Home Openers Highlight USL PRO Schedule
April 25, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - A trio of home openers highlight the USL PRO schedule this weekend as both OKC Energy FC and Sacramento Republic FC host their inaugural home openers - and the Rochester Rhinos their 19th - in a big weekend of action.
The Energy are set to take on defending USL PRO champion and fellow Sporting Kansas City partner Orlando City at Pribil Stadium on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET, with a sellout crowd set to be on hand to welcome OKC to the league. The Energy split four road contests to open the season and will aim to hand the Lions their first loss of the season with the help of two players who featured for Orlando on loan last season, goalkeeper Jon Kempin and midfielder Christian Duke.
Republic FC, meanwhile, is on course to set a new USL PRO regular-season attendance record in its home opener at Hughes Stadium as the Harrisburg City Islanders visit on Saturday night at 10:30 p.m. ET. More than 15,000 fans are expected as Sacramento looks to keep a top-four position in the early-season standings with new addition Adam Jahn, loaned this week from MLS partner the San Jose Earthquakes, potentially to make his first appearance.
Rochester, meanwhile, will try to build on its first win of the season this past Monday as it hosts the Charleston Battery on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. ET in a classic USL PRO matchup. The two teams have shared a long rivalry which has included a number of classic playoff contests, the most recent of which came two seasons ago as the Battery won in a penalty shootout at Sahlen's Stadium on their way to claiming the 2012 USL PRO Championship.
Other games to watch this weekend include Arizona United SC's tilt with the LA Galaxy II on Friday night at 10 p.m. ET, which sees Los Dos hit the road for the first time this season to visit an Arizona side aiming to build on its first win in franchise history.
Elsewhere, the Wilmington Hammerheads and Charlotte Eagles are set to meet on Saturday night at Legion Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET with bragging rights between the North Carolina rivals on the line, and there is also a playoff rematch as the Dayton Dutch Lions host the Richmond Kickers at 7 p.m. ET looking to maintain their strong start to the new season.
Every game of the 2014 USL PRO season can be seen live on YouTube, with live updates also available via Twitter (@USLPRO), Facebook and Google+. Stay up to date with news, previews and match reports from throughout the league via USLPROSoccer.com.
SCHEDULE
Friday, April 25
Charlotte vs. Chicago Reserves, 7 p.m. ET
Arizona vs. LA Galaxy II, 10 p.m. ET
Saturday, April 26
Pittsburgh vs. Charleston, 6 p.m. ET
Dayton vs. Richmond, 7 p.m. ET
Wilmington vs. Charlotte, 7:30 p.m. ET
Oklahoma City vs. Orlando, 8 p.m. ET
Sacramento vs. Harrisburg, 10:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, April 27
Rochester vs. Charleston, 4:05 p.m. ET
Orange County vs. LA Galaxy II, 7 p.m. ET
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United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 25, 2014
- Eagles Drop First Game of 2014 Season - Charlotte Eagles
- Pittsburgh Riverhounds Open Three-Game Home Stand against Charleston - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Home Openers Highlight USL PRO Schedule - USL
- Lions Sign Haitian Defender Bitielo Jean-Jacques - Orlando City SC
- Kickers Sign Tishan Hanley - Richmond Kickers
- Blues Blitz City Islanders 4-1 - Orange County SC
- Hammerheads Host Eagles Saturday - Wilmington Hammerheads FC
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