Real Monarchs SLC Fall to Fresno FC 3-2
Heard, Hoffman Notch Goals; Late-Game Rally Downs Monarchs to Close 10-Day, Three-Match Trip to Davis, California
DAVIS, California (Saturday March 10, 2018) – Real Monarchs SLC finished its preseason trip to California on Saturday afternoon, falling 3-2 to United Soccer League newcomer Fresno FC. MF Josh Heard and FW Chandler Hoffman both earned goals in the loss at Aggie Soccer Field on the campus of University of Davis.
The first half saw the Monarchs play the aggressor, pressing the Fresno goal while forcing the Foxes goalkeeper into two early saves. The Utah side found the breakthrough when DF Andrew Brody found himself with space near the edge of the Fresno penalty area. Brody fired the ball across the box to Heard, who’s first touch set up a left-footed shot that snuck past the onrushing goalkeeper and into the side netting.
Fresno leveled the match in the 40th minute through Juan Pablo Caffa as his headed effort from a corner kick brought the teams into halftime with a goal apiece.
The second half saw the Monarchs again start on the front foot, finding the go-ahead goal in the 53rd minute when MF Maikel Chang’s rifled effort from six yards was parried by the goalkeeper before the ball fell to Hoffman who easily tapped home for the 2-1 lead. In the 77th minute, Fresno again brought the game level when Renato Bustamante curled home a shot from inside the Monarchs penalty area, out of reach for the outstretched arm of GK Andrew Putna.
The Foxes found the winner in the game’s final minute when Terran Campbell laced a left footed volley into the far side netting from 12 yards away to seal the match.
The Monarchs will now return to Utah to prepare for its final preseason test of 2018 against Utah Valley University on Friday at 4:00 p.m. at the Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman.
REAL MONARCHS SLC 2-3 FRESNO FC
SATURDAY MARCH 10, 2018
DAVIS, CALIFORNIA
Goals by Period1 2 F
Real Monarchs 1 1 2
Fresno FC 1 2 3
Scoring Summary:
SLC: Josh Heard (Andrew Brody)
FFC: Juan Pablo Caffa
SLC: Chandler Hoffman (Maikel Chang)
FFC: Renato Bustamante
FFC: Terran Campbell
Lineup:
Real Monarchs SLC: Andrew Putna; Andrew Brody, Nick Besler, Michael Gallagher, David Diosa (Rhys Williams, 48’); Justin Portillo, Charlie Adams (Karsten Hanlin, 85’), Jose Hernandez, Maikel Chang, Josh Heard (Corey Baird, 60’); Chandler Hoffman (Ricky Lopez-Espin, 81’)
