No controversy in RSL goal

With Real Salt Lake's D.J. Countess and Jay Nolly smack dab in the middle of a goalkeeper controversy, you'd think the atmosphere at training sessions would be tense around the nets.

It might be if either party, including the coaching staff, considered it a controversy at all.

"I don't think the situation is about me vs. Jay. It's about the team," said Countess.

And it's no secret, that team was struggling. In the eyes of the coaching staff, RSL had won just twice since May, and a change needed to be made.

So that's exactly what they did. RSL assistant coach Peter Mellor, who is also the team's goalkeeper coach, decided to start rookie Nolly in the nets for the team's last match on Aug. 20. Even though Salt Lake lost, 1-0, Nolly took command of the box and let his size be an intimidating presence.

So the big question is, who's going to be the starting keeper for this Wednesday's match at D.C. United? Mellor says the job is Nolly's to lose the rest of the way, and it would just take a poor game to lose it. He could lose it with a few bad practices.

"Every training session, for me as a goalkeeper coach, I'm watching every little move the goalkeeper makes," said Mellor. "I'm looking at how they carry themselves. Is D.J. dealing with disappointment, and if he does that shows character, which should reflect in the game."

One of the more unique and obvious sights he notices is that Countess and Nolly are genuine friends on and off the field.

"I think it's good that we're friends, because it would be a lot harder if we weren't," said Nolly. "We're more out there working for each other."

The two 23 year-olds — Nolly is seven days older — first met when they were 14 at a regional soccer camp in Idaho. Countess was representing California, while Nolly was representing Colorado. They were roommates for two weeks, and their personalities immediately clicked.

Two years later, they were reunited again at three different under-17 U.S. National Team training camps over a span of eight months.

The bond was still there, but it was pretty obvious to the coaching staff and the players that Countess was much more advanced at the young age. Countess knew he wanted to pursue soccer professionally, while Nolly simply didn't.