Player Spotlight | Real Salt Lake Features Another New Debutant in Historic Loss at Seattle 

Real Salt Lake extended its single-season Club-record 13-match winless streak Wednesday night at Lumen Field in Seattle, conceding twice in the second half to fall 2-0 to the Sounders, snapping a 13-game winless run of their own. Second-year professional and Real Monarchs short-term callup Liam O’Gara - a defender drafted out of Wake Forest - made his MLS debut, the 12th player this year to secure a first-team opportunity in 2026, once again showcasing the Club’s “Winning Together Through Development” ethos and identity.

Down 2-0 late into the match, Real Salt Lake Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni called for No. 76, O’Gara. Subbing into his first career Major League Soccer match in the 88th minute, O’Gara became Real Salt Lake’s 244th all-time player in its 22-year history, the team record 17th Claret-and-Cobalt debutant this eason.

“I thought it was a good opportunity to spell Noel [Caliskan] for a few minutes and give Liam [O’Gara] an opportunity, he’s had a really good year with the Monarchs,” Head Coach Mastroeni reflected in Wednesday’s post-match media availability, noting that RSL has lost nearly 170 games of player availability due to injury, suspension or visa issues this season. “I felt really comfortable putting him in, I didn’t have any concerns. He trains with us quite frequently, has a great attitude, and given the situation that we are in with players out and injured or whatever, having to spread ourselves thin. I think it was a great opportunity for him to go in and feel what it’s like to be a part of the first team, and hopefully that gives him the confidence to continue working towards that dream.”

O’Gara first arrived on the Wasatch Front ahead of the 2025 MLS season, after being selected in the Third Round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft with the 79th overall pick, a draft class that also featured Sergi Solans, Jesus Barea, Lineker Rodrigues, Max Kerkvliet and Trace Alphin. The former Wake Forest Demon Deacon signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract upon his arrival to the Beehive State, and has since gone on to log 39 matches played for the Monarchs, notching two assists as a defensive midfielder or centerback.

In college, the Winston-Salem, North Carolina native logged 23 games played and 20 starts during his first two years of NCAA eligibility, helping Wake Forest claim an ACC Championship in his sophomore season. The Demon Deacons would then go on to face Clemson (2-1) and Ohio State (0-3) in the NCAA tournament. 

Real Salt Lake now returns to the Wasatch Front for its fourth Saturday match of September, welcoming Eastern Conference side New England Revolution this weekend. Kickoff for Saturday’s match is slated for 7:30 p.m. MT with tickets available for purchase here.