Monarchs Travel to Tacoma to Face Defiance

March 31, 2023 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Real Monarchs News Release

HERRIMAN, Utah – Real Monarchs (0-1-0, 0 points, 13th in West) will travel to Washington to face Pacific Division foes Tacoma Defiance (0-0-1, 2 points, 7th in West) for their first of three meetings of the 2023 season. The Monarchs will look to pick up their first points of the season after dropping their home opener to Minnesota United FC 2 last Friday.

Sunday’s match, as well as all Real Monarchs matches this season, will be streamed live via www.MLSnextPro.com and through MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Real Monarchs vs Tacoma Defiance

Starfire Sports Stadium; Tacoma, Washington

Sunday, April 2 at 8:00 p.m. MT

2023 Records: Real Monarchs (0-1-0, 0 points); Tacoma Defiance (0-0-1, 2 points)

Head-to-Head: Prior to joining MLS NEXT Pro, Real Monarchs and Tacoma Defiance (formerly Seattle Sounders FC 2) both competed in the USL Championship, during which the Monarchs held a controlling 8-2-2 record against the Defiance. Last year during the first season of MLS NEXT Pro, the Monarchs finished 1-2-0 against their divisional opponents. The win came in the final of the three matchups, a 1-0 win on August 26 with Tate Schmitt’s lone goal proving the difference.

HOME COOKING – TALE OF TWO HALVES

In 12 games at home in 2022, the Monarchs finished a near-even 6-5-1. The five losses and draw (PK loss to MNUFC2) came in the first six home matches, before finishing the season with a six-match win streak at Zions Bank Stadium. The first half of the season at home saw the Monarchs concede 12 goals with just four goals scored. In the final six matches at home, the Monarchs flipped the script, scoring 15 goals and conceding just four. The squad opened the 2023 schedule at Zions Bank Stadium against MNUFC2 and will play four of their first seven matches in Herriman, hoping to continue the home field advantage from the end of last year.

OLAVE AT CRUX OF CLARET-AND-COBALT PYRAMID

Now in his sixth season at the helm, Real Monarchs head coach Jamison Olave coaches from a critical vantage point in the RSL development pipeline. Residing between the MLS First team and the Academy, Olave – a long-time centerback during Real Salt Lake’s heyday, winning the MLS Cup in 2009 and earning multiple MLS All-Star and Best XI nods – brings his extensive playing experience to the position.

On a daily basis, Olave must balance the needs from three groups: 1) minutes & injury rehab stints for first-team players; 2) on-field…