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Western Conf. Notebook — Energy FC Looking For Form

By CHRIS HOCKMAN - chris.hockman@uslsoccer.com, 04/20/18, 8:02PM EDT

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Rangers prepare for playoff rematch; Fresno looking to continue undefeated run


Photo courtesy Steven Christy / OKC Energy FC

OKLAHOMA CITY – Two teams moving in opposite directions meet on Saturday when OKC Energy FC welcomes Saint Louis FC to Taft Stadium (8 p.m ET | Match Center). Having suffered four consecutive defeats, Energy FC comes in desperate for a result, while Saint Louis is on the upswing after taking victory in two of its last three outings and having only lost once in five games overall this season.

OKC will be looking to make changes in its return to action after last week's postponement against the Swope Park Rangers, with the goal of fixing the defensive performances that arose in a 3-0 defeat to the Portland Timbers 2 on April 7th.

“We’ve conceded too many goals. When you struggle, it’s sometimes tough to take that chance to get the ball into the back of the net. If we get that chance, we have to take it,” said Energy FC defender Callum Ross. “Once the first goal is scored, that will give us the confidence we’re looking for and more will continue to bury those chances.”

Saint Louis has been steadily improving as the season has gone on under new Head Coach Anthony Puilis, and used a three-match homestand to build an undefeated streak ahead of Saturday's trip to Oklahoma City.

“I think collectively we’ve gotten a little bit better each game this year, and playing our last three games at home was great for building up some momentum,” said STLFC midfielder Joey Calistri, who scored the game-winner in last week's victory against the LA Galaxy II. “Now we just have to keep raising our level every game and show we can be an effective team on the road as well.”

Despite the differing form between the two sides, Saint Louis is making sure to not take anything for granted in the match. Pulis has been working to push the team to fight and start getting strong results on the road.

“OKC has some excellent players and a very good Head Coach in Steve Cooke. This will be a very difficult game for us especially now they’ve had two weeks to prepare & I’m sure they’ll be extremely motivated to get a positive result,” said Pulis. “To be successful on the road in this league you need resilience, grit & togetherness, plus the ability to take your chances when they come. The focus for us will be making sure we have all those things this weekend.”

With Saint Louis having not been an opponent for Energy FC since the 2016 season there is also plenty of homework ahead of this match. Ross has been helping with that homework having played against STLFC for the Charlotte Independence a season ago.

“In my experience against them last season, they were a hard-working team that was willing to fight for each other. It was never an easy match against them. In one particular game at their ground, the final 20 minutes was very intense. I’m sure it will be another tough affair,” said Ross. “From last season to this season, I know they made some significant changes in their personnel, starting with their coach. I think at one point a couple of times this season, they started 11 new players. It’ll be something new for us to prepare for.”

RANGERS FACE TEST IN PLAYOFF REMATCH: One of the biggest matches in the Western Conference this Saturday brings together a rematch from the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs between Phoenix Rising FC and the Swope Park Rangers, both of whom have made identical 3-1-1 starts to the new season ahead of their meeting at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex (10 p.m ET | Match Center).

For Swope Park, which is on a two-game undefeated streak, the contest presents another challenge on the road in the early season, with the side having already played three of its five previous games away from home.

“It’s a lot tougher playing on the road, said Rangers Head Coach Paulo Nagamura. “That’s why we fight so much for our home field because we believe we have an advantage training and playing every week in the same environment. Going to a different environment just makes for a tougher place to impose our game.”

After the Rangers' victory in a penalty shootout the last time the teams met, Nagamura is expecting another tight game between the two side. Phoenix's upgraded squad represents the biggest test of the season so far for the Rangers, whose only loss came on the road against Las Vegas Lights FC in late March. 

“They’re a very good team. They finished very well last year,” said Nagamura. “In my opinion, they’re going to be one of the top teams in the West and Saturday will be another really tough game for us.”

FOXES AIM TO TURN FRUSTRATION INTO SUCCESS: Fresno FC was on the verge of its third win of the season on Wednesday night as its game against Tulsa Roughnecks FC ticked into stoppage time at Chukchansi Park, but a dramatic late goal by the Roughnecks' Jon Bakero forced the Foxes to settle for a third draw instead and left a disappointed mood in the club's locker room after the game. 

“When you go 2-1 up and you get to the last 15 seconds of the game, it feels more a loss than a tie,” said Foxes Head Coach Adam Smith. “That’s football, it happens, the good thing is it is that another game we did not lose. We have been on a five-game unbeaten [streak], it is nice to get some consistency. I will look at the video and we will see what we can get better, there is room for a lot of improvement.”

With that frustration still fresh in the memory the Foxes have little time to prepare for their next match, taking on San Antonio FC at Chukchansi Park on Sunday evening (9 p.m. ET | Match Center). With back-to-back games in a short space of time, the club is looking to to fight on from that disappointment of a result, and in fact use it for motivation in what will be a tough test.

“It will be a hard game,” said Smith. “San Antonio is a very good team, well organized, they did very well last year. We will have to look at them and figure out a game plan. Find the right line up, hopefully, we will have proper players coming back.”

One of the players who performed well on Wednesday was midfielder Rony Argueta, who came off the bench and scored the second goal for the Foxes. Argueta has made himself something of a super-sub for the team in the early going this season, scoring twice off the bench so far.

“The way I prepare for it, mentally I put myself in the game. I tell myself I am going to start the game,” said Argueta. When I am warming up, I am visualizing myself playing the game. I just put myself on the pitch and when coach says it’s time to come on, I feel ready. It’s all mental. I tell myself 'you are playing, you are coming in, you are in the game.'”

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