HERRIMAN, Utah (Thursday, June 29, 2022) – Real Salt Lake Homegrown midfielder Jude Wellings and Real Monarchs forward Zavier Gozo, both products of the RSL Academy have been selected to represent the Claret-and-Cobalt at the second-annual MLS NEXT All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 19 at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility in Annapolis, Maryland. The match will kickoff at 8:30 a.m. MT and will be available to stream, with details coming at a future date. |
Wellings and Gozo will compete for the Western All-Stars in the second edition of the MLS NEXT East vs West match as part of the MLS All-Star festivities in the Washington D.C. area. Each roster contains 22 players and were chosen by the MLS NEXT Player Selection Committee, which is composed of key MLS Player Development department personnel, following the conclusion of the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase. Players must be U-18 (born in 2005 or after) and have competed in one of the MLS NEXT national showcase events this season, including MLS NEXT Fest, MLS NEXT Flex, Generation Adidas Cup, and MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase. Last year RSL Academy’s Gershon Henry and the West fell to the East 2-1 in the first-ever MLS NEXT All-Star Game in Blaine, Minnesota.
Wellings played a majority of the U-17’s regular season matches this year as team captain, in addition to featuring for RSL Academy at the MLS NEXT Flex and Generation Adidas Cup tournaments. The 17-year-old also played in eight matches for the MLS NEXT Pro side Real Monarchs, making six starts including three full-90 minute performances. The Michigan-born midfielder signed a Homegrown contract with the first team at the beginning of last year, and has also spent time in camp with the U-17 United States Youth National Team.
Gozo was an integral piece of this year’s U-17 squad, leading the team in goals in the regular season with over a dozen, and appearing for RSL Academy at the Generation Adidas Cup. In November of last year, the Eagle Mountain, Utah native earned an international call-up with the U-16 United States Youth National Team before signing a professional contract with Real Monarchs. Gozo made his MLS NEXT Pro debut on March 24 at home against Minnesota United FC 2, starting the match and playing 57 minutes in a 3-0 loss.
Upon returning from Annapolis, Wellings and Gozo will be eligible to play for Real Monarchs before preparing for the 2023/24 Academy season.
