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Gameday Previews – Wednesday, June 15

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 06/14/22, 10:00AM EDT

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New Mexico looks to continue winning streak, Memphis tries to rebound as Week 15’s action kicks off


New Mexico United and Oakland Roots SC will square off for the second time this season after the sides played to a 2-2 draw in March. | Photo courtesy Josh Lane / New Mexico United

The USL Championship regular season continues Wednesday night as a four-game slate of action kicks off Week 15 with New Mexico United hitting the road to take on Oakland Roots SC in a matchup of two teams in strong recent runs of form, and Memphis 901 FC heading to the northeast as it tries to rebound from a setback last time out.

Here’s a look ahead at all the action.

Hartford Athletic vs. Memphis 901 FC

Venue: Trinity Health Stadium
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: HFD 36%, MEM 38%, Draw 26%

The Lowdown: Memphis 901 FC will head to face Hartford Athletic for the first time since the 2019 season on Wednesday night aiming to rebound from a setback in its most recent outing a week ago. Memphis conceded a late goal to fall 1-0 against Birmingham Legion FC at Protective Stadium, a result that ended the side’s five-game winning streak and saw 901 FC lose for only the third time overall in the league this campaign. Despite that, Memphis remains on top of the Eastern Conference standings as it enters the new week, with USL Championship Player of the Month for May Jeremy Kelly sitting with six assists to lead the league, and Phillip Goodrum tied for third in the league with seven goals. Memphis has won all three prior meetings with Hartford, including a victory in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup three years ago, and could be confident of adding to that record against a Hartford Athletic side that returns home after a 3-0 defeat against San Diego Loyal SC this past Saturday night that ran its current winless streak to three games. After winning consecutive outings at the start of May, Hartford has scored twice in its past three outings but remains 13 points out of the playoff positions in the Eastern Conference. With its season now one-third complete, the Athletic are in major need of a boost at home before time starts running out on their playoff hopes.

Spotlight Players
Hartford Athletic – Rashawn Dally:
The Connecticut native is set to face his former club on Wednesday night with Dally having made 24 appearances a season ago for 901 FC prior to his offseason move back to the northeast.

Memphis 901 FC – Laurent Kissiedou: The dynamic midfielder has recorded five goals and four assists so far this campaign and should be a threat to deliver against Hartford’s midfield and back line.

New York Red Bulls II vs. FC Tulsa

Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: MSU Soccer Park
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: NY 33%, TUL 41%, Draw 26%

The Lowdown: The New York Red Bulls II and FC Tulsa will both be aiming to get onto a winning track as they square off at MSU Soccer Park with Tulsa looking to close the gap to the playoff places in the Eastern Conference against the last-placed side in the standings. Tulsa is winless in its last four outings after being denied a victory in a 0-0 draw against Miami FC in its last outing on June 4 at ONEOK Field. The hosts were held at bay by a five-save shutout by Miami goalkeeper Connor Sparrow, keeping the side seven points back of the playoff places in the East. Tulsa will likely be without three key players for the game, with El Salvador internationals Ronald Rodriguez and Joaquin Rivas both part of the squad that will face the United States on Tuesday night and Jorge Corrales also on international duty with Cuba. The hosts will be hopeful of finding success against a Red Bulls II side that currently holds the longest winless streak in the league at 12 games after a 1-0 loss against Loudoun United FC last Wednesday night. The Red Bulls II sit last in the league with only nine goals this season, with two of those coming in a 3-2 defeat to Tulsa when they met for the first time earlier this season at ONEOK Field. JJ Williams scored a pair of goals in that contest and will be hoping for more of the same this time around.

Spotlight Players
New York Red Bulls II – Jeremy Rafanello:
The attacking playmaker has notched two goals and one assist this season and found the net the last time these teams met on April 2.

FC Tulsa – JJ Williams: Williams is tied for the team-lead with five goals this season but hasn’t found the net in the past five outings, something he’ll be aiming to change against a Red Bulls II side he had prior success against this campaign.

Oakland Roots SC vs. New Mexico United

Venue: Laney Stadium
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: OAK 37%, NM 36%, Draw 27%

The Lowdown: Oakland Roots SC will try to build on another dramatic comeback in their most recent outing as it takes on a New Mexico United side that has won four in a row as it arrives at Laney Stadium second meeting between the teams this campaign. Oakland scored twice in the final 12 minutes to earn a 2-2 draw against Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday night at Laney Stadium as goals by Juan Carlos Azocar and Charlie Dennis salvaged a point for the hosts. Roots SC has now earned eight points after trailing in games this season, which has helped build a seven-game undefeated streak to move Roots SC within a point of the Western Conference playoff places as it reaches the midway point of its campaign on Wednesday night. One of those comebacks came in Oakland’s first meeting with New Mexico this season on March 30, when Tarek Morad scored in second-half stoppage time to earn the visitors a 2-2 draw at Isotopes Park. New Mexico has been one of the hottest teams in the league since the start of May, however, with the side earning a 2-1 win in its most recent outing against Orange County SC thanks to a late penalty kick save by Alex Tambakis. The side’s recent winning streak has been fueled in part by Chris Wehan, who has three goals and one assist across that span, and Justin Portillo, who sits tied for second in the Championship with 36 chances created and has notched four goals and three assists overall. With a chance to move level with San Diego Loyal SC for third place in the West with another win, United will be aiming to avoid letting a lead slip again if it can find the lead in Oakland.

Spotlight Players
Oakland Roots SC – Ottar Magnus Karlsson:
The Icelandic forward leads the Championship with 10 goals this season and will be a serious challenge for United’s back line with his combination of skill and size.

New Mexico United – Chris Wehan: The United talisman has rounded into a great vein of form of late and will try to continue his run of appearing on the scoresheet in four consecutive outings here.

LA Galaxy II vs. Monterey Bay F.C.

Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: LA 45%, MB 29%, Draw 26%

The Lowdown: The LA Galaxy II and Monterey Bay F.C. will both try to rebound from defeats on Saturday as they square off for the second of three meetings this season at Dignity Health Sports Park. Los Dos claimed a 3-1 victory on April 16 when the teams met for the first time as goals by Michael Salazar and Duhaney Williams stakes the side to a two-goal lead before the hour-mark before Preston Judd sealed the win late. Judd will be available for selection against after serving a one-game suspension this past Saturday in a 3-1 loss to Colorado Springs Switchbacks that saw the Galaxy II take a first-half lead before being swept aside by the current Western Conference leaders. Monterey Bay also suffered defeat in their most recent outing, falling 3-2 against San Antonio FC in a hard-fought contest at Cardinale Stadium that saw SAFC claim a late winner. The visitors will be without defender Hugh Roberts on Wednesday, too, after he was sent off following two yellow cards, leaving the visitors to deal with a notable absence on their back line as they try to turn the tables on their hosts this time around.

Spotlight Players
LA Galaxy II – Michael Salazar:
The Belize international has three goals and two assists this season, including a goal and assist when these teams met at the same venue earlier this campaign.

Monterey Bay F.C. – Sam Gleadle: The versatile midfielder will be aiming for a sharper display than in his return to the lineup against San Antonio, bringing the incisiveness that has seen him notch a pair of goals in recent action.

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