10 Things: Why RSL's Justen Glad plays ping pong & stays away from Pokemon

SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake defender Justen Glad has started in 15 of RSL’s 20 games so far this season and has made himself a regular in the lineup in his third year in MLS. He’s one of a handful of players who will be participating in their second Chipotle MLS Homegrown game on July 27 against the Mexico Under-20 national team.

His third year has him right where he wants to be and RSL are thrilled he and Aaron Maund have paired nicely at the back to create a young center back duo. We caught up with Glad to learn who he is on and off the field.

He's already scored some big goals…

As a defender, you wouldn’t think he would have two goals that will stay in the record books for a while, but he does. Glad scored the game-winner in the 2012-13 U-16 Development Academy National Championship and also registered the first home goal for the USL’s Real Monarchs in their inaugural home match last season. He scored his first MLS goal on April 2 against Sporting Kansas City.

“As an athlete you live for big games,” Gladsaid. “but I won't deny I have been lucky a few times. As a mentality you have to go in trying to score and prove yourself and big games are just another opportunity to do that.”

…But he's scored a few own goals too

Bad bounces, clearances into his leg and facing his own goal this season have led Glad to be RSL’s leading scorer of own goals this year. He even smiles when head coach Jeff Cassar brings it up, but it’s just another example of finding his way at the top level of American soccer.

Started young

When Glad signed his contract on April 4, 2014, he was two months older than the youngest player in the league and was the youngest player on the team until Danilo Acosta arrived this season.

“It's definitely different coming from the academy and being the younger guy,” Glad said. “Having Danny here has been awesome. It's definitely made my transition easier and I hope I have made his easier.

“The more young guys the better. It's a good situation on and off the field.”

Found a sidekick

Glad and RSL’s Jordan Allen were in different age groups while they were in the academy, but once they both made it to Salt Lake, it didn’t take long to become quick friends.

“Once we were here it was pretty immediate,” Allen said. “We hang out pretty much everyday. He's my little brother pretty much.” Glad agrees, “Obviously I love playing with him. It has been great having him out here and having someone closer to my age.”

The one thing they don’t agree on is who beats who at ping pong.

“We play a lot of ping pong. We play probably too much,” Glad said. Allen claimed, “It’s pretty obvious I win.” Glad countered, “Come on now, he's a liar. I don't want to say I'm the champion, but if you're looking at the record that doesn't make sense.”

“I miss the academy”

Glad joined the RSL Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona, in 2012 and was there until he signed his Homegrown Player contract midway through the 2014 season. His time included the only national championship so far by a RSL academy side.

“I had a great time,” Glad said. “Our academy was a little different than other academies being a residential one. I was playing soccer everyday with 70 kids who were all as motivated as I was. We all had the same hobbies and interests, it was really fun. I miss the academy.”

What could have been

While the Homegrown contract with RSL was “definitely the right choice,” Glad had committed to Stanford during his junior year in Casa Grande.

“Obviously, the goal going into the academy was to get a college scholarship,” Glad said. “I committed and then this came along.”

Had he gone to Stanford he would have played alongside Seattle’s Jordan Morris. He’ll finally have the opportunity to play alongside Morris at this year’s Homegrown Game.

MLS Homegrown party

After playing in last year’s MLS Homegrown Game, Glad was selected again and this time gets to take three of his teammates with him: Allen (who missed last year’s game due to injury), Phanuel Kavita and Acosta.

“It’s a really good time,” Glad said. “I played with a lot of those guys in residency, so it’s always good to see them and I'm playing with some of the best young players. This year it's going to be even better because I have [Allen, Kavita and Acosta] to go with me. We're just going to go with the flow and have a good time.”

Learning the ropes

While Glad does enjoy playing alongside people his age, he has learned a lot from his veteran teammates at RSL. He regularly plays in front of Nick Rimando and behind Kyle Beckerman and has been helped along by RSL’s veteran captain and goalkeeper.

“They help me a lot,” Glad said. “Even just in practice they're always telling me little pointers.

“Even if you're just looking at them the way they take care of their bodies, the way they are professionals off the field as well, you pick up a ton of stuff.”

Mini-Borchers

It was apparent when they were teammates in 2014, but aside from Portland’s Nat Borchers’ beard, he and Glad have a lot in common, from their red hair to their positions on the field.

“It's uncanny,” Glad said. “He really could be my dad, so I go along with it.” In their time on the same roster, Glad apprenticed alongside his older doppelganger.

“I learned a lot from him how he kind of has established himself,” Glad said. “The way he carries himself, he's a real good guy and obviously the fans love that and I try to emulate that.”

More like Pokemon No

“If I download that app [Pokemon GO] there goes my whole life,” Glad said. He sticks to Twitter where you can find him @justen_glad. He lets Allen collect them all, but says to make sure everyone “knows I’m better than Jordan at ping pong.”