Few Real Salt Lake players have made as strong of a case for permanent inclusion in the first XI as Jamison Olave has during the past couple of weeks.
RSL has yielded a single goal to opponents during the time the Colombian native has spent in the lineup during the last two MLS games. When he hasn't been on the field, the defense just hasn't had the same kind of cohesion.
After Olave came off with an apparent knee injury in the 77th minute at FC Dallas, RSL surrendered a one-goal lead with two goals over an eight-minute span to lose its fifth consecutive road game. Against San Jose, he went a full 90 minutes. The defense did not suffer a similar kind of dropoff en route to a 3-1 home victory on Saturday.
One reason Olave makes such a difference is that he has an ability to control acres of space in the final third.
"We've always known that he's got a fantastic physical presence for us," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "He can cover a lot of ground -- can cover mistakes back there, so I think he's getting better and better."
Out of all the changes RSL made to its rearguard during the offseason, few acquisitions could exceed what Olave seemed to promise.
When the club acquired him on loan from Deportivo Cali, a perennial first division title contender in Colombia, Olave offered a tantalizing mix of size, athleticism and experience. All are necessary ingredients for any defensive remodeling project and RSL realized it could be much stronger with what he brought to the table.
And Olave has given his new team strength in the back. His size and speed in the central defense helps him to track down players on the attack and block out in the box.
Olave likes how he has progressed so far in finding his role with the defense.
"Each time I feel a little bit better," Olave said. "I'm getting used to the soccer here and to my teammates."
Standing out in a deep backline hasn't always been the easiest thing to do. Olave has alternated, at times, between being a starter and a substitute. What role he fills doesn't matter much.
Olave is happy with whatever minutes he's allotted as long as he can make a positive contribution to RSL's success.
"I just always want to play," Olave said. "As long as I'm playing, I'm happy. It doesn't matter if I'm a starter or sub."
Olave was not the only positive element defensively against the Earthquakes. Nat Borchers looked crisp alongside, clearing out wayward balls. Tony Beltran and Chris Wingert manned the flanks well, covering ground quickly enough to keep San Jose from initiating easy attacks.
San Jose managed only two shots on goal against the back four.
It has been a rough learning process for the defense this season, but Kreis feels like they took several steps forward against the Earthquakes.
"The players seemed to be better connected and better spaced," Kreis said. "We weren't so strung out from top to bottom. I think that we're learning. That's my feeling."
With three more home games in the next four weeks, RSL has a golden opportunity to continue to refine itself on defense and offense. The RSL side has a definite advantage at Rice-Eccles Stadium with a combination of high altitude and hard turf.
The goal for the team now is to keep building on that advantage.
"Teams don't like coming here," forward Kenny Deuchar said. "If they know we're good at home, then they're going to like it even less."
John Coon is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
