Monarchs in Edinburg to face Rio Grande Valley FC

H-E-B Park in Edinburg, Texas will be the site of tonight’s match between Real Monarchs SLC and Rio Grande Valley FC. Texas in the heat and humidity of summer has never been kind to the Monarchs who have only a 1-2-1 record against Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg with both losses coming in their last two matches at H-E-B Park.

In 2021 Rio Grande Valley has been the class of the Mountain Division with an unblemished record of 3-0-0 at H-E-B park this season. They starting the season with 3 straight victories over Western Conference foes before a narrow loss to El Paso and a draw with San Antonio. Last Sunday they travelled back east and came away with a 4-2 victory over The Miami FC. With nine goals in their first six matches they are ranked 7th overall in USL Championship in scoring while they have accumulated only 1 more total shot than the Monarchs have 5 goals.

The Monarchs are coming off their 2-0 shutout of Sacramento Republic on Wednesday in Herriman. That match featured a number of players down on short-term loans from Real Salt Lake that extend through this weekend, however it is unlike they will feature in Edinburg. Bode Davis, Chris Garcia, Milan Iloski and Jeff Dewsnup are on longer loan deals and should be in the lineup along with the Monarchs regular USL roster. As three of the Monarchs’ five goals have been scored by Davis and lloski while on loan from RSL, their presence should help the Monarchs’ with the search for goals and points on the road.

Tonight’s match will be streamed on ESPN+ and begins at 6:00 PM MDT.

Real Monarchs roster as of June 9th, 2021

Goalkeepers (1): Jimmy Slayton

Defenders (5): Kyle Adams, James Moberg, Jaziel Orozco, Kevin Saucedo, Timi Sobowale

Midfielders (5): Sam Brown, Brayan Gomez, Josimar Quintero, Ibrahim Bancé, Julio Benitez

Forwards (4): Max Mata, Malik Johnson, Juan Vidal, Aris Briggs