The Week That Was: Oklahoma Clubs Make West Run
TAMPA, Fla. – The Western Conference saw some sweeping changes across the board in Week 22, with OKC Energy FC rising to first place following its 1-0 victory against Real Monarchs SLC on Saturday at Taft Stadium. Also in the West, OKC’s in-state rival Tulsa Roughnecks FC extended its unbeaten streak to six games, posting a 5-1 win against the Monarchs on Thursday and a 2-2 draw against the Eastern Conference’s Louisville City FC. After both games at ONEOK Field, Tulsa moved up to fourth in the West.
The Week That Was: Oklahoma Clubs Make West RunThe USL’s Oklahoma contingent is coming off an impactful week that sees both of its state’s teams in postseason contention, setting up for an exciting stretch run.
Energy FC extended its unbeaten streak to eight games (4-0-4) and moved into first place with a 1-0 victory against Real Monarchs SLC on Saturday at Taft Stadium. Led by Kyle Greig’s seventh goal of the season, OKC improved to 11-5-7 (40 points), one point ahead of Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and the LA Galaxy II.
OKC enters a bye week, so the top of the West will likely look different when the club returns to the pitch on Aug. 29 against the Austin Aztex. Only five regular-season games remain for Energy FC, with two of the notable matches against in-state rival Tulsa on Sept. 6 and Colorado Springs on Sept. 12.
Tulsa has pieced together a good unbeaten run as well, posting a 3-0-2 mark over its past five games. In Week 22, the Roughnecks defeated the Monarchs 5-1 on Thursday and then played a tough Eastern Conference side, Louisville City FC, to a 2-2 draw on Saturday. Cristian Mata led the way for the Roughnecks with three goals in two games.
The Roughnecks are now in fourth place at 10-9-6 and 36 points, but they also have only three regular-season games remaining and need maximum points over the next three weeks. Their schedule includes road games against the Portland Timbers 2 (Aug. 22) and Sacramento (Aug. 29) and the regular-season home finale against OKC at ONEOK Field on Sept. 6.
The postseason has yet to pencil in a single team for the 2015 Playoffs. The way things stand currently, should both Oklahoma teams stay in the top half of the West and qualify, it would mark fourth time since 2011 that same-state clubs competed in the USL Playoffs.
The most recent instance was last year with Sacramento Republic FC and the LA Galaxy II out of California. Sacramento defeated Los Dos 3-2 in last season’s semifinals on its way to the title over the Harrisburg City Islanders. Pennsylvania sides Harrisburg and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds have twice been side-by-side in the USL Playoffs in 2011 and 2013.
QUOTABLE“I couldn’t believe it. I never would imagine making it on SportsCenter, let alone in the Top 10. I think it’s great publicity for the club and the league.” – Louisville City FC’s Aodhan Quinn on his free kick goal against Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Saturday, which earned play on ESPN
“There’s no bad team in this league. Salt Lake City was a good team tonight. They showed it. We know we’re a good team as well, but every game is a battle. At the end of the day, we got three points and right now we’re sitting at the top of the league so we’ve got to be happy about that.” – OKC Energy FC’sMichael Thomas following a 1-0 victory against Real Monarchs SLC
“We knew we’d have trouble with every set piece. I figured that was the only way they were going to score. Our second half was not strong.” – Pittsburgh Riverhounds Coach Mark Steffens on the shorthanded Charlotte Independence, who fought back for a 1-1 draw
“I think we kept the ball and we were patient with it. We were more focused on some of the individual duels in terms of what we needed to do. I liked several of the combinations when we went to goal including the goals.” – Portland Timbers 2 Coach Jay Vidovich after T2’s 3-1 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on Sunday
BY THE NUMBERS100 – Louisville City FC’s Juan Guzman and Arizona United SC’s Dennis Chin earned their respective 100th career USL regular-season caps. Guzman was a second-half sub during City’s 2-2 draw against Tulsa Roughnecks FC and Chin started and played the full 90 during United’s 3-0 loss to Orange County Blues FC.
16 – Louisville City FC’s four-goal performance during a 5-1 win against Real Monarchs SLC on Thursday pushed his season total to 16 tallies. That ranks fourth on the USL’s all-time list behind Orlando City SC’s Kevin Molino (20 in 2014), OKC Energy FC’s Danni K nig (19 thus far in 2015) and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ Rob Vincent (17 thus far in 2015). Fondy’s hat trick was the eighth in the USL this season.
8 – Evan Newton recorded his eighth shutout this year during OKC Energy FC’s 1-0 win against Real Monarchs SLC. Newton is second in the league in clean sheets behind the Rochester Rhinos’ Brandon Miller (10). Newton’s next shutout would rank him in the top-10 among USL single-season performances.
5 – Louisville FC’s Aodhan Quinn notched a No. 5 ranking on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 list over the weekend.
Blues Sign Former Republic FC Forward Estrada
IRVINE, Calif. - Orange County Blues FC has made another great addition to the roster with the signing of forward David Estrada. A native of Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, Estrada joins the Blues from Sacramento Republic FC.
After being a standout player for UCLA from 2006 to 2009, Estrada began his professional career when he was drafted 11th overall in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by Seattle Sounders FC . He began Seattle’s 2012 season in impressive fashion, scoring a hat trick in the first match of the season against Toronto FC, his first professional goals, to lead the “Rave Green” to a 3-1 win.
After four seasons with the Sounders, Estrada was traded to D.C. United in August 2014. During his MLS career, the forward appeared in 50 matches, scoring five goals and recording two assists.
