereno imposed their physical play on the game early on the small fields at Gilbert Crossroads Park, nearly scoring on a wide-open shot thanks to a turnover in the fifth minute.
In the 29th minute, Mikey Lanzetta curled a corner into the far post that found a waiting Anthony Negrete for a goal and the all-important 1-0 lead before half time.
Early in the second half, Negrete scored a second time from a sharp angle to double the Claret-and-Cobalt’s lead and earn second place in AZSL Division 1 as opposed to falling out of the league for next season.
While the 17s and 18s competed, RSL-AZ Elite U-16 waited on results in their division to see if they’d get to move up for next year. Unfortunately, the results didn’t pan out and the 16s had to settle on a third place finish for this season.
Real Salt Lake-Arizona Elite compete this weekend in the SC del Sol Banat Southwest Challenge at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix, with games being played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.