Player Ratings: Phillips, Saborio excel in RSL's 3-1 defeat of FC Tucson

Ed. note: In a slight change of pace, Randal Serr is covering the first-team ratings, while I (Matt Montgomery) am covering the second-team that saw less time.

First-team ratings

Nick Rimando - 6 Rimando had a pretty quiet night with FC Tucson really only having a great look at goal which they happened to convert. No fault to Rimando on a defensive miscue.

Demar Phillips - 7.5 Another preseason game and another impressive showing for Phillips. If two games are any indication, he is going to be a catalyst for the new RSL offense.

Jamison Olave - 6.5 Olave made a couple nice recoveries and shut down what should have been a one-on-one chance for the FC Tucscon forwards. How we missed watching Olave be "the eraser."

Chris Schuler - 6 Schuler is getting sharper and sharper with these preseason games and kept Tucson at bay for the vast majority of the game.

Tony Beltran - 6 Beltran was impressive in possession but flubbed a couple passes that could have turned into legitimate scoring chances. To be fair, he wasn't the only one. (Matt says: I'd give him a 8 — despite the flubs, he still created plenty of scoring chances. I'm only noting that because I gave him my man of the match award.)

Kyle Beckerman - 6 Beckerman looked calm out there when he was feeling pressure from Tucson. He looked like the experienced, skilled veteran we know.

Luis Gil - 6.5 Gil is getting the minutes with the first team that we can expect to see throughout the 2015 season and is a nice cog in the offensive system. He is one more threat that other teams will have to deal with in this new offense-focused look. If he could have got everything behind a shot or two of his, he could have had a fantastic game.

Javier Morales - 6 I think if anyone enjoys the new 4-3-3, it is Morales. He has more outlets and options than ever and looks to be freed up more than usual.

Olmes Garcia - 5 Garcia did not really have any memorable moments, but his athleticism gave Tucson trouble.

Sebastian Jaime - 6.5 Jaime is starting to warm up and has done really well to create for his teammates over these first few preseason outings. I really like what he brings to the table.

Alvaro Saborio - 8 Sabo had two goals and very well could have had a couple more. It's so impressive how Sabo received the ball and how quickly he got his shot off on his second goal. Not to mention the placement. Sabo looks hungry. And I think that bodes well for RSL fans this season.

Second-team ratings

Abdoulie Mansally - 6.5 After coming on for an injured Demar Phillips, Mansally wasn't tasked with too much on the left side with FC Tucson struggling to create much of anything, and he got involved in attacks well.

Phanuel Kavita - 7 In the few moments when he was tested, Kavita handled the pressure expertly.

Elias Vasquez - 6.5 He didn't really have much to do, being tested even less frequently than Kavita.

Jordan Allen - 7 The youngster was a bright attacking force and had some excellent passes. Like Mansally, he wasn't tested much defensively, but his attacking run to win the penalty is particularly notable and positive.

Fito Ovalle - 6  He's no Beckerman, this Ovalle kid, but despite being very young, he brings something unique to the midfield. That sort of thing is difficult to do, and he handles it well.

Lucas Baldin - 6.5 Some good passing emerged from Baldin, who was playing in a deeper position in the midfield than we saw him last game. His pass in to a rushing Allen was fantastic.

Luke Mulholland - 6 It wasn't Mulholland's best game, but it was the first we'd seen of him in that primarily attacking role. He had a great moment where pressuring a defender forced a turnover, but that was probably the highlight of his game.

Sebastian Saucedo - 5.5 The youngster just wasn't as involved as he'd have liked to have been, but with play primarily coming from RSL's right side, maybe it provides some rationale. He did only play 20 minutes, too, with Ricardo Velazco taking his spot — presumably just to give him some minutes against the team he played for.

Devon Sandoval - 6.5 Another match, another penalty — this one sealed the result. His movement was good and his hold-up play was as good as we'd have hoped at this point.

Emery Welshman - 5.5 There wasn't too much to see from Welshman on the right side, but he did get back defensively and do the dirty work.

Boyd Okwuonu - 5.5 Coming on for Mansally with fewer than 15 minutes remaining didn't give Okwuonu much time for anything. He played a reserved role and did fine.

Ricardo Velazco - N/A He didn't have long to play — 8 minutes or thereabouts — and he might have been involved with a few build-up plays, but nothing particularly notable.