The first game of the USL One season is finally here. Two brand new teams face off to begin their inaugural campaigns, Union Omaha and the New England Revolution II. The Owls head to Foxborough, Massachusetts to face the MLS reserve side at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 4pm CST on Saturday, July 25th.
Union Omaha
The Owls are led by a duo of Argentines, forward Juan Ignacio Mare and midfielder Sebastian Contreras. Both men have had a strong preseason run up with the owls. The wing will be dominated by the speedy Spaniard Damia Viader who is no stranger to the Omaha area. The former Iowa Western player is going to help the Owls from box-to-box. Between the sticks is the biggest question heading into the game. Head Coach Jay Mims has a tough decision between Rashid Nuhu and Sam Howard. Both keepers are highly talented and will prove to be a fortress to get past. The manager will have a hard decision on his hands before he hands in the team sheet.
New England Revolution II
The Revs are another brand new team to the League One fold. Just like the Owls, New England is coached by a first year head coach. They are led by Clint Peay who previously coached as an assistant for one year with USL Championship side, North Carolina FC. Prior to his year with Carolina, he spent three years with USMNT U14 and U15 squads. Peay’s knowledge of football dates back to his playing career as a Virginia Cavalier in college as well as a D.C. United player for a couple years in his professional days.
New England’s defense will be anchored by a rookie straight from the college ranks. Simon Lekressner is expected to play as center backs for the Revs. Lekressner was the Revolution’s second round draft pick in the 2020 MLS Super Draft, he played his college soccer for the Bears of Cal Berkley earning a spot on the All-Pac 12 First Team. Also, forward Many Silva could take the pitch for the Revs. The 17-year-old homegrown player signed a New England Revolution II contract in January. Silva scored 9 goals for the Revs while playing for the U-17 and U-19 teams the past two years. Theses young players have a bright future ahead of them, but will need to contain the Owls first.
Lastly, the game will be played in one of North America’s signature stadiums, Gillette Stadium; home to the MLS club and the New England Patriots. Fans will not be allowed in the 66,000 plus stadium so crowd noise will not be a factor for Union Omaha. But, it’s doubtful that fans would have been a factor anyways against the MLS II side. In 2019, MLS II teams averaged 900 fans per game which is just low enough to hear Jay Mims yell from the sideline to Fenway Park 30 miles away.
When
Saturday, July 25th, 4pm CST
Where
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Watch
ESPN+
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