skip navigation

Monarchs Enter Fray Aiming to Make Statement

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 03/23/18, 12:42PM EDT

Share

Defending regular-season champion opens new season on Saturday in Tulsa


Monarchs midfielder Charlie Adams is one of the key returnees for the 2017 USL Regular Season champions this season | Photo courtesy Lori Scholl / Tulsa Roughnecks FC

HERRIMAN, Utah – Having watched most of the league get the 2018 USL regular season underway a week ago, 2017 regular-season champion Real Monarchs SLC takes to the field on Saturday against Tulsa Roughnecks FC to open its defense at ONEOK Field (8 p.m. ET | Match Center).

And given the way the Monarchs’ postseason came to an abrupt end in a penalty shootout against Sacramento Republic FC in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, the side is more than ready to get things going again.

“It was a bitter end to things last year having played so well throughout, so we want to defend our regular-season title and it starts in Tulsa,” said midfielder Charlie Adams. “We want to crack open the season. It’s been a long preseason it’s about time to get going.”

Adams is part of a contingent of key players to return to the Monarchs this season, but the club has experienced the sort of turnover many USL clubs face during the offseason. Real certainly didn’t rest on its laurels, though, bringing aboard players that have extensive USL experience in former Charleston Battery standouts Justin Portillo and Maikel Chang, among others.

Those new faces should get their first official appearances on Saturday night, and Head Coach Mark Briggs is looking forward to seeing what they bring to the squad after a good preseason.

“We’ve got players like Justin Portillo, Maikel Chang and Kalen Ryden who are hopefully going to take us to the next level,” said Briggs. “You never know until day one, but we think that’s what is going to happen.”


Former Charleston Battery forward Maikel Chang was joined by midfielder Justin Portillo in making the move to the Monarchs this offseason | Photo courtesy Real Monarchs SLC

Maybe the bigger challenge the Monarchs will face this season is the fact that they now have a target on their backs after 2017’s success. Gone is the chance to be the surprise package this season, replaced by the expectation that the side will be among the Western Conference’s contenders again.

“We set a standard last year and I think everyone will be expecting us to have a good side,” said Briggs. “Now for us as a team, we have to maintain that standard from last year which is the hardest thing to do. Like Sir Alex Ferguson said at Manchester United, winning the league is hard but winning it the next year is even harder. There’s a surprise factor in the first year, in the second year there’s an understanding of how good you are, and everyone knows it.”

As such, making a similar statement to those issued by the likes of Sacramento Republic FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies on the opening weekend is paramount in Tulsa.

Given the defeat the Monarchs suffered in their last trip to ONEOK Field, one of only five defeats suffered in the 2017 season, there’s also some added motivation to earn a result this time around.

“We can’t wait to start playing games that count for something, especially when we’re starting at Tulsa,” said returning All-League forward Chandler Hoffman. “It’s a place that we dropped points last year so we’re hungry to get there and earn three points.”

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos