Unbeaten Streaks, Scoring Runs on the Line in Week 7 of the Fall Season

Published on August 14, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release


Ottawa Fury FC Celebrate
Ottawa Fury FC Celebrate
(Ottawa Fury FC)

NEW YORK (August 14, 2015) - After Jacksonville Armada FC's resounding 3-0 victory over the Carolina RailHawks on Wednesday night, North American Soccer League (NASL) Fall Season action picks back up with five matchups this weekend.

Headlining the list of Week 7 fixtures is a clash between league-leading Ottawa Fury FC and visiting Minnesota United FC at TD Place on Saturday. Fury FC will be looking to tie the NASL Modern Era record for most games unbeaten (13).

Kicking off at the same time will be the New York Cosmos and San Antonio Scorpions, who will do battle at Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y. The Cosmos will put a streak of their own on the line as they try to add to their home unbeaten run that spans more than a full calendar year.

Elsewhere on Saturday, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers will go for their second straight Florida Derby win against their rivals, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, while the Armada FC will look to cool off the visiting Atlanta Silverbacks, who have been on fire in recent weeks.

In Sunday's lone game, FC Edmonton will look to continue its solid Fall Season form against the visiting Carolina RailHawks at Clarke Field.

Here is a full preview of each Week 7 matchup:

New York Cosmos vs. San Antonio Scorpions

7 p.m. ET | Saturday, Aug. 15

Shuart Stadium | Hempstead, NY

Watch | US (National) - ONE World Sports, San Antonio (Local) - KSAT 12.2 MeTV

The Cosmos haven't lost at home in more than a year - 14 games unbeaten - but face the first side to beat them (last season, twice) at Shuart Stadium, the San Antonio Scorpions. After a slow start to the Fall Season, the Cosmos are hitting their stride. New York is unbeaten in its last four - two wins, two draws - and most recently the Cardiac Cosmos returned with a dramatic comeback to draw the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, 3-3. Leo Fernandes has quietly become the Cosmos' leading scorer with five goals on the season.

For the Scorpions, Omar Cummings has led the way. The Jamaican veteran has a league-leading 10 goals. His goals, however, haven't translated into enough results recently, but a win in New York will certainly boost the Scorpions' confidence and start moving the defending champions up the Fall and Combined Standings - where they sit 10th (Fall) and 11th (Combined).

Ottawa Fury FC vs. Minnesota United FC

7 p.m. ET | Saturday, Aug. 15

TD Place | Ottawa, Ontario

Watch | US (National) - ESPN3, Canada (National) - OttawaFuryFC.com, Ottawa (Local) - Rogers TV, Twin Cities (Local) - KSTC-45TV

When Ottawa Fury FC hosts Minnesota United, both sides will put streaks on the line. Fury FC is unbeaten in its last 12 matches, one shy of an NASL Modern Era record. Built on a strong defense, Ottawa will need to slow down a Loons attack that has scored in each of their last 17 games.

The success of Minnesota's attack has been running through last season's Golden Boot winner, Christian Ramirez. The forward is now Minnesota's career leading scorer - 27 goals - after scoring for a sixth straight game. He is two shy of the Modern Era record for most consecutive games with a goal.

Ottawa, though, will certainly want to play spoiler to the Loons' streaks after Minnesota - and Ramirez - ended Fury FC's shutout streak at 648 minutes in a previous Fall Season encounter.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, Aug. 15

Lockhart Stadium | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Watch | US (National) - ESPN3, Canada (National) - NASL.com, Fort Lauderdale (Local) - SFL-TV

The Coastal Cup Standings are taking shape, and currently the Rowdies lead the way. Playing one more game than the others - the Strikers and Jacksonville Armada FC - Tampa Bay has won three of its four matches. It will be a little different for the Rowdies as they head out for their first road test in the Florida-based competition. It will also mark Thomas Rongen's first visit to Fort Lauderdale as a coach of the Rowdies. Rongen featured prominently for the Strikers as a player in the league's Golden Era.

While the Strikers nearly pulled off their first Modern Era victory against the Cosmos before losing a three-goal lead last week, Fort Lauderdale needs to remain confident - and there are plenty of reasons that it should. The Strikers' attack has been influential, with Walter Ramirez hitting top form with three goals in his last two games. Fort Lauderdale also gave the Rowdies their lone Coastal Cup loss of the year after a commanding 3-1 performance at Al Lang Stadium in July.

Jacksonville Armada FC vs. Atlanta Silverbacks

7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, Aug. 15

Community First Park | Jacksonville, FL

Watch | U.S. (National) - ESPN3, Canada (National) - NASL.com, Jacksonville (Local) - CW17

Jacksonville needed to dust itself off after a few tough results, and it did just that with a 3-0 win against the RailHawks on Wednesday night. The Armada FC's attack continues to be a bright spot, and is now a dangerous quartet with the emergence of Akeil Barrett to team with Pascal Millien, Alhassane Keita, and Jemal Johnson. Jacksonville has scored eight goals in its last three matches.

The Silverbacks have found their goalscoring touch as well. Pedro Mendes, Junior Burgos, and Jaime Chavez have formed a difficult trio to defend, scoring 13 of Atlanta's 14 Fall Season goals. Currently unbeaten in four matches, the Silverbacks head to Jacksonville looking to continue their second half renaissance.

FC Edmonton vs. Carolina RailHawks

4 p.m. ET | Sunday, Aug. 16

Clarke Field | Edmonton, Alberta

Watch | US (National) - ESPN3, Edmonton (Local) - City TV, Cary/Raleigh (Local) - WRAL2

The Eddies are back to full strength, and can build off of their third-place position in the Fall Season. A win against the RailHawks this weekend can move them into the fourth spot in the Combined Standings depending on other results. Lance Laing continues to play a key role for Edmonton, notching his sixth assist - tied for the league lead - in a 1-1 draw with Minnesota. Laing's favorite target with his crosses, Tomi Ameobi, has shown his scoring touch since returning from injury, and he is tied with Laing for the team lead with six goals apiece.

Carolina needs to move past their Wednesday performance, as they head to Clarke Field, which is never an easy venue to travel to. Nacho Novo leads Carolina with seven goals on the season, while Tiyi Shipalane also proves a difficult test for fullbacks and has scored four times to go with his four assists.

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Ottawa Fury FC Celebrate
Ottawa Fury FC Celebrate
   



North American Soccer League Stories from August 14, 2015


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