HERRIMAN, Utah (Friday, April 1, 2022) – Real Monarchs (0-1-0 0 points, 11th in West) will host Whitecaps FC 2 (0-1-0, 9th in West) at Zions Bank Stadium for its 2022 Home Opener this Saturday, April 2 with kickoff set for 5:00 p.m. MT, as the Monarchs look to earn their first win in the newly-formed MLS NEXT Pro.
Pregame festivities will begin at 3:00 p.m. MT with a block party, open to the public, hosted by Landon Southwick, with appearances from Theo and Cleo. Gates will open an hour prior to the match at 4:00 p.m. MT. Single game tickets this season are only five dollars and are available for purchase at rsl.com/monarchs/tickets/ or 844.REAL.TIX.
Saturday’s match, as well as all Real Monarchs matches this season, will be streamed live via www.MLSnextPro.com.
Real Monarchs vs Whitecaps FC 2
Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman, Utah
Saturday, April 2 at 5:00 p.m. MT
Game Notes for Sunday’s RM vs VAN game Available Online
The Adobe PDF version of the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Game Guide in advance of Saturday’s contest between Real Monarchs and Whitecaps 2 can be found here. Media members looking to receive the document as an attachment or have further questions are asked to please contact Meg Van Dyk in RSL Communications via email at _meg.vandyk@rsl.com_
2022 Records: Real Monarchs (0-1-0, 0 points); Whitecaps FC 2 (0-1-0, 0 points)
Head-to-Head: Prior to joining MLS NEXT Pro, Real Monarchs and Whitecaps FC 2 each competed in the U.S. Division II setup, USL Championship. The two clubs consistently played in tight competitions with all matches being decided by a margin of one goal and the Monarchs posting a 1-2-2 (W-L-T) all-time record against the club from up north before WFC2 disbanded in 2017. The clubs last played at Rio Tinto Stadium on July 2, 2016 where the Vancouver’s reserve club defeated the Monarchs 2-1 on stoppage-time goal despite a late goal by Monarchs midfielder Tyler Arnone who leveled the score 1-1 just minutes prior.
PLAY THE KIDS
In the opening week of the inaugural season of MLS NEXT Pro competition, Real Monarchs fielded the youngest starting lineup in the league with an average age of 18.7 years old. The Monarchs also featured 11 players 18-years-old or younger against the Tacoma Defiance, the youngest being RSL academy product Luis Rivera who made his professional debut at 14 years, 3 months and 26 days. Rivera is the second-youngest player in the entire Real Salt Lake organization, recent RSL Homegrown signing Axel Kei being the only player younger.
Youth will continue to be a staple for the Monarchs as they currently have the youngest roster in MLS NEXT Pro with an average age of 17, three years younger than the league average at 20.08 years old.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW
Last weekend against Tacoma Defiance seven players earned their professional debuts, including RSL Academy products Izzy Amparo, Alex Lopez, Luis Rivera, Marcus Vasquez and Terron Williams. They were joined by Pedro Fonseca and Pierre Reedy, both of whom joined Real Monarchs after successful careers at the collegiate level.
For years Real Monarchs have provided an avenue for players to earn their professional debuts, having given 15 members of Real Salt Lake their first professional minutes. Additionally, all but one of RSL Homegrown Players made their professional debuts with Real Monarchs, the only exception being Justen Glad.
BUSINESS IN THE FRONT, PARTY IN THE BACK
RSL Academy midfielder Christian Nydegger led the way for Real Monarchs against Tacoma Defiance with two shots, both of which were on target. His shot in the 20th minute was perhaps the Monarch's best chance at goal.
This is Nydegger’s second season with Real Monarchs, having appeared in 15 matches last year. Prior to the start of this season Nydegger spent the preseason training with Real Salt Lake, making the trip to Tucson, AZ. His development over the last year has taken him from a contributor off the bench to a starter and veteran for Head Coach Jamison Olave. At 18 years old he is one of the more senior players for the Monarchs, and is one of three to be born in Utah,(Highland, Utah), joining Bode Davis from Kaysville, Utah and Jeff Dewsnup from Herriman, Utah.
