Some changes this year for the USL. The regular season will be 34 games. The league is up to 33 teams with these changes. Out Vancouver Whitecaps 2, Rochester Rhinos, Orlando City B In Expansion teams: Nashville SC, Las Vegas Lights FC, and Fresno FC New MLS2 team: ATL UTD 2 Coming over from the NASL: Indy Eleven and North Carolina FC Name Change Harrisburg City Islanders are now Penn FC There may still be some more changes. The league is apparently still talking to Miami FC and Jacksonville of the NASL but the league released the conference breakdown today. Saint Louis is moving to the West so that conference has 17 teams while the East has 16. That is the only change for teams from last year. The schedule was supposed to come out next week but we'll have to wait and see if that happens.
The home openers have also been announced so it looks like the list of teams is set for 2018. http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/875213?referrer_id=2333971 2018 USL Home Openers Friday, March 16 Rio Grande Valley FC vs. Saint Louis FC Seattle Sounders FC 2 vs. Portland Timbers 2 Saturday, March 17 Charleston Battery vs. FC Cincinnati Charlotte Independence vs. Ottawa Fury FC Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. LA Galaxy II Fresno FC vs. Las Vegas Lights FC Louisville City FC vs. Nashville SC New York Red Bulls II vs. Toronto FC II North Carolina FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies OKC Energy FC vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC Orange County SC vs. Phoenix Rising FC Reno 1868 FC vs. Swope Park Rangers Sacramento Republic FC vs. San Antonio FC Sunday, March 18 Bethlehem Steel FC vs. Richmond Kickers Saturday, March 24 ATL UTD 2 vs. New York Red Bulls II Las Vegas Lights FC vs. Reno 1868 FC Nashville SC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds Phoenix Rising FC vs. OKC Energy FC Richmond Kickers vs. Indy Eleven San Antonio FC vs. Saint Louis FC Swope Park Rangers vs. Seattle Sounders FC 2 Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Bethlehem Steel FC Tulsa Roughnecks FC vs. Real Monarchs SLC Saturday, March 31 Indy Eleven vs. FC Cincinnati LA Galaxy II vs. San Antonio FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Penn FC Real Monarchs SLC vs. Portland Timbers 2 Saint Louis FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Toronto FC II vs. Ottawa Fury FC Saturday, April 7 FC Cincinnati vs. Louisville City FC Wednesday, April 18 Portland Timbers 2 vs. Rio Grande Valley FC Saturday, April 21 Penn FC vs. Charleston Battery Ottawa Fury FC vs. North Carolina FC
The full USL 2018 schedule is out: http://www.uslsoccer.com/usl-schedule Toros' schedule: Friday, March 16 RGV v. Saint Louis FC Wednesday, March 28 RGV v. Reno 1868 Saturday, March 31 RGV v. Sacramento Republic Saturday, April 7 Colorado Springs Switchbacks v. RGV Saturday, April 14 Seattle Sounders v. RGV Wednesday, April 18 Portland Timbers 2 v. RGV Wednesday, April 25 RGV v. Orange County SC Wednesday, May 9 Fresno FC v. RGV Saturday, May 12 RGV v. San Antonio FC Saturday, May 19 RGV v. Swope Park Rangers Wednesday, May 23 RGV v. LA Galaxy II Monday, June 4 Real Monarchs v. RGV Saturday, June 9 RGV v. Portland Timbers 2 Saturday, June 16 OKC Energy v. RGV Saturday, June 23 RGV v. Phoenix Rising Saturday, June 30 Saint Louis FC v. RGV Saturday, July 7 RGV v. Tulsa Roughnecks Saturday, July 14 RGV v. Las Vegas Lights Sunday, July 22 Swope Park Rangers v. RGV Saturday, July 28 RGV v. Colorado Springs Switchbacks Saturday, August 4 Las Vegas Lights v. RGV Saturday, August 11 Sacramento Republic v. RGV Saturday, August 18 RGV v. OKC Energy Wednesday, August 22 LA Galaxy II v. RGV Saturday, August 25 Orange County SC v. RGV Wednesday, August 29 RGV v. San Antonio FC Wednesday, September 5 Phoenix Rising v. RGV Saturday, September 8 RGV v. Real Monarchs Saturday, September 15 Colorado Springs Switchbacks v. RGV Saturday, September 22 RGV v. Seattle Sounders Wednesday, September 26 Reno 1868 v. RGV Saturday, September 29 RGV v. Fresno FC Saturday, October 6 Tulsa Roughnecks v. RGV Saturday, October 13 San Antonio FC v. RGV
RGV FC adds 10 players to roster ahead of 2018 season January 18, 2018 https://www.houstondynamo.com/post/2018/01/18/rgv-fc-adds-10-players-roster-ahead-2018-season TRANSACTION: RGV FC re-signs Defenders Kai Greene and midfielder Nicolás Perea; exercised options on defender Omar Ontiveros, forward Francisco Pungo and midfielder Todd Wharton; signs defender Kyle Adams, goalkeeper Nico Corti, defender Conor Donovan, forward Jesus Enriquez and goalkeeper Matt Sanchez.
