USL United Soccer League Championship

Energy FC Looks to Maintain West Lead, Visits Republic FC in Week 14

Published on June 19, 2015 under United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


TAMPA, Fla. - Western Conference-leading OKC Energy FC continues its big turnaround from a season ago when it visits defending USL champion Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday in Week 13 action at Bonney Field. Energy FC has won five consecutive matches, all coming during its homestand at Taft Stadium.

OKC (7-4-2) enters the weekend with 24 points, one ahead of Seattle Sounders FC 2 and two points ahead of the LA Galaxy II and Sacramento.

In the Eastern Conference, the Charlotte Independence hope to maintain their recent success when they host the Charleston Battery at Ramblewood Soccer Stadium. Charlotte advanced to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup's Round of 16 this week with a 1-0 win against Major League Soccer's New England Revolution and learned Thursday that it will face the Chicago Fire.

GAMES TO WATCH

Saint Louis FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET, World Wide Technology Soccer Park

Saint Louis FC has managed to string together four consecutive draws, coming from behind with a second-half equalizer in the latter three games. Now, Saint Louis (3-3-5) prepares for a conference crossover against Colorado Springs (7-5-0), headed by St. Louis native Steve Trittschuh. Trittschuh's side has surged up the West standings with three consecutive victories while touting the USL's second-ranked goals-per-game average (2.1). Switchbacks midfielder Shintaro Harada, who previously played for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Dayton Dutch Lions, is one game away from reaching 100 career USL appearances. Harada has scored in back-to-back games against the Portland Timbers 2 and Real Monarchs SLC. This is the Switchbacks' only match of the season against an Eastern Conference opponent. For Saint Louis FC, this is the third of five games against a West team, and the Midwest squad won the previous two - a 2-0 victory against Tulsa Roughnecks FC on April 2 and a 2-1 decision against OKC Energy FC on April 25. (Preview; Crossover Clash in St. Louis)

Charlotte Independence vs. Charleston Battery

Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, Ramblewood Soccer Stadium

The Independence are fresh off of a 1-0 victory against Major League Soccer's New England Revolution on Wednesday to advance to the Round of 16 at the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Combined with a strong 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds last week in league play, the Independence are in a good stretch heading into Saturday's game against Charleston. Charlotte will play its first match at Ramblewood Soccer Stadium, which is the locale of the remaining nine regular-season home games. Charlotte and Charleston have faced each other twice this season, with the Battery earning a 3-2 victory during the season opener on March 27 and drawing 1-1 on May 23 at Blackbaud Stadium. The Battery (6-1-6) hope to narrow the four-point gap between them and the East-leading Rochester Rhinos, and the Independence (3-4-3) sit in ninth place and need a successful stretch to work their way toward the other side of the postseason cutoff line. (Independence Open Ramblewood)

Sacramento Republic FC vs. OKC Energy FC

Saturday, 11 p.m. ET, Bonney Field

To put Energy FC's form into perspective, the Western Conference leader has amassed the longest winning streak among the USL contingent in 2015 (five games), has already surpassed its home win total from a year ago (six this year versus five in 2014) and is just two overall victories shy of matching 2014 (seven this year, compared to nine during its inaugural campaign). OKC (7-2-3) will face a stiff test going on the road against Sacramento (7-6-1), which looks to amend its past two games at home - a 1-1 draw against Real Monarchs SLC and a 1-0 loss to the Austin Aztex. A big key for Republic FC is the return of Rodrigo Lopez, who is back from a three-game suspension. Lopez enters the weekend tied for the USL career assists lead with Kevin Molino (22 assists), a two-time USL MVP with Orlando City SC. Sacramento goes up against an Energy FC defense that has not allowed a goal since Adnan Gabeljic's 62nd-minute tally during OKC's 2-1 win against Sacramento on May 23. Evan Newton has manned the net during Energy FC's five-game winning streak, and the defense's shutout streak currently sits at 389 minutes. (Preview; Republic FC, OKC Meet in Key Clash; Sacramento Signs Pakistan Captain Khan)

NEWS AND NOTES

- The Rochester Rhinos (8-0-4) will put their unbeaten run on the line once again, traveling to face the Harrisburg City Islanders (4-3-3) on Friday at the Skyline Sports Complex. Rochester, which is in the midst of the club's second-longest undefeated streak to open the season, is 4-0-4 away from Sahlen's Stadium. Harrisburg is 2-0-1 at home, and City Islanders head coach Bill Becher said he expects this will be a big test for the club. This is the first of two matches between these East sides in league play, and Rochester advanced past Harrisburg during this year's U.S. Open Cup.

- The Pittsburgh Riverhounds' Rob Vincent leads the USL with nine goals this season heading into his team's match against FC Montreal on Saturday. Vincent's goals-per-game clip of nine in 12 games (0.75) is tied with Real Monarchs SLC's Max Rauhofer (six goals in eight games).

- The LA Galaxy II are 5-0-0 all-time against I-405 Derby rival Orange County Blues FC. Los Dos defeated Orange County, 2-1, on June 6 on goals from Raul Mendiola and Kainoa Bailey.

- On Sunday, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 and the Portland Timbers 2 face each other for the first time. Vancouver starts up a stretch with three Cascadia home matches over the next three weeks and four games. WFC2 hosts Seattle Sounders FC 2 on July 4, followed by a rematch against T2 on July 10.

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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United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 19, 2015


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