SANDY, Utah (Friday, June 10, 2016) – Real Monarchs SLC (4-5-4, 16 pts) are back in action Saturday night against club rival Sacramento Republic FC, in this week’s return match against the 2014 USL champions. The Monarchs and Sacramento kick off at 8:30 p.m. MT at Greater Nevada Field in Reno, Nev., home of a 2017 USL expansion team.
The Monarchs continue their run of 11 consecutive games away from Rio Tinto Stadium looking to rebound from a disappointing 0-1 loss in Sacramento on Wednesday, as an early second-half goal by Adam Jahn snapped a 201-minute shutout streak for GK Lalo Fernandez and the Monarchs defense.
The Monarchs entered the game buoyed by road points captured last weekend at Vancouver, as MF Amass Amankona – a 2016 RSL draft pick out of the University of Dayton – slammed home a looping set piece in the 95th minute to secure a 1-0 win, giving Whitecaps 2 its first loss of 2016. Fernandez made five saves in securing the clean sheet, and was named to the USL Team of the Week for his efforts.
The previous week, Monarchs MF Ricardo Velazco – with five goals and two assists in the last five matches – scored twice to bring the Monarchs back from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw at the University of British Columbia’s Thunderbird Stadium, earning USL Player of the Week honors.
Recent road performances have given the Monarchs a lift entering the back half of a seemingly interminable road swing, with Saturday’s match the eighth in a run of 11 consecutive games away from Rio Tinto Stadium. Two of the matches – including Saturday’s Reno-hosted match – are considered “Monarchs On Tour” home games, as the Monarchs return to Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 2, hosting Vancouver Whitecaps 2 at 7:00 p.m. MT after the Sandy venue’s field resurfacing is complete.
Head Coach Freddy Juarez’ team started its second USL campaign strong out of the gates with a 2-0-1 record through the first three matches, but has won just twice since – last weekend at Vancouver, 1-0, and in a 3-1 comeback win over the Orange County Blues at Ute Field on the University of Utah campus on May 21. The Monarchs are seeking to garner more road momentum, as the club’s solid performance last week brought the club’s road record to 2-2-2 entering the back to back matches against Sacramento.
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. Sacramento Republic FC at Reno, Nev.
- Coverage Begins: 8:30 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 v. SACRAMENTO @ Reno, Nev. – Sat., June 11, 2016 – 8:30 p.m. MT
THIRD OF FOUR “MONARCHS ON TOUR” GAMES IN THE OFFING: This Saturday, June 11, the Monarchs travel 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.
VELAZCO EARNS PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS: With two goals in the Monarchs’ comeback effort to earn a 2-2 draw against Vancouver on May 26, MF Ricardo Velazco earned USL Player of the Week honors. After falling behind 2-0 in the first half, Velazco scored just before halftime, then again in the 53rd minute to score the road draw against the unbeaten Whitecaps FC 2. He now has five goals and two assists in the last four matches. For more on Velazco’s award, click here.
ACOSTA RECEIVED U.S. CITIZENSHIP THREE WEEKS AGO: On Monday, May 20, RSL MF Danilo Acosta – who has appeared in six games for the Monarchs this season, playing 288 minutes thus far – received his U.S. citizenship in a Salt Lake-based ceremony, prior to traveling to Oklahoma City for the Real Monarchs match against the Energy.
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.
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.
