WHAT TO WATCH FOR AND WHAT TO EXPECT
The Red Wolves are in search of another road victory this weekend in Fresno, California against Central Valley Fuego FC. Chattanooga hosted the first match between the clubs on Saturday, April 1st in which Fuego snagged the three points with a 1-0 victory over the home side. CHI Memorial Stadium will also host the final match against Fuego on Saturday, September 30th.
Chattanooga’s last outing saw the club take on #2 North Carolina FC at CHI Memorial Stadium on Saturday, July 29th. The visitors took a 2-0 lead into halftime with goals from Raheem Sommersall in the 33rd minute and former Red Wolves player Rafa Mentzingen picking up the second six minutes later. Chattanooga dominated in possession through the second half with a 63.2% rate and nearly doubled the shots of their opponent. Pedro Hernández ultimately found the back of the net in the 83rd minute to cut the North Carolina lead down to one goal. The Red Wolves pushed to equalize and take a point but were not able to find a second tally through stoppage time.
Central Valley Fuego FC most recently faced One Knoxville SC on July 29th, dropping the match 1-0 at home. Following a physical first half, the clubs headed into halftime knotted at 0-0. Fuego quickly went down a man in the early minutes of the second half with Maximus Ekk picking up a red card in the 51st minute. The man advantage for One Knoxville was erased in the 82nd as Dani Fernandez was issued a second yellow and red card. The ensuing, continuous physicality culminated in a penalty kick for One Knox after Fuego’s Jesus Partida conceded a penalty in the 91st minute. Rodolfo Castro put it past the Fuego keeper for the sole, winning tally.
The Red Wolves continue their road swing in Madison, Wisconsin on Wednesday, August 9th against Forward Madison FC. The Richmond Kickers then travel to Chattanooga to take on the Red Wolves at home at CHI Memorial Stadium.
LOMIS CLEARED TO MAKE FIRST APPEARANCE FOR THE RED WOLVES
After a lengthy period of international processing, forward Marios Lomis is available to make his first appearance with the Red Wolves on the road against Central Valley. This match would mark his first appearance in a USL League One match since 2021 when he played for Greenville Triumph SC.
Lomis previously played at the USL Championship level in 2018 with then-USL Championship side North Carolina FC for two seasons. He was named North Carolina’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2019 following an ankle injury in the first half of the season. In 2020, he signed with and appeared in five matches for El Paso Locomotive before transferring back to North Carolina in August of that year.
He then joined Greenville Triumph for the 2021 season, where he became the club’s all time leading goal scorer and ranked fifth on the USL League One’s list of goals scored in a single season with 14 goals across 26 matches played, a spot he currently still holds.
The Bennebroek native has most recently played with Sirens FC of the Maltese Premier League and A.E. Lefkimmi FC in Greece before signing with his third USL League One squad in the Chattanooga Red Wolves.
HEAD COACH JIMMY WEEKLEY OUT DUE TO MEDICAL ABSENCE, PARK CITY RED WOLVES HEAD COACH SCOTT MACKENZIE TO STEP IN
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Head Coach Jimmy Weekley will be on a medical leave of absence after a recent significant health situation. Coach Weekley is recovering and the club will not be releasing any additional information at this time about Weekley’s health.
For anyone who would like to wish Coach Weekley a speedy recovery, please submit a video or written message to socials@redwolves-sc.com.
Chattanooga will be bringing in Utah Red Wolves USL League Two Head Coach Scott MacKenzie to assume the head coaching position while Weekley recovers. MacKenzie has led the Utah Red Wolves to three consecutive USL League Two Mountain Division titles since taking the reins of the club. MacKenzie holds a USSF A license and UEFA B License.
RED WOLVES ROSTER NEARS FULL AVAILABILITY
In the midst of a season fraught with injuries, the Red Wolves roster continues to near full health as well as picking up additional depth.
Backliner Manuel Madrid made his first Red Wolves appearance in eight matches against North Carolina FC after a hamstring injury kept him out since June 7th. Alex Tejera (meniscus), Moe Espinoza (groin), and Christian Enriquez (knee) will miss this week’s match; however, the arrival of Marios Lomis and new additions in Jonny Filipe on loan from Hartford Athletic FC and Omar Gomez from the USL League Two Park City Red Wolves should provide necessary depth on the offensive side of the ball.