USL Phoenix Rising FC

Phoenix Rising Kicks off 2019 Campaign with Challenging Road Trip to San Antonio

Published on March 8, 2019 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Phoenix Rising FC News Release


What You Need To Know

Phoenix Rising begins its sixth season in the USL Championship.

Rick Schantz leads the club for the first time as the full-time head coach.

Rising begins the season with 13 returning players from last season's Western Conference Championship-winning squad.

Phoenix Rising will see a familiar face in former forward Billy Forbes, who signed with San Antonio FC for the 2019 season.

The club travels to San Antonio for its eighth-ever meeting with San Antonio FC.

The club has yet to win in San Antonio, going 0-3-1 in four matches.

THIS WEEK

Saturday, March 9 -- at San Antonio FC, 6:30 p.m.

TV: Your PHX CW | ESPN+

Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Complete Game Notes

Phoenix Rising kicks off the 2019 season on the road as the club squares off with San Antonio FC. It will be the fourth time in eight seasons the team has opened the season away from home. The club has gone 1-1-1 in its previous three road season openers. In 2018, the club split its two matches against San Antonio with a 4-0 win at home and a 3-2 loss on the road.

Fans can watch the match at one of two official watch parties held at the Casino Arizona Sports Bar and PAZ Cantina. Fans not going to the watch parties can watch the match at home on Your PHX CW, the official television home of Phoenix Rising. Fans with cable can tune in on channel 6. Fans with satellite or over-the-air antennas can tune in to channel 61.1.

A Little Bit About San Antonio FC

San Antonio is hosting a season opener for the first time in club history. The team has gone 2-1-0 in its previous three season openers. The club is 25-8-15 all-time at Toyota Field.

San Antonio added 14 new players to the roster, highlighted by 2016 USL All-League First Team players Jack Barmby, who scored six goals and tallied three assists in 2018 with Portland Timbers 2.

The Series With San Antonio FC

This will be the 8th meeting between the two clubs.

San Antonio leads the series 4-2-1

Three of Rising's four losses in the series has been in San Antonio.

San Antonio holds the longest unbeaten streak in the series, three matches (2-0-1)

Rising's only point in San Antonio came in a 1-1 draw on September 4, 2016, when the club was named Arizona United. The team's lone goal came from forward Long Tan.

In 2018, the two sides split the season series last season, with each club winning at their home field. Rising won the first matchup, 4-0, on August 22, at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex. Rising goals were scored by Chris Cortez, Solomon Asante, Devin Vega, and Billy Forbes. In the rematch at San Antonio on Sept. 9, the home side won 3-2. Both of Rising's goals were tallied by Chris Cortez. The San Antonio game-winner was scored by Lance Laing.

When Rising takes the field on Saturday, the players will see a familiar face on the other side of the pitch: Billy Forbes! The former Rising, and one-time former San Antonio forward, came back to San Antonio for the 2019 season. In Rising's last win over San Antonio, Forbes scored against his then-former team in a 4-0 win.

Who are you again?

Forbes will be one of a very few familiar faces in San Antonio. Over the offseason, the club brought in 17 new players for the 2019 season. One of those new players is SAFC Academy player Leo Torres. The 16-year old became the youngest signing in USL Championship history.

Welcome back home

One former San Antonio player who is still with the club is midfielder Devin Vega. The youngster began his professional career when he signed with SAFC in 2017. He then signed with Phoenix Rising in 2018 and scored against his former club in a 4-0 win on August 22, 2018.

Welcome back...

Roster Turnover is common in USL Championship, but RIsing FC managed to bring back 13 players from the 2018 Western Conference Championship team: Carl Woszczynski, Doueugui Mala, Collin Fernandez, Amadou Dia, Jason Johnson, Joey Farrell, Alessandro Riggi, Solomon Asante, Gladson Awako, Devin Vega, Kevon Lambert, Zac Lubin, and James Musa.

Hello, my name is...

A total of nine players could potentially make their Rising FC debuts on opening weekend: A.J. Cochran, Junior Flemmings, Adam Jahn, Logan Gdula, Jose Aguinaga, Joey Calistri, Mustapha Dumbuya,Ilijah Paul, Brandon Keniston.

Young guns

Two of Phoenix Rising's signings stand out from the offseason: GK Brandon Keniston and FIlijah Paul. Kensiton (17 years old) became the first player from the Phoenix Rising Youth Club to be signed onto the first team. Paul (16 years old) became the youngest signing in club history.

Primed and ready to score

Phoenix Rising played in seven preseason matches with six coming against Major League Soccer clubs. Five different players on the opening weekend roster notched goals in the preseason: Kevon Lambert, Ben Spencer, Adam Jahn, Jason Johnson, Joey Calistri.

Check out the Phoenix Rising FC Statistics

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 8, 2019


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