Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SANDY — When Phanuel Kavita graduated with his degree from Clemson, there was one place he wanted to begin his professional soccer career — his hometown.
Kavita signed a homegrown contract with Real Salt Lake in December, and the 22-year-old graduate of Highland High School will begin his tenure as one of six signed first-team players of Utah’s MLS club on loan to the third-division Real Monarchs SLC of USL, the affiliate announced Friday evening.
Longtime RSL reserve goalkeeper Lalo Fernandez highlights the on-loan selections, which also include Utah natives Sebastian Saucedo and Adolfo Ovalle as well as defender Aaron Maund and midfielder John Stertzer.
The Monarchs’ inaugural roster features two New Mexico products in defender Riley McGovern and goalkeeper Victor Rodriguez for head coach Freddy Juarez, a native of Las Cruces, New Mexico. RSL’s 2015 MLS SuperDraft picks Lucas Baldin and Jordan Murrell are also signed to Monarchs roster spots, though Toronto native Murrell is still awaiting his work visa.
Former Toronto FC draft pick Emery Welshman and New England selection Alec Sundly bring MLS experience to RSL’s third-division side, which also boasts college graduates Leon Brown (Notre Dame), Darion Copeland (Alabama-Birmingham), Eric Osswald (Xavier) and Garrett Losee (BYU/Cal State Fullerton).
Real Monarchs will open the season with two international roster spots filled by defender Marvin Baumgartner from Switzerland and midfielder Lennon Celestino from Brazil. RSL’s Arizona-based academy will send Mexico City-born midfielder Jose Hernandez, a UCLA commit, to play with the minor-league club.
The Monarchs open the 2015 season at L.A. Galaxy II on Sunday in Carson, California. Welshman will miss the match after being called up by the Guyanese national team, his second camp invite since last year. The young striker will return to the Wasatch Front in time for the club’s home opener April 8 against Portland Timbers 2.
Real Monarchs 2015 complete roster
No. | Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown | College/previous club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 | Lucas Baldin | MF | 5'8" | 150 | Taubate, Brazil | South Florida |
12 | Marvin Baumgartner | DF | 6'1" | 185 | Bulach, Switzerland | -- |
14 | Leon Brown | FW | 5'11" | 160 | Mattapan, Mass. | Notre Dame |
5 | Lennon Celestino | MF | 6'0" | 175 | Sao Paulo, Brazil | -- |
22 | Darion Copeland | DF | 6'2" | 160 | Dutchtown, Ga. | Alabama-Birmingham |
13 | Garrett Losee | MF | 5'9" | 175 | South Jordan, Utah | BYU /Cal State Fullerton |
4 | Riley McGovern | DF | 6'2" | 190 | Farmington, N.M. | New Mexico |
23 | Coco Navarro | MF/F | 5'7" | 145 | Inglewood, Calif. | Marquette |
24 | Eric Osswald | GK | 6'1" | 195 | Powell, Ohio | Xavier |
17 | Victor Rodriguez | GK | 6'2" | 180 | Las Cruces, N.M. | New Mexico |
6 | Alec Sundly | MF | 6'0" | 170 | San Clemente, Calif. | California /New England Revolution |
7 | Eti Tavares | FW | 5'10" | 165 | Window, Calif. | Arizona Western |
10 | Ricardo Velazco | MF | 5'8" | 150 | Casa Grande, Ariz. | Louisville |
11 | Emery Welshman | FW | 5'11" | 180 | Toronto, Ontario | Oregon State /Toronto FC |
1 | Lalo Fernandez | GK | 6'3" | 170 | El Paso, Texas | -- |
3 | Phanuel Kavita | DF | 6'1" | 184 | Salt Lake City | Clemson |
2 | Boyd Okwuonu | DF | 5'9" | 170 | Edmond, Okla. | North Carolina |
21 | Aaron Maund | DF | 6'1" | 180 | Dorchester, Mass. | Notre Dame |
8 | Adolfo "Fito" Ovalle | MF | 5'9" | 155 | Layton | -- |
27 | John Stertzer | MF | 6'0" | 170 | Oaktown, Va. | Maryland |
50 | Sebastian Saucedo | FW | 5'7" | 145 | Park City | -- |