SANDY, Utah – A key contest in the race for a berth in the top eight of the USL Western Conference is set for Friday night when Real Monarchs SLC plays host to Orange County Blues FC at Rio Tinto Stadium, with both teams aiming to improve on their result last time out. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.

Matchcenter: http://www.uslsoccer.com/game/show/13218278

Real Monarchs SLC news and notes

• Current record: 9-11-6, 33pts
• The Monarchs were held to a 1-1 draw by Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Saturday night in their last outing, as the side hit the woodwork three times while missing out on victory.
• Ricardo Velazco scored the only goal for the Monarchs, giving him a team-leading eight this season. Velazco also leads Real with five assists.
• Real currently sits two points out of eighth place in the Western Conference with four games remaining in the regular season.
• Velazco was unveiled as the latest signing for Real Salt Lake on Tuesday, and the former RSL-Arizona Academy standout and 2014 PDL Young Player of the Year made the transition to Major League Soccer.

Orange County Blues FC news and notes

• Current record: 10-13-4, 34pts
• The Blues fell 2-1 to Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night in its most recent outing, despite taking the lead through Didier Crettenand’s late first half free kick.
• Crettenand now leads the Blues with eight goals this season, one more than Trinidad & Tobago international Trevin Caesar.
• Orange County has only three games remaining this season, one fewer than both seventh-place Swope Park Rangers (36pts) and eighth-place San Antonio FC (35pts).
• The Blues have posted a road record of 4-8-2 going into their final away game of the season, with the club’s final two games of the season on home turf.

2016 Team leaders

• Goals: Real Monarchs – Ricardo Velazco, 8; Orange County – Didier Crettenand, 8
• Assists: Real Monarchs – Ricardo Velazco, 5; Orange County – Roy Meeus, 4

Series Notes

• Both teams have taken victory on home turf this season, with the Monarchs winning 3-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium on May 21, and the Blues 1-0 at Anteater Stadium on June 18.

Officials

• REF: Adam Finney
• AR1: Kristi Mak
• AR2: Jay Hutchinson
• 4TH: Trevor McDowell

Game hashtag:

• #SLCvOC

Twitter social handles

• Real Monarchs SLC – @RealMonarchs
• Orange County Blues FC – @OCBluesFC