NEW YORK – Major League Soccer announced Monday the schedule for the 2012 MLS Reserve League season. Each of the 19 MLS clubs will participate in 10 matches for a total of 95 Reserve League games.
For the full Reserve League schedule, CLICK HERE.
The league will again be divided into Eastern, Central and Western conferences with each team playing all games within their conference. Real Salt Lake has again settled in the Central Conference, meaning the the Claret-and-Cobalt will be pitted against the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City for a second consecutive year.
Teams in the six-team Central and Western conferences will face each conference opponent twice, once home and once away. Teams in the seven-team Eastern Conference will play an unbalanced schedule, facing four of their conference opponents twice, home and away, one additional conference opponent at home and the remaining club once on the road.
The RSL Reserves schedule will get off to a fast start, playing games on three consecutive Tuesdays beginning on March 13 at FC Dallas before finishing the first half of its slate with another pair of games in mid-April. While RSL's Reserve League slate clears up over the summer - with just one game scheduled during June, July and August - it will end in hectic fashion courtesy of road contests four days apart in early September at Houston (Sept. 7) and Sporting KC (Sept. 11).
Teams may at their discretion schedule additional exhibition games for their reserve squads against non-MLS opponents.
At the conclusion of the Reserve League season, the team with the most points out of all three conferences will be determined the Reserve League Champion. As in Major League Soccer, three points is awarded for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a loss.
Full Rules and Regulations for the 2012 MLS Reserve League can be found in the Reserve League Handbook, by CLICKING HERE.
MLS Reserve League Conferences
Eastern: Columbus Crew, D.C. United, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, Toronto FC
Central: Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Sporting Kansas City, Real Salt Lake
Western: Chivas USA, LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Real Salt Lake Reserves 2012 Schedule (match times/locations subject to change)
Tuesday, March 13 at FC Dallas - 6:30 pm MT (7:30 pm local) at FC Dallas Stadium
Tuesday, March 20 vs. Sporting Kansas City - 11:00 am MT at America First Field
Tuesday, March 27 at Chicago Fire - 9:00 am MT (10:00 am local) at Toyota Park Practice Field
Sunday, April 8 vs. Colorado Rapids - 11:00 am MT at America First Field
Tuesday, April 17 vs. FC Dallas - 11:00 am MT at America First Field
Tuesday, June 12 vs. Chicago Fire - 11:00 am MT at America First Field
Tuesday, July 10 vs. Houston Dynamo - 11:00 am MT at America First Field
Sunday, August 5 at Colorado Rapids - 11:00 am MT at Dick's Sporting Goods Park Field #20
Friday, Sept. 7 at Houston Dynamo - 9:00 am MT (10:00 am local) at Houston Amateur Sports Park
Tuesday, Sept. 11 at Sporting Kansas City - 10:00 am MT (11:00 am local) at Sporting KC Training Field
