RSL adds depth to back line with MLS SuperDraft first-round pick


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SANDY — Real Salt Lake welcomed a new player Thursday afternoon as it selected 22-year-old defender Ryan Neil with its 18th overall pick in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft.

Neil comes to the Salt Lake club having spent four years at the University of California, and will add depth to the club’s back line.

“He brings so much to the table,” RSL head coach Jeff Cassar told ESPN 700. “Ryan really adds depth to a position that we need because we do play a lot of games. If there's injuries and we want to be able to continue to play soccer the way that we do — high energy, high tempo, really try to get numbers forward — and Ryan checks all those boxes.”

During his time as a Cal Golden Bear, Neil racked up quite a résumé. The young defender earned All-Pac-12 second–team honors in both 2012 and 2013. Neil helped Cal make it to the NCAA College Cup quarterfinals in 2013 before falling to the University of Maryland.


I couldn't have been happier. I've followed Major League Soccer and I'm a huge fan of Salt Lake. I watched them all the way through the final last year — they got a little bit unlucky in the final — but I'm a huge fan, and it's pretty much a dream come true.

–Ryan Neil


Neil also earned himself a spot on the NSCAA All-Far West third team during his junior year, and finished his junior year with five assists. Neil played in a total of 67 games for the Golden Bears, 20 of them coming last year in 2013, and had two goals and 13 assists overall during his time at Cal.

After participating in the MLS Combine this week, Neil was thrilled to hear his name called at the MLS SuperDraft Thursday as RSL picked him.

“I couldn’t have been happier,” Neil told ESPN 700 of being selected by RSL. “I’ve followed Major League Soccer and I’m a huge fan of Salt Lake. I watched them all the way through the final last year — they got a little bit unlucky in the final — but I’m a huge fan, and it’s pretty much a dream come true.”

The Salt Lake club’s preseason kicks off in just over a week, and Neil says he knows what he will need to do from day one.

“I couldn’t be happier to be with the club,” said Neil. “I know coming in that I’m going to have to work my way up in the system and earn the respect of the players, the coaching staff and the respect of the fans.”

RSL will kick off its preseason on Jan. 24 as the players report to Salt Lake for entrance physicals prior to traveling to the Arizona Academy grounds for RSL's first preseason-training trip from Jan. 25-Feb. 1. Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.

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