Camp Watch '08: RSL in California for First Leg of Preseason
Real Salt Lake's 2008 campaign is underway in earnest, as the squad headed off to Oxnard, Calif. on Wednesday to begin 11 days of practices and exhibition matches in the sunnier and warmer climate of Southern California. RSL has confirmed one match on the SoCal trip, an exhibition contest against USL Premier Development League (PDL) side Ventura County Fusion, scheduled to take place next Friday, Feb. 8, at Buena High School in Ventura, Calif. (7:30 p.m. local/8:30 p.m. MT). Real Salt Lake also has a scrimmage slated for the morning of Feb. 9, against an opponent that has yet to be finalized. The squad will head home later that afternoon and return to Utah for four more days of training from Feb. 10-13 before heading to Sunrise, Fla. for its second spring training stint on Valentine's Day.
RSL Training Camp Injury Report
A few players have picked up early knocks in training camp, but only one player has been added to the three players that made up the team's initial injury list a week ago - MF Kyle Beckerman, who picked up his left foot bruise while participating at the U.S. Men's National Team camp in California last week. Beckerman re-joined his RSL teammates in Salt Lake City earlier this week and is expected to return to training this week at the squad's Oxnard, Calif-based camp. Fellow MF Carey Talley is also slated to return from injury, as the veteran will continue to rehab his nagging right knee injury in Salt Lake City this weekend before joining his teammates in California for his first practice of 2008 on Monday.
MF Kyle Beckerman - L foot bruise - day-to-day
DF Nik Besagno - R meniscus tear/surgery - out 3-4 weeks
MF Duke Hashimoto - L ACL tear/surgery - out 6-8 weeks
MF Carey Talley - R knee injury - day-to-day
2008 Real Salt Lake Preseason Schedule
Jan. 30-Feb. 9: Preseason Trip #1 to Oxnard/Ventura, Calif.
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- Friday, Feb. 8: Exhibition v. Ventura County Fusion at Buena H.S. in Ventura, CA; 7:30 p.m. PT
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- Saturday, Feb. 9: Scrimmage v. Opponent TBA
Feb. 10-13: Training in Utah (sites/times TBD)
Feb. 14-23: Preseason Trip #2 to Sunrise/Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
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- Friday, Feb. 15: Scrimmage (closed door) v. Colorado Rapids
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- Dates/sites/opponents for 2-3 additional scrimmages TBD
Feb. 24-28: Training in Utah (sites/times TBD)
Feb. 29-March 12: Preseason Trip #3 to Rosario, Argentina
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- Dates/times of 3 exhibitions TBD
March 22: Exhibition contest - Opponent/Site TBA
March 29: MLS First Kick 2008 - RSL v. Chicago Fire at Rice-Eccles Stadium - 4:00 p.m. MT
RSL Front Office to Host U.S. v. Mexico Viewing Party Next Wednesday, Feb 6.
The Real Salt Lake front office plans to play host to soccer fans once again next Wednesday, Feb. 6, when the team's staff will hold a viewing party for the latest edition of the ever-growing rivalry between the United States and Mexico. Fans of the stars-and-stripes and the tri-colores alike are invited to join the RSL staff at its offices - located in Suite 2R at the Trolley Corners building in downtown Salt Lake City (515 S. 700 East) - for the viewing party, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. MT, a half hour in advance of the game's 7:00 p.m. broadcast start. Real Salt Lake will provide food and refreshments for the viewing party, and fans in attendance can also receive a whopping 60% off any products purchased from the RSL merchandise office during the party. Fans wishing to attend next week's USA-Mexico Viewing Party are asked to RSVP to RSL Community Relations Manager Morgan Bramble via email at mbramble@RealSaltLake.com or by phone at 801-924-8574 by the close of business on Tuesday, Feb. 5.
Trio of Findley, Seitz & Sturgis Wrap up U.S. Under-23 Camp this Weekend
There will be no rest for the weary trio of FW Robbie Findley, GK Chris Seitz, and D/M Nathan Sturgis, as the RSL troika will wrap up their week-long stay with the United States Under-23 Men's National Team training camp in Bradenton, Fla., this Saturday before joining up with their RSL brethren at the MLS squad's Southern California base by early next week. Findley, Seitz, and Sturgis are all looking to make their final impressions upon U.S. U-23 head coach Peter Nowak, who will soon select the team that will compete in CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualification from March 11-23, 2008, in Los Angeles, Tampa, and Nashville.
RSL MF Alex Nimo Representing U.S. U-20s Well at Copa Chivas Tournament
One of the newest members of Real Salt Lake, MF Alex Nimo, has kept busy since being drafted in the second round of the MLS SuperDraft two short weeks ago, as the 17-year-old playmaker has been representing the United States Under-20 Men's National Team across the last week at the prestigious 24-team Copa Chivas youth tournament in Guadalajara. Nimo, one of only three players on the 19-man roster representing an MLS squad, helped the U.S. U-20's start off on the right foot last Saturday, scoring early in the second half of the squad's eventual 2-2 draw against Club America. Nimo would score his second goal of the tournament in the fourth of the USA's five Group B matches on Tuesday against Argentina's Estudiantes de la Plata, with his 42nd minute penalty conversion ending the scoring in the two sides' 1-1 draw. The U.S. finished pool play with a 1-1-3 record, its resulting six points placing the young Americans in fourth place in the six-team group and out of the tournament's knockout phase. Nimo made a quick getaway after the USA's departure, as the 17-year-old joined his new Real Salt Lake teammates at the squad's Southern California training camp earlier today. Below are summaries of Nimo's play in the USA's five games at the Copa Chivas tournament:
1/26 v. Club America (MEX): Scored USA's second goal (40') after starting and playing 59 minutes in a 2-2 tie
1/27 v. Tecos (MEX): Started and played 62 minutes in helping the U.S. to a 1-1 draw
1/28 v. Locomotiv Moscow (RUS): Entered at the half and played 40 minutes in the 1-0 defeat
1/29 v. Estudiantes de la Plata (ARG): Started and logged 52 minutes while notching the USA's lone goal on a 42' penalty kick, which leveled the eventual 1-1 draw
1/30 v. Santos (MEX): Nimo's stats N/A in USA's 2-0 victory
Give "the Galaxy" with the RSL Valentine's Day Pack
Stumped as to what to get that special someone in your life for Valentine's Day this year? If you plan on going with the same old roses and chocolates, let Real Salt Lake, Huddart Floral Co., and Xocolate kick it up a notch with the gift that will keep on giving for months, the limited edition "RSL Valentine's Day Pack," featuring:
- Two tickets to Opening Day 2008 against the Chicago Fire on March 29
- Two tickets to RSL's 2008 home contest against the Los Angeles Galaxy, featuring "soccer heartthrobs" David Beckham and Landon Donovan (date TBA)
- Two longstem roses, courtesy of Huddart Floral Co.
- One box of chocolates from Xocolate
The special RSL Valentine's Day Pack is available in two prices ranges - just $79 for Corner Flag section seats for both games, or $149 for VIP section seats to the contests. To order your RSL Valentine's Day Pack in time for the special day (yes, it's just two weeks away), please visit the "TICKETS" section at www.RealSaltLake.com, or call the RSL offices at 801-924-8585.
