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USL United Soccer League Championship

Cascadia Clash Between T2 and S2 Highlights Week 4

April 10, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


TAMPA, Fla. - In Week 4 of the 2015 USL season, a Cascadia rivalry begins this Saturday between Portland Timbers 2 and Seattle Sounders FC 2, while Saint Louis FC will make its home debut and expects a sellout crowd to back the team in its matchup against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Elsewhere, the Austin Aztex and Arizona United SC prepare for a pivotal matchup in Western Conference play, and several other games provide an early challenge as teams jockey for position in the conference standings.

GAMES TO WATCH

FC Montreal vs. Rochester Rhinos

Saturday, 2:30 p.m. ET, Stade Saputo

For the history guru, there is some lore heading into FC Montreal's match against the Rochester Rhinos at Stade Saputo. In earlier USL days, the Montreal Impact and Rhinos regularly bucked heads, with fan support in both corners for away matches. On the pitch this season, FC Montreal has only scratched the surface in its first season with a 2-0 loss against Toronto FC II on March 28. The Rhinos (1-0-1) can boost their position in the Eastern Conference with a good result in Montreal. They found the win column last week with a 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, on goals from Tony Walls and Alex Dixon. (Preview; Feature: Renewed Rivalry)

Saint Louis FC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET, St. Louis Soccer Park

Expansion Saint Louis FC is all set for its home opener, which the organization has announced as a sellout. The fan contingent and St. Louligans have already shone their support on the road, so that base could provide a strong backdrop for the host team, which has opened the season with a 1-1-0 record. The Riverhounds sit alongside STL FC in the standings at 1-1-0, most recently dropping a 2-1 decision against the Rochester Rhinos on April 4. Though the offense had a bit of a setback in that match, Pittsburgh clearly has the scoring punch as evidenced by its 5-2 rout of the Harrisburg City Islanders to open the season. Kevin Kerr leads the Riverhounds with three goals and Rob Vincent has two goals and two assists to his name. (Preview)

Austin Aztex vs. Arizona United SC

Saturday, 9 p.m. ET, House Park

A four-game road trip to open the season has not been a deterrent of any sort for Arizona United. United is 2-0-0 in the Western Conference and prepares for another stiff test away from home, going up against the Austin Aztex (2-1-0) at House Park. This match will define the conference picture a bit more as these two teams and Seattle are tied with six points apiece behind West-leading Portland Timbers 2's seven points. Second-year United is already off to a stronger start than the 2014 campaign, when the club posted a 2-2-1 record in its first five games - the first four being on the road. (Preview)

Seattle Sounders FC 2 vs. Portland Timbers 2

Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET, Starfire Sports Stadium

This Cascadia matchup likely was circled on the calendar early in the year, and under the current circumstances, it is setting up to be a big Western Conference game. T2 (2-0-1, 7 points) have taken the points lead in the West and Seattle Sounders FC 2 (2-0-0, 6 points) returns from a bye week with still the highest scoring output in the league. S2 has eight goals in two matches, tied for the USL lead with the Charleston Battery, who have eight goals in three games. T2 will have a bit of a setback defensively with the suspension of Rennico Clarke. He received two yellow cards during Portland's 1-1 draw against Real Monarchs SLC on Wednesday. League-wide, five players have scored three goals heading into this weekend, and two could feature in this matchup in Seattle's Darwin Jones and Portland's Kharlton Belmar. (Preview; Feature: T2's Kharlton Belmar)

NEWS AND NOTES

- The Austin Aztex (2-1-0, 6 points) are the only team to post multiple shutouts this season, opening with a 2-0 win against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on March 28 and most recently blanking Tulsa Roughnecks FC 2-0 on April 4. Devin Perales manned the net for both matches. On Saturday, Austin will host Arizona United SC (2-0-0). Austin's defense will be put to the test against an Arizona side that touts former USL Golden Boot winner Dennis Chin, who has two goals in two matches thus far.

- Though they are idle this week, the Charleston Battery head into the weekend with multiple statistical leaders. Heviel Cordoves is the only player two score two game-winning goals this season, and he has taken more shots (12) than anyone else. Maikel Chang leads the USL with three assists. Charleston (3-0-0) returns to action on Saturday, April 18, when it hosts the New York Red Bulls II.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Every game of the 2015 USL season can be seen live, free and in HD on YouTube (www.Youtube.com/USL), with updates from throughout the league also available via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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