DC Power FC is back on the field this afternoon as they are in Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Sun. DC Power hope to keep the wins coming as they try to remain above the playoff line.

Head coach Omid Namazi has mentioned that his team needed some time at the beginning of the season to develop chemistry, and he says they’re almost there. “I think it’s gotten better, but at the same time, I think there’s more than we can see from our group with 5 games left,” Namazi said to media on Friday. “I spoke to the combativeness in the middle of the field. That’s something that we have definitely improved throughout this season. But also when you compare this group to last year’s, it’s completely different. We don’t shy away from aerial duels. We don’t shy away from physical duels. We’re hitting the deck and tackling in the middle of the field, a lot more.”

He knows to keep pace with the teams ahead of him, wins are very important. Tampa Bay is closer to the bottom of the table, but they play with no quit. And with this being on the road, DC Power will have to bring their warrior mentality with them. Having a team full of leaders has really helped.

“We brought in players who are a little bit more experienced, and we brought in players who have more quality. So when you have that, you know that at some point they’re gonna figure it out on their own,” Namazi said. “And you just gotta give them some pieces of information here and there, but at the end, it’s them who are gonna play the game and figure it out on the field. So it’s been nice to see that come together.”

One of those experienced players who joined the roster this season is Sam Angel, whose experience includes a stint with the Chicago Stars. She’s credited her teammates for allowing her to step in and immediately use her voice to contribute to a growing set of leaders.

“I’m extremely lucky to be in this locker room in this position in my pro career,” Angel said. I’ve always wanted to step into [leadership], and frankly with my background as a pro, I haven’t fully gotten to embody it as much…I am a presence. I am vocal. I like to share my thoughts. That’s just who I am as a human. And so I feel very, very lucky to be in environment with a group that trusts me to do that and allows me to do that and has welcomed my voice with me not being someone that’s been here for multiple years.”

That leadership will be what DC Power leans on to try and get the win this afternoon. Three points would vault them into second place in the USL Super League standings and could leave them as much as six points above the playoff line. They would love to have that in their bags for the flight home.

DC Power FC @ Tampa Bay Sun

Location: Suncoast Credit Union Field, Tampa

Kickoff time: 5:00pm ET

Available streaming: Peacock