As the halfway-mark of the Real Monarchs season approaches, SLC ranks 21st of 29 (10th Western Conf., 7th Pacific Div.) teams in MLS NEXT Pro competition this year with a 4-7-1(1) record, earning 14 points in 12 matches. Despite the shaky start, Real Monarchs have been successful in home territory, earning all of their 14 points with a 4-3-1 resume when playing in the Beehive State.
Through Real Monarchs’ first 12 matches of MLS NEXT Pro play in 2024, Mark Lowry’s set-up has featured depth as a key strength - 28 players getting minutes with 10 different goal scorers. Leading the way on the scoresheet has been Kingston, Jamaica-born 21-year-old striker Matthew Bell with three goals and two assists in 831 minutes of play across all 12 matches. Leading the team in minutes is center back and captain Keller Storlie with 990, playing the full 90 in all 11 of his appearances on the year so far. Bell, Tommy Silva, Damien Barker John, Aiden Hezarkhani, and Sebastian Joffre have all collected the first goals of their professional careers.
Five players are tied for second on the team with two goals each - 17-year-old Zavier Gozo, 19-year-old Barker John, 22-year-old Daron Iskenderian, Paul and Beni Redzic. MLS serviceman Noel Caliskan has been playing out of his mind in the midfield, tying the MLS NEXT Pro league lead with seven assists and leading the team in successful short passes (203) while also producing 21 key passes and nine clearances. Bertin Jacquesson has also helped to lead the way in passing with three assists of his own, earning all three in the same number of appearances. Fullback Silva has been a bright spot for the Monarchs this season, used in a fluid role as both a defender and attacker down the wing en route to collecting one assist, 21 key passes and eight clearances in 11 appearances.
The Monarchs’ best performance was one of their most recent, putting up a massive 4-0 performance in their first match played at America First Field in Sandy, UT this season, a departure from their regular stomping ground at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, UT. The match saw them trot out of a lineup of four starters with RSL first-team minutes this year en route to a four-goal dismantling of Austin FC 2, Fidel Barajas and Iskenderian scoring with Bell collecting a brace.
Real Monarchs started the season hot, claiming two points in the opener at home with a shootout victory on a frigid night in Herriman. The teams fought to a 0-0 draw before goalkeeper Fernando Delgado saved the day with a heroic two-save performance in the shootout. Another memorable performance for SLC came in their first home victory of the year, a 2-1 battle with Minnesota United 2. Despite an early red card from Minnesota, the Loons took a 1-0 advantage before SLC roared back as Gozo tallied the first brace of his professional career to secure three points for his team.
The Monarchs are now hitting their most successful stretch of the year thus far, winning their last two matches by a combined score of 9-1 (5-0 vs. Austin, 4-1 vs. Kansas City).
Season Results:
- 3/15 Real Monarchs vs. Portland Timbers 2 (D, 0-0, 5:4)
- 3/23 Real Monarchs @ Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (L, 5-3)
- 3/27 Real Monarchs vs. Minnesota United 2 (W, 2-1)
- 4/14 Real Monarchs vs. The Town FC (L, 0-1)
- 4/19 Real Monarchs @ St. Louis CITY SC 2 (L, 2-0)
- 4/28 Real Monarchs vs. Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (W, 1-0)
- 5/5 Real Monarchs vs. LAFC 2 (L, 2-3)
- 5/8 Real Monarchs vs. Houston Dynamo 2 (L, 2-1)
- 5/19 Real Monarchs @ Ventura County (L, 2-0)
- 5/24 Real Monarchs @ North Texas (2-1)
- 6/2 Real Monarchs vs. Austin FC 2 (W, 4-0)
- 6/12 Real Monarchs vs. Sporting KC 2 (W, 5-1)
The Monarchs now look to the rest of the summer and an MLS NEXT Pro schedule with 15 matches to go. They’ll look to continue their fine run of form next on Wednesday, June 19, when they travel to take on Tacoma Defiance - kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MT. Tickets to all Real Monarchs home matches at Zions Bank Stadium are $5 at the door and matches can be streamed through a MLS Season Pass subscription. For more news, schedules, video, rosters and more around Real Monarchs, click here
