HERRIMAN, Utah (Monday, February 5, 2018) – Real Salt Lake topped the LA Galaxy in Tucson, Arizona while the Real Monarchs began its preseason in Herriman. Utah Royals FC unveiled the biggest jersey-front deal in domestic women’s soccer history while the RSL Academy U-17s won another match in Herriman. Here is what you need to know from the club this week:
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake scored three second-half goals to come from behind and notch a 3-1 win over the LA Galaxy in the first match of the preseason against an MLS opponent on Saturday. With a boisterous crowd on hand at Kino Stadium in Tucson, Arizona, RSL got goals from MF Sebastian Saucedo, MF Nick Besler and MF Sebastian Velasquez to earn the win as Head Coach Mike Petke split his squad in two, with the majority of the players logging 45 minutes.
On Friday RSL announced that the club has signed MF Pablo Ruiz ahead of the 2018 season. He will join the club in preseason, pending receipt of his ITC and visa.
Ruiz, 19, was born in Argentina and featured for the Argentina U-17 National Team for the U-17 South American Championship and the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2015, but is now set to represent Chile at the senior international level. He started his professional career with San Lorenzo in Argentina, but made the move to San Luis in Chile before making a first team appearance.
Next up for RSL is the second and final match of the Tucson leg of preseason on Wednesday against the San Jose Earthquakes. The match kicks off at 10:30 a.m. MT with a live stream at RSL.com.
Tickets to see RSL in 2018 can be purchased at RSL.com or by calling 844.REAL.TIX.
Utah Royals FC
On Monday morning, just 10 days before kicking off its 2018 preseason, Utah Royals FC and Conservice, “The Utility ExpertsTM,” jointly announced that the Logan, Utah-based company will display its corporate branding on both the front and back of the Utah National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) jerseys starting in March and running through at least the 2020 season. The deal constitutes the biggest jersey-front deal in domestic women’s soccer history.
The inaugural kits for the Utah Royals FC are provided by NWSL equipment supplier Nike, with the Rio Tinto Stadium-housed club introducing a yet-to-be-unveiled “Victory Gold” primary look – available in mid-March – and a clean white secondary design, expected in both Stadium and Downtown RSL Team Stores after Feb. 15. Each Utah Royals FC kit is emblazoned with the club’s “Lioness” shield over the heart, the Conservice name across the chest, a Nike swoosh under the right shoulder, and NWSL and Lifetime logos on the sleeves. The Conservice slogan “The Utility Experts” appears on the back of the jerseys, underneath the player numbers.
Utah Royals FC season tickets are now on sale to the general public and fans can call 844.REAL.TIX now to claim their seats.
Real Monarchs SLC
Real Monarchs SLC began its preseason last Thursday as reigning USL Coach of the Year Mark Briggs leads the way in his first full season in charge of the club after winning the Regular-Season Championship a season ago.
When the RSL first team left for Arizona on Wednesday, it carried with it some familiar faces from the Monarchs after the first week of training in an effort to continue the integration of the club. Currently with RSL in Tucson are Monarchs goalkeeper Andrew Punta, defender DavidDiosa and midfielders Maikel Chang, Sebastian Velasquez and Justin Portillo for the club’s eight-day stint in Arizona to supplement and grow with the first team.
Real Monarchs midfielder Sebastian Velasquez tallied RSL’s third and final goal of the match against the LA Galaxy in Tucson on Saturday when a speedy buildup up the right side saw DF Aaron Herrera lead FW Corey Baird into the box. He then played it through to Velasquez, who hit a first-time shot into the net for the final 3-1 tally.
The Real Monarchs training schedule from Feb. 6 to Feb. 10 is as follows, with all sessions held indoors at the Zions Bank Training Center:
Tuesday, Feb. 6: 10:00a MT
Wednesday, Feb. 7: 10:00a MT
Thursday, Feb. 8: OFF
Friday, Feb. 9: 10:00a MT
Saturday, Feb 10: 10:00a MT
Tickets to see the Monarchs in the inaugural season at the new 5,000 seat Zions Bank Stadium on the campus of the $78 million Zions Bank Real Academy are available here: www.RSL.com/Monarchs/Schedule.
Real Salt Lake Academy
The Real Salt Lake Academy U-17 side played host to Albion SC on Saturday, topping the visitors from Southern California 4-2. MFLuis Arriaga notched a hat trick while MF Noah Beck added a goal to lead RSL to the win. Arriaga now has six goals in nine appearances this season for the U-17s as the team moves to 10-2-4 (34 points) and remains atop the Southwest Division Standings.
The U-17s now look ahead to the Generation adidas Cup Spring Regional event held in Carson, California. The younger RSL group will play the Portland Timbers on February 16 (5:00 p.m. MT), Seattle Sounders on February 17 (7:00 p.m. MT) before finishing the showcase on February 19 against the San Jose Earthquakes at 12:00 p.m. MT.
Both teams will return to U.S. Soccer Development Academy action on February 24 against FC Golden State at the Zions Bank Real Academy in Herriman. The U-17s will open proceedings at 11:00 a.m. before the U-19s match at 1:30 p.m. The Academy’s full match schedule can be viewed here: rsla.ussoccerda.com.
Information regarding the Zions Bank Real Academy in Herriman and the Real Salt Lake Academy can be found at RSL.com/Academy.If you plan on attending a training session / game and requesting access, please contact RSL Media Services personnel Taran Meyer at (801) 657-2161 / tmeyer@rsl.com a day in advance for arrangements.
The Zions Bank Real Academy Campus in Herriman - located at 14788 South Academy Parkway (3718 West) - MUST be entered off of Mountain View Corridor, just West of the Facility
