“Real” games are finally back as a healthy Real Monarchs squad with no major injuries travels to Portland’s Providence Park for their 2017 season opener against Portland Timbers 2.
Both squads, and the league as well, have undergone major changes since the end of the 2016 season. In January 2017, USL received provisional Division II status from US Soccer ushering a new focus on professionalism and infrastructure throughout the league. The Monarchs return only 7 players from their 2016 squad while Timbers 2 have return even fewer players. Three 2016 Timbers, Nick Besler, Michael Gallagher, and Taylor Peay now call the Monarchs home while Monarch Christian Herrera is on loan to the Timbers 2 for the 2017 season.