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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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 Real Salt Lake established Real Monarchs SLC in the third-division USL nearly three years ago, the club envisioned a system where players could go from the team’s academy to third division to the first-team roster in a linear development.
That system now has an example.
Monarchs forward Ricardo Velazco has signed with Real Salt Lake after two seasons with the third-tier club, the organization announced Tuesday. Velazco’s most recent success includes a team-high eight goals in 2016 that included the equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Tulsa last week at Rio Tinto Stadium.
“This means the world for me and my family,” Velazco said in a statement. “This has been a dream for me and my dad for a long time. I had a very unique route and there have always been eyes on me. I told myself along the way that it’s never over unless I give up, and I’m glad I took the route that I did and I’m thankful for the mentors I had that helped me along the way.”
The 23-year-old Velazco played for Monarchs coach Freddy Juarez at the club’s Casa Grandes, Arizona-based academy from 2010-12. He started his college career at Division II Cal State San Bernardino, where he scored six goals in 14 appearances.
He also played two seasons at Louisville, finishing with 13 goals and 14 assists in 42 matches for the Cardinals before signing with the Monarchs ahead of last year’s inaugural season. Velazco finishes his full-time Monarchs career with 12 goals as the team looks to contend for a playoff berth at 9-11-6 overall.
“The things Ricardo has been doing with the Monarchs has been noticed and he’s being rewarded for the work he’s done,” RSL coach Jeff Cassar said. “If you do it at each level, you’re going to be rewarded, and Ricardo is a great model for how things are working.
“It’s a massive step for the club and a massive step for him, and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
Velazco, the 12th homegrown player signed in Salt Lake’s history, comes at a time when the club is looking for more depth at forward. Yura Movsisyan leads the team with nine goals, and regular starters Joao Plata and Juan Manuel Martinez have seven and six goals, respectively. But the rest of the forward corps has just one tally in 2016, and the team recently sent striker Devon Sandoval on loan to USL’s Rayo OKC.
Still, RSL (12-8-7) sits second in the Western Conference and tied with Colorado and Los Angeles at 43 points.
Salt Lake hosts the Galaxy at Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday night to open the final seven regular-season contests.
