Match Preview: Rowdies vs Indy
March 10, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
MATCHDAY INFO:
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Indy Eleven
Saturday, March 11, 7:30 p.m. ET
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, FL
Tickets: Fans can purchase tickets for the match here or at the Al Lang box office starting at 4 pm on matchday.
Watch: Can't make it to Al Lang. Stream the match on ESPN+.
NEW FACES, OLD FACES
The Tampa Bay Rowdies kick off their seventh season in the USL Championship at Al Lang Stadium this Saturday against Eastern Conference foe Indy Eleven.
Both squads have retooled their rosters in the offseason. For the Tampa Bay, the aim is for the changes to help them get over the last hurdle and claim a championship after reaching three straight conference titles and the league final two of the last three years. Meanwhile, Indy is hoping its refresh is enough to get the club in the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
The Rowdies have undergone their largest overhaul since the 2019 new season. Ten players on this year's squad were not with Rowdies last season.
"We'll really start learning about the group this weekend," said Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins. Expectations are high as you can expect. We've kept a lot core guys that have been successful. The guys that we've added have all shown a real desire to be here. They all want to be here for all the right reasons. That's a great starting point."
However, two of those players who are very familiar to the Rowdies system and culture. Two-time USL Championship Defender of the Year Forrest Lasso has returned to Tampa Bay after a year spent playing in Sweden. Also returning is Irishman Jordan Doherty, who went back to his home country for the 2022 season but has chosen to rejoin the Rowdies for his fourth season. Both players are likely to play key roles for the Rowdies once again this year.
One new face to Indy's squad is a familiar one to Rowdies supporters. Tampa Bay's all-time leading scorer Sebastian Guenzatti now calls Indy home and will be returning to Al Lang this Saturday with the goal of taking three point off his former side.
Losing Leo
There's no getting around the hole left by 2022 USL Championship MVP Leo Fernandes' season-ending Achilles injury during preseason. With 19 goals and 9 assists, Fernandes accounted for nearly half of Tampa Bay's league-leading 73 goals last year.
Even before Fernande suffered his injury the Rowdies were looking to bolster their attacking with reinforcements. Forwards JJ Williams and Cal Jennings were signed after proving to be consistent producers in the USL. Jennings posted two straight 11-goal seasons while on loan to Las Vegas Lights FC from MLS' LAFC. Williams is coming off career season last year with 12 goals in USL play despite dealing with a transfer from Tulsa to Phoenix midway through the year.
Milestone Tracker
- Center back Aaron Guillen and midfielder Yann Ekra are nearing their 100th appearance for the Rowdies. Each player stands at 93 appearances heading into the new season.
- Jake Areman is nearing his 100th regular-season appearance. He currently has 98 appearances under his belt.
- Lewis Hilton is one assist away from his 30th regular-season assist in the USL Championship.
Lucky Mkosana is two goals away from his 50th regular-season goal in the USL Championship.
Injury Report
OUT: Connor Sparrow, Leo Fernandes (season ending injury)
United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 10, 2023
- SD Loyal Opens 2023 USL Championship Season with Home Match vs. Detroit City FC - San Diego Loyal
- Notes and Quotes: "We've got to have the right mindset, and the right mentality" - Sacramento Republic FC
- MBFC Launches New Online Game Day Feature with Live Stats - Monterey Bay FC
- Rooted in Orange County: Celebrating Ten Years of Ocsc in Irvine - Orange County SC
- Game Day: Hounds at Birmingham Legion FC - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Game Information and Match Notes - SAFC v OAK - San Antonio FC
- MBFC Re-Signs Forward Jason Johnson - Monterey Bay FC
- Three Wins, One Draw Claimed in Unbeaten Weekend for Academy Squads - Sacramento Republic FC
- Preview: FC Tulsa at Miami FC - March 11 - Miami, Fla. 4 p.m. CT - FC Tulsa
- DEX Imaging Takes over as Rowdies Kit Sponsor - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Charleston Face Phoenix in Home Opener at Patriots Point - Charleston Battery
- Loudoun United FC Sign Midfielder Aidan Rocha - Loudoun United FC
- RGV FC Sign 7 to USL Academy Contracts - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
- San Antonio FC Signs Eight to 2023 Roster on USL Academy Agreements - San Antonio FC
- Memphis 901 FC Aiming at New Heights with Revamped 2023 Squad - Memphis 901 FC
- Hartford Open 2023 Season in the Golden State at Monterey Bay - Hartford Athletic
- Orange County SC Announces the Signing of Three Local Products to USL Academy Contracts - Orange County SC
- Monterey Bay F.C. Begins 2023 Regular Season against Hartford Athletic at Cardinale Stadium in Seaside - Monterey Bay FC
- Switchbacks FC Release Full Promotional Calendar for 2023 - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
- Phoenix Rising FC Signs Four Players to USL Academy Contracts - Phoenix Rising FC
- Loudoun United FC Acquire Jeremy Garay and Gaoussou Samaké on Season-Long Loan - Loudoun United FC
- D.C. United Loan Defender Gaoussou Samake and Midfielder Jeremy Garay to Loudoun United FC - Loudoun United FC
- Detroit City FC Begins Season Saturday Night on the Road against San Diego Loyal - Detroit City FC
- Monterey Bay F.C. Positional Preview: Forwards - Monterey Bay FC
- SD Loyal Announces 2023 Regular Season TV Broadcast Schedule - San Diego Loyal
- Oakland Roots Sports Club Adds Six Players from Project 51O to the First Team - Oakland Roots
- Preview: What to Watch for with LouCity at Orange County SC - Louisville City FC
- Legion FC Adds Young, Talented Defender with Alabama Roots - Birmingham Legion FC
- New Mexico United Announces Signing of Polish Phenom Michael Wyparlo - New Mexico United
- Match Preview: Rowdies vs Indy - Tampa Bay Rowdies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
