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Match Previews - 4.29.2023

By USLLeagueOne.com Staff, 04/29/23, 12:30PM EDT

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Big day for number of clubs in busy Week 7 Saturday

Forward Madison FC vs. Charlotte Independence

Venue: Breese Stevens Field; Madison, Wis.
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 51°
Broadcast: ESPN+
Hashtag: #MADvCLT
Series (First Meeting): 2-0-1, CLT (2022)

A pair of unbeaten clubs are set to face off as Forward Madison FC (1-0-2, 5th) hosts the Charlotte Independence (3-0-3, 1st) on Saturday afternoon at Breese Stevens Field. Madison is enjoying its third consecutive season in which the club has started with three unbeaten matches, while Charlotte is in the midst of its longest unbeaten stretch to start a season in club history. While Charlotte have played twice as many matches compared to Madison, this matchup will tell us a lot about both sides.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
 

MAD - Bernd Schipmann: Named to the Team of the Week twice this season, Schipmann recorded the first penalty save of the season and racked up five total saves in Madison’s massive 4-1 win over Greenville in Week 5.

CLT - Austin Pack: In a two-clean sheet, four-point week, Austin Pack went off, recording nine saves in a scoreless draw against Omaha and one save in a 1-0 victory over Central Valley to earn Team of the Week honors in Week 6.

AVAILABILITY REPORT
 

MAD: N/A

CLT: M - Bachir Ndiaye (out, injury)

Greenville Triumph SC vs. North Carolina FC

Venue: Paladin Stadium; Greenville, S.C.
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy, 75°
Broadcast: ESPN+
Hashtag: #GVLvNC
Series (First Meeting): 4-1-2, GVL (2021)

In one of the biggest matchups of the young season, a Week 7 clash between Greenville Triumph SC (2-3-0, 4th) and North Carolina FC (3-1-1, 2nd) is massive for a couple of reasons. A win for the hosts would just about erase those early season concerns following an 0-3-0 start, while a victory for NCFC would truly cement the legitimacy of the third-year League One side as they push for their first playoff appearance since 2019.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
 

GVL - Lucas Coutinho: Coutinho became the first player this season to tally three goal contributions in a single match, recording his first professional brace and an assist in Greenville’s big 3-0 victory over Central Valley. Across two Week 6 matches, Coutinho claimed 12 recoveries, won seven duels and created a trio of chances to be named Player of the Week.

NC - Rafa Mentzingen: In his first meeting with a former squad last week, the Brazilian midfielder recorded a nine-minute brace to secure NCFC’s first-ever victory over Chattanooga. Proving ultra-efficient in his 71 minutes on the pitch, Mentzingen completed six long balls, five dribbles, and won 10 duels and three fouls.

AVAILABILITY REPORT
 

GVL: D - Noah Franke (out, injury), D - Brandon Fricke (probable, injury), GK - Ben Hale (out, injury), M - Tevin Shaw (out, injury), D - Nate Shultz (probable, injury), D - Jamie Smith (out, injury), D - Daniel Wu (probable, injury)

NC: D - Luke Croll (questionable, fitness), D - Daniel Navarro (injury, questionable)

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC vs. Lexington SC

Venue: CHI Memorial Stadium; Chattanooga, Tenn.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy, 73°
Broadcast: ESPN+
Hashtag: #CHAvLEX
Series (First Meeting): N/A (2023)

After taking down the 2022 champions two weeks ago, expansion side Lexington SC (1-3-1, 10th) will look to do the same against the 2022 runners-up Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (1-2-1, 11th). Starting things off in a similar fashion, both Lexington and Chattanooga have started the season with just one win and are coming off their biggest losses of the young campaign. A result for either side would certainly be a step in the right direction.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
 

CHA - Ryley Kraft: The former USYNT midfielder and USL veteran has started his season on a productive note, tallying one assist and four chances created.

LEX - Terique Mohammed: Efficient on both ends of the pitch, Lexington's Canadian defender leads his side in chances created (9), successful tackles per 90 minutes (1.8) and interceptions per 90 minutes (3.4).

AVAILABILITY REPORT
 

CHA: M - Christian Enriquez (out, injury), M - Yahir Paez (out, injury), D - Richard Rentería (out, eligibility)

LEX: M - Pierre Mané (out, eligibility), D - Cesar Murillo Jr. (out, suspension)

South Georgia Tormenta FC vs. Richmond Kickers

Venue: Optim Sports Medicine Field at Tormenta Stadium; Statesboro, Ga.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Thunderstorms, 75°
Broadcast: ESPN+
Hashtag: #TRMvRIC
Series (First Meeting): 3-2-5, RIC (2019)

With 2022 being the first season in League One history two different clubs claimed the Players' Shield and the League One championship, the Week 7 contest between the postseason-winning South Georgia Tormenta FC (3-3-0, 3rd) and regular season-winning Richmond Kickers (1-1-2, 8th) will be the first between defending champs. The Kickers return to Tormenta Stadium after participating in the first match at the stadium in a 1-1 draw last October. The hosts will aim to continue their rise up the table following an up-and-down start but have struggled against the Kickers, winning just once against Richmond in their past eight contests.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
 

TRM - Matheus Cassini: The first-year Ibis made the most of his 23 minutes on the pitch in Week 6, scoring the match-winner just three minutes after being subbed on and notching an assist 18 minutes later. The 27-year-old Brazilian also won a pair of duels and a pair of fouls.

RIC - Nil Vinyals: Despite missing Richmond's Third Round U.S. Open Cup match against D.C. United last week, Vinyals should be set to return in Statesboro. The Spanish midfielder has been one of the Kickers' most productive players this season, recording 10 chances created and one assist.

AVAILABILITY REPORT
 

TRM: F - Arthur Bosua (questionable, injury), D - Jake Dengler (questionable, injury), F - Kazaiah Sterling (questionable, injury)

RIC: M - Gabe Cox (out, injury), F - Ethan Vanacore-Decker (out, injury)

Union omaha vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC

Venue: Werner Park; Papillion, Neb.
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Weather: Mostly sunny, 62°
Broadcast: ESPN+
Hashtag: #OMAvNCO
Series (First Meeting): 1-1-2 (2022)

Just one of three unbeaten clubs remaining in the league, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC will travel to Nebraska to face Union Omaha. On the brink of history, a Hailstorm clean sheet will break the record set by the 2021 Owls of three consecutive clean sheets to start a League One season. That said, Omaha have only beaten the Hailstorm in U.S. Open Cup play and never in three prior league matchups. Both sides will be eager to bounce back from disappointing U.S. Open Cup losses last week.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
 

OMA - Alexin Souahy: Souahy led Week 6 with 0.56 goals added according to American Soccer Analysis. The veteran Comorian defender helped Omaha to a clean sheet with his 91% passing accuracy, 86% long ball accuracy, five duels won, four recoveries and three clearances

NCO - Lalo Delgado: Tied for the league lead with three clean sheets, first-year Northern Colorado 'keeper has eight saves on the season and is one clean sheet away from breaking a league record.

AVAILABILITY REPORT
 

OMA: D - Stefan Mueller (out, injury)

NCO: F - Irvin Parra (questionable, personal)

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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  North Carolina FC  Hailstorm FC  Charlotte Independence  Lexington SC  Game Previews 

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