TAMPA, Fla. - After four initial preseason matches over the past few weeks, nearly every League One team hit the pitch this weekend in preparation for the start of the regular season on April 2. The recent preseason slate features back-to-back 11-match weeks and back-to-back weeks with seven matches between League One and USL Championship opposition. Last weekend's results were highlighted by Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and South Georgia Tormenta FC recording wins over Championship sides.

RICHMOND KICKERS 1, High Point University 1

Glover Park; Richmond, Va.

Feb. 24, 7 p.m. ET

A back-and-forth affair in a cold, rainy night in Richmond saw the Kickers earn a draw versus High Point in its third preseason match. In the 80', Jonathan Bolanos received the ball and raced up the left wing as Richmond pressed forward on the counter attack. As Bolanos approached the top of the box, he cut the ball back inside to Matt Bolduc who waited in the middle, teed up a shot and placed it in the back of the net to give Richmond the late equalizer.

Goals:

• 65': HPU
• 80': Bolduc, RIC

FC Tucson 0, Oakland Roots SC 1

Kino Sports Complex; Tucson, Ariz.

Feb. 26, 2 p.m. ET

FC Tucson made its return to the pitch on Saturday at Kino North, facing off against USL Championship side Oakland Roots SC in the Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson.

Played in three 30-minute periods, the match was decided by former FC Tucson midfielder Charlie Dennis' goal early in the contest. Dennis, who had 10 goals from 2019 to 2020 in Tucson, knocked in a left-footed shot from outside the box early in the first period against his former club.

Goals:

• 20': Dennis, OAK

Clemson University 2, Greenville Triumph SC 0

Historic Riggs Field; Clemson, S.C.

Feb. 26, 3 p.m. ET

Propelled by a pair of second-half goals, the reigning national champions downed perennial League One power, Greenville Triumph SC 2-0 on Saturday.

Goals:

• 63': Parrish, CLM
• 88': Strobeck, CLM

Memphis 901 FC 0, Chattanooga red Wolves SC 1

Mike Rose Soccer Complex; Memphis, Tenn.

Feb. 26, 4 p.m. ET

Traveling across Tennessee, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC downed in-state opponent Memphis 901 FC 1-0 on Saturday. Featuring a number of trialists, the Red Wolves found the winner in the 79' when a pair of trialists linked up for a goal off a later corner kick.

Goals:

• 79': Trialist, CHA

Sacramento Republic FC 3, Central Valley Fuego FC 2

Cosumnes River College Stadium; Sacramento, Calif.

Feb. 26, 5 p.m. ET

In its first preseason match ahead of its inaugural season, Central Valley Fuego fell in a tightly contested match against USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC.

Goals:

• Lopez, SAC
• Foster, SAC
• Trialist, SAC

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 7, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC 2

Weidner Field; Colorado Springs, Colo.

Feb. 26, 5 p.m. ET

A short-handed Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC side took an early lead on the road against 2021 USL Championship quarterfinalists Colorado Springs Switchbacks in Hailstorm FC's preseason opener, but the visitors were unable to hold on at Weidner Field, falling 7-2.

Despite goals from Danny Robles and a trialist before the 60', a completely new second-half lineup from Hailstorm FC found it difficult to contain the Switchback starters who accumulated six second-half scores.

Goals:

• 5': Robles, NCO
• 34': Mahoney, COS
• 52': Ngalina, COS
• 54': Amoh, COS
• 57': Trialist, NCO
• 65': Barry, COS
• 72': Amoh, COS
• 90': Zandi, COS
• 90+2': Mahoney, COS

Marquette University 0, Forward Madison FC 2

Valley Field Dome; Milwaukee, Wis.

Feb. 26, 6:30 p.m. ET

The Flamingos got the preseason campaign off to a good start with a 2-0 win against Marquette University's men's soccer team. With a squad largely consisting of trialists, FMFC controlled the tempo of the match, growing into the game as time went on.

Goals:

• 28': Trialist, MAD
• 60': Leonard, MAD

North Carolina FC 3, University of North Carolina Wilmington 0

WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.

Feb. 26

North Carolina FC continued their preseason schedule against the University of North Carolina Wilmington on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Seahawks 3-0 behind goals from Christian Lue Young, Luis Arriaga, and Jaden Servania. 

Finding the head of Lue Young at the back post off a corner, Arriaga recorded the assist as Lue Young converted the chance to put the North Carolina side up 1-0.

Arriaga doubled NCFC’s lead with a goal of his own, receiving a pass from Garrett McLaughlin just outside the eighteen. With a precise touch, Arriaga buried a shot past the UNCW goalkeeper and into the upper 90, finishing the day with an assist and a goal. 

Scoring NCFC’s final goal of the contest was Servania, who received a short pass from Nicolás Molina in the box and finished the chance at close range.

Goals:

• Young, NC
• Arriaga, NC
• Servania, NC

San Diego Loyal SC 2, Union Omaha 0

San Diego, Calif.

Feb. 26

A scrimmage between the League One and Championship sides resulted in a 2-0 victory for San Diego. Omaha will stay in San Diego to face the Toreros of the University of San Diego on Tuesday.

Richmond Kickers 0, Loudoun United FC 0

Striker Park; Richmond, Va.

Feb. 26, 6 p.m. ET

The Kickers earned their first clean sheet of the preseason with a stout defensive effort from all 10 outfield players. 

Loudoun's only goal-scoring chance came in the first half with a through ball that earned a one-on-one with goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald who came off his line to make a sliding save. Loudoun scooped up the deflection and placed an attempt on frame, but Stephen Payne was there to make the goal-line clearance. Following the sequence, the DC United affiliate's attack was effectively held to only fleeting half chances.

The Reds pushed to break the stalemate in the second half as reigning league MVP Emiliano Terzaghi earned his first minutes of 2022, subbing into the match with roughly 20 minutes remaining. Chandler O'Dwyer unlocked Terzaghi with a through pass as the Argentine timed his run perfectly. One-on-one with the keeper, Terzaghi drifted to the right and, with one of his first touches of the night, placed an attempt on target towards the near post that required a finger-tip save from Loudoun.

Ultimately, a hard-fought and physical preseason match on another cold night finished knotted up as the Kickers wrapped up their preseason series with the USL Championship side with a 1-0-1 record.

Atlanta United 2 0, South Georgia Tormenta FC 1

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground; Marietta, Ga.

Feb. 26, 3 p.m. ET

A meeting between in-state foes led to a one-goal Tormenta FC victory over USL Championship's Atlanta United 2 at the latter's training ground. A scoreless first half gave way to a late goal from a trialist on an assist from another trialist.

Goals:

• 79': Trialist, TRM

UP NEXT

• University of San Diego (NCAA) vs. Union Omaha; March 1
• Atlanta United 2 (USL Championship) vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC; March 2, 7 p.m. ET
• Charleston Battery (USL Championship) vs. Richmond Kickers; March 2
• Forward Madison FC vs. Northern Illinois University (NCAA); March 4
• Atlanta United 2 (USL Championship) vs. Greenville Triumph SC; March 5, 1 p.m. ET
• New Mexico United (USL Championship) vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC; March 5, 2 p.m. ET
• Oakland Roots SC (USL Championship) vs. Central Valley Fuego FC; March 5, 4 p.m. ET
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte (NCAA) vs. Charlotte Independence; March 5
• Richmond Kickers vs. University of North Carolina Greensboro (NCAA); March 5
• Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL Championship) vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC; March 5
• Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship) vs. FC Tucson; March 5

For more, visit League One Preseason Central