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USL United Soccer League Championship

Week 2 of USL Season Features Full Slate of Matches

March 27, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


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TAMPA, Fla. - The soft opening of the 2015 USL season took place last week, but this weekend features the full crop of 24 teams in action. Twelve games take place during the March 27-29 stretch, with nine matches kicking off on Saturday alone. Ten clubs also make their USL debuts: Austin Aztex, Charlotte Independence, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, FC Montreal, Louisville City, New York Red Bulls II, Portland Timbers 2, Saint Louis FC, Tulsa Roughnecks FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2. All USL games can be seen live, free and in high definition on YouTube this season.

GAMES TO WATCH

Charlotte Independence vs. Charleston Battery

Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, Transamerica Field

The expansion Charlotte Independence debut against the Battery in this highly anticipated Carolina derby. Charlotte will certainly rely on the veteran leadership of Jorge Herrera entering this new season. Herrera ranks in the league's top 10 with 92 regular-season appearances and is fourth all-time with 29 goals. Charleston (1-0-0) has already started its 2015 campaign, coming off a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory against Toronto FC II in the league's opening match on Saturday at Blackbaud Stadium. The Battery overcame a 2-0 deficit in the 16th minute by scoring three unanswered on goals by Dane Kelly, Shawn Ferguson and then Taylor Mueller with the dramatic winner in second-half stoppage time.

FC Montreal vs. Toronto FC II

Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, Olympic Stadium

The two Canadian sides meet for the first time, with a young FC Montreal squad looking forward to its first USL match. The host team is made up almost entirely of former Montreal Impact U-23 players, including team 2014 MVP Chakib Hocine and top defensive player Janouk Charbonneau. Toronto (0-1-0) will be eager to rebound from its season-opening 3-2 loss against the Charleston Battery on March 21. Toronto looked like it was on its way to a dream USL debut as Jordan Hamilton and Molham Babouli helped build a 2-0 lead, only to see it dwindle away. The Montreal-Toronto match is the first of an Olympic Stadium doubleheader, preceding an MLS game between the Montreal Impact and Orlando City SC.

Louisville City FC vs. Saint Louis FC

Saturday, 3 p.m. ET, Louisville Slugger Field

One of the most intriguing matchups this weekend features these nearby Eastern Conference USL expansion clubs. Louisville City had an unbeaten preseason, posting a 4-0-1 record and capping off the preparation phase with a 2-1 victory against the Indy Eleven on March 21. Former MLS striker Matt Fondy scored the winner, and many eyes will be on him leading the Louisville City attack. Before his MLS stints with Chivas USA and the Chicago Fire, Fondy tallied 16 goals in 50 regular-season USL games. Saint Louis FC, an affiliate of the Fire, is hoping to benefit from that partnership, doing so already with the recent loan acquisition of 22-year-old defender Patrick Doody. This game marks the first of a four-game home stand for Louisville City.

Tulsa Roughnecks FC vs. OKC Energy FC

Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ONEOK Field

Expansion Tulsa opens Western Conference play against in-state rival Energy FC, and the new side will hope for the veteran midfield play of Gibson Bardsley and Steven Miller to provide the spine during this first season. Tulsa further bolstered its roster up front with former Seattle Sounders FC forward Sammy Ochoa joining the mix. Energy FC's 2014 had its ebbs and flows, including a respectable 6-1-5 stretch sandwiched in the middle. Head coach Jimmy Nielsen's side will look for a more consistent run in 2015, anchored by former Arizona United SC goalkeeper Evan Newton.

NEWS AND NOTES

- Colorado Switchbacks FC midfielder Luke Vercollone is on the verge of becoming the first player to make 100 regular-season appearances. Vercollone could reach that milestone when the Switchbacks hit the road to face the Austin Aztex on Saturday at House Park (9 p.m. ET kickoff). Vercollone had spent the past seven years with the Richmond Kickers and on Oct. 19, 2014, he was announced as Colorado Springs' first signing.

- The LA Galaxy II, which host defending USL champion Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday at StubHub Center (10:30 p.m. ET), are coming off a scoreless draw against Real Monarchs SLC on March 22. That game marked the first time Los Dos had been involved in a 0-0 regular-season game. In 2014, the Galaxy II drew seven times - six with a 1-1 score line and one with a 3-3 result. Los Dos were shut out only three times last season.

- The Richmond Kickers' Matthew Delicate, who ranked second in the USL last season with 14 goals, enters the 2015 season as the league's all-time leader with 35 tallies.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Every game of the 2015 USL season can be seen live on YouTube (www.Youtube.com/USL), with updates from across the league also available via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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