HERRIMAN, Utah – (Thursday, June 10, 2021) – Real Salt Lake announced today that it has agreed to loan defender Tate Schmitt to Phoenix Rising FC of the USL Championship for the remainder of the 2021 season. RSL reserves the right to terminate the loan as necessary.
“We’d like to extend the best wishes and opportunity to Tate as he embarks on this loan stint in Phoenix,” RSL Assistant General Manager Tony Beltran said. “Loaning Tate to Phoenix for the rest of the season will provide him with the chance to feature in meaningful games for one of the USL Championship’s premier clubs. As a Club, we understand the importance of consistent game minutes and feel this is a great opportunity to compliment Tate’s continued development.”
Schmitt has appeared in 10 matches for RSL since 2019, four as a starter, while playing 346 minutes in Major League Soccer. During his rookie campaign, Schmitt helped the Real Monarchs to their first USL Championship title where he played 19 matches through the regular season and postseason. Schmitt started every match for the club during its playoff run, scoring one goal and providing three assists in the club’s opening round victory over Orange County SC.
Schmitt, 24, was signed to a Homegrown contract in January 2019 as the club’s 20th Homegrown signing after playing his junior and senior seasons with the Real Salt Lake Academy (AZ) where he helped RSL to U-17/18 national runner-up finishes in 2014 and 2015. A Phoenix, Arizona native, Schmitt was an All-ACC First Team honoree in 2018 while also earning United Soccer Coaches All-South Region First Team recognition. The 2018 ACC Championship Tournament MVP, Schmitt capped his collegiate career ranked fourth in school history in career points with 69 and sixth in career goals with 26. He was a two-time All-ACC honoree and an ACC All-Freshman Team member during his career where he notched 11 game-winning goals in his four seasons with the Cardinals, including four in the NCAA Championship Tournament.
Real Salt Lake returns to the field on Friday, June 18 to welcome Vancouver Whitecaps FC at 8 p.m. MT. Tickets to the match can be purchased at RSL.com or by calling 844.REAL.TIX (844-732-5849).
