The Red Wolves are living with the mantra that it is good to be home following a two-game road stint against Tormenta and FC Tucson. Jimmy Obleda and company return back to CHI Memorial Stadium after a dramatic last gasp winner in the scorching Arizona desert, with Juan Galindrez scoring the winner for the second time in a young campaign. Backed by a fantastic traveling contingent of Red Wolves supporters, Obleda’s men rounded off the road trip with a scintillating three points.
Ricky Ruiz continued his brilliance for the Red Wolves in Tucson, earning 2 perfectly placed assists and a goal as well. Jonathan Ricketts also wrote his name in the Red Wolves history books, as the homegrown talent scored his first professional goal. The match also marked a milestone for former FC Cincinnati Superdraft selection Rey Ortiz, who was influential alongside midfield partner Jose Carrera-García in his full match debut.
The Red Wolves now find themselves in fourth place in USL League One, with games in hand on every club that currently sits above them. The Red Wolves will now get a test from North Carolina FC, who have started the season winless in 6 games sitting on only a lone point. Against the lowest scoring side in USL League One, a hungry backline will be looking to keep a clean sheet back in front of a friendly home crowd.
The Red Wolves opponent on Sunday night, North Carolina FC, will be desperately searching for something to fall their way in Chattanooga. John Bradford’s side will be seeking inspiration and will be as dangerous as any side Obleda’s men have had to face.
The away side comes to CHI Memorial following a defeat to defending USL League One champions, Greenville Triumph. Jay Tee Kamara opened the scoring in the match but a quickfire double on either side of the second half saw North Carolina fall to a third straight defeat, making it 5 losses in their first 6 matches. Bradford’s men will be looking to put together a complete performance in Chattanooga, as his side have gone ahead twice in the last 3 matches only to walk away empty handed both times.
The good news in North Carolina is a proverbial fountain of youth, as last match saw the full debut of center back Britton Fischer. He became the first academy prospect to make his full debut for the club and was among seven other academy youngsters to be named to the 18-man match-day roster. The academy boom for the club is a great advertisement for the Path to Pro in USL League One, showing that the pipeline for success is open for young players in the USL pyramid.
The Red Wolves will be celebrating Father’s Day Sunday night at CHI Memorial, marking the occasion with the always popular $2 beer night. In addition to cold brews, the Red Wolves will be unleashing the region’s largest jumbotron, a project that the club can be immensely proud of. Between the new 2,000 square-foot jumbotron and new high-tech digital field runners, the Red Wolves and Plainview LED have come together to make the home of the Red Wolves not only one of the best soccer specific stadiums in USL League One, but one of the best in professional soccer in the United States.
On the pitch, it is possible that a win moves the Red Wolves into second place only one point behind early season front-runners Union Omaha. Obleda’s side will look to keep Jay Tee Kamara off the board while also trying to find an avenue around potent shot-stopper Jake McGuire in the North Carolina FC goal.
For the home side, Juan Galindrez will look to keep his goal scoring habits alive and well Sunday night after scoring the winner against FC Tucson. His strike partner, Blake Frischknecht, still looks for his first goal for the club after earning himself a very well worked assist last time out. The Red Wolves will look to keep their second clean sheet of the season against the lowest scoring side in USL League One, led by goalkeeper Sebastian Mora-Mora and Jonathan Ricketts. Jason Ramos and Daniel Navarro have also thrived in their center back partnership in the absence of the injured Jorge Luna and will be key to taking three points once again at CHI Memorial.
The match against North Carolina FC kicks off on Sunday, June 20th at 7 PM EST at CHI Memorial Stadium.
