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Real Monarchs SLC had a busy day on Wednesday announcing the signing of GK Andrew Putna, DF Kyle Curinga, MF Karsten Hanlin and FW Skyler Milne to USL contracts before taking the field against PDL side Ventura County Fusion in the first of three matches during the California portion of their spring training.
The Monarchs came out of the match with a victory on goals by Chase Minter who finished a nice through ball from Sebastian Vasquez in the 33rd minute and Charlie Adams who curled a nice set piece kick into the top corner at around the 66th minute. VC Fusion scored a consolation goal on the last kick of the game to make the final score 2-1. A familiar name was present in the stands and posted a picture.
The match consisted of 2 forty minutes halves as the Monarchs build fitness toward the USL opener on March 25th in Portland against the the Timbers 2.
First half starters were Sparrow in goal; Lachowecki, Orozco, Moberg and Barreiro along the back, Beslin and Hanlin as defensive midfielders; Velasquez, minter and Haber as offensive mids; and Milne as the sole striker.
For the second half Putna slid into goal; Curinga, Gallagher, Orozco, and Barreiro were along the back; Leal and Adams took over as defensive mids; Iloski, Brody and Ocran played at attacking midfield; and Fourcand was the sole striker.
Three RSL academy players who spent the last week in California with the Monarchs featured in tonight’ game. DF Nick Barreiro a former captain of the RSL academy U-18 squad and a recent commit to the University of New Mexico in 2017 started at right fullback and played both halves. MF Eric Ilsoki, who is committed to UCLA in 2017 and FW Kristopher Fourcand who is committed to Loyola Marymount in 2017 both played the second half.
Post game comments by Mike Petke and Nick Besler were posted to the Real Monarchs twitter account.
Monarchs Earn Victory against Fusion
New Signings
Skyler Milne has spent the past two seasons (2015-2016) as a hold up #9 starter for Utah Valley University after spending time in the midfield and defense in 2014. Listed at 6’4” and 211 lbs Milne has started nearly every game the Wolverines have played and scored a hat trick against San Jose State in 2015.
Andrew Putna was drafted by RSL in the recent 2017 MLS superdraft after spending four years as a starter for UI-Chicago. An impeccable goalkeeper, Putna also contributed on offense, registering his first collegiate point as a sophomore after assisting on the game-winning goal against DePaul. He followed that up with four helpers his junior year, when he was one of 17 keepers in the nation to have an assist and was the only one in the group to have an astounding four.
Kyle Curinga has spent the past three seasons playing for GBK and Jaro in Finland after a short time at Florida Atlantic University. He made several comments before the game which were posted on the Monarchs twitter account here.
Karsten Hanlin was a teammate of Reagan Dunk on the University of Denver Pioneers for the past four years and a regular starter in their midfield. During his senior year he served as the primary set piece taker and scored five goals and provided eight assists. He also provided the game winning goal in Denver’s match against UI-Chicago on last Sept 4 with Andrew Putna in goal.