
Preview: FC Tulsa at Miami FC - March 11 - Miami, Fla. 4 p.m. CT
March 10, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Tulsa News Release
MIAMI, Fla. - We have waited five long months to say it, but it's finally time - FC Tulsa is playing a regular season USL Championship match tomorrow evening. The Florida sun will greet a reconfigured Tulsa squad as they step off the plane in the 305 to take on Miami FC at 4 p.m. CT.
Head coach Blair Gavin will make his head coaching debut after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach with MLS' Columbus Crew and three years as an assistant with Phoenix Rising FC before that. His philosophy? Attack relentlessly.
"We want to have an attacking mindset both with and without the ball," said Gavin. "We are hoping to be proactive in the game and play on the front foot. In attack, we want to play through pressure and if it's lost quickly, get it back to retain the ball and keep progressing to goal. In defense, we want to be organized and collectively hunt the ball so we can force turnovers and start attacking again."
To achieve Gavin's tactical objectives, FC Tulsa's roster underwent a major overhaul with 13 new players signing with the club and 18 departures from the 2022 roster. Of those 13 additions, six primarily play out in the wide positions. Brett Levis, Justin Malou, and Chase Bromstedt are listed as full-backs while Milo Yosef, Watz Leazard, and Siad Haji have a history of attacking from the wings.
Returning faces FC Tulsa fans will recognize include Rodrigo da Costa and Darío Suárez, who rank first and third in goals scored for the franchise respectively, veterans Jorge Corrales and Eric Bird, along with three of the club's midseason teenage signings from a year ago who all saw minutes late in the season - Luca Sowinski, Christopher Pearson, and Angel Bernal.
The dawn of a new FC Tulsa era will be ushered in when the clock strikes 4 p.m. tomorrow night in Tulsa. When asked how he wants his team to be defined in 2023, Gavin replied that his guys will give it everything they have and leave nothing left. Miami FC poses the first test for this new group, and all USL Championship eyes will be watching.
SCOUTING MIAMI FC
Miami FC's 2023 squad remains very similar to the one it utilized to clinch a sixth-place Playoffs spot a season ago. Kyle Murphy (who finished tied for the third-highest USL-C goal mark in 2021), captain Paco Craig, and last season's club leader in assists, Florain Valot, all return to the club. A new goalkeeper, Adrian Zendejas who was acquired via loan from Charlotte FC of MLS, will replace Connor Sparrow who departed in the offseason.
The match will also mark the first time FC Tulsa faces off against JoaquiÃÂn Rivas since August 9, 2000 when the Salvadoran competed for Saint Louis FC, a match that Tulsa won on the road by a 2-0 margin. Rivas appeared 95 times during his Tulsa tenure and scored 27 goals for the club.
STAT OF THE MATCH
Forward Marcus Epps needs to log 65 minutes in tomorrow's match to cross the 10,000 minute mark over his regular season USL Championship career.
WATCH PARTY
The official Watch Party of FC Tulsa will be held at the Tulsan Athletic Club on Saturday. DJ Oreo will begin his set at 3 p.m. and play until the match kicks off at 4 p.m. Pickleball will be free, 83 United will be grilling up food, and Dane Arnold and The Soup will be playing a live show after the match.
Drink specials include Domestic pitchers priced at $10 and 918 Cervezas will be available for $4. In addition, FC Tulsa will be hosting a ticket raffle at the event.
TUNE IN
Fans can watch all of the action on MY41 locally in Tulsa or stream on ESPN+. Be sure to follow @FCTulsa on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to keep up to date with match highlights and more.
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.
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