Following Loudoun United’s 1-1 draw with San Antonio FC last Sunday, the team and staff gathered together to share a few words as shown in the above pic. They haven’t discussed what was revealed in that talk, but coach Ryan Martin and the players we spoke to shared the optimism of getting three points on the road in their first game, and battling back and forth with the defending League champions in the second. Performances such as those in the first two weeks raise the tide of the boats of other matches, such as the one they have in Oklahoma, attempting to spoil another team’s home opener (FC Tulsa) for the second time in this short season, in the hopes of going unbeaten in three straight games for the second season in a row.
The Opposition
Loudoun played FC Tulsa close in 2022, dropping both affairs by one goal, and in the Segra leg, giving up two goals in the final 12 minutes, including the game-winner in the 7th minute of stoppage. Loudoun giving up late goals last year was a tragic hallmark, allowing 38 goals in the final half hour of play (Tulsa scored 24 in that same period in their season). There are some notable former MLS names to watch for the…Okies? Marcus Epps is a former Philadelphia Union draft pick, Collin Fernandez a former Chicago Fire homegrown player. Rodrigo da Costa and Dario Suarez are longtime veterans of the club who are dangerous weapons as well.
What to know before kickoff
Nothing of note, but will reiterate my recap of Sunday’s game because the centerbacks were an item of mention by Ryan Martin this week.
Your random stat
Zach Ryan has three of the team’s four goals, one of the team’s four assists, four of the team’s seven shots on goal, and the team’s only red card, incurred in stoppage time last week. Said it last week and will say again, secondary goal sources are needed for a result today.
How to watch
Match date/kickoff time: Saturday, March 25, 8:30pm ET
Venue: ONEOK Field, Tulsa, OK
Online Streaming: ESPN+
Loudoun Unavailables: Alex Nagy (ACL) and Kwame Awuah (achilles) are both out for the season to injury, Zach Ryan (red card) is suspended.