Continuing a trend throughout the Real Salt Lake lineup, it was long-reliable players that keyed the midfield in 2014. However, a surprising burst from a former USL standout and steady play from others when they were called upon meant continued success in the club’s hallmark diamond formation.
Kyle Beckerman had another All-Star season at the base of the diamond while Javier Morales was quietly one of the best playmakers in MLS at the top. Ned Grabavoy brought his steadying presence on one side, but Luke Mulholland provided a spark on the other.
Once again, Beckerman shined as the RSL captain in his eighth season with the club. He finished the year with three goals and three assists, including one goal in the regular season finale. However, his greatest highlight came in representing the U.S. National Team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. There, he started and played all 90 minutes in all three Group Stage matches as the U.S. went 1-1-1 to advance to the Round of 16. Outside of the six matches he missed while on international duty, Beckerman played every minute of every match he was available for, logging 28 appearances on the season. During the season, he surpassed 200 career regular season matches with RSL, now with 205 appearances with the Claret-and-Cobalt. He also was named to the MLS All-Star team for the eighth consecutive season, but did not play in the match.
His partnership with Morales in the diamond formation continued to flourish in their eighth season playing together.
Morales had another career year with RSL, his eighth season with the Claret-and-Cobalt. Finishing the season with career-highs in goals (nine), appearances (30) and minutes played (2,645), Morales also climbed to 19th on the league’s all-time assist charts with 12 on the season, giving him 65 assists in his career. His season was highlighted by a hat trick on May 11 in a 5-2 road win over the Houston Dynamo. He also had a five-match point streak from August 30-September 27, netting three goals and three assists in that stretch.
On one flank, Grabavoy had another solid year in his 11th MLS campaign and fifth with Real Salt Lake. He finished with two goals and three assists in a career-best 33 matches and 2,711 minutes. He now has 253 career MLS appearances, including 159 with RSL. Since joining Salt Lake in 2009, he has tallied 10 goals and 14 assists. In 2014, he started 30 matches for the first time in his career.
On the other, Mulholland had a tremendous debut season in MLS after two seasons on the NASL Team of the Year with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The English midfielder notched six goals and seven assists in 31 matches, 24 of them starts as he acclimated well into the RSL midfield. He twice had multi-point games, including contributing to both goals in a 2-1 win over Seattle Sounders FC on August 16. Among newcomers in the 2014 season, Mulholland’s six goals ranked eighth in the league while his seven assists ranked third.
Providing depth, Luis Gil finished the year with two goals and two assists in 26 appearances in his fifth season with RSL. He had two lengthy stretches in a starting role, starting the first five matches of the season and then six in a row in June and July. He is now at 10 goals and eight assists in 110 career MLS appearances.
Meanwhile, Cole Grossman finished the 2014 season with career-high totals in games played (17) and minutes (532) while his five starts matched his career best set in 2012 with the Columbus Crew. He saw most of his playing time in place of Kyle Beckerman while the RSL captain was away on international duty, logging appearances in eight straight matches from May 11-July 4.
