Real Monarchs SLC 2016 Player Profiles: Andrew Brody

Andrew Brody, an alumnus of the RSL Arizona Academy who made three short appearances with the Real Salt Lake Reserves in 2013, was signed by the Real Monarchs on November 15th, 2015. This followed three years at the University of Louisville, where he typically played as a left-side attacking midfielder. Brody scored three goals each year at Louisville with eight assists as a freshman, four in his sophomore year and three in his final year as a junior. During his college years, Andrew also played for the Orlando City U-23 team in the PDL during the summer scoring two goals for them. Throughout his academy and college years Brody showed a great work ethic and a commitment to improve.

Wearing number 17, Andrew Brody quickly found himself among the Monarchs starters playing 88 minutes in the opening game against St Louis on March 26th and then receiving a call up to to the parent RSL squad for the Kansas City game on April 2nd. Andrew continued to play extended minutes through April and May starting every match with the exception of two matches in weeks with multiple contests. On May 7th, Brody scored his first goal as a Monarch when he tapped in a rebound off the goalie following a header by Ricardo Velazco late in a 3-1 loss to Portland Timbers II.

After a full 90 minutes against Vancouver Whitecaps II on June 4th, Brody saw very limited playing time through the rest of June and most of July. On July 19th Andrew received a 2nd call up for the friendly against Internazionale where he came in as a substitute for Jordan Allen and played the entire second half.

Beginning with the game against Arizona United FC on July 22nd he had another run of six game with extended appearances where he scored his second goal in a 4-1 loss to Seattle Sounders II on August 1st and a full 90 minute appearance against the Portland Timbers II on August 17th. The goal came on a nice through ball from Ricardo Velazco as Andrew split the two central defenders and pushed the ball home from just inside the box. Brody was not named in the squad for the final five games of the season in September as a great deal of the playing time was given to the newer signings Jesus Leal, Charlie Adams and Ameth Ramirez.

Ending the season with a total of 1,487 minutes in 17 starts and 22 appearances, Andrew played a major role for the Monarchs in 2016 but failed to make a position his own. The developmental approach favored by the Monarchs saw Brody playing in a number of positions and situations as the club attempted to determine his best role. While this process may continue into the start of the 2017 season, Andrew will need to take the next step and lock down a consistent starting position among the returning attackers and midfielders as well as any new signings. In addition, while his output of two goals may not increase very much, he will need to contribute to increasing the Monarch's anemic scoring totals by providing more than the single assist he recorded in 2016.