This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Sandy • Tony Beltran was stumped. You can't blame him much, either. It has been so long since Real Salt Lake shut out an opposing team that the cerebral right back couldn't pinpoint the exact date.

That would be April 16 against Vancouver, a 1-0 win.

So when reminded it's been 12 straight games since RSL registered a clean sheet, Beltran responded in predictable fashion.

"That's not good enough," he said. "As a back four, a back five, the entire 11, we need to pride ourselves on that. We keep talking about it, but I think we've continually made some kind of mistake of varying degrees throughout the game that's led us away from that."

RSL reaches the halfway point of the 2016 regular season Friday night against visiting D.C. United. At 8-5-3 and 27 points, the franchise sits in third place in the Western Conference entering July. But in 16 regular-season games and two U.S. Open Cup matches, the team has two shutouts this year; it had seven shutouts in all competitions at this time last year. The only teams in MLS with fewer shutouts in league play are Orlando City and the Portland Timbers, who have one each.

A few days removed from crashing out of the Open Cup in a penalty-kick shootout at home against the Seattle Sounders, RSL coach Jeff Cassar said the lack of shutouts is being addressed within the team.

"I think we're doing a lot of things you do to get a shutout, but we're also having those one or two glaring errors that really keep you from getting the shutout," he said.

The goal conceded against the Sounders was unfortunately the perfect example. An emergency clearance from within the Seattle box soared 60 yards, followed by a miscommunication between Justen Glad and Jeff Attinella. That allowed the Sounders to equalize, despite packing it in.

RSL general manager Craig Waibel, himself a former MLS defender, said soccer is a game of habits. It could be wins or losses. Could be goals scored or goals conceded. But he said his team needs to become reacquainted with the feeling of seeing a zero on the scoreboard when the referee blows the match whistle.

"A lot of things in soccer become habit and subconsciously trained," Waibel said. "We've got to focus on really wilting the willpower of another team, and the way you do that is prevent them from having any hope. Of course, in soccer, that means preventing goals. Tucking one or two away and then remaining compact and making teams feel like they don't have a chance psychologically."

Well above of its scoring total from this point of the season a year ago, RSL's rate of conceding remains too high for the comfort of players, coaches and the front office. For as potent as the attack has become, its often become negated by the club's inability to batten down the hatches.

"We really don't want to be gun-slingers for the rest of the season, trying to out-shoot everyone," Waibel said. "We've got to re-focus on it."

With former RSL strikers Alvaro Saborio and Fabian Espindola returning to Rio Tinto with D.C. United, that will be a challenge. But if RSL can notch a shutout as the home-heavy summer schedule continues into August, it could become, as Waibel explained, a habit.

"I don't care about winning 5-0 or 6-0, but if we win 1-0, that feels the best," Beltran said. "Those are the games where you really have to earn it. You have to focus for 90 minutes and not give them an inch. We haven't done that this year."

Twitter: @chriskamrani —

Real Salt Lake vs. D.C. United

At Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy

Kickoff » 8:30 p.m.

TV » KMYU

Radio » 700 AM

Records » RSL 8-5-3, D.C. United 5-6-5

Last meeting » D.C. United 6, RSL 4 (Aug. 1, 2015 at RFK Stadium)

About RSL » Goalkeeper Nick Rimando can move into a tie with former goalkeeper Kevin Hartman for most wins by an MLS goalkeeper should RSL win Friday. … Midfielder Sunday Stephen (multiple facial fractures) will miss the next six weeks after colliding with New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles on June 22. … Midfielder Jordan Allen (questionable) suffered a hamstring strain in the second frame of extra time in Tuesday's Open Cup loss to Seattle. … The loss to the Sounders on Tuesday was RSL's first loss at home in 2016, although it remains unbeaten at home in league play.

About D.C. United » D.C. sports league-high seven shutouts in MLS play. … D.C. has been without starters Colin Rolfe and Patrick Nyarko, both of whom have been dealing with lingering concussion issues. … D.C.'s defense leads the Eastern Conference with 16 goals conceded, second-best in MLS. … Goalkeeper Bill Hamid returned from knee surgery on May 27 and since, D.C. has three clean sheets. … Steve Birnbaum could start after spending this summer with the U.S. men's national team at the Copa America Centenario. … Former RSL forward Alvaro Saborio leads D.C. in goals in 2016 with four.