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2017 USL Preview – The Turnaround

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 03/21/17, 2:57PM EDT

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After seasons of struggle, how bright is the future in Phoenix, Saint Louis and Tulsa?


Photo courtesy Phoenix Rising FC

Their records have not been pretty. Since Phoenix Rising FC joined the USL in 2014, the trio of Rising FC, Saint Louis FC and Tulsa Roughnecks FC have gone a combined 60-98-43, and missed the USL Cup Playoffs each year. Last season, they finished as the bottom three teams in the Western Conference.

With a new season, though, there comes hope.

In Phoenix, a new ownership group, a new brand and a new vision for what soccer in Arizona can be has led to one of the most interesting offseasons in memory. Led by new principal owner Burke Bakay, the President and CEO of Kona Grill, Rising FC has been described as the “funnest teams in America,” and with the signings of former Mexico and Chivas de Guadalajara striker Omar Bravo and former England international Shaun Wright-Phillips, there’s plenty of sizzle to go with Bakay’s steak.

Will it work? It certainly could. Bravo and Wright-Phillips notwithstanding, Rising FC also brought back players like defenders Uchenna Uzo and Peter Ramage, and the duo of Chris Cortez and Luke Rooney, both of whom proved capable of the spectacular last season. Whatever happens, it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch.

The changes in Saint Louis weren’t quite as splashy, but that won’t matter if new Head Coach Preki produces the types of results as he did in his prior USL stop in Sacramento. The 2014 USL Coach of the Year brought along some of his former cohorts to help the process along, with Octavio Guzman and Ivan Mirkovic likely to make a fearsome midfield duo for whoever crosses their path. Forward Jose Angulo – the 2013 USL Most Valuable Player – and Christian Volesky will be looked at to provide the goals, while Devala Gorrick – an All-League selection a year ago – will be charged with keeping them out.


Photo courtesy Mark Guthrel / Saint Louis FC

With a passionate fan base behind the club, Saint Louis won’t lack for support at home or on the road. While this preseason has hinted there might be bumps along the way, the hope remains that success is just around the corner.

For Roughnecks fans, hope seemed very far away at the end of 2016. With only five wins – and a league-high 21 defeats and 64 goals conceded – it was clear change was needed. Enter David Vaudreuil, who at least in preseason appears to have righted the ship. From all indications, the former Chicago Fire and D.C. United player has brought a new toughness and resilience that will have the Roughnecks living up to their nickname, with the flair being provided by former La Liga player Juan Pablo Caffa.

An undefeated preseason, which included a victory against Saint Louis and a draw on the road against San Antonio FC, doesn’t always mean that a corner has been turned. From the evidence we have, though, Tulsa’s fervent supporters should have a lot more to cheer this year. 


Photo courtesy Tulsa Roughnecks FC

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