SALT LAKE CITY - Real Salt Lake midfielder Andy Williams today was honored with the Week 18 MLS Sierra Mist Goal of the Week Award, hours prior to tonight's kickoff as RSL (5-11-4, 19 pts., 5th West) faces the New England Revolution (10-4-6, 36 pts., t-1st East) at 5:30 p.m. MT on the MLS Direct Kick package and on the radio via 1280 AM The Zone (English) or Recuerdo 1600 AM (Spanish).
Four minutes into the second half of a nationally-televised game Saturday against CD Chivas USA, Williams drew the game level at 1-1 with a 20-yard blast from the top of the penalty box. That goal was the first-ever on the Rice-Eccles Stadium north goal for Real Salt Lake and represented the 5,000th in Major League Soccer history. RSL Captain Jason Kreis collected an errant pass from Chivas USA defender Ezra Hendrickson and found Williams for the equalizer.
Twenty-five minutes later, it was a long, looping pass into the penalty box from Williams to RSL MF Chris Brown, who was taken down in the area. Kreis then converted the resultant spot kick for his 98th career goal, an MLS all-time high.
Williams collected 37% of the fan votes on www.MLSnet.com, while FC Dallas FW Carlos Ruiz garnered 34% of the votes. MetroStars MF Youri Djorkaeff was third with 15%.
REAL SALT LAKE WATCH PARTY TONIGHT AT LUMPY'S DOWNTOWN: Soccer fans across the Wasatch Front are invited to join RSL MF Clint Mathis, the RSL staff and reserve players, as well as several members of the three official RSL fan clubs - the Loyalists, the RCB (Rogue Cavalier Brigade) and the Jesters - to attend the RSL @ New England Revolution watch party at the new Lumpy's Downtown, Salt Lake's hottest new sports bar & grill.
Lumpy's new downtown location, at 145 West Pierpoint Ave in Salt Lake, will also feature RSL's flagship English-radio station 1280 AM The Zone broadcasting its "Big Show" with Gordon Monson and Kevin Graham live from Lumpy's prior to the match starting at 4 p.m. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MT, with the broadcast feed coming from the MLS Direct Kick satellite subscription package. Lumpy's is located between 200 West and West Temple, across from Baci Trattoria in downtown Salt Lake City.</p>
GREGORIO JOINS COUNTY MAYOR PETER CORROON AT RIBBON CUTTING: Real Salt Lake MF Adolfo Gregorio will join Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon at the C.A.R.E. Fair (Community Assistance and Resource Event) ribbon cutting on Thursday, August 11 at 3:30 p.m. MT. The event will be held at the Horizonte Instructional and Training Center (1234 Main Street in Salt Lake City) to kick off the three-day event, where low income and uninsured families can obtain free medical care.
The newly-acquired Gregorio will be present to sign autographs for families as they await entrance to the fair, and will be available between screenings and medical tests once the doors have opened. Gregorio is proud to be a part of this event and believes in the importance of medical care and annual screenings no matter a family's financial situation.</p>
Sponsored by the Junior League of Salt Lake City, C.A.R.E. Fair, now in its 13th year, offers the services of over 300 local medical volunteers and more than 50 community agencies. What began as a small health fair, serving approximately 300 people, offering only a few services with 5 or 6 agencies represented, has grown into the largest health fair of its kind in Utah. The Junior League is proud to serve over 3,000 people each year, offering more than 15 medical services and 75 agencies to educate the attending families. Services to be offered at C.A.R.E. Fair 2005 will include childhood immunizations and physicals, women's cancer screenings, HIV testing, eye, ear and dental exams, and diabetes testing. </p>
FANS ENCOURAGED TO DONATE SOCCER EQUIPMENT: Real Salt Lake and the United States Soccer Foundation are encouraging fans to donate new or gently used soccer equipment to benefit local youth soccer players who lack the necessary gear to play. Donated gear may be brought to this Saturday's game vs. Kansas City Wizards and dropped off in the U.S.S.F. bins located at Gate A and B. The individual or group that donates the most items will be awarded a $200.00 gift certificate from Eurosport. Additionally, those who contribute to the foundation have the opportunity to win RSL autographed merchandise. The Major League Soccer team that collects the most gear will be honored by the foundation as the "Team Humanitarian of the Year."
