SANDY, Utah (Monday, May 23, 2016) – Real Monarchs SLC (3-3-3, 12 pts) continues its run of 11 consecutive games away from Rio Tinto Stadium, traveling Tuesday to face Oklahoma City Energy at 7:00 p.m. MT. Fans can watch the game live online at RSL.com or at USLsoccer.com.
Head Coach Freddy Juarez’ team continues its second USL campaign, buoyed by Saturday’s 3-1, come-from-behind win over visiting Orange County Blues at Ute Field on the University of Utah campus. Following an early 0-1 deficit, RSL-AZ Academy product Ricardo Velazco provided two goals and an assist on Alec Sundly’s game-winner, all coming in the second half, to lead the Monarchs to victory, snapping the club’s five-game winless run.
Velazco is on fire of late, with three goals and an assist in his last two games, as the Tucson native gave Monarchs a 1-0 lead on May 14 at Rio Grande Valley, a game that saw a pair of Monarchs red cards reduce the side to nine men, who left South Texas with a 1-1 draw against the Toros.
Tuesday’s match is the fourth of an 11-game trek away from home, although two games during the stretch – including Saturday’s win over the Blues and the Sat., June 11 game v Sacramento – which are considered “Monarchs On Tour” home matches, with the June match played at Aces Ballpark 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.
Following Tuesday’s contest at OKC, the Monarchs return home briefly this week prior to Sunday afternoon’s match at Vancouver, kicking off at 3:00 p.m. MT.
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 @ Oklahoma City Energy
- Coverage Begins: 6:00 p.m. MT
- Web Stream: www.RSL.com/Monarchs //www.USLsoccer.com
- English TV: n/a
- English Radio: n/a
- Spanish Radio: n/a
- Online: The @RealMonarchs Twitter feed provides updates
2016 REAL MONARCHS NOTES
MONARCHS @ OKLAHOMA CITY – Tues., May 24, 2016 – 6:00 p.m. MT
SECOND OF FOUR “MONARCHS ON TOUR” GAMES IN THE BOOKS: Saturday, University of Utah’s Ute Field was the host for a Monarchs team playing four “home” games across the InterMountain West in 2016. In April, Utah Valley University’s Clyde Field made the “On Tour” debut against Arizona – an 0-1 loss – with the club next traveling on Saturday, June 11, to host rival Sacramento Republic FC at Aces Ballpark in Reno, Nev., site of the USL’s 2017 expansion side. The Monarchs return 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.
ACOSTA TO RECEIVE U.S. CITIZENSHIP MONDAY: On Monday, RSL MF Danilo Acosta – who has appeared in 4 games for the Monarchs this season, playing 268 minutes thus far – will receive his U.S. citizenship in a Salt Lake-based ceremony, prior to traveling to Oklahoma City …
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
MONARCHS SEASON PREVIEWS: For complete Monarchs coverage and information, please visit www.RSL.com/Monarchs, including a season preview from Matt Gaschk - bit.ly/1RDPVq7 - as well as a recent ESPN700 AM #OnFrame - http://www.rsl.com/post/2016/03/23/onframe-march-22-2016 - which includes interviews with Monarchs DF Chris Schuler and HC Freddy Juarez by RSL analyst Brian Dunseth, along with an overview of the club’s preseason trip to Costa Rica - http://www.rsl.com/post/2016/03/14/monarchs-prepared-second-season-costa-rica-trip.
The Salt Lake Tribune’s Chris Kamrani also took a look at what drives the Monarchs in the club’s 2nd season - https://t.co/l5CarN7hnR - and how the RSL / Monarchs relationship has evolved for 2016 - https://t.co/6ggAumbvKB - with takes from both Juarez and RSL boss Jeff Cassar.