It looks like the USL has a lot of mid-week games this year. That is probably a function of an odd number of teams and the increase to a 34 game regular season. For RGV Home: Wednesday - 4 Friday - 1 Saturday - 12 Away: Monday - 1 Wednesday - 5 Saturday - 10 Sunday - 1
Players report today (Sunday). The RGVFC vs Dynamo is on Saturday, Feb 3rd in Edinburg https://www.houstondynamo.com/schedule/preseason
Preseason games for RGV announced so far: Saturday, February 3 RGV v. Houston Dynamo 6:00 pm Friday, March 2 San Antonio FC v. RGV Time TBA
The 2018 USL season starts this week. Week 1 Friday, March 16 Rio Grande Valley v. Saint Louis 7:30 pm Seattle 2 v. Portland 2 9:00 pm Saturday, March 17 NY Red Bulls II v. Toronto II 12:00 pm Louisville v. Nashville 2:00 pm North Carolina v. Tampa Bay 2:30 pm Charleston v. Cincinnati 6:00 pm Charlotte v. Ottawa 6:00 pm Reno v. Swope Park 6:00 pm Colorado Springs v. LA Galaxy II 7:00 pm OKC Energy v. Tulsa 7:00 pm Fresno v. Las Vegas 9:00 pm Orange County v. Phoenix 9:00 pm Sacramento v. San Antonio 9:30 pm Sunday, March 18 Bethlehem v. Richmond 1:00 pm BYES: ATL2, Indy, Penn, Pittsburgh, Real Monarchs
https://www.houstondynamo.com/post/2018/03/16/rgv-fc-adds-13-players-roster-ahead-2018-season "RGV FC also signed three Dynamo draft picks in midfielder Pablo Aguilar and defenders Manny Padilla and Sheldon Sullivan"
RGVFC with the 70th minute goal on a nice turn in the box by Aguilar. They allow a cornwr kick goal sevral minutes later. Tie 1-1 with St Louis.
Week 1 results: Friday, March 16 Rio Grande Valley 1-1 Saint Louis Seattle2 2-1 Portland2 Saturday, March 17 NY Red Bulls II 2-1 Toronto II Louisville 2-0 Nashville North Carolina 1-3 Tampa Bay Charleston 0-1 Cincinnati Charlotte 4-1 Ottawa Reno 3-4 Swope Park Colorado Springs 2-0 LA Galaxy II OKC Energy 1-0 Tulsa Fresno 2-3 Las Vegas Orange County 1-1 Phoenix Sacramento 2-1 San Antonio Sunday, March 18 Bethlehem 4-1 Richmond STANDINGS EAST 1. Bethlehem Steel 1 g.p. 3 pts +3 g.d. 2. Charlotte Independence 1 g.p. 3 pts +3 g.d. 3. Tampa Bay Rowdies 1 g.p. 3 pts +2 g.d. 4. Louisville City 1 g.p. 3 pts +2 g.d. 5. NY Red Bulls II 1 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d. 6. FC Cincinnati 1 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d. 7. Atlanta United 2 0 g.p. 0 pts +0 g.d. 8. Indy Eleven 0 g.p. 0 pts +0 g.d. -------------------------- 9. Penn FC 0 g.p. 0 pts +0 g.d. 10. Pittsburgh Riverhounds 0 g.p. 0 pts +0 g.d. 11. Toronto FC II 1 g.p. 0 pts -1 g.d. 12. Charleston Battery 1 g.p. 0 pts -1 g.d. 13. North