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A Weekend with the unified team

Follow along on their trip to Salt Lake City

By Atlanta United FC

May 26^th, 2019

Memorial Day Weekend started early for the 2019 Atlanta United Special Olympics Unified team. The team would be heading out to Salt Lake City, UT to compete in their first of three matches for season versus Real Salt Lake (RSL) Unified.

“We’d like to give a special shout out to the Atlanta United Special Olympics Unified MLS team. They are on their way to compete against Real Salt Lake Unified team tomorrow after the professional teams’ match” said one of the Delta flight attendants. Cheering, good lucks, and clapping filled the plane. The team became even more excited than they had been.

It was cloudy and a chilly 50 degrees when the Unified team arrived in Salt Lake. After hopping on the bus and walking into the Marriott Salt Lake City Center’s lobby, the Unified team received a big surprise. Right behind them walked the Atlanta United players and Unified Ambassadors, Brad Guzan, Julian Gressel, and Andrew Carleton along with all the other first team players.

After chatting with the players, the Unified team freshened up and gathered back in the lobby to meet RSL Unified for excursion part one. It is typical for the host Unified team to create an excursion that is unique to the market to give both teams’ members the opportunity to bond. First on the agenda, dinner and afterwards, a trip to the Utah State Capital where Jon Hennington, Utah Senate Minority Assistant, provided a behind the scenes tour.

Matchday was here. The team gathered for breakfast with Unified Ambassador Julian Gressel joining them. Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra stopped by to say hello to the team as well. Atlanta United Unified team then met with RSL’s Unified team for excursion part two at Snowbird ski lodge.

With a decent amount of snow around, snowball fights quickly erupted. Once the group photos, activities and pizza had ended, it was back to the hotel to get ready for the first team match and the Unified match afterwards.

RSL’s Unified team greeted Atlanta United’s Unified team as they arrived. Everyone headed to dinner while Atlanta United Unified athlete, Antonio Guzman, did a series of media interviews with 92.9 The Game hosts Mike Conti and Jason Longshore.

Both Unified teams watched the first team match together and participated in an on-field halftime recognition. The 80th minute came around and it was time for the Unified teams to get ready. The whistle blew to end the first team match. Now it was game time for Unified.

Nerves set in for a couple of Unified players, but the excitement was even bigger. Atlanta United players Brad Guzan, Julian Gressel, Brek Shea and Michael Parkhurst stopped by to watch a little bit of the match and give tips to the Unified players.

Real Salt Lake scored first. Atlanta United created a couple of opportunities to score but RSL was there to block or steal the ball. Real Salt Lake scored two more times for a final score of 3-0.

While the outcome of the match didn’t land in their favor, Atlanta United Unified players were thankful for the new friendships made, the kindness received and the memories that will last a lifetime.