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Eastern Conf. Notebook — Independence Aim to get Over Frustration

By CHRIS HOCKMAN - chris.hockman@uslsoccer.com, 06/29/18, 9:00AM EDT

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NCFC preparing for new-look Kickers; Penn looking to cap successful month


Photo courtesy The Professional Photography Group / Charlotte Independence

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With a two-goal lead in the second half on Wednesday night and seemingly cruising to another victory, the Charlotte Independence were left frustrated when the Tampa Bay Rowdies came from behind to steal a 2-2 road draw at the Sportsplex at Matthews.

With every point becoming key in the race for the USL Cup Playoffs as the season reaches its midway point, two dropped points at home saw Charlotte miss out on entering the weekend's action in the top three of the Eastern Conference standings. 

"We blew it. I mean at 2-0 we should've closed the game out and I think we'll look back at certain breaks in the game and leave that as... vague as I can,” said Independence Head Coach Mike Jeffries. “It didn't go our way but we didn't manage the game as well as we should have at the end. I'll take responsibility for that. Up until 2-0, they hadn't had a chance all game and we managed it really well, we conceded just easy opportunities out of nothing to get them the first goal."

Despite being frustrated with giving up two points, Charlotte continued its undefeated run, which now stands at four games as it heads to face Bethlehem Steel FC on Saturday evening at Goodman Stadium (5 p.m. ET | Match Center | ESPN+). As nice as being undefeated in four games is, however, with all four outings having ended in draws there is a level of disappointment the side hasn't been able to close out games strongly of late.

“There is just a frustration, no question. All the games are different. Atlanta, we gave up a late goal of a distance shot so there's a real frustration with that for sure,” said Jeffries. “On the other hand, Charleston, we pulled one back late and given tired legs I thought it was okay. The last two games we walk off the field feeling we left points on the table."

The focus turned instantly from that disappointment in the result to what will be an important game on Saturday against Steel FC, a team that is looking to close the gap on the USL Cup Playoffs places as it sits in 10th place, four points back of the fifth-place Independence in a congested middle of the conference standings.

“We can take positives out of this, we won four games in a row and now tied four in a row, so I guess we can turn it around and win four more in a row again,” said Independence defender Je-Vaughn Watson. “We have a lot of positives, we came out today and scored two goals, that's a positive. We have a game on Saturday behind us so we have to keep them behind us. We have a good team, a good bunch of guys, the chemistry in the team is good, the coaching staff is good, and the organization is good. We have to just keep on fighting."

KICKERS' CHANGE HAS NCFC WARY: After falling 2-1 to the Richmond Kickers on March 31st, North Carolina FC makes its second trip to City Stadium this season eager to even the regular-season series between the clubs on Saturday night (7 p.m. ET | Match Center | ESPN+). But with former Kickers Head Coach, Leigh Cowlishaw stepping down this week to be replaced by former Kickers player and assistant coach David Bulow, things have changed significantly for the visitors as they approach the matchup.

“Leigh [Cowlishaw] obviously stepped down, I know that is something he’s been thinking about for a while,” said NCFC Head Coach Colin Clarke. “I’m delighted for him that he’s doing what he wanted to do. Now they have someone else in place. A week is a short time to change things around. But they have a new face and a new voice. I’m sure that the players will be sad that Leigh isn’t there anymore, but respect that and go fight for a new coach. We can’t worry too much about that. We’re going on the road and we need points. We’re disappointed in how we finished the game earlier in the season in Richmond. It’s a big game.”

Richmond's style caused problems for North Carolina in their first meeting this season, with the directness of the Kickers' approach proving difficult for NCFC to deal with resulting in the defeat. But with the coaching change, NCFC cannot worry about that and needs to just get its game plan right as it looks to close the gap on the playoff positions in what is a massive game for both sides.

“The last time we faced them, they were very direct with some strong guys up front. We need to be sure that we defend that,” said NCFC forward Marios Lomis. “But we need to play our own game. Trust in our own play, how we keep possession, and our ability to switch play. That is our strength.”

After rallying to claim a 2-2 draw against Louisville City FC last week, North Carolina is looking to take the momentum it gained from Daniel Rios' late equalizer and build a run that could push it into the USL Cup Playoffs. With a six-point gap between NCFC and the current eighth-place side the New York Red Bulls II, the time is now for the USL newcomer to make a move.

“We have to build on that. It’s the first time this year that we’ve been able to come from behind to get a result,” said Clarke. “We have games coming up against the teams around us and the next six to eight games will be very important to help us climb the table and get into a playoff spot.”

PENN UNSURPRISED BY UPTICK IN FORM: Perhaps the biggest change in form in recent weeks has been Penn FC’s four-match unbeaten streak, which included a road win against the Tampa Bay Rowdies last Friday night in the club's most recent outing. That change in form has come as no surprise to the team, which after much offseason turnover expected things to eventually fall into place.

“We knew that it would be not easy at the beginning of the season. We have a team put together from like four guys staying [from last season's squad] and everybody else was brought in,” said Penn Head Coach Raoul Voss. “So we had a lot of pieces we had to connect together and that takes time. Now, we feel like we are better equipped, have more feeling for each other and more rhythm.”

Penn's surge in form has carried it to the edge of the Eastern Conference's playoff positions, with the side now level on points with the eighth-place New York Red Bulls II. Should the side take victory in Saturday night's visit to a strong Indy Eleven side at Lucas Oil (7 p.m ET | Match Center | ESPN+), it would move the side into the top eight for the first time this season. 

With forward Lucky Mkosana having scored four goals in the past two games, the club's attacking firepower certainly seems to have emerged for Voss' side, which has scored the second-most goals in the month of June (11) in the league, trailing only Eastern Conference-leader FC Cincinnati in that span. 

“I think the team is coming together. We started slow but now we know how the players are playing and we know where to put the ball,” said Mkosana. “We’ve been practicing making the right runs and putting the balls in the box. At the end of the day, it’s a team effort. We know where we want to be -- we want to make the playoffs and everyone is on the same page.”

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