Coach Mark Brigg’s Monarchs opened with two guest players from RSL in the starting 11 with Aaron Maund at center back and Ricardo Velazco back in a Monarch uniform at left winger.
The Monarchs came out and pushed play through the opening minutes while the Rangers seemed more content to work toward some possession. Early yellow cards to James Musa (7’) and Amer Didic (14’) resulted from the Monarch’s pressure, but the first shot on goal wasn’t until the 19’. Ricardo Velazco found Max Lachowecki on an overlapping run up the left side and Lachowecki’s subsequent cross went though to Chandler Hoffman who hit a nice first touch shot from near the penalty spot for the first goal.