The Utah Salt Ratz are often referred to as the "other" men's soccer team in Utah. Most soccer fans have heard about the Utah Blitzz professional team, but many are still in the dark about the Salt Ratz.
Well, the amateur soccer team is back again this year, and are poised to avenge last year's championship loss to the Arizona Sahuaros.
To aid that quest, the Salt Ratz have somewhat turned to the Blitzz.
Last month, the Ratz announced that former Blitzz assistant coach Bob Martin is joining on as the head coach. His assistant will be Liam Heffernan, a Blitzz forward last year before he broke his leg.
Shane Curran, a Blitzz reserve forward last year, is also onboard this season with the Salt Ratz.
Utah opened the season with a 2-0 victory over the expansion Albuquerque Asylum last weekend. It will try and build on that victory with a pair of road games this weekend, against two more expansion teams.
The Salt Ratz face the Salinas Valley Samba today and the Sonoma County FC Sol on Saturday, both in California.
The competition in the Men's Premier Soccer League should be much tougher this year for the Salt Ratz — four expansion teams have joined the MPSL this year.
"The MPSL is helping expand soccer's representation in the American sports scene," said MPSL commissioner, Jerry Zanelli. "Since the leagues inaugural season a year ago, our league has nearly doubled in size and we are extremely excited about the league moving forward into the 2004 season."
Utah's home opener is May 7 against Chico (Calif.) Rooks.
The Salt Ratz's roster is primarily comprised former Utah high school players — many of whom have gone on to play college soccer somewhere. Players in the MPSL retain their amateur status and NCAA eligibility, allowing them to continue their college careers after the summer.
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com