Carolina FC 1 g.p. 0 pts -2 g.d. 14. Nashville SC 1 g.p. 0 pts -2 g.d. 15. Richmond Kickers 1 g.p. 0 pts -3 g.d. 16. Ottawa Fury 1 g.p. 0 pts -3 g.d. WEST 1. Co. Springs Switchbacks 1 g.p. 3 pts +2 g.d. 2. Swope Park Rangers 1 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d. 3. Las Vegas Lights 1 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d. 4. Sacramento Republic 1 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d. 5. Seattle Sounders 2 1 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d. 6. OKC Energy 1 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d. 7. Rio Grande Valley 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d. 8. Saint Louis FC 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d. ---------------------------------- 9. Orange County 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d. 10. Phoenix Rising 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d. 11. Real Monarchs SLC 0 g.p. 0 pts +0 g.d. 12. Reno 1868 1 g.p. 0 pts -1 g.d. 13. Fresno FC 1 g.p. 0 pts -1 g.d. 14. Portland Timbers 2 1 g.p. 0 pts -1 g.d. 15. San Antonio FC 1 g.p. 0 pts -1 g.d. 16. Tulsa Roughnecks 1 g.p. 0 pts -1 g.d. 17. LA Galaxy II 1 g.p. 0 pts -2 g.d.
USL Week 2 Times are CDT Saturday, March 24 Louisville v. North Carolina 2:00 pm Richmond v. Indy 4:00 pm Nashville v. Pittsburgh 5:00 pm Atlanta 2 v. NY Red Bulls II 6:00 pm Charleston v. Penn 6:00 pm Charlotte v. Toronto II 6:00 pm Tampa Bay v. Bethlehem 6:30 pm Co. Springs v. Portland 2 7:00 pm Tulsa v. Real Monarchs 7:00 pm San Antonio v. Saint Louis 7:30 pm Swope Park v. Seattle 2 7:30 pm Fresno v. LA Galaxy II 9:00 pm Orange County v. Sacramento 9:00 pm Phoenix v. OKC Energy 9:00 pm Las Vegas Lights v. Reno 10:00 pm BYES: Cincinnati, Ottawa, RGV
Montano looked interesting on the wing in the highlights on the goal. I don't know what his overall game looked like but at least one thing this team could use is not the umpteenth slow skill player off the bench, but rather someone with Elis' speed attributes to tag team for him. His CV says he last played for America of Cali so weren't not talking some USL driftwood.
I just think he's someone to watch because that play displayed a more Elis skill set, I think we have plenty of box garbagemen, one tall target kid, a few DMs, a few touch players, and Elis, but one thing we could use is a fast wing sub who can knock balls in. I also like the CV of having played in Colombia. But that's one play isolated from who knows how he played so we'll see. I'm just glad to see some speed on the farm.
