There was a time earlier this year when Real Salt Lake was arguably the best defensive team in MLS. During a 10-game stretch from May 31 to July 28, the club recorded six shutouts and only surrendered one goal in each of its other four games in racking up a 5-1-4 record.

As quickly as RSL propelled itself into the playoff race, over the next six games it nearly gave everything back posting a 1-4-1 record and 12 goals allowed.

"When you look at the form that we had back in the day when we were defending very well, we weren't making any individual errors," said Ian Joy.

Those individual errors cost RSL a good chunk of points in the final two months of the season, but that wasn't a problem at all in last weekend's playoff victory over Chivas USA. In limiting the Goats to three shots and zero corner kicks, RSL earned its first shutout in eight games, a streak dating back to Aug. 29.

"In the last game, I thought we defended well as a unit. You look at the midfield, the work rate they had was intense. Us personally at the back it made it easier for us," said Joy, who is questionable this weekend with a groin injury.

Chris Wingert, RSL's other outside back, agreed entirely. In fact, he said the midfield was so dominant he hardly did any defending.

"That's probably the least amount of defending we've done in a long time. Our best defense in that game was clearly our offense and being able to win the ball back in their half," said Wingert.

In what should be a much more hostile environment in Southern California on Saturday, Real Salt Lake is optimistic about playing the same way. RSL coach Jason Kreis has always said defending isn't just the responsibility of the back four. He believes it's the responsibility of all 11 players on the field — an approach he's worked tirelessly to perfect from the day he took over as head coach last May.

For 90 minutes last Saturday, it worked marvelously as his team dominated the first leg of its two-game series with Chivas.

"We have to come out with the same type of mentality that we did last week. We have to be aggressive. We have to be forward- thinking," said Kreis.

That is the attitude RSL used to rack up eight shutouts during the regular season, as well as a shutout in its playoff debut.

The scenario will be much different against a desperate Chivas team, and Wingert said the defenders and the rest of the team will be ready.

"We're going to have to be ready to battle. If it takes a scrappy, great defensive effort on our part then so be it," he said.

There's no telling how defensive it will need to be. With a 1-0 lead in what essentially amounts to a 180-minute game spread out over two cities in two weekends, RSL has the upper hand with the one-goal cushion. If that scoreline stays the same, its opponent will obviously up the intensity with each passing minute. If, however, the visitors come out aggressive like they hope and double the advantage early, they'll likely happily drop back and defend as a team with 11 guys behind the ball.

MLS playoffs

RSL at Chivas USA

Saturday, 8:30 p.m.

Home Depot Center

TV: Fox Soccer

Radio: 700AM, 1600AM

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com