SALT LAKE CITY --
Real Salt Lake has announced that the MLS side has loaned DF Nikolas Besagno to the Seattle Sounders of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) First Division, effective immediately. During the 90-day loan period, which ends on Sept. 9, Real Salt Lake will be able to recall the 19-year-old Besagno as needed. Besagno joined the Sounders in Phoenix on Tuesday and logged his first minutes for Seattle in the final minutes of a 1-0 extra time victory over the Arizona Sahuaros (USASA) in the First Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
"This is a real opportunity for Nik to get some high-level games, and we have every expectation that this will make him a better player. Seattle is a great organization which will be joining MLS next year and one of the best teams in the USL First Division this season," said RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey. "Nik also grew up in the Seattle area, so we feel this is a really good match for everyone involved. Nik gets some experience in a comfortable environment and we have the ability to recall him based on his performance."
Besagno has made eight first-team appearances (four starts) for Real Salt Lake since the Utah club made him its first-ever draft selection in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft at the age of 16. Besagno has not yet seen time in MLS play this season, but the Maple Valley, Wash., native has been a steady presence on the field for RSL in MLS Reserve Division action, appearing in three of the squad's four games thus far, including a pair of starting nods. Nik will follow in the footsteps of his older brother - and former RSL midfielder - Jake Besagno, who played two seasons with the Sounders from 2006-07.
