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SANDY — In the midst of its preseason action in Arizona, Real Salt Lake officially made forward Devon Sandoval, its 2013 SuperDraft pick, part of the Claret and Cobalt Tuesday, signing him to a contract.
“It's official, put pen to paper and now part of the RSL family! #blessed #RealSaltLake,” tweeted the rookie forward Tuesday afternoon.
Sandoval has been with the Salt Lake club since being picked up by RSL in the second round of the 2013 SuperDraft in January. Sandoval was no stranger to the Claret and Cobalt when he was picked up, either. Last summer, the 21-year-old forward had the opportunity to train with RSL for a week.
According to Sandoval’s Twitter profile, which says, “Forward for Lobo Men’s Soccer; Doing everything to make it to the next level. Love my life,” Sandoval’s dream of making it to that next level panned out on Tuesday.
Its official, put pen to paper and now part of the RSL family! #blessed#RealSaltLake
— Devon Sandoval (@Big_Dev9) February 19, 2013
The rookie forward came to the Salt Lake club fresh out of his college career with the University of New Mexico where he notched 28 goals and 17 assists during his four years with the Lobos. Sandoval’s success at the University of New Mexico earned him Second Team All-American honors during his senior season last year.
The Claret and Cobalt will play its third game of the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup Wednesday afternoon as it faces the New England Revolution. RSL currently sits at 0-1-1 on the preseason tournament, with a 2-2 draw against the New York Red Bulls last week and dropping its second match 2-1 to the Seattle Sounders on Saturday.
Pending the result against the New England Revolution, the Salt Lake club will take part in the Desert Diamond Cup Final or the third-place match, both of which will take place on Feb. 23.
RSL opens its Major League Soccer regular season play on March 3 on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
