Storylines | RSL Continues To Rely On Youth As New England Arrives on Wasatch Front

By Javier Mico-Crump

Following another disappointing midweek loss at Seattle, Real Salt Lake returns to America First Field for the fourth and final Saturday of this month to host rising Eastern Conference power New England Revolution this Saturday, September 26. Now on a four-game losing streak and in the midst of the longest single-season MLS winless streak in Club history (13 games), the Claret-and-Cobalt are tasked with ending its negative run against a red-hot New England side that is currently 2nd in the East. 

This edition of Storylines highlights the young stars that have stepped up during RSL’s chaotic MLS season and explores why history might be on the host's side this Saturday.

RSL Continues To Rely On Emerging Talents

Despite enduring an injury-riddled season that has presented Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni and staff with significant difficulties, 2026 has consistently provided RSL with an opportunity to give young players minutes and experience, looking to showcase the Club’s ability to develop talent. The Claret-and-Cobalt have fielded an all-time Club-high 17 debutants this season, with a full dozen of them earning their first-ever first-team professional appearances, many through time with Real Monarchs of MLS NEXT Pro. 

Leading the way for Utah’s stable of young stars is Luca Moisa, who has become a key contributor in RSL’s midfield as the injury report has piled up post-World Cup. The teenage RSL Academy product has started four of the Claret-and-Cobalt’s last eight matchups, and was recently called up to the USMNT U-19 squad for the September-October international break. Alongside Moisa is Lineker Rodrigues, another youngster who’s earned significant minutes since the summer break. The former RSL 2025 MLS SuperDraft pick has started four games since the start of August, including a Leagues Cup match against FC Juarez where he scored the third goal en route to earning Man of the Match honors. Griffin Dillon, another RSL Academy product, is another young player to start more than a handful of games, making his last appearance against St. Louis City SC, where he suffered an injury to his foot.

Several others have subbed on to make their RSL debuts in recent weeks, including Ruben Mesalles, teen homegrown Owen Anderson and most recently, Liam O’Gara, just to name a few. Furthermore, RSL also acquired Jason Shokalook and Colin Guske in the summer window, young stars with significant MLS NEXT Pro minutes the last two seasons that have already made an impact for their new Club. As the Claret-and-Cobalt continue to recover from a long list of unavailable players - 170 combined games lost this year to injury, suspension or visa issues - there is a high likelihood that Pablo Mastroeni will have to continue to look towards these young players for significant roles against New England.

RSL vs. New England: A Brief History

If recent trends are any indicator, Saturday' s matchup against New England will be a tall order for Mastroeni and Co. The Revolution are playing some of its best football since returning from the World Cup break, currently on a three-game win streak and tied on points for second place in the Eastern Conference standings with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. Additionally, the Revs have scored an impressive eight goals in its last three games, while the Claret-and-Cobalt recently suffered its third straight shutout for the first time since April 2023, not scoring in the last 284 minutes, since Saba Lobjanidze’s equalizer at Houston. 

Historically, however, the tides are tilted heavily in the hosts favor for Saturday. RSL holds a dominant 12-6-6 (W-L-T) record against New England in MLS regular season play since 2005, doubling the Eastern side’s wins in the matchup dating back to the Claret-and-Cobalt’s first MLS season. That record is even better on Utah soil, with seven wins and three draws against just two losses, RSL outscoring the Revolution 27-10 when playing at home. New England lost 6-0 and 5-0 in its first two visits to Sandy back in 2009 and 2010, while the last time the Revolution departed Utah with a full three points was nearly 20 years ago, when New England triumphed, 2-1, in July of 2007 on the Rice-Eccles Stadium artificial turf. 

While encounters between the two sides are few and far between, it's been more than nine years since RSL has lost to the Revolution. The Claret-and-Cobalt are currently on a four-game unbeaten run against the East Coast squad, scoring nine goals and conceding just three across those battles. The most recent game took place just over two years ago, when RSL defended America First Field with a 2-0 victory fueled by goals from Anderson Julio and Philip Quinton in August of 2024. RSL will want to tap into that historic dominance this weekend to snap out of its midseason slouch. 

Kickoff against New England is set for 7:30 p.m. MT on Saturday, September 26 from America First Field, with the tickets available for purchase here. Following the interconference battle, RSL will have a two-week international break before travelling to Philadelphia to take on the Union on Saturday, October 10. Kickoff for that match is slated for 5:30 p.m. MT, with the match available to stream on Apple TV.