'When fortune meets preparedness': RSL newcomers taking advantage of opportunities

HERRIMAN — Roman philosopher Seneca is credited with saying, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni echoed that sentiment early in the preseason when talking about young players looking for more playing time and opportunities on the field.

"The one thing that we talked about with players that aren't getting a lot of playing time, is to always be prepared for that opportunity," Mastroeni said. "Fortune meets preparedness equals good luck."

To illustrate this point he shared the story of Jasper Loffelsend — a 2022 draft pick and one of the biggest surprises on last year's roster.

Loffelsend started the 2022 preseason playing at right back; a crowded position with veteran Aaron Herrera entrenched in front of him as the starter. Two weeks before the team's first game, Loffelsend was going to sign with the Monarchs, effectively taking him out of first-team consideration.

Fate had different plans, however, as veteran midfielder Everton Luiz had some paperwork problems and wasn't going to be available for three weeks at the start of the season. Mastroeni decided to try Loffelsend in the midfield in a game in Portland and "he was lights out."

He was offered a first-team deal with RSL and went on to start in 19 games for RSL, where he was a stalwart presence in the midfield on both defense and offense all year long.

"We think we have control and we are geniuses, but the truth of the matter is the universe works in ways that you cannot understand or comprehend," Mastroeni said. "And the only reason that Jasper was even given the opportunity was because Everton had paperwork problems."

Well, as fate would have it, paperwork problems have struck again, and are helping one of Loffelsend's former teammates get a chance with RSL ahead of schedule.

Bertin Jacquesson — the No. 16 pick in this year's draft — was a college teammate of Loffelsend's at Pitt, and has been one of the biggest surprises of the preseason so far for RSL. He plays primarily on the right wing; the same place as RSL's highest-paid player – Jefferson Savarino.

Savarino has yet to join the team this preseason, with his return to Utah from his native Venezuela delayed due to immigration paperwork issues. Jacquesson got the start at right winger in RSL's first preseason game at LAFC and capitalized on his opportunity, scoring an impressive goal from outside the box that ended up being the game-winner over the reigning champs.

"It's a dream to score on your first game as a professional because I've never played professionally before," Jacquesson said. "It gives me a lot of confidence going forward and to keep working because you have to be consistent; not just a one-time performance."

Jacquesson and Loffelsend both took unique paths to professional soccer, leaving their home countries of Germany and France, respectively, to come to the U.S. and play collegiate soccer. Jacquesson said his desire to get an education while continuing to play soccer played a big role in his decision to come to the U.S. and being drafted by a franchise with his former teammate felt like it was "meant to be."

Savarino will eventually return, and Jacquesson is not guaranteed any playing time once that happens. But he was prepared when his first opportunity came, and, now that he's made an impression, will undoubtedly be ready again when fortune calls his number in the future.

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