Real Salt Lake Academy continues to produce best-of-the-best internationally
In the last week, the Academy has had six players or former players called up for international duty with the United States or Mexico, headlined by GK David Ochoa and CB Jaziel Orozco.
Thanks for spending part of your morning with Own Goals, the official newsletter of Salt City FC that covers soccer in the great state of Utah, from Real Salt Lake and Real Monarchs to the grassroots level.
It’s between a tough week for RSL, between a historically awful 6-0 loss to New York City FC and a 1-0 upset by USL League One newcomers Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC in the U.S. Open Cup — and the club still has to visit Portland Timbers FC on the weekend.
But in the midst of adversity came a reminder that Salt Lake fans may cling to, because they need some good news right now. And that reminder is that RSL still produces really good players — like, internationally good players. Six players were called up internationally this week, headlined by starting goalkeeper David Ochoa with Mexico and center back Jaziel Orozco with the United States.
Born in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico but growing up just a 20-minute drive across the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas, Jaziel Orozco’s childhood always had two halves.
The son of Mexican footballer Alberto Orozco, Jazy spent part of his youth on trial with Liga MX clubs Tigres UANL and Santos Laguna before joining the Real Salt Lake Academy in Herriman and earning his first professional contract at the age of 16. That’s where his maturation developed, first as a starting center back with Real Monarchs and then as a 17-year-old debutant with RSL.
Now he’s getting a shot at the international ranks — but not with his native Mexico.
The RSL homegrown was named to the roster for the weeklong training camp of the United States’ U-20 youth national team in Carson, California, April 22 through May 1. It’s the first callup by an American national team at any level for Orozco, the Mexican-American dual citizen who previously featured for Mexico at the U-20 level.
Until he is called up by a senior squad, Orozco can continue to represent both countries. But between now and then, he also has a decision to make: represent the country where he grew up, or the one of his and his parents’ ultimate lineage.
“It’s a blessing,” said Orozco, who will be the youngest player in camp. “It’s something great that I was hoping to get called up for Mexico or the U.S., and I got to take the challenge to try and make the team and get as much motivation as possible.
“I have to get my mentality, my body, and everything right, so I can go and take that challenge and try to represent RSL in the best way possible.”
Orozco will depart for camp after Real Salt Lake’s MLS fixture Saturday in Portland. He’ll join a number of Real Salt Lake players and academy products who have been called in to represent their countries, mostly in the United States.
Starting goalkeeper David Ochoa has been named to the Mexican national team for the squad’s upcoming friendly against Guatemala on April 27 at 6 p.m. MT. It’s the first call-up by El Try since Ochoa native requested a one-time switch away from the United States.
The 21-year-old native of Oxnard, California represented Mexico at the youth international level, most recently in October 2021 with the U-21 side in a friendly against Romania. The dual citizen was also called up by U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter, but has yet to make an appearance for the senior team.
That leaves Ochoa available to represent El Try, and the friendly against Guatemala represents his best opportunity to break into the squad, as one of two goalkeepers and one of two Mexican-Americans on the roster along with 18-year-old Real Sociedad B left back Jonathan Gomez.
"I will never be fully American. Nor will I ever be fully Mexican," Ochoa told the Players Tribune when he declared his allegiance to Mexico. "So it's about where I feel more comfortable, and something inside me feels more at home with the Mexican players."
But wait, the two RSL senior players aren’t the only callups. Here’s a look at the rest:
Zavier Gozo and Luis Rivera
Gozo, a forward with RSL Academy, and Rivera, a defender, were both named to the roster for the United States’ U-15 youth national team for the Torneo Delle Nazioni against Belgium and Slovenia.
The duo recently stood out with the RSL Academy at the Generation Adidas Cup, where they helped RSL’s U-15s to a quarterfinal appearance before falling on penalty kicks to Valencia CF of Spain.
Gozo had two goals and four assists in seven matches in that tournament, while Rivera anchored a backline that allowed just five goals in seven matches and finished with an eight-goal differential.
Gavin Beavers
The 16-year-old homegrown goalkeeper was selected by newly appointed U.S. coach Marko Mitrovic to training camp with the U-19 youth national team in Carson, California from April 22 through May 1.
Beavers signed a homegrown contract with Real Salt Lake prior to the 2022 season, and has started with Real Monarchs in MLS NEXT Pro, making six saves.
The call-up represents the first of Beavers’ career after joining the RSL Academy in 2020.
Carlos Castrejon
Mexico U-16 national team coach Albert Rodriguez named the RSL Academy midfielder to the youth national team that will represent Mexico at the Gradisca Tournament in Italy from April 25 through May 1. El Try will face the Czech Republic and Romania in Group C of the tournament.
Castrejon is one of just two Major League Soccer-affiliated players on the roster, along with LAFC’s Tino Arteaga. He’s also represented Mexico at the U-15 level, but as a dual national, was called up previously by the United States’ U-15 national team for training camp, as well.