Real Salt Lake notebook: Team riding defense to top of MLS

SANDY — A fifth straight shutout Saturday afternoon moved Real Salt Lake one step closer to one of the most impressive records in MLS history.

Through 25 matches, RSL has only surrendered 16 goals. The league record is 23 goals allowed, set by the Houston Dynamo in 2007.

With as well as Real Salt Lake is playing lately, it's hard to imagine it coughing up any goals the rest of the way — let alone seven.

"Defending is a thing that deals with your whole team, it's almost impossible to have a good defense if you have just a few guys playing defense," said defender Chris Wingert.

From the moment coach Jason Kreis took over the coaching reigns in 2007, he began laying the foundation for a cultural shift in team defending. Trading away Jeff Cunningham was the first clear-cut sign he meant business.

Since a shaky first month this year in which Real Salt Lake surrendered seven goals, it has only allowed nine goals in the past 20 games.

KNEW IT ALL ALONG: Kreis was asked in Saturday's press conference if there was a moment he knew his team was poised to become an MLS juggernaut.

Surprisingly, he said it was a preseason trip to Charleston, S.C., in 2009.

"At that point I really felt this is the group I envisioned for a long time playing the type of soccer that we as a staff have envisioned," said Kreis.

He acknowledges there were rough patches along the way and RSL was fortunate to make the playoffs, but the signs were always there last year.

"If you picked out the games where we're all together and all on the same page, we were absolutely fantastic," said Kreis.

This year, RSL has been consistent with that approach.

TOKEN APPRECIATION: At the moment, Real Salt Lake captain Kyle Beckerman doesn't really know what to make of his team setting a new MLS record with a 23-game home unbeaten streak.

The team is so wrapped up in trying to win the MLS Supporter's Shield and advance out of the CONCACAF Champions League group play, it's tough for him to get excited about a regular season record.

Some day he will, though.

"I think it's something we're going to look back on when we're done playing, and it's going to be really important," said Beckerman.