USL Tampa Bay Rowdies

Rowdies Ready to Open up Al Lang against Loudoun

Published on June 11, 2021 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release


Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Loudoun United FC

Friday, June 11, 7:30 p.m. ET

Al Lang Stadium

Pre-game Show: The Unused Substitutes will be hosting a live pre-game show at Al Lang from 7-7:30p.m. Suprise guests will be joining the show, which can be viewed live on Twitch here.

Watch: The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ here.

Follow Along: Live updates for the match will be posted on Twitter at @RowdiesGameday. Score Updates will also be posted on the Rowdies' Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Post-Match: The Rowdies will be hosting a fireworks show 15 minutes after the final whistle for fans in attendance.

Bouncing Back

The Tampa Bay Rowdies return from last week's two-match road trip with one in the loss column but still holding the best record in the USL Championship and the top spot in the Atlantic Division Standings. After falling to the Charlotte Independence 1-0 on Saturday, the Rowdies are eager to get back on track this Friday against Loudoun United FC.

"The road trip maybe took its toll slightly on us. It's not an excuse because I think all the players feel they underperformed.," said Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins. "We just didn't do ourselves justice. Charlotte had a good game plan and I think they executed it well, but we always look at ourselves and ask how we could've done better. We'll learn the lessons from a technical standpoint and we're looking forward to being back at home."

Even with a below par performance in Charlotte, the Rowdies were one moment away from taking a point back home. By virtue of their strong defensive effort, the Rowdies are virtually always in every match. In fact, the last time the Rowdies lost by two or more goals was a 2-0 defeat on the road to Loudoun on October 4, 2019.

Al Lang's Open For Business

Friday's match will also be the first time Al Lang Stadium has been opened up to full capacity since October of 2019.

To say Collins and the players are ready to play in front of a full house again would be a massive understatement.

"I'm always excited about being at Al Lang but I think this one's a bit special knowing that we're a full capacity coming up on two years," said Collins. "Our players will thrive on the atmosphere that the fans will bring. They're both really important to each other. The players obviously need the fans and the fans thrive on the players and the energy and the attitude that the players bring. Every night you get a home game here is special, but I think when you've got the fans returning in full voice you want to put on a performance that they can shout about."

Antley's Evolution

No Rowdies newcomer has played more minutes this season than Conner Antley, who has started in every match apart from the last outing in Charlotte. Antley, 26, is listed on the Rowdies roster as a defender and did play some minutes on the three-man back line during preseason, but he's taken hold of the right wingback spot since the season started.

After winning USL League One Defender of the Year with South Georgia Tormenta FC in 2019, Antley had trouble cracking into the regular rotation at Indy Eleven in 2020.

"I think with the pandemic it was a little bit difficult to get into a groove and develop my game as much maybe as I wanted to," said Antley. "I think I got better as a player, I definitely learned a lot up there... I was also around a lot of older players, a lot of experienced guys that helped me to become a better professional. That was great. Indy was a good spot for me. I enjoyed my time there, but I'm definitely grateful now to be playing in St Petersburg for Neill."

Antley credits Collins with the marked growth he's experienced as a player the last several months.

"Neill really pushes everyone in training," he said. "I've developed more down here in the last three or four months than I have in the last two years, no question. Neill expects a certain level from everyone on the team. If we don't reach that level, he's on us. So I think there's no choice but to get better down here. He holds a standard at training that if you drop below it you know he's gonna be on you about it. It's been a massive move for me to come down here and play for Neill."

Opposition notes

Loudoun is coming off a tough 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Charleston Battery on Tuesday night, solidifying their position at the bottom of the Atlantic Division. Despite their run of poor results, Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins isn't looking past Loudoun in the slightest.

"The results don't reflect their performances," he said. "We expect to face a real energetic, talented, young team littered with a couple players that have been through the USL before. We're really trying to focus on ourselves. When we play these teams, we're aware of their philosophy and their style, but we've got to believe if we play our way and we implement our style, then whoever they bring down is just a good challenge for the players."

The Rowdies have only faced Loudoun twice before, both times during the 2019 season. They only managed to scrape a point off Loudoun at Al Lang in their first bout and then dropped the away rematch 2-0.

Jovanny Bolivar currently leads Loudoun with two goals this year. Bolivar, 19, is on loan from MLS' D.C. United.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 11, 2021


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