SANDY, Utah (Saturday, September 3, 2016) - Real Monarchs SLC (9-11-5, 32 pts, West #11) seek to continue its hot streak that has seen the club go unbeaten at 3-0-1 in its last four matches when it hosts Tulsa Roughnecks at Rio Tinto Stadium Saturday night (7:00 p.m. MT kickoff). The Monarchs' playoff push is in full effect as tonight's match - the first of a five-game stretch run - will greatly influence the West standings, with the Monarchs just two points out of the final Western Conference slot. A victory tonight would enable Head Coach Freddy Juarez' team to leapfrog Seattle, San Antonio and Orange County. Fans can watch tonights critical contest at 7:00 p.m. MT via RSL.com or USLsoccer.com.
Head Coach Freddy Juarez' team extended its active streak to three wins and four unbeaten with a gritty 1-0 road win last weekend in Arizona, as MF Mikey Orellana provided the game-winner in support of a clean sheet from GK Lalo Fernandez. The Monarchs had won its previous two also by one goal (1-0 over the Swope Park Rangers, then 2-1 over Portland) to reach the glut of several teams in contention for the 8th and final playoff spot from the USL's Western Conference. Tonight, Juarez will have several players on loan from Real Salt Lake to bolster his roster, again including 19-year-old FW Pedro Baez and MF Sunday Stephen, both of whom saw extended action in starting roles at Arizona last week.
FW Ricardo Velazco leads the Monarchs with seven goals and five assists, but it has been 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 four games entering tonight's critical contest, which marks the first of three consecutive matches at home for the Monarchs - who host Orange County on Friday, Sept. 9 at 7:00 p.m. and San Antonio on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. - before closing out the regular season with a pair of road contests at Arizona and at LA Galaxy II. The USL playoffs kick off the weekend of Friday, September 30.
Last 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.
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. Tulsa Roughnecks
• Coverage Begins: 7:00 p.m. MT
• Web Stream: www.RSL.com/Monarchs // www.USLsoccer.com
• English TV: n/a
• English Radio: ESPN700 AM w/ Landon Southwick and Spencer Warne
• Spanish Radio: 1600 AM / 102.3 FM
• Online: The @RealMonarchs Twitter feed provides updates
