USL Penn FC

Game Day Preview #PENvLOU

September 18, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release


HARRISBURG, Pa. - Penn FC (9-11-8, 35 pts) is in must-win mode to keep its playoff hopes alive when it hosts the Eastern Conference's third place team and defending USL Champions, Louisville City FC (13-6-9, 48 pts) Wednesday night.

Rush Soccer's First Team's road to the playoffs became more complicated after falling 1-0 to North Carolina FC this past Sunday. The loss kept Penn FC in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, six points away from the eighth and final playoff spot.

With a match in hand over current eighth place side New York Red Bulls II, the Blue and White are still left with a fighting chance for playoff soccer this season. However, only six matches remain in the regular season, and Penn FC likely needs to win the majority of its matches while earning points in all six to make the USL playoffs.

The first step for the Blue and White is to earn a result against a top-side in Louisville that Penn FC previously earned a 3-3 draw against back in June. Penn FC showed off its grit after it earned a two-goal comeback in the second half despite trailing LCFC 3-1 at the half. Lucky Mkosana earned a brace in the match while Prince Baffoe slotted an equalizer between the keeper's legs in the closing minutes of the match.

Despite the surrounding circumstances, Penn FC enters the match with some confidence. The Blue and White proved throughout the season -- including last Wednesday against fifth place Indy Eleven -- that it is not afraid of taking the fight to the bigger clubs.

One of the vocal leaders of the team, defender Kyle Venter, is taking a page out of Aaron Rodgers' playbook as he helps his teammates prepare for its attack in Wednesday's match.

"I think a big part of that is just to relax," Venter said. "I think at this time of the season it's easy to put a lot of pressure on yourselves and maybe tighten up a little bit when you get into those chances. My main thing would be not just for the attacking guys but for everybody to relax and trust that you have the ability to do it. That would be my point, be relaxed, don't tighten up, trust yourself and trust your teammates; we're going to get chances so relax, pick your spot and put it in the net."

On the defensive end, Penn FC will face a new wrinkle that it did not see in June. The USL's Golden Boot leader Cameron Lancaster walks onto the pitch with 19 goals on the season. The backline will need to concentrate on limiting Lancaster's attempts while also neutralizing Ilija Ilic who had a significant impact in Louisville's attack in the last match.

At this stage of the season, Head Coach Raoul Voss knows its a mental game as much as a physical one, especially considering the flurry of matches the team is playing to finish out the season. The gaffer is projecting positivity on the training pitch and in the dressing room as his team prepares to play its fourth match in 11 days.

"We gotta lift ourselves up and get going, there's everything to play for, we gotta do it now," Voss said.

Penn FC and Louisville City FC square off at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19 at FNB Field. The Blue and White are hosting Pups in the Park night during the match. Fans are encouraged to bring their dogs with them to the stadium and will receive a free Penn FC and Keystone K-9 branded bandanna. Gates will open at the stadium at 5 p.m.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 18, 2018


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