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Tulsa Passes Test with Flying Colors

By CHARLIE CORR - charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com, 05/14/17, 9:35AM EDT

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Roughnecks’ two wins in three days lift club up West standings


Photo courtesy of Tulsa Roughnecks FC

TULSA, Okla. – Tulsa Roughnecks FC completed its tightest regular-season window this year with two matches in a three-day stretch.

Seven goals and two wins later, the Roughnecks find themselves in the upper half of the Western Conference standings.

The offense has been clicking, with Tulsa posting a 4-0 win against Orange County SC on Saturday at ONEOK Field. That was preceded by a 3-1 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on Thursday.

Seven goals in two games – through Saturday, seven USL teams still haven’t posted seven goals all season.

“This squad has great camaraderie,” said Ian Svantesson, who tallied twice for the Roughnecks on Saturday. “Now that we have had a chance to be together, things are starting to click. This week was a great test, and we showed pretty well.”

Pretty well might be a bit of an understatement. The Roughnecks not only scored at a strong clip, but tallied in a variety of manners through the run of play or through set-piece extraordinaire Juan Pablo Caffa. For a second straight match, he placed a gem of a free kick into the back of the net.

“It took us a while to get going tonight, but a great goal [by Caffa] to open got us going, and the game just kept getting better and better for us,” Roughnecks Head Coach David Vaudreuil said.

Tulsa juggled some pieces around. Brady Ballew earned the start and was incredibly effective, assisting Svantesson’s second goal and drawing the free kick that led to Caffa’s 19th-minute score. The Roughnecks also benefited from the services of midfielder Brandt Bronico, on loan from Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire.

“No one came out of the match with any injuries and we got a lot of guys involved,” Vaudreuil said. “Brady Ballew got his first start and did a great job, and Brandt Bronico came down from the Chicago Fire and played 90 minutes. That’s a big deal for us because it saves other guys’ legs.

“We said these games were very important, and two wins would put us up in the table and more where we should be, and that’s what we got.”

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