Holt Wins USL Championship With Real Monarchs
November 18, 2019 | Men's Soccer
Former UCLA defender Erik Holt captured the 2019 USL Championship on Sunday night as the Real Monarchs topped Louisville City FC by a score of 3-1 in the title game.
Holt, who played at UCLA as a defender and holding midfielder from 2015-18, was a key figure in the win for the Monarchs, hitting a first-time shot from the top of the box for a game-tying goal in the 25th minute. Real added a pair of goals over the remainder of the game to cement the win. Holt played the entire 90 minutes and helped preserve the two-goal lead.
The Equalizer #BeChamp19ns pic.twitter.com/gIReWwIC2e
— Real Monarchs (@RealMonarchs) November 18, 2019
The goal against Louisville City FC was the latest in an offensive hot spell for Holt, who scored three goals in five games during the USL playoffs. Holt sent Real to the USL Final with a dramatic goal in the semifinals against El Paso, netting in the 119th minute to break a 1-1 tie.
The San Diego native had scored just one goal over his 71-game UCLA career. After a standout senior season with the Bruins that resulted in First Team All-Pac-12 and All-Far West Region honors, Holt signed a Homegrown Contract with Real Salt Lake on Jan. 3, 2019. He suited up for five games with the senior club in his debut pro season, recording one assist over 371 minutes.
