Hartford Host Rio Grande Valley in Penultimate Home Match of 2023
October 3, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Hartford Athletic News Release
Date: Wednesday, October 4th, 2023
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut
Tickets: HERE
Match Day Promotion: $2 Beer $1 Hot Dog Night startig at 6:00 PM
Streaming: ESPN Plus or WTNH.com
HARTFORD ATHLETIC (4-23-4) vs RIO GRANDE VALLEY FC TOROS (9-10-12)
Hartford Athletic play Rio Grande Valley FC Toros tomorrow night at Trinity Health Stadium. The match is a reschedule of the original matchup on September 9th, which was postponed due to lightning in the area.
LAST TIME OUT
Hartford Athletic are coming off a 2-0 loss to Miami FC on the road last Saturday. The first half was scoreless, but did not lack scoring chances for either side. Miami hit the crossbar three times, and Beverly Makangila forced a diving save at the bottom left corner by Jake McGuire late in the half. The home side took the lead on a goal from Florian Valot in the 65th minute, and doubled it with a brilliant strike from outside the box from Joaquin Rivas in the 78th minute. Prince Saydee hit the crossbar on a well-struck free kick two minutes prior, coming inches away from tying the game.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Hartford and RGV have faced off just once all-time, playing to a scoreless draw last year at H-E-B Park. Despite the final score, it was a rather one-sided affair. FC Toros outshot Hartford 32 to two, and 16 of them were from inside the box. Hartford keeper (at the time) Yannik Oettl came up with eight saves.
MCGLYNN REACHES THE CENTURY MARK
Hartford Athletic midfielder Conor McGlynn made his 100th appearance in Green and Blue against Miami last Saturday. The second-most tenured player in club history (four seasons, behind only Danny Barrera) has totaled over 6,000 minutes in his 100 appearances, scoring eight goals and tallying four assists. He is fan-favorite amongst the Hartford faithful, as he's been a part of some of the club's all-time highlights, including including an incredible goal from his own half against the New York Red Bulls II in 2021. The Middle Village, New York native signed his first professional contract with Hartford in 2020 after participating in the club's open tryouts.
PROBLEMS (INJURIES) COME IN THREES
Hartford Athletic will be without Niall Logue on Saturday, and Edgardo Rito and Antoine Hoppenot are questionable to play. All three players are significant for Hartford. Logue has served as the most frequent faces on Hartford's back line, making 20 appearances and 18 starts. Rito and Hoppenot have been vital to Hartford's chance creation, as both players sit at the top of the roster in total crosses and assists (Rito has 123 total crosses and four assists, and Hoppenot has 53 total crosses and three assists). It would be the third straight game Hartford will play without Hoppenot, and the team has been shutout in the last two in his absence.
THE PRINCE MOVING UP THE RANKS
If he scores one more goal this season, Prince Saydee will hold sole possession of third place all-time on the Hartford Athletic scoring list. He has seven on the year and 11 total in Green and Blue, currently tied for third place with former Hartford forward Alex Dixon. He sits behind Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. (15) and Danny Barrera (16).
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
The Toros currently sit in 11th in the Western Conference, but sit just three points below the final playoff spot. They are a strong defensive team, conceding just 1.4 goals per game on average along with a successful tackle rate of 69%. The team has also had a total of nine shutouts in their 31 matches, placing them eighth in the entire league for clean sheets. The Toros have three games left against Hartford, Sacramento, and Loudoun to acquire the points needed to earn the final playoff position.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hartford Athletic: Kyle Edwards, FW #17
Kyle Edwards has been one of Hartford Athletic's best offensive weapons in the 2023 season, leading the team in goals scored with seven in 24 appearances. In Hartford's latest matchup against Miami FC, Edwards created Hartford's best chances of the night, including two shots and several threatening runs into the opponent's third. His combination of speed, size, and strength allow him to create chances and find space in the box to shoot or distribute.
Rio Grande Valley FC: Taylor Davila, DF #8
Taylor Davila has been a valuable piece to the toros on both sides of the ball this season. Davila is a young, energetic player who pushes the ball forward and is involved in the final third attack. Offensively, Davila is second on the team for goals with six, but leads the team in assists (5), shots (39), and chances created (61). Davila is also a reliable player defensively, as he's recorded 28 interceptions and five blocked shots on the season. He also leads the team in appearances (31), solidifying him as a consistently important piece to RGV's success.
INJURY REPORT
Hartford Athletic
Out: Niall Logue (ankle)
Questionable: Antoine Hoppenot (abdominal), Edgardo Rito (hamstring)
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
Out: None
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