So, we missed 5 Legion games while we were out running around Europe. In those 5 games the Legion allowed just 3 goals (not including the PK shootout). Which is good, of course, and a significant improvement over the 22 given up in the previous 14 games. Conversely, the Three Sparks scored just 3 goals in those 5 games and therefore did not make the most out of that defensive effort. Ah well. It’s a process…
The most important part
…which is exactly how Mark Briggs described it when I raised the recent scoring with him. He was in fact pretty upbeat about it. “Performances were very, very good. And if you watch the game, we should have beat Rhode Island three or four to one…We’re creating, we’re getting into dangerous spots. We’re just not doing the final detail, so, you know, that will hopefully come. It’s a process. The clean sheets were the first thing and the defensive side of it was the first thing that we had to clean up.”
As for the next thing: “We have to focus on the retaining of the ball, which is what you saw today [Tuesday in training] to create opportunities, you know, and then the finishing element.”
North Carolina FC will be an interesting challenge tonight (6:30pm, ESPN+) from that perspective. They currently sit in the final home playoff spot on the East but are not generally a team that will overpower an opponent. They have scored 19 goals in 14 league games and 2 in 3 Jäger Cup games (they are eliminated already). They have given up only 15 in league play, though. Take out a recent 4-2 win over the Oakland Roots (and yes, that’s another game the Legion should not have lost) and the numbers are even weaker. The team does not have a single stand-out striker; no one on the squad has more than 3 goals in the League (Evan Conway and Pedro Dolabella). That means they spread the wealth, which in turn means they are very hard to defend as you have numerous threats to keep in check.
Defensively, they are yet another team playing with 3 or 5 at the back. Mostly they run a 3-4-3 although against the Charleston Battery last week they opted for a 5-4-1 (they lost 0-1). Generally the center backs are Bryce Washington, Paco Craig and Finn Sundstrom. Sundstrom is just 18 and is officially an academy loanee. Head coach John Bradford has a relatively young squad overall and is just as comfortable with youth on the back line as the Legion is. Sundstrom even scored in the recent 2-1 win over—get this—Louisville City.
They all sit in front of keeper Jake McGuire who has been the #1 since the team’s return to the Championship last season. With 39 saves he is 1 behind our very own Matt van Oekel and has 4 clean sheets. He’s a Championship stalwart and tough to score on.
Mark Briggs is also hard at work getting his squad’s mindset right. A particular case this week was Tyler Pasher. On Tuesday Briggs and Pasher stayed out a good half hour after everyone else retired to the locker room. That resulted directly from Tyler hitting the post twice up in Rhode Island last week. That’s something that can really mess with your head. But Mark zeroes in on that kind of thing and deals with it in a very direct manner. Which is good.
I also spoke briefly with Stephen Turnbull, who has been struggling with the after-effects of an extended illness which ended up with him losing a lot of weight. That is an issue in and of itself, but when you playing a summer season in the South it becomes an even bigger problem. “You probably lose a few pounds a day during training. It’s hard to keep your weight at a consistent weight. For me, maybe I weigh a little less than I have in previous years. But I think it’s just because with the heat and the amount that you’re exhausting it’s really hard to put it back on.
I also asked him what it was like getting an assist against his old team and their fans on their turf. “To be honest, I’m not sure [how they reacted]. I think some of them cheered, you know? Maybe some people…I just kind of, like, blanked it out in the moment, but yeah, I had some family there [he’s from New York] so I’m sure it got a little loud but nothing too crazy.”
Prediction: With just 14 games left in the regular season, the Three Sparks are essentially facing a 6-pointer situation in every conference game (9 of the remaining schedule). That final element of the process has to get realized very quickly. Can they do it against a difficult opponent? If the mindset is right, I think they can. Call it a narrow road win for the good guys.
Best of the rest
There are games all 3 days this weekend. Obviously your Friday evening viewing selection is already made, although you could tune in to the Monterey Bay v. Orange County game which kicks off at 8:00pm and catch most of it. Not sure I’d bother though.
Indy Eleven v. Rhode Island FC (Saturday, 6:00pm, ESPN+)
Two teams the Legion just played (and should have beaten) so no actual scouting to be done. However, the Three Sparks need both sides to drop points here. This is more true of Indy than Rhody, as the Eleven have a 2-point lead with 2 games in hand (Rhody has 1 for both).
The™ Miami FC v. Lexington SC (Saturday, 6:30pm, ESPN+)
Not a game that looked like a must-see just a few weeks ago. However, Lexington has suddenly woken up with a league-leading 3-game win streak and is sitting at #2 in our Power Rankings. Miami has fallen off the pace a bit but still has a 2-point lead over the Legion.
New Mexico United v. Charleston Battery (Saturday, 8:00pm, ESPN+)
The best matchup of the entire weekend slate, pitting #2 in the East against #1 in the West. Is this a potential Championship Final preview? Very possibly, although Louisville City will of course object to that. Tough.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds v. Loudoun United (Sunday, 4:00pm, CBS Sports Network)
This is the only game on Sunday. I hate to recommend any Riverhounds game, except of course that I really, really want them to lose. They are looking rather better than Loudoun right now though as the Virginians have hit a rough patch lately.
