RSL's Mulholland jumps right into team's offense — and defense


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SANDY — Real Salt Lake midfielder Luke Mulholland had plenty of excuses to ease into his new team after making the jump from the North American Soccer League's Tampa Bay Rowdies. But he didn't take any of them.

The Preston, England, native has found a role in Salt Lake's first three games of the year, and his latest defensive effort in a 1-1 tie with L.A. Galaxy on Saturday seemed to cement himself in the team's first 18.

“I’ve enjoyed the process with the players. It’s been easy; all the guys are great, and there are no egos in the team," Mulholland said after Saturday's match. "Everyone has respect, no matter if you are a 35-year-old veteran or an 18-year-old academy player."

Mulholland entered the game in the 77th minute in place of wide midfielder Ned Grabavoy and made his mark only three minutes later as he stepped in front of a Robbie Keane blast that would've given the Irish international player a brace and the Galaxy a win in RSL's home opener.

His teammates took notice of that defensive effort, too.

“I’ve been very impressed with Luke Mulholland," defender Nat Borchers said. "The first couple of weeks of training, we were trying to explain to him the way we want to defend. That outside diamond position is not easy; there’s a lot of running and a lot of thinking in terms of defensive positioning. He’s learned."

Mulholland didn't hold nearly the same defensive responsibilities with the Rowdies, where he registered 17 goals and 13 assists en route to league Best XI status in back-to-back seasons. In his first two games with RSL — both on the road — the rookie notched 93 minutes in substitute time with one goal, one score called back for offsides, and one remarkable goal-scoring celebration.


I've enjoyed the process with the players. It's been easy; all the guys are great, and there are no egos in the team. Everyone has respect, no matter if you are a 35-year-old veteran or an 18-year-old academy player.

–Luke Mulholland


“He came from a team where he wasn’t asked to do a whole lot defensively, and now he’s asked to come back and help," Borchers said. "You could see it today; he came back and he had a lot of nice stops for us.”

Playing in a two-way midfield role was a challenge for Mulholland, but the 26-year-old made a concerted effort after talking to RSL head coach Jeff Cassar following the team's 3-3 draw at San Jose.

"I didn’t get a chance to pull the trigger today; it would’ve been nice to shoot or score a goal," Mulholland said. "But I’m also a midfield player, so I can’t forget my defensive duties."

Mulholland broke out with a salsa dance after scoring his first MLS goal against the Earthquakes a week ago. And while he is enjoying the defensive side of the ball a little more, don't expect any celebrations after a particularly good defensive stop anytime soon.

“I think I get more satisfaction from putting the ball in the back of the net," Mulholland said. "But at the full-time whistle, a few guys came over and said ‘Well done’ to me in tracking back and defensively working. It’s the little things that always help. The players recognize that, and the coach recognizes that; it’s not going unnoticed.”

Forward Olmes Garcia entered the match as RSL's first substitute after only 33 minutes as standout striker Joao Plata came off with a left hamstring injury. Following Mulholland's mid-second-half entry, Cassar kept any potential third sub on the bench, electing not to play midfielders John Stertzer or Cole Grossman, among others.

RSL's recent rash of injuries — especially to the forward unit after last week's knock on newcomer Jordan Allen — has led to a lack of depth that may have led to the short-handed decision. But Mulholland's exceptional play also made the first-year head coach pause when thinking of adjusting his midfield again.

“I felt like (midfielder Luis Gil) and Luke were giving us the work offensively, and Luke defensively as well," Cassar said. "I just thought that the combination of players on the field was going to get it done. I thought we had a few chances at the end, but the final pass wasn’t quite there.”

Call it something to work on for RSL's new English pickup. Mulholland will certainly take it as a challenge, too.

“There’s no such thing as a perfect game; we didn’t play our best football today," Mulholland said. "But I thought we played well until L.A. scored, and then it took its toll on us and disrupted us for a while.

“It’s good that when we aren’t playing good, we can still pick up points." Sean Walker recently completed his master's degree at Syracuse University, but the longtime soccer guy has moved back to Utah to cover his native team. Follow him on Twitter, @GoaldotSean.

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