And now, they have yet another new player.

RSL has acquired fiery midfielder Dema Kovalenko in a trade from the New York Red Bulls for a conditional pick in the 2010 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, a team spokesman confirmed Friday, provided it can renegotiate the contract that paid the native Ukrainian some $200,000 last season. That's expected to happen by early next week.

It's unclear when Kovalenko would join RSL - he figures to win a starting spot, after starting for the Red Bulls last season - which will return to Utah over the weekend after capping the second phase of its preseason training camp with a 2-2 draw against the rival Colorado Rapids on Friday in Florida. Striker Fabian Espindola scored in the 81st minute to equalize, and give RSL a 3-1-1 record in preseason games and scrimmages.

General manager Garth Lagerwey had expected the game against the Rapids to provide "a good measuring stick for where we are" - something that so far has been hard to gauge.

After all, midfielders Kyle Beckerman, Carey Talley and newly acquired defender Nat Borchers continue to rehabilitate injuries, Lagerwey said, while midfielder Matias Cordoba needs more time to get into shape after joining the team only a week ago from Argentina. If all goes well, defender Jamison Olave will get a work visa next week that will allow the Colombian to finally join the team on the third leg of its preseason training in Argentina.

At the same time, strikers Robbie Findley and Yura Movsisyan and midfielder Javier Morales all have looked good, Lagerwey said, as have the rookies whom RSL acquired in the SuperDraft. But with so many new faces trying to get acquainted - more than half of the team is new since the start of last season, and defender Willis Forko was released last week - Lagerwey said it's far too early to make any serious assessments of the team.

"It's important not to put a ton of pressure on a single game or a single portion of the preseason, because you have to give it time," Lagerwey said. "You have to have some patience."

The game against the Rapids and a scrimmage today are the last two chances for players to impress Lagerwey and coach Jason Kreis before the roster is reduced early next month. After that, the team is headed back to Utah for a few days before departing for Argentina, while Lagerwey heads to Scotland on a scouting trip.

mcl@sltrib.com