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USL United Soccer League Championship

USL Weekend Preview - Week 8

May 13, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


TAMPA, Fla. - The eighth week of the 2016 USL season kicks off on Friday night with 13 games slated for a weekend that will see the renewal of the King's Cup rivalry, a battle between the top two teams in the Western Conference, and the first USL meeting between two cities that have historically held a grudge.

Every game of the 2016 USL season will be available on the league's Match Center, with updates from across the league also available via Twitter, Facebook, Vine and Instagram.

GAMES TO WATCH

Friday, May 13

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Portland Timbers 2

9 p.m. ET, Switchbacks Stadium, ESPN3

The USL Game of the Week on ESPN3 heads to Colorado Springs on Friday night as two teams sitting in the top eight of the Western Conference standings, who also both took a victory in their last outings, face off at Switchbacks Stadium.

A playoff contender a season ago, the Switchbacks (4-2-0, 12pts) have made a solid start to their second campaign, and could pull within a point of the conference-leading LA Galaxy II with a victory on Friday. Coming off a 3-0 win against Orange County Blues FC, Coach Steve Trittschuh's side will look to replicate its success against Portland a season ago, when it took a victory in both meetings between the teams.

T2 (3-4-1, 10pts) had a slow start to the season, but has found a strong vein of form of late, going 3-1-1 in its last five outings. Portland took a 3-1 win against Real Monarchs SLC last Saturday as rookies Ben Polk and Neco Brett both found the back of the net, and with 2015 Rookie of the Year Kharlton Belmar providing additional attacking punch, T2 will take a shot at moving into the conference's top four.

Saturday, May 14

FC Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds

4 p.m. ET, Nippert Stadium

The first meeting between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh is set to be played in front of a massive crowd at Nippert Stadium, as two cities that have battled since the 19th century in baseball and 1970 in football meet in the USL for the first time.

Cincinnati (4-2-2, 14pts) is undefeated in its last four outings, alternating wins and draws after finishing level 1-1 with the Harrisburg City Islanders last Saturday as Jimmy McLaughlin scored his first goal for the club. Cincinnati is 1-1-1 at home this season, and will welcome another five-figure crowd for the contest as it looks to push higher in the Eastern Conference.

The Riverhounds (0-3-3, 3pts) have had their struggles this season after reaching the playoffs last season, and will be looking for their first win of the season as they visit Nippert Stadium. After a 3-1 defeat to the New York Red Bulls II last Saturday, this game isn't yet a must-win, but getting something from the game will be vitally important if things are to turn around a quarter of the way through their season.

Louisville City FC vs. Saint Louis FC

7:30 p.m. ET, Louisville Slugger Field

The first King's Cup Derby of the season brings together two teams that are not only in good form on the field, but also have some of the most passionate supporters in the stands in the USL. Now a crossover contest following Saint Louis' move to the Western Conference this offseason, this year's home-and-home series has a lot to live up to from the 2015 season.

Louisville (5-1-2, 17pts) claimed the King's Cup a year ago on goal differential, as both teams took one victory and drew in their other two contests in the rivalry's inaugural season. City enters Saturday's game on a six-game undefeated streak (4-0-2) that has moved the club to the top of the Eastern Conference in part thanks to Chandler Hoffman's Eastern Conference-leading seven goals.

Saint Louis (3-2-2, 11pts) is on a five-game undefeated streak, including wins in its last two contests. The visitors put together arguably their best performance of the season a week ago as they took a 3-0 win against the Swope Park Rangers, and have recorded three consecutive shutouts as they enter Saturday's contest.

Sunday, May 15

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 vs. LA Galaxy II

5 p.m. ET, Thunderbird Stadium

The top two teams in the Western Conference as the weekend kicks off will meet on Sunday afternoon at Thunderbird Stadium in the second meeting of the season. WFC2 enters the game as the only undefeated side in the USL, while the first-place Galaxy II will be looking to rebound from defeat last time out.

Vancouver (4-0-2, 14pts) is coming off back-to-back victories, including a thrilling 3-2 win against Tulsa Roughnecks FC on May 4 that saw Kianz Froese and Daniel Haber both score in the final five minutes to lift the side to victory. Haber and Kyle Greig have brought a strong presence to WFC2's attack, with Greig sitting tied for third in the USL with five goals.

The Galaxy II (4-1-4, 16pts) are looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season last Saturday, as Sacramento Republic FC took a 2-0 win at StubHub Center. The loss saw standout Los Dos forward Jack McBean's four-game scoring streak come to an end, with the Galaxy II captain currently leading the league with nine goals. McBean scored the last time the two teams met on April 22, but a goal and assist by Fatawu Safiu earned WFC2 a 2-2 draw, setting the stage for a compelling rematch.

MILESTONES

- There have been 248 goals scored in the USL so far this regular season in 105 games, with this weekend set to see the league enter its second quarter. In 2015, there were 958 goals scored in the regular season.

- The Charleston Battery and Rochester Rhinos will try to extend their long home undefeated streaks, with the Battery hosting Toronto FC II on a 28-game undefeated run at MUSC Health Stadium and the Rhinos hosting the Charlotte Independence on a 21-game undefeated streak at Rhinos Stadium.

- Sacramento Republic FC will aim to continue its 33-game home sellout streak on Saturday night as it hosts Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Bonney Field. Republic FC has sold out all-but-one USL regular-season and playoff game in the club's history.

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES

- The New York Red Bulls II (4-1-2, 14pts) and Richmond Kickers (4-3-1, 13pts) are separated by a point as they meet at Red Bull Arena on Saturday afternoon (4 p.m. ET | Match Center). The Red Bulls II enter the game off a 3-1 win on the road against Pittsburgh last Saturday, and have a chance to even their record against the Kickers after Richmond went 2-1-0 in the season series a year ago.

- Rio Grande Valley FC (3-2-1, 10pts) hosts Real Monarchs SLC (2-3-2, 8pts) in the opening game of the weekend on Friday night (8:30 p.m. ET | Match Center) with a chance to complete a season-sweep of the Monarchs. Jose Escalante scored the only goal when the teams met on April 23 at Rio Tinto Stadium, with the Toros also having taken a victory last week on the road in San Antonio.

- The Rochester Rhinos (4-1-1, 13pts) will look to completed a perfect four-game home stand on Saturday evening (6:05 p.m. ET | Match Center) when they welcome the Charlotte Independence (5-2-1, 16pts) to Rhinos Stadium. Both teams are in form, with Rochester having taken three consecutive victories, and the Independence undefeated in their last five games as they enter the weekend in the top five of the Eastern Conference.

- After the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night in the NBA's Western Conference Playoffs, OKC Energy FC (1-1-3, 5pts) and San Antonio FC (2-3-2, 8pts) meet for the first time on Sunday night at Taft Stadium (7 p.m. ET | Match Center). Both teams are looking for a positive result after Energy FC played to a 0-0 draw with Arizona United SC in its last outing, and San Antonio fell 3-2 to Rio Grande Valley FC on home turf.

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