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USL FC Tulsa

Roughnecks Announce Preseason Training Plans

February 11, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Tulsa News Release


Tulsa Roughnecks FC announced details today on its upcoming preseason schedule under Head Coach David Irving. The Roughnecks are beginning preparations for their second season of play in the USL.

Preseason work will include an early trip to Florida where the team will spend nearly two weeks in training. Irving and the Roughnecks will be in Ft. Lauderdale from February 26 through March 1. The squad will move north to Jacksonville, Florida where it will train for six more days before returning to Tulsa on March 6.

The Roughnecks will play the first four of their eight scheduled preseason friendlies in Florida. Two of those matches will be against North American Soccer League competition, as Tulsa will face the Jacksonville Armada and expansion side Miami FC.

The two matches will provide strong early tests for Irving and his squad. The Armada roster includes Matt Fondy, who set a USL goal-scoring record for Louisville City last season, and former University of Tulsa standout Akeil Barrett. The Fusion roster includes MLS veteran Dane Richards and Honduras International defender Wilson Palacios. Palacios represented Honduras at both the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, while his club career has included stints in the Barclays English Premier League with Stoke City, Wigan Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur.

"Going to Florida is a great start to our training," said Irving. "Unlike last year, we will not have to be so concerned with the weather, and we will be able to get more work in. It will also be good for team bonding as we will have an extended period away to familiarize ourselves."

Irving also likes the slate of friendly matches that are scheduled. "We open with a pair of quick matches in Florida before moving on to a pair of tough meetings with the two NASL clubs," he said. "The schedule in Oklahoma will provide a good run of matches to help us continue the preparation for our March 26 opener. On paper, it is a great preseason for us that gives us the opportunity to get off to a faster start than what we did last year."

The Roughnecks first action in Tulsa will take place on March 10 when they make the short trip to the University of Tulsa to face the Golden Hurricane at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium.

On Saturday, March 12, the Roughnecks are partnering with Hillcrest, the club's primary medical provider, to present an Owasso Soccer Day at Owasso High School. The Roughnecks players will conduct a free youth soccer clinic from 1:00-2:30PM before meeting Oklahoma Wesleyan University in a preseason match that will kick off at 3:00PM at the high school stadium. Tickets for the match are $3 for students and $5 for adults. Kids wearing their team's jersey to the clinic will receive free admission to the match.

Tulsa will face SMU in Dallas on March 16 before seeing its first action at ONEOK Field. The Roughnecks will host NPSL side FC Wichita in downtown Tulsa for their final preseason friendly on Saturday, March 19.

Tulsa will open USL regular season play on Saturday, March 26 by hosting Rio Grande Valley (Houston Dynamo 2) at ONEOK Field.

The complete list of preseason friendlies is below.

NOTES: Tickets for the match with Wichita FC at ONEOK Field are currently on sale at the Roughnecks Ticket Office, at TulsaRoughnecksFC.com and by calling (918)744-5901. Tickets for the friendly are included in full-season ticket packages. . .Tickets for the match in Owasso are now available through the Owasso Athletic Department and through the Owasso Soccer Club. They will also be sold on the day of the match at the high school stadium.

TULSA ROUGHNECKS FC PRESEASON SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT TIME/LOCATION

Sunday, February, 28 vs. Florida Gulf Coast University 2:00pm/Ft. Lauderdale

Tuesday, March 1 vs. Miami Fusion TBA/Ft. Lauderdale

Thursday, March 3 vs. Jacksonville Armada 11:30am/Jacksonville

Saturday, March 5 vs. Miami FC 9:00am/Jacksonville

Thursday, March 10 at University of Tulsa 7:00pm/TU

Saturday, March 12 vs. Oklahoma Wesleyan Univ. 3:00pm/Owasso

Wednesday, March 16 at Southern Methodist Univ. TBA/Dallas

Saturday, March 19 vs. FC Wichita 7:00pm/ONEOK Field

A number of ticket packages for the 2016 regular season are now sale. More details are available by visiting TulsaRoughnecksFC.com.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from February 11, 2016


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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