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Defensive Improvement Key for Phoenix

By CHRIS HOCKMAN – chris.hockman@uslsoccer.com, 09/19/17, 2:23PM EDT

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Head Coach Carteron’s defensive experience boosts Rising FC back line


Phoenix Rising FC defender Peter Ramage - Photo courtesy Michael Rincon / Phoenix Rising FC

PHOENIX – There’s an old adage that defense wins championships, which may explain why Phoenix Rising FC is closer to a place in the USL Cup Playoffs than at any prior time in the club's history.

After conceding 46 goals in 2016, a goals-against average of more than 1.5 per game, Phoenix is on track to cut that number this season. Entering Wednesday night's game with Seattle Sounders FC 2 the side sits on on 31 goals conceded with seven matches remaining, putting the club on course for the best defensive year in club history.

A big part of that improved defensive performance is new Head Coach Patrice Cartereon, says Phoenix defender Peter Ramage, who credits the Frenchman’s experience as a defender for 27 years for improving Rising FC's defense.

“The coach came in and identified that we needed to improve that area to go forward,” said Ramage. “Obviously as a defender himself that’s something he knows a lot about, and that, coupled with the hard work the boys have been doing on the pitch, we’ve seen it improve, and as a defender myself, it’s great to see the knowledge of the coach is being put in to work on the pitch.”

For Carteron, the improvement was a gradual change throughout the season. The difference between Rising FC's defensive performance before and after the 47-year-old's arrival is marked; Phoenix conceded 17 goals in its first nine games of the season, and has allowed only 14 in the 16 games since. 

“In our first games we knew that the defensive aspect had many problems of course because of no clean sheets, and many opportunities for the opponent, but the players were absolutely fantastic, they accepted hard work,” said Carteron.


Phoenix Rising FC Head Coach Patrice Carteron (center) alongside assistant Rick Schantz - Photo courtesy Michael Rincon / Phoenix Rising FC

Goalkeeper Josh Cohen agrees it was gradual, seeing the change come due to a side getting to know themselves more as the season has worn on. That has led to improved results, and more shutouts as time has gone on. Rising FC is currently on an eight-game undefeated streak that has see it allow only four goals and record four clean sheets, which has moved the club as a whole within range of fifth place in the standings should it take victory against S2 in its midweek clash. 

“A lot of it is just learning how to play together, a lot of us haven’t played together, especially in the back line where we have a couple of rookies,” said Cohen. “Then there’s a coming together of the system, where we’re doing the same thing every week. Now we’re coming together as a collective defensive team and having everyone be on the same page, that really helps.”

For Cohen, that change during the season has been shown in the number of shots on goal and penalty kicks he has faced in more recent games. From outings like like a 4-0 defeat against Reno 1868 FC that saw the visitors log 10 shots on goal to two weeks earlier facing two penalty kick chances among eight shots on goal against the Swope Park Rangers, things have become much more manageable of late.

“It was frustrating; we would do well in games and then give up a penalty late in the game," said Cohen. "It was a bit demoralizing having that happen consistently. I think part of why we’re doing better now is that we were doing some things defensively early on that attracted those penalty calls. We’ve changed that and it’s going well for us now.”

One thing that has been clear for Phoenix is that every member of the team contributes to the defensive effort.

“It’s not just the defense, it’s the whole team," said Ramage. "We’re one team, no department is seen as more important than the other. If we keep clean sheets but don’t score goals we only pick up one point, it’s been a whole squad effort, everyone has been contributing. It’s important for us to keep clean sheets, it helps the forwards go on and score. That’s what the coach has drilled in to us, it’s not just one effort, it’s a whole effort from front to back.”

Cohen goes one step further, refusing to even take much credit for his effort in the defensive performances for Rising FC. Performance's like last Saturday night's against Western Conference-leader Real Monarchs SLC, when the visitors managed just one shot on goal, or a shutout display against Orange County SC two weeks ago where Cohen wasn't called upon to make an official save in the contest is testament to the manner the team is performing as a whole.

“I think most of it is based on the back four, and also the six other guys in front of them. The defensive stuff, I’ve been on teams in the past with great defensive record overall,” said Cohen. “The thing about teams with great defensive records is that all 11 players defend. It doesn’t mean that everyone has to be running around defending, but if they’re on the same page so that we have a good shape together, and me at the back I know that shape and can direct it, we don’t give up as many opportunities.”

If defense wins championships, Phoenix Rising FC will certainly have a shot at the USL Cup in November should its robust defensive consistency continue.

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