SANDY, Utah (Thursday, May 19, 2016) – Real Monarchs SLC (2-3-3, 9 pts) returns briefly to Utah soil in the midst of 11 consecutive games away from Rio Tinto Stadium, hosting Orange County Blues at Ute Field on the campus of the University of Utah Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. MT.
Head Coach Freddy Juarez’ team continues its second USL campaign, after a nine-man Monarchs club earned a 1-1 road draw at Rio Grande Valley last Friday night. Former RSL DF Chris Schuler started his second consecutive match, enduring the South Texas heat and playing the full 90 minutes against the Toros, his second game in a week after not playing for nearly 10 months after various foot/ankle and knee injuries sidelined the imposing centerback.
Last week, rookie RSL MF Omar Holness also saw 20 minutes of action at Rio Grande Valley off the bench, appearing for the first time since the Monarchs’ March 26 opener, a 1-0 home win that will be remembered for the Jamaican international’s mid-first half collapse and seizure. Holness received a clean bill of neurological health that evening, sleeping in his own bed that night, but not seeing game action until last Friday due to a shoulder dislocation suffered during the episode.
Saturday’s match is the third of an 11-game trek away from home, although it marks one of two games – including Sat., June 11 v Sacramento – which are considered “Monarchs On Tour” home matches, with the June match in Reno, Nevada. The Monarchs return to Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 2, hosting Vancouver Whitecaps 2 after the Sandy venue’s field resurfacing is complete.
The general public sale for 2016 Monarchs season tickets is ongoing. In addition, Real Salt Lake season ticket members can join the Crown Club (www.RSL.com/tickets/Crown-Club) by adding Real Monarchs season tickets for as low as $48, including exclusive Crown Club benefits. The Rio Tinto Stadium box office is open Tues.-Fri., 10a-6p; more information can be found online at www.RSL.com/Monarchs/Schedule or via the Fan Relations Hotline at 801-727-2702.
How to Follow Real Monarchs v. Orange County Blues
- Coverage Begins: 7:00 p.m. MT
- Web Stream: www.YouTube.com/RealMonarchs or www.RSL.com/Monarchs
- English TV: n/a
- English Radio: n/a
- Spanish Radio: n/a
- Online: The @RealMonarchs Twitter feed provides updates
2016 REAL MONARCHS NOTES
MONARCHS v. ORANGE COUNTY – Sat., May 21, 2016 – 7:00 p.m. MT
SECOND OF FOUR “MONARCHS ON TOUR” GAMES IN THE OFFING: Back on April 15, Utah Valley University’s Clyde Field was the host for a Monarchs team playing four “home” games across the InterMountain West in 2016. After last Friday’s Clyde Field debut against Arizona – an 0-1 loss – the club will also host Orange County Blues at the University of Utah’s soccer field near the Huntsman Center on Saturday, May 21. Then on Saturday, June 11, the Monarchs host rival Sacramento Republic FC at Aces Ballpark in Reno, Nev., site of the USL’s 2017 expansion side, before returning to Clyde Field in Orem for the fourth and final “On Tour” match on Friday, July 22 against Arizona again, celebrating Pioneer Day Weekend prior to RSL’s home match that evening at Rio Tinto Stadium against San Jose Earthquakes.
OREM NATIVE ORELLANA OPENS UP AFTER HOT STREAK: In the home opener back on March 26, it was a stoppage-time goal by 88th-minute substitute FW Maikon Orellana that captured 3 points for the Claret-and-Cobalt side. The former El Salvador youth international struck again in the 3-3 draw against LA Galaxy II at home on April 2, then again supplied the game-winner last Saturday in the 1-0 win at Tulsa, only the second time in organizational history that both the Monarchs and RSL won on the same day. Inspired by Head Coach Freddy Juarez, Orellana talks about his path to Utah, his time at the RSL-AZ Academy and more in this week’s Monarchs podcast with Matt Gaschk. Listen here: http://www.rsl.com/post/2016/04/13/claret-and-cobalt-daily-episode-124-april-13-2016
CAPARELLI, DURAN LOANED TO KITSAP PUMAS FOR PDL SEASONING: Just days before the season opener, the Monarchs announced loan deals for two players – DF Jony Caparelli and MF Edgar Duran – to PDL side Kitsap Pumas for the duration of the 2016 PDL season.
"We think this is an important step in their development, as Jony and Edgar are still at an age they need to get games," said Real Monarchs Head Coach Freddy Juarez. "The opportunity to send them to a very good PDL club, one that will be in Open Cup, offers the chance for Jony and Edgar to play 20-plus games in addition to preseason matches, possibly as many as 30 games in 3 months. Hopefully, when they come back to us, they're in a little bit better shape, better rhythm and can help contribute to our team."
Caparelli, 21, played for the Chivas USA academy before joining the Real Salt Lake organization. He has yet to appear in a USL game, but he featured regularly for the Monarchs in friendlies over the past two years. Duran, 19, is a product of RSL's Arizona-based academy. He made two appearances for the Monarchs in 2015 after signing late last season after a year at Casa Grande, Ariz.
SCHULER STAYS IN RSL FAMILY, JOINS MONARCHS: Over a month ago, the Monarchs announced the signing of former Real Salt Lake DF Chris Schuler, keeping the six-year MLS veteran at Rio Tinto Stadium for the 2016 season while he continues to rehab a foot injury that ended his 2015 year after just five matches with RSL (and two with the Monarchs).
Schuler, 28, played six seasons with Real Salt Lake after being selected in the third round, 39th overall, in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. He played 80 matches in six seasons, highlighted by his career-best 25 appearances in 2014.
COMPLETE 2015 USL STATS PACKAGE: Complete League, Team and Individual Statistics for the 2015 USL season, including those for Freddy Juarez’ Real Monarchs side, can be found by clicking and downloading HERE:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1qbf59dlcjf5llc/AACznFUBA1nCkk2f30QW6hana?dl=0
