Real Salt Lake notebook: Much expected of Nick Rimando again this year

LEHI — When Houston midfielder Brad Davis took two penalty kicks against Real Salt Lake in the Dynamo's 2-1 win last Thursday something unusual happened — he converted them, both.

It is generally a foregone conclusion that a player is going to score on an unobstructed free kick from 12 yards away against only the goalie, but with the way RSL keeper Nick Rimando played in the shootouts against the Chicago Fire and Los Angeles Galaxy in last season's playoffs, it is almost expected the MLS Cup MVP is going to stop them.

"Nah, it was still Brad Davis, and he is excellent taking penalty kicks," said Rimando on whether he was surprised he couldn't stop either shot. "I know that things went pretty well last year during the shootouts, but that doesn't mean I am going to save them all. An offensive player still has the advantage on them."

While Rimando was unable to make the saves against Davis, he still hasn't allowed a goal during the run of play in Real's first two games.

"I think he has been very, very strong these first two matches," said coach Jason Kreis. "He is doing well."

Rimando enjoyed one of the finest regular seasons of his career in 2009, posting nine shutouts and a 1.14 goals against average, but upped his play even more in the playoffs reducing that number to 0.64 with two shutouts in four games.

"I think that I am just a lot more confident because of the success we enjoyed last year in the playoff run," said Rimando. "I am not sure if anything has really changed from last year, but making those saves has helped me just have a little bit more confidence that I can do it.

"I don't think that I am any different overall, but because those games went to penalty kicks, I was able to kind of make more of a name for myself," he added. "If they didn't go to penalties, I'm not sure as many people know the name 'Nick Rimando.'"

BRAGGING RIGHTS: Duke playing for a national championship gave coach Kreis and defender Robbie Russell a reason to hold their heads up high, not to mention a little bit more cushion in the wallet for Russell. Both played college soccer for the Blue Devils, and for Russell, perhaps it was that school pride that helped him when he filled out his NCAA bracket.

"They had the easiest draw of a No. 1 seed. I think it was a no-brainer," said Russell on why he chose his alma mater as national champs. "They may have been the worst of the No. 1 seeds, but when you looked at the bracket, I knew they were going to have the easiest time getting there.

"Of course I am going to be rooting for them. I need them to win to win the team pool," added Russell on Monday after practice but before the championship game.

HORST ON LOAN: Defender David Horst has been given a season-long loan to Puerto Rico.

"He needed game experience and he just wasn't going to get it here," said team spokesman Trey Fitz-Gerald. "He needed to be playing 90 minutes a game, and Puerto Rico is a pretty good team for him to get it."

e-mail: mblack@desnews.com