Preview: FC Tulsa vs. Memphis 901 FC – Saturday, October 15 – ONEOK Field, 7:30 p.m. CT
October 14, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – FC Tulsa News Release
TULSA – For the final time in 2022, FC Tulsa takes the pitch on Saturday night vs. Memphis 901 FC. The season has been full of ups and downs, as is any season, and plenty of eye-popping storylines. But now is not the time to reminisce – that comes later. We still have 90 minutes of soccer to play and three more points to secure.
Fresh off a clean sheet on Wednesday night and riding a three-match unbeaten streak since the likes of Luca Sowinski and Angel Bernal began seeing action, another win heading into the offseason could set the tone for 2023.
The offense continues its tremendous run of form having now scored in 10 consecutive matches, its longest scoring streak dating back to the 2020 season. Marcus Epps is coming off a midweek brace, Darío Suárez has now contributed to 14 goals this season, and Ciaran Winters became the 16th FC Tulsa player to log an assist in the USL Championship this season on Wednesday. New Mexico United is the only other club to have 16 players register an assist in 2022.
The attacking momentum will need to bleed into Saturday as a potent Memphis squad averaging just under two goals per match takes I-40 West en route to the Oil Capital of the World. Memphis comes in as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with Tampa Bay Rowdies right on its heels. To guarantee a home match in the second round of the playoffs, Memphis needs to stay ahead of Tampa with a win in Tulsa or a Tampa loss at New York Red Bulls II.
The two sides have matched up five times dating back to last season and Memphis has been the beneficiary of the results as FC Tulsa has managed just one win in five contests. However, we all know that could all change tomorrow night in front of a large crowd at ONEOK Field as the season draws to a close.
Jacob Tovar kicks the night off and concludes the FC Tulsa Concert Series lineup at 6 p.m. CT before gates open at 6:30 p.m. It will also be Fight Cancer Night, an evening dedicated to raising awareness and funds to fight against breast cancer. FC Tulsa players will be wearing limited-edition Fight Cancer jerseys during warmups that fans can purchase as part of the Fight Cancer Bundle, the proceeds of which will be donated to The Stonebrook Project, or on their own.
Kickoff from ONEOK is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT.
SCOUTING MEMEPHIS 901 FC
All season long, Memphis 901 FC has been atop or near the top of the Eastern Conference, occasionally trading places with Louisville City FC and Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Tennessee side is one of only two clubs in the USL Championship with 20 wins on the season along with LouCity and has scored the third-most goals in the league (64). The 2022 squad has already set franchise bests in points, goals, and wins on the way to locking up a home playoff match, its first in club history.
It’s been a breakout season for forward Philip Goodrum who has found the back of the net 20 times thus far and trails in the race for the Golden Boot by just two scores. Aaron Molloy and Jeremy Kelly have been key to Goodrum’s 2022 success as the two midfielders have combined for 19 assists, the highest mark by any two teammates in the USL Championship this season.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
1)Tip-Top Wormell
Goalkeeper Austin Wormell recorded his fifth clean sheet of the season on Wednesday as the club blanked Monterey Bay F.C. in front of the home crowd. The Bishop Kelley grad stopped all five shots that the visitors put on frame and moved into sole possession of 8th place in the USL Championship with 76 saves on the season in 21 appearances. Wormell also re-entered the top five in save percentage on Wednesday night with a mark at 73.7%.
2) Darío Moves Up
Darío Suárez earned his fifth assist of the season vs. Monterey Bay F.C., the best total on the club this season. Suárez is also tied with Rodrigo da Costa for a squad-best nine goals as the Cuban has shot up the all-time Tulsa rankings in both categories in just three seasons with Tulsa. Suárez now averages 0.63 Goals + Assists per 90 minutes played over his time with the club, the most in franchise history among players with at least 30 appearances.
3) Back-to-Back Double Digits
Both Rodrigo da Costa and Darío Suárez still need just one goal to reach the double-digit scoring mark in 2022. Da Costa tallied 11 goals last season while Suárez accounted for 10 – no player in Tulsa history has scored double-digit goals in back-to-back seasons, but both da Costa and Suárez each have a chance to be the first.
HOW TO WATCH
The best way to conclude the season is with a ticket to the match at ONEOK Field! Fans can also catch all the action on My41 locally or stream nationally on ESPN+. Also, be sure to follow @FCTulsa on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for highlights, updates, and more matchday content!
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