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After Major League Soccer's expansion draft and the World Cup announcement, it seems there really wasn't much to cover about Real Salt Lake and other MLS teams.
But, over the past week or so some stories are coming out about RSL's young Soccer Academy in Arizona. What would get insiders and followers of MLS interested in the youngest academy in the league?
Lets start with winning. In the programs first real tournament the 2 oldest groups of teenagers went unbeaten, one group going 2-0-1 and the other group going 1-0-2. These wins weren't easy wins considering one of them came against one of the oldest youth academies in the country and that was a 7-0 win.
It got peoples attention that a first year program could have such a positive result. Then articles started popping up about this academy differences, namely running a residency program in Casa Grande which is outside of Phoenix. General Manager Garth Lagerwey specifically wanted the academy there to get Utah teenagers down there and take advantage of the local talent.
Twenty-two players are enjoying bed and food at this place (most expenses coming from the family) one of those players hales from Provo Utah and has everyone talking after scoring 4 goals against IMG academy a few weeks back. Then you include the Arizona talent that mostly commute. One of those local Arizonians happens to be a record setting wide receiver from Chandler Hamilton high school, which played in the 5A state title game in football. What would make a star football player go for soccer?
"The (RSL) guys really bonded as a group," Real Salt Lake director Greg Vanney said. "Right from the start it was like a little family. And this Football star, Tanner Clay says that was a big deal for him. Big enough for him to give up playing for a state title contending soccer team. And it has generated instance success on the field as the team has been able to work together and gel faster then most other teams that don't live around each other.
"It (soccer) is a team sport, but there's also an individual aspect to it, and when everybody does their job and it comes together, it's a beautiful game," Clay said.
