TULSA – The book might be shut on the 2020 USL Championship season, but you can still enjoy watching some former Tulsa standouts having success at the next level. Major League Soccer’s 2020 regular season came to an end this past weekend, with 18 teams claiming an MLS Cup Playoffs spot. The tournament won’t start until November 20 due to the upcoming FIFA International window, but five former Tulsa Roughnecks, the previous era of the FC Tulsa franchise, will feature in MLS’ postseason.
Here are the five in the order in which they appeared for the Roughnecks over the last few years.
TULSA – The book might be shut on the 2020 USL Championship season, but you can still enjoy watching some former Tulsa standouts having success at the next level. Major League Soccer’s 2020 regular season came to an end this past weekend, with 18 teams claiming an MLS Cup Playoffs spot. The tournament won’t start until November 20 due to the upcoming FIFA International window, but five former Tulsa Roughnecks, the previous era of the FC Tulsa franchise, will feature in MLS’ postseason.
Here are the five in the order in which they appeared for the Roughnecks over the last few years.
Matt LaGrassa – Nashville SC (Tulsa Roughnecks, 2016)
Matt LaGrassa – Nashville SC (Tulsa Roughnecks, 2016)
Nashville SC midfielder Matt LaGrassa’s soccer career has been one of hard work and consistent success slowly building to MLS. In his first professional season in 2016, LaGrassa saw a month-long midseason loan spell with the Roughnecks from Sacramento Republic FC. He played in just four matches for the Roughnecks with three starts before being recalled to Sacramento. LaGrassa rejoined Sacramento and made the USL Championship playoffs that season. The California native moved to Reno 1868 FC in 2017 and extended his playoff streak before finding the USL Championship postseason again with Nashville SC in 2018 and 19.
His four-years of USL Championship success earned LaGrassa a roster spot with Nashville this season, and the center midfielder has made eight appearances with four starts. LaGrassa will make his MLS Cup Playoffs debut on Nov. 20.
Nashville SC midfielder Matt LaGrassa’s soccer career has been one of hard work and consistent success slowly building to MLS. In his first professional season in 2016, LaGrassa saw a month-long midseason loan spell with the Roughnecks from Sacramento Republic FC. He played in just four matches for the Roughnecks with three starts before being recalled to Sacramento. LaGrassa rejoined Sacramento and made the USL Championship playoffs that season. The California native moved to Reno 1868 FC in 2017 and extended his playoff streak before finding the USL Championship postseason again with Nashville SC in 2018 and 19.
His four-years of USL Championship success earned LaGrassa a roster spot with Nashville this season, and the center midfielder has made eight appearances with four starts. LaGrassa will make his MLS Cup Playoffs debut on Nov. 20.
Jorge Luis Corrales – Montreal Impact (Tulsa Roughnecks, 2017)
Jorge Luis Corrales – Montreal Impact (Tulsa Roughnecks, 2017)
The quintet is led by one on Tulsa’s best and most-loved former players, Jorge Luis Corrales, now of Montreal Impact. Corrales, who endeared himself to Tulsa fans when the club made the USL Championship playoffs in 2017, has been a fixture at left back this season for the Impact. Back in 2017, Corrales was an anchor in the back for the Roughnecks, starting 28 matches in his 30 appearances that season. The Cuban defender scored a goal and added two assists in his one year with Tulsa before moving to Chicago Fire FC at the end of the 2017 season.
Corrales’ playoff appearance with the Impact this fall will be his trip to the postseason since making the USL Championship playoffs in ’17.
The quintet is led by one on Tulsa’s best and most-loved former players, Jorge Luis Corrales, now of Montreal Impact. Corrales, who endeared himself to Tulsa fans when the club made the USL Championship playoffs in 2017, has been a fixture at left back this season for the Impact. Back in 2017, Corrales was an anchor in the back for the Roughnecks, starting 28 matches in his 30 appearances that season. The Cuban defender scored a goal and added two assists in his one year with Tulsa before moving to Chicago Fire FC at the end of the 2017 season.
Corrales’ playoff appearance with the Impact this fall will be his trip to the postseason since making the USL Championship playoffs in ’17.