USL Week 2 results: Saturday, March 24 Louisville v. North Carolina PPD Richmond 0-1 Indy Nashville 0-0 Pittsburgh Atlanta2 3-1 NY Red Bulls II Charleston 1-0 Penn Charlotte 2-0 Toronto II Tampa Bay 2-0 Bethlehem Co. Springs 0-1 Portland 2 Tulsa 2-3 Real Monarchs San Antonio 2-1 Saint Louis Swope Park 4-2 Seattle 2 Fresno 1-1 LA Galaxy II Orange County 0-1 Sacramento Phoenix 4-1 OKC Energy Las Vegas Lights 1-1 Reno STANDINGS EAST 1. Charlotte Independence 2 g.p. 6 pts +5 g.d. 2. Tampa Bay Rowdies 2 g.p. 6 pts +4 g.d. 3. Atlanta United 2 1 g.p. 3 pts +2 g.d. 4. Louisville City 1 g.p. 3 pts +2 g.d. 5. Bethlehem Steel 2 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d. 6. Indy Eleven 1 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d. 7. FC Cincinnati 1 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d. 8. Charleston Battery 2 g.p. 3 pts +0 g.d. -------------------------- 9. NY Red Bulls II 2 g.p. 3 pts -1 g.d. 10. Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d. 11. Nashville SC 2 g.p. 1 pts -2 g.d. 12. Penn FC 1 g.p. 0 pts -1 g.d. 13. North Carolina FC 1 g.p. 0 pts -2 g.d. 14. Ottawa Fury 1 g.p. 0 pts -3 g.d. 15. Toronto FC II 2 g.p. 0 pts -3 g.d. 16. Richmond Kickers 2 g.p. 0 pts -4 g.d. WEST 1. Swope Park Rangers 2 g.p. 6 pts +3 g.d. 2. Sacramento Republic 2 g.p. 6 pts +2 g.d. 3. Phoenix Rising 2 g.p. 4 pts +3 g.d. 4. Las Vegas Lights 2 g.p. 4 pts +1 g.d. 5. Real Monarchs SLC 1 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d. 6. Co. Springs Switchbacks 2 g.p. 3 pts +1 g.d. 7. San Antonio FC 2 g.p. 3 pts +0 g.d. 8. Portland Timbers 2 2 g.p. 3 pts +0 g.d. ---------------------------------- 9. Seattle Sounders 2 2 g.p. 3 pts -1 g.d. 10. OKC Energy 2 g.p. 3 pts -2 g.d. 11. Rio Grande Valley 1 g.p. 1 pts +0 g.d. 12. Reno 1868 2 g.p. 1 pts -1 g.d. 13. Fresno FC 2 g.p. 1 pts -1 g.d. 14. Saint Louis FC 2 g.p. 1 pts -1 g.d. 15. Orange County 2 g.p. 1 pts -1 g.d. 16. LA Galaxy II 2 g.p. 1 pts -2 g.d. 17. Tulsa Roughnecks 2 g.p. 0 pts -2 g.d.
USL Week 3 Times are CDT Wednesday, March 28 Rio Grande Valley v. Reno 10:00 am OKC Energy v. Orange County 7:00 pm Seattle 2 v. Fresno 9:00 pm Saturday, March 31 NY Red Bulls II v. Charleston 12:00 pm Bethlehem v. Nashville 1:00 pm Real Monarchs v. Portland2 2:00 pm Tulsa v. Orange County 3:00 pm Richmond v. North Carolina 4:00 pm Saint Louis v. Co. Springs 4:00 pm LA Galaxy II v. San Antonio 5:30 pm Charlotte v. Atlanta2 6:00 pm Indy Eleven v. Cincinnati 6:00 pm Pittsburgh v. Penn 6:00 pm Reno v. Phoenix 6:00 pm Louisville v. Tampa Bay 6:30 pm Toronto II v. Ottawa 6:30 pm Rio Grande Valley v. Sacramento 7:30 pm Fresno v. OKC Energy 9:00 pm Las Vegas v. Swope Park 10:00 pm BYES: None Play Twice: OKC, RGV, Reno, Fresno, Orange County
Yep, RGV is hosting a game on Wednesday, March 28, at 10:00 am. I can't find a reason why. On their social media (facebook and twitter) RGV repeatedly says the next home game is on March 31. Hmmm. It doesn't look like you can buy tickets to the game on the RGV website. Very strange.
Reno says game in fact on Weds 8 am PT (10 am here). I mean like I asked someone and that's the word back. Game is on both sets of schedules.
RGV says game is Weds 10am and that no tickets are available, is being handled as an event solely attended by schoolkids. Will still be streamed. Next adult-ticketed game is the 31st.
OK. I wondered about that. The Houston Aeros hockey team used to have 1 or 2 middle-of-the-day games a year that were sold to school groups. Season ticket holders still got tickets and they were open to the public, though, not completely closed. Our STH rep used to move us down to the front row by the scorers' table away from the kids but my ears would still ring all afternoon from the non-stop screeching during the game.
Yeah it came across to me as very odd -- early start time, no ticket sales, but notably on both schedules -- so I looked into it. I assume a road team allows this because it's cooler and a day and a half more rest than usual.
The RGVFC v. Reno game on Wednesday has been postponed. https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/901948?referrer_id=2333971
The RGVFC-Reno game has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 2, with kickoff set for 10:30 a.m. The RGVFC facebook page is now referring to this as the "Kids Game."