By TRAVIS CLARK
Early on in the USSF D-2 season, newcomers FC Tampa Bay Rowdies are flying high, particularly when measured against fellow expansion teams A.C. St. Louis and NSC Minnesota. Three wins in a row have shot the Rowdies towards the top of the D-2 table, just two points behind the Austin Aztex.
This weekend, the Rowdies face a huge test with a trip all the way to the other corner of the country to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps (Sunday, 7:00pm). Aaron Wheeler and Long Tan will be hard pressed to crack the league's top defensive club, and the Rowdies will have to shut down Vancouver's Martin Nash and Jonny Steele.
A win on the road — that would be good for Tampa Bay's fourth in a row — would send a message to the rest of the league that the Rowdies are here to stay.
Here's a look at the rest of the D-2 action this weekend:
FRIDAY
NSC Minnesota Stars at Rochester Rhinos, 7:30pm
Rochester plays host for the second of three straight games in upstate New York, hoping to ride the home crowd to a winning streak. They got off to a proper start last weekend against Vancouver, and with NSC Minnesota coming to town, a second win in a row isn't out of the question. A strong game from Anthony Hamilton would see three more points go the Rhinos way.
SATURDAY
Puerto Rico Islanders at Austin Aztex, 8:30pm
While not much is made of the NASL-USL problems in season, the matchup of these two clubs is a rarity — two USL clubs going up against each other. Puerto Rico heads to Texas hoping to slow down the goal-scoring duo of Jamie Watson and Eddie Johnson, who have combined for an impressive 11 goals on the year — the two have score more goals than eight other D-2 clubs. The Islanders are hoping to win and climb up the D-2 table.
SUNDAY
Miami FC at Montreal Impact, 2:00pm
Two underachieving clubs meet north of the border, as Miami FC looks to snap a losing streak, and Montreal simply hoping to score a few coals. The Impact's scoring woes — five goals from seven games — are good for worst in the league, with the club's respectable record a result of a solid defense. Miami's sluggish start is surely not what they'd hoped for when Christian Gomez was brought in, but he has chipped in three assists.
Carolina Railhawks at Portland Timbers, 9:00pm
Everything that went well for Portland in April, the opposite happened in may. Undefeated in the season's first month, the Timbers then went all May without winning a league match (0-3-1). With May in the rear view mirror, a visiting Carolina team will be a tough nut to crack at PGE Park. Ryan Pore has cooled a bit, and no one has stepped up to fill that goal-scoring void — though thanks to his hot start, he remains at the top of the scoring charts.
nice kits indeed. I saw an article that Antigua and Barbuda are joining next year. Is this true? What gives with going after these small caribbean islands? Screw Antigua and Bermuda. Get 2 in Puerto Rico and 3 in Trinidad (how does their 11 team league survive anyway?)…with 3 or 4 in Canada and only 7 or 8 in US. USL/NASL should be more of a continental-wide league competitve w/MLS then a strictly 2nd division. This would help improve Concacaf CL
Other corner of the continent? Sort of?
I’m loving those Tampa Bay kits and specifically that design around the collar.
Goals being scored against the Rowdies are coming from deadball scenarios. Cure those problems and the Rowdies should be fine. Statler, in goal, is playing very well.
Still, this trip to the far reaches of North America will be a test for the Green and Gold. COYR!
Way to go Rowdies!!
Seattle beat them 3-0 and still have not rebounded in league play. It is all different in my opinion.
Other corner of the country? LOL.
Travis you forgot to mention that the Timbers did rebound a little and beat Boca Juniors 3-2 last Saturday. With Ryan Pore being the one who put the Timbers up 1-0 and Ro-Ro coming in and playing an inspired 2nd half.