Jacori Hayes – Minnesota United (Tulsa Roughnecks, 2017)
Jacori Hayes – Minnesota United (Tulsa Roughnecks, 2017)
Ferreira and Servania weren’t the first loanees from FC Dallas to the Tulsa Roughnecks. One year prior, FC Dallas sent midfielder Jacori Hayes to the Roughnecks in a midseason loan. Hayes made 10 appearances, 8 starts, for the Roughnecks, scoring a goal and adding an assist, helping FC Tulsa to USL Championship Playoffs.
Hayes hasn’t missed the playoffs since, qualifying for the MLS Cup Playoffs with FC Dallas in 2018 and 2019 and for Minnesota United FC this season after scoring two goals for the Loons during the 2020 campaign.
Ferreira and Servania weren’t the first loanees from FC Dallas to the Tulsa Roughnecks. One year prior, FC Dallas sent midfielder Jacori Hayes to the Roughnecks in a midseason loan. Hayes made 10 appearances, 8 starts, for the Roughnecks, scoring a goal and adding an assist, helping FC Tulsa to USL Championship Playoffs.
Hayes hasn’t missed the playoffs since, qualifying for the MLS Cup Playoffs with FC Dallas in 2018 and 2019 and for Minnesota United FC this season after scoring two goals for the Loons during the 2020 campaign.
Jesus Ferreira – FC Dallas (Tulsa Roughnecks, 2018)
Jesus Ferreira – FC Dallas (Tulsa Roughnecks, 2018)
One of the best young prospects in MLS, forward Jesus Ferreira will make a second consecutive trip to the postseason with FC Dallas. As a 17-year-old in 2018, Ferreira enjoyed a successful loan spell with the Tulsa Roughnecks. Ferreira made 14 appearances, 10 starts, that season with the Roughnecks and was the club’s best player in his brief stint. The USMNT international scored six goals and added two assists in his 14 appearances and was named the USL Championship’s Player of the Week following a hat trick against Tacoma Defiance (then Seattle Sounders 2).
Ferreira has featured in 18 matches this season with FC Dallas and has one goal and one assist this year. He made his MLS Cup Playoffs debut last season in Dallas’ extra time loss to Seattle Sounders.
One of the best young prospects in MLS, forward Jesus Ferreira will make a second consecutive trip to the postseason with FC Dallas. As a 17-year-old in 2018, Ferreira enjoyed a successful loan spell with the Tulsa Roughnecks. Ferreira made 14 appearances, 10 starts, that season with the Roughnecks and was the club’s best player in his brief stint. The USMNT international scored six goals and added two assists in his 14 appearances and was named the USL Championship’s Player of the Week following a hat trick against Tacoma Defiance (then Seattle Sounders 2).
Ferreira has featured in 18 matches this season with FC Dallas and has one goal and one assist this year. He made his MLS Cup Playoffs debut last season in Dallas’ extra time loss to Seattle Sounders.
Brandon Servania – FC Dallas (Tulsa Roughnecks, 2018)
Alongside Ferreira during the 2018 Roughnecks season was another young U.S. prospect in FC Dallas-loaned midfielder Brandon Servania. Just a 19-year-old with the Roughnecks, Servania saw time in 16 matches with 13 starts. While he didn’t get on the scoresheet at a Roughneck, Servania was an integral part of the squad, drawing starts throughout his six-month loan to Tulsa.
Brandon Servania – FC Dallas (Tulsa Roughnecks, 2018)
Alongside Ferreira during the 2018 Roughnecks season was another young U.S. prospect in FC Dallas-loaned midfielder Brandon Servania. Just a 19-year-old with the Roughnecks, Servania saw time in 16 matches with 13 starts. While he didn’t get on the scoresheet at a Roughneck, Servania was an integral part of the squad, drawing starts throughout his six-month loan to Tulsa.
Servania has seen action in 11 FC Dallas matches this season and like Ferreira, made his MLS Cup Playoffs debut in 2019.
Servania has seen action in 11 FC Dallas matches this season and like Ferreira, made his MLS Cup Playoffs debut in