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Gameday Previews - Saturday, August 20

By USLLeagueOne.com Staff, 08/20/22, 1:00PM EDT

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Crucial five-match slate set for Saturday evening as playoffs loom

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC

Venue: CHI Memorial Stadium; Chattanooga, Tenn.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Scattered thunderstorms, 79°
Broadcast: ESPN+
Hashtag: #CHAvTRM

In one of the most even series in League One, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (8-8-5, 4th) and South Georgia Tormenta FC (7-7-6, 6th) have played to a 3-3-2 all-time record with 12 goals each across eight total meetings. The Red Wolves are unbeaten in six straight and have challenged the top of the table once again. For Tormenta FC, a strong July has been followed up by a stretch of five matches with three losses.

CHA - Rafa Mentzingen: In just 97 minutes of play across two Week 19 matches, Mentzingen recorded a pair of goals to help Chattanooga to a pair of wins. Subbed on in the 60th minute against Greenville, Mentzingen tallied a four-minute brace to confirm the 5-1 thumping.

TRM - Kazaiah Sterling: Named the Player of the Month for July, Sterling has broken out with the most goals in a single month in his impressive career.

Union Omaha vs. North Carolina FC

Venue: Werner Park; Papillion, Neb.
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Weather: Sunny, 78°
Broadcast: ESPN+
Hashtag: #OMAvNC

Union Omaha (7-2-10, 3rd) hosts North Carolina FC (6-10-3, 10th) for the first time this season in a series that has been controlled by the Owls. In three prior matchups, Omaha has maintained a 2-0-1 record and dropped eight goals to NCFC's two. Losing four of its last five, NCFC is desperate for a positive result, while a win or draw for Omaha would confirm the hosts a longest-ever unbeaten streak at 11 matches.

OMA - Noe Meza: Meza scored his fifth goal of the season in his first year as a professional, earning Omaha a draw against Northern Colorado last week. Meza added five recoveries, won two fouls and registered one clearance to go along with his 12th-minute score.

NC - Christian Lue Young: In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Lue Young registered his first NCFC goal in match-winning fashion against Forward Madison FC last Wednesday. Across two Week 20 matches, Lue Young tallied three chances created, three clearances and three interceptions.

Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC vs. Forward Madison FC

Venue: Severance High School; Severance, Colo.
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy, 72°
Broadcast: ESPN+
Hashtag: #NCOvMAD

Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (6-8-8, 9th) will host Forward Madison FC (6-5-9, 7th) for the second time this season on Saturday evening. The Hailstorm conceded a disappointing loss to last-place Tucson on Wednesday evening as the first-year side fights to remain in playoff contention. Madison is winless in its last five, averaging just 0.8 points per match in that span

NCO - Irvin Parra: Parra canceled out an early Omaha goal with a score of his own in the 79th minute to salvage a 1-1 draw in Papillion last week. With nine goals on the season, Parra has tallied the third-most goals in a single season of his decade-long career.

MAD - Cyrus Rad: In 180 minutes of Week 20 action, Rad racked up the most clearances and interceptions in the league with eight and six, respectively. Additionally, Rad won 100% of his tackles and completed 84% of his 136 passes.

FC Tucson vs. Greenville Triumph SC

Venue: Kino North Stadium; Tucson, Ariz.
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Weather: Scattered thunderstorms, 76°
Broadcast: ESPN+
Hashtag: #TUCvGVL

Last-place FC Tucson (4-10-4, 11th) have a big test on Saturday evening as it hosts first-place Greenville Triumph SC (10-6-5, 1st). Tucson is coming off a midweek victory against Northern Colorado, while Greenville is still fresh off its strong win over Richmond last week. A crucial match for both sides, Tucson need all the points it can muster, and Greenville need points to fend off second-place Richmond in the standings.

TUC - Louis Perez: Enjoying the most productive season of his professional career, Louis Perez recorded a goal and assist on Wednesday to propel FC Tucson to a much-needed victory over Northern Colorado.

GVL - Paul Christensen: Christensen came out victorious in a battle of the top two teams in the league, reeling in four saves, recording a clean sheet and denying a potential Richmond equalizer in the sixth minute of stoppage time last week.

Central Valley Fuego FC vs. Richmond Kickers

Venue: Fresno State Soccer Stadium; Fresno, Calif.
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Sunny, 100°
Broadcast: ESPN+
Hashtag: #CVvRIC

The Richmond Kickers (10-7-4, 2nd) will be hungry to avenge their 3-1 loss to Central Valley Fuego FC (7-8-5, 8th) as they return to Fresno for the second time in less than a month. Trending in opposite directions, Fuego FC has amassed a 2-3-0 record in its last five, while the Kickers are 3-2-0 in that same span. The Kickers need to maintain their momentum to keep up with Greenville at the top of the table, and Central Valley need results if it wants to challenge for a playoff spot.

CV - Nathan Smith: Last week, Smith scored his first goal for Fuego FC since ripping off a rocket against El Paso in the U.S. Open Cup earlier this year. His match-winning goal against NCFC was complimented by 91% passing accuracy, seven recoveries and a 90% ground duel success rate.

RIC - Akira Fitzgerald: Despite conceding a late winner to Greenville last week, Fitzgerald reeled in seven saves and now leads the league with a whopping 71 saves on the year.

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Tag(s): News  Union Omaha  Chatt Red Wolves SC  Forward Madison FC  Greenville Triumph SC  Richmond Kickers  So. Georgia Tormenta FC  FC Tucson  North Carolina FC  Central Valley Fuego FC  Hailstorm FC  Game Previews 

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