SANDY, Utah (ABC 4 Sports) - Real Salt Lake could not escape having one of its own selected in today’s MLS Expansion Draft, as midfielder Collen Warner was among the 10 players chosen by the Montreal Impact during the draft. In addition, the Utah side also announced the squad has placed goalkeeper Tim Melia on waivers.
The 23-year-old Warner departs the Wasatch Front having started 19 of his 37 regular season appearances during his first two years in Major League Soccer, this after RSL selected the University of Portland product in the first round (15th overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. All five of Warner’s assists in MLS play came during his sophomore campaign in 2011, when he started 15 of 24 contests (1,106 minutes).
Warner also made valuable contributions during RSL’s run in the 2010/11 CONCACAF Champions League late in the 2010 campaign, highlighting his appearances in the Utah side’s final three pool contests (two starts) with his first-ever professional goal and assist during a 3-1 victory over Cruz Azul on Oct. 19, 2010, a result that allowed RSL to become the first MLS team to finish atop its CCL group. The midfielder also made one postseason appearance for Real Salt Lake, making his MLS Cup Playoffs debut in the closing leg of the 2010 Western Conference Semifinal Series against FC Dallas last November.
“I learned a lot in my two seasons here in Utah and really enjoyed my time with Real Salt Lake. It’s a little sad having to go, but I’m definitely excited to play for a new team in the league in Montreal,” said Warner. “There are a lot of veteran guys on RSL that I looked up to and that taught me how to be a professional, and I want to thank all of my teammates for their help over the last two seasons. I also want to thank the coaching and training staffs for their time and effort and recognize the great Real Salt Lake fans for their support as I began my professional career in front of them.”
While Melia did not make a first-team appearance for Real Salt Lake during his two seasons in Sandy, the 25-year-old netminder was a regular fixture between the posts for the squad during 2011 MLS Reserve League action, compiling a 1.32 goals against average and 1-4-0 record in seven appearances (five starts). While on loan to the Charleston Battery in the summer of 2010, Melia carried the South Carolina-based squad to the then-USL-2 Division Championship – highlighted by an eight-save performance in the final against the Richmond Kickers – and a surprising run to the Quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
