USL Real Monarchs

Real Monarchs Look to Continue Hot Streak against Arizona United

August 27, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Real Monarchs News Release


SANDY, Utah - Real Monarchs SLC (8-11-5, 29 pts, West #11) will look to continue its hot streak that has seen the club go unbeaten at 2-0-1 in the last three matches when it faces Arizona United on the road Saturday night in Peoria, Arizona. Fans can watch the 8:30 p.m. MT kick via RSL.com or USLsoccer.com.

Head Coach Freddy Juarez' team won the last two matches 1-0 over the Swope Park Rangers, then 2-1 over Portland Timbers 2 to inch up to 11th in the USL's Western Conference. He will have five players on loan from Real Salt Lake to bolster his roster, including 19-year-old FW Pedro Baez and MF Sunday Stephen, who has been out since June with facial fractures and will likely make his first appearance since the June 22 injury tonight with the Monarchs. Beginning with a 0-0 draw against Colorado Springs, the Monarchs kicked off a run of six home contests out of eight through mid-September, going 2-0-1 to start the stretch as Juarez and his team look to climb their way back into playoff contention. With eight teams in each conference making the postseason, the Monarchs are just two points out of the eighth and final playoff position with six matches to play. Following Saturday's match in Arizona, the Monarchs will play three consecutive matches at home before closing out the regular season with a pair of road contests at Arizona and at LA Galaxy II. Earlier this month, the Monarchs announced the signing of Mexican MF Jesus Leal, pending receipt of his ITC and P-1 visa. The former Club America midfielder is the third addition to the club this month after previously signing internationals MF Charlie Adams (England) and FW Ameth Ramirez (Panama). Leal, 23, comes to the Monarchs from Club America, where he made his professional debut and appeared in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2013. After making four league appearances in Liga MX, he went on loan to second division club Cimarrones de Sonora, where he scored his first professional goal. FW Ricardo Velazco leads the Monarchs with seven goals and five assists, but it was FW Maikon Orellana and DF Emilio Orozco that bagged goals to lift the Monarchs to victory the last two matches. In addition, the defense has allowed just one goal in the last three matches.

MONARCHS v. ARIZONA (Peoria, AZ) - Sat. - 8:30 p.m. MT

NEW FACES FOR STRETCH RUN: Earlier this month, Real Monarchs SLC announced the additions of MF Charlie Adams and FW Ameth Ramirez, later also adding MF Jesus Leal as well.

Adams, 22, comes to the Monarchs in a return to the USL after spending the 2015 season with Louisville City, notching two goals in 20 matches while helping Louisville to the Eastern Conference finals. The English midfielder played with Brentford in England's League One (third division), Barnet in England's Conference Premier (fifth division) and Stevenage in League Two (fourth division). Most recently, he played two matches with Stevenage this year on a short-term contract.

Ramirez, 23, joins the club on loan from Plaza Amador in his native Panama. He started his pro career with Plaza Amador in 2012 before a move to Linces de Tlaxcala in Mexico's third division from 2013-2014. He returned to Plaza Amador in the summer of 2014, also making his international debut with the Panama National Team that same year. Previously, he had scored five goals in seven matches for the Panama U-20 National Team.

Leal, 23, comes to the Monarchs from Club America, where he made his professional debut and appeared in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2013. After making four league appearances in Liga MX, he went on loan to second division club Cimarrones de Sonora, where he scored his first professional goal.

ACOSTA RECEIVES U.S. CITIZENSHIP: 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 42fa532002bb436e1259e458f here .

SCHULER RE-JOINS RSL AFTER EXTENSIVE MONARCHS STINT: Friday, RSL announced the re-signing of DF Chris Schuler, bringing the six-year MLS veteran back to Major League Soccer after a brief stint in the USL with Real Monarchs SLC. "We are excited to bring Chris back to RSL. It's been great having him involved with the organization while with the Monarchs and we've kept a close eye on him throughout the year and we are satisfied that he is healthy and ready to contribute to the first team," RSL General Manager Craig Waibel said. "A veteran presence like his is valuable on the field and in the locker room and he will be a good addition to our group." Schuler signed with the Monarchs on March 18, playing nine matches with the USL side after rehabbing a foot injury suffered last season with RSL. In six of his starts, he played the full 90 minutes, demonstrating to Waibel and the RSL coaching staff that he is fit and ready to contribute again at the MLS level. "It's been a crazy 18 months. I had a knee surgery, a foot surgery, was unemployed, signed with the Monarchs and yesterday finally earned another RSL contract. None of this would have been possible without the support of my family, friends, teammates and the entire Real Salt Lake organization. I'm so thankful for an environment in which I could regain my health and have the opportunity to be successful and achieve my goals; especially here in the community that I've grown to love," Schuler said. "My heart goes out to the fans who played a critical role in lifting me up when things were difficult. I'm super excited to represent in the RSL jersey again and help hold down the RioT!" 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 years, highlighted by his career-best 25 appearances in 2014. However, a rash of injuries in 2015 limited him to just five league appearances. Real Salt Lake is in the midst of a playoff chase and faces Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday night in a nationally televised match on Fox Sports 1 at 5 p.m. MT before returning home to Rio Tinto Stadium to host FC Dallas on Saturday, August 20.

MONARCHS SEASON PREVIEWS: For complete Monarchs coverage and information, please visit 0a86fb1aaccb921a0e53ae475 www.RSL.com/Monarchs, including a season preview from Matt Gaschk - ‚¬Âª b5d341f8ff7974be859cd0364 bit.ly/1RDPVq7 ‚¬Âª - as well as a recent ESPN700 AM #OnFrame - 08a3b3c1a6638e7ad23b15e6c 08a3b3c1a6638e7ad23b15e6c - 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 - e74f061a7db068d231aa739ac e74f061a7db068d231aa739ac .

The Salt Lake Tribune'sChris Kamrani also took a look at what drives the Monarchs in the club's 2nd season - c8214330c28469ee5c918934a bd9efb036d828af839a5a21fa - and how the RSL / Monarchs relationship has evolved for 2016 - 9426044016d7bd114f7598187 f96eb965bddfa1719fa4fb383 - with takes from both Juarez and RSL boss Jeff Cassar.

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