For the first time this season, Real Salt Lake has players listed on the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week roster, as goalkeeper Matt VanOekel earned the honor this week. His three saves against the New York Red Bulls earned RSL’s second clean sheet of the season – not a bad way to make a debut.
VanOekel is new to RSL after earning NASL Goalkeeper of the Year honors with FC Edmonton last season. With Nick Rimando away with the U.S. National Team, he stepped in admirably in earning the clean sheet in his first MLS start after 125 appearances in the NASL and USL.
“Matt's been chomping at the bit to get into this league,” RSL Interim Head Coach Daryl Shore said. “He put his time in in the lower leagues and he earned his chance tonight, and I think he proved it to us.”
He was joined on Team of the Week by defenders Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew SC), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls) and Chris Tierney (New England Revolution); midfielders Sebastian Blanco (Portland Timbers), Artur (Columbus Crew SC), Federico Higuain (Columbus Crew SC), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Diego Fagundez (New England Revolution); and forwards Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution) and Kei Kamara (New England Revolution).
In addition, RSL defenders Aaron Maund and Demar Phillips were included among the seven players on the bench for Team of the Week.
For more on this week’s selections, click here.
Team of the Week
Week 4: Matt VanOekel
