AZ STRIKER SIGNS FOR SALT LAKE

Real Salt Lake announced Monday that it signed its first ever home-grown player, Tucson’s Donny Toia, 18.

The forward is the first Arizona player to sign a pro contract after playing in Real Salt Lake’s youth program in Casa Grande. Toia didn’t participate in Real Salt Lake’s academy.

Before playing for Pima Community College for one season, Toia was named The Arizona Republic’s Player of the Year two seasons ago after helping Oro Valley Canyon del Oro win a state title. He scored 63 goals in his final two high school seasons and also recorded a school record 45 career assists.

EDMONTON START WITH A WIN

The man who spent more than $2 million to get to this day was thrilled with the first payoff on his investment.

“It was awesome,” said FC Edmonton owner Tom Fath. “Wow. That was fabulous. It was the most exciting game I’ve ever watched.

“But it’s not going to be the most exciting game I ever watch,” he said of his team winning its first North American Soccer League game, 2-1 over the Strikers in Fort Lauderdale Saturday evening.

Fath, who made his millions in the paving business, spent big bucks to underwrite setting up a soccer academy, putting his team together a year before beginning league play, hiring experienced top-level coaches from Holland and bringing in English and South American teams.

“You could see the value of the investment on the field. This is a professional team of young players who have had tremendous coaching,” said Fath, who watched the game with fans at a sports bar.

“Without playing last year, we couldn’t have put this team on the field like we did today. We needed that to set the stage. What happened today is more than a coincidence.

“What makes me feel best is that there were a lot of young Alberta players who were amateurs a year ago who were out there as the core of our club. That’s what this is really all about.”

Saturday, before 6,402 fans on a 26C night in Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, FC Edmonton was clearly the better side – and the football bets & odds reflected that.

LAUNCH OF THE ARIZONA CUP

The inaugural Arizona Cup, U.S. Club Soccer’s statewide event for member teams, will take place May 21-22 at Westside Sports Complex in Phoenix.

Online applications are currently being accepted for the event, which will be hosted by the Arizona Soccer League. Open to U-8 through U-18 boys and girls teams, the deadline to apply for the Arizona Cup is May 14.

“In this inaugural event, we want to provide an option for the top teams to compete in a high-level event over a single weekend to keep travel and hotel costs at a minimum,” explained Arizona Soccer League Executive Director Don Hillegass. “The tournament will be single-elimination with a guarantee of two games. We want to show that the Arizona Soccer League offers flexibility to meet the requests of our members.”

The Arizona Soccer League is a state-wide youth and adult league focused on bringing together quality competition with fewer restrictions. The league will have games scheduled two weekends per month for youth and Sunday games for adults. This will allow teams to have flexibility in planning tournaments and travel. In addition, the league is also poised to provide support for recreational teams in a Champions League.