The 2008 opener of the Rocky Mountain Cup series will have a little extra on the line this Thursday, May 15, when Real Salt Lake (2-3-2, 8 pts.) will travel east across the Rockies to take on the archrival Colorado Rapids (3-4-0, 9 pts.) with first-place in the Western Conference standings at stake. Kick-off from Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., for both teams' 2008 "ESPN2 Primetime Thursday" debut is set for 7:30 p.m. MT, with fans also able to follow the fight for the West's top spot on RSL's official radio partners - KALL 700 Sports (English) and Ke Buena 1600 AM (Spanish) - with KALL 700 Sports' coverage beginning with RSL First Kick at 6:30 p.m. Real Salt Lake will hope to achieve a franchise first on Thursday night, as a three-point result would not only be an ideal start in its defense of the Rocky Mountain Cup, but would also catapult the squad into first-place for the first time in the club's four-year history.
Real Salt Lake enters Thursday's showdown trailing 4-6-2 in the all-time regular season series against Colorado, but last season's 2-1-1 mark allowed RSL's supporters to bring the Rocky Mountain Cup back to Utah for the first time in three tries. RSL went 1-1-1 last year in all competitions during the inaugural season at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, first dueling to a bizarre 1-1 draw in another Thursday night ESPN2 affair on May 10, before dropping a heart-breaking 2-1 result in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifying two weeks later on a last-minute Rapids tally. With Colorado looking to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, Real Salt Lake would make sure both teams ended their campaigns following their regular season finale on Oct. 20, as Robbie Findley's 87th minute goal lifted the visitors to a 1-0 victory - and allowed the squad to lift the Rocky Mountain Cup to its supporters on hand for the first time.
Real Salt Lake Schedule: May 14-19, 2008 (all times MDT)
All RSL practices are open to members of the media and the general public, with media availability for all players and coaches to immediately follow each session. Those planning on attending any session can confirm the time and location of that day's training by contacting the RSL Communications Department at 801-924-8584.
• Wednesday, May 14: Training at XanGo Field in Lehi - 9:00 a.m.; Travel to Denver
• Thursday, May 15: 2008 Rocky Mountain Cup - Real Salt Lake at Colorado Rapids - 7:30 p.m.
LIVE on ESPN2, KALL 700 Sports, and Ke Buena 1600 AM
• Friday, May 16: Return to Salt Lake City; Training TBD
• Saturday, May 17: Training TBD
• Sunday, May 18: Training TBD
• Monday, May 19: Training at XanGo Field - 10:00 a.m.
Brewvies to Host Thursday's Official RSL Viewing Party
For the second time this season, Real Salt Lake and Brewvies (677 S. 200 West in Salt Lake City) will team up to host the Official RSL Watch Party, this time for Thursday's huge first-place clash against the Colorado Rapids. The fun at Brewvies will begin with kick-off at 7:30 p.m. MT, as RSL fans can join together to take in the first of RSL's three appearances on the "ESPN2 Primetime Thursday" game of the week in 2008. RSL staffers will be on hand with giveaways and raffle prizes, while the RSL Merchandise Department will also be present with a 30% off special on all the latest and greatest officially-licensed RSL/adidas gear. Admittance to the Official RSL Viewing Party is free of charge but, due to state liquor laws, this Thursday's edition will only be open to fans age 21 and over.
Beltran & Seitz Named to U.S. U-23 Squad for Toulon International Tournament
U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team coach Peter Nowak yesterday named a pair of Real Salt Lake players - D/M Tony Beltran and GK Chris Seitz - to the 22-man roster that will travel to France later this week to take part in the Toulon International Tournament from May 21-29. Beltran and Seitz will be available for selection for Real Salt Lake's match at Colorado this Thursday, with the duo slated to leave for France on Friday. The 21-year-old Seitz has been a stalwart between the posts for the U-23's since the squad began gathering last fall in preparation for Olympic qualifying, while Beltran will be getting his first look with the U-23's after starting all five contests for the USA at last summer's FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada.
Real Sports This Week: Get Fit with the "Committed to the Core" Ball!
If you're an RSL fan, you're "Committed to the Core" ... but if you're a fan of your own core, then you could use the Real Sports Item of the Week - the RSL "Committed to the Core" fitness ball, available for $30 at all three Real Sports kiosk locations: Fashion Place Mall (6161 S. State St. in Murray), Valley Fair Mall (3601 S. 2700 West in West Valley City), and Provo Towne Centre (1200 Town Centre Blvd. in Provo). Another week of events and specials are on tap, highlighted again by this month's charitable drive for Primary Children's Hospital, with every Real Salt Lake mini ($10) and size 3, 4, & 5 soccer ball ($20) sold through the end of May resulting in a $5 donation to the hospital. The full list of specials and a calendar of events listed below:
Members of "The Loyalists" supporters group will have a chance to gear up for Thursday's night's Rocky Mountain Cup affair, as the RSL Merchandise Office in the Trolley Corners building (515 S. 700 East, Suite 2B-1) will offer 50% off any purchase to dues-paying members from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Thursday. And speaking of Thursday night, the RSL Merchandise Department will also be on hand at the Official RSL Watch Party at Brewvies, giving everyone 30% off all officially-licensed RSL/adidas merchandise on hand. The Real Salt Lake Merchandise Department will also set up shop from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. this Saturday, May 17, at the Family Fitness Festival at Centennial Park and Family Fitness Center in West Valley City (5415 W. 3100 South). Fans are also reminded that they can pick up tickets to all of Real Salt Lake's 2008 contests at the three Real Sports kiosks, including RSL's upcoming home contest on Saturday, May 31, against the San Jose Earthquakes.
RSL Reserves Fall 5-3 to FC Dallas Reserves
Three unanswered goals in the second half would lift the FC Dallas Reserves (2-1-1, 7 pts.) to a share of first place in the MLS Reserve Division Western Conference standings last Sunday thanks to their 5-3 triumph over the Real Salt Lake Reserves (1-1-1, 4 pts.) at the Quinn's Junction sports complex in Park City. After trailing twice in the first half, the RSL Reserves would go ahead in first half added time on a Yura Movsisyan strike, but scores after the whistle by FCD's Chase Wileman, Aaron Pitchkolan, and Dominic Oduro would lift the "Hoops" Reserves to the victory. The two squads have announced a change to their remaining MLS Reserve Division encounter, with the return match in Frisco, Texas, now scheduled for August 6 (originally May 25) due to a schedule conflict for Real Salt Lake (USOC qualifier at Columbus on May 27).
RSL Rewind: RSL Inches Closer to West Leaders with 2-1 Win over FC Dallas
In the first of two straight contests against Western Conference co-leaders, Real Salt Lake inched closer to the top spot last Saturday with a 2-1 victory over FC Dallas at Rice-Eccles Stadium. RSL opened the proceedings in the 28th minute when MF Javier Morales collected a deflected clearance and finished from the top of the area, but FC Dallas equalized in the 56th minute on a near-angle blast by FW Kenny Cooper to bring some added drama into the final half hour. It would be RSL MF Kyle Beckerman playing the hero for the home side in the 73rd minute, as he gathered MF Andy Williams' superb lofted pass and poked a shot through the legs of FC Dallas 'keeper Dario Sala to give RSL the 2-1 lead and eventual win.