Most recently, Estrada played in 20 matches for Sacramento Republic FC, including 18 USL matches. He scored three goals and recorded three assists.
"We feel very fortunate to add a player of David's quality to our already talented roster," said Blues Head Coach Oliver Wyss. "He is a first class character and professional who has played on the highest level and his addition will make us a better team!”
OC Blues FC next visits Austin Aztex this Saturday, August 22nd at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in Austin, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. PT.
Season and single game tickets for the 2015 OC Blues FC campaign in USL are on sale now.
Red Bulls II's Adams Leads Trio With U.S. U17s
TAMPA, Fla. – The New York Red Bulls II’s Tyler Adams leads three players with USL experience named in the squad for the U.S. U17 National Team led by Richie Williams that will compete at the 2015 U-17 International Youth Tournament of Vaclav Jezek in Pardubice, Czech Republic.
The LA Galaxy II’s Hugo Arellano and former Richmond Kickers academy signing William Pulisic are also part of the squad as it continues its preparations for the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup, set to be played in Chile this October.
The first signing in Red Bulls II history, Adams has had a solid first season for the playoff contender. The central midfielder has made seven starts for NYRB II in nine appearances, logging 699 minutes of action.
Arellano recently made his professional debut for Los Dos against OKC Energy FC on Aug. 4. Pulisic, meanwhile, was part of the Kickers’ squad in 2014 as a regular back-up to Ryan Taylor and Joe Willis.
The U.S. kicks off the tournament on Tuesday as it faces Russia in its opening group game. The side will also play Slovenia and Slovakia in the group stage, with a fourth and final game set for Saturday against a to-be-determined opponent.
Daily Five: Rhinos Elevate In East
Rochester’s lead in the East grows, while the race in the West tightens again. Here are five things to know in the USL today.
1. RHINOS ELEVATE IN EAST: The Rochester Rhinos’ quest for the USL Regular Season championship got a major lift on Saturday as the Eastern Conference leaders took a 2-1 victory against Wilmington Hammerheads FC and then saw their competition falter elsewhere. The Rhinos needed a late goal by Grant Van De Casteele to take a victory against Wilmington and now hold a five-point lead with six games remaining.
"We've been tested the last couple games and I think tonight's result really showed the team's character and the ability to fight back," Van De Casteele told the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle’s Jeff DiVeronica.
2. EASTERN CONTENDERS FALTER: Aodhan Quinn’s spectacular goal stole the headlines, but Louisville City FC had to fight back late to earn a point in a 2-2 draw with Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Saturday at ONEOK Field. Niall McCabe’s goal with 10 minutes to go got City back on level terms after it had fallen behind four minutes earlier on Cristian Mata’s sixth goal for Tulsa this season.
Louisville wasn’t the only Eastern Conference contender to drop points, as the third-place Charleston Battery were held to a 1-1 draw by Saint Louis FC, and the Richmond Kickers fell 2-1 on the road to Toronto FC II. The Kickers had taken the lead early in the second half on Yudai Imura’s first goal for the club, but the hosts rallied at the Ontario Soccer Centre as Mo Babouli leveled things up before Massimo Mirabelli scored a stoppage-time winner for TFC II.
3. ENERGY FC REGAINS FIRST: It took a hard-fought battle, but OKC Energy FC moved back to the top of the USL’s Western Conference with a 1-0 win against Real Monarchs SLC. Kyle Greig scored the only goal in the 74th minute for his seventh of the season to move Energy FC back ahead of Colorado Springs after the Switchbacks surrendered a late lead in a 3-3 draw with Sacramento on Friday night.
“You know, there’s no bad team in this league,” OKC captain Michael Thomas said after the last-place Monarchs provided a strong test for OKC. “Salt Lake City was a good team tonight; they’ve shown it. We’re a good team as well, but every game’s a battle. At the end of the day, we’ve got three points and right now we’re at the top of the league, so we’ve got to be happy about that.”
4. McBEAN LEADS LOS DOS’ RALLY: The LA Galaxy II entered Saturday’s game with Austin on a three-game losing streak. Facing a two-goal deficit at halftime it appeared the recent dip in the side’s form would continue, but an inspired second half led by Jack McBean saw Los Dos rally back for a 3-2 win that put the side just a point back of Energy FC.
The Aztex appeared on their way to maintaining their hopes of a late run to a playoff berth when a spectacular goal by Trevin Caesar was followed by a penalty kick from Fernando Timbo 10 minutes before the halftime break. LA’s comeback began just after the hour mark as new addition Bryan Olivera sprang McBean for a lobbed finish. Bradley Diallo then notched an equalizer with two minutes to go with a looping header, and McBean added a stoppage-time winner as he nodded home Rey Ortiz’s mishit shot to give Los Dos a crucial three points.
5. INDEPENDENCE, RIVERHOUNDS END LEVEL: The Pittsburgh Riverhounds were on the verge of a big win against the Charlotte Independence on Saturday night, but a late goal by Ryan Finley allowed the 10-man visitors to earn a 1-1 draw at Highmark Stadium. The Riverhounds had taken a first-half lead through Lebo Moloto’s outstanding volley, and then went up a man when Dominique Badji was sent off in the 41st minute for Charlotte. A late corner kick that followed a spell of Independence pressure paid off, however, setting up another big game between the playoff contenders this Saturday.
“It's not a good feeling, I can tell you that,” Riverhounds coach Mark Steffens told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Matt Grubba. “Tonight, we knew [Charlotte is] big, and every set piece we had trouble handling them. They're very tall and good in the air, so we tried to be smart and not foul a lot. … I figured the only way they were going to score a goal was a free kick.”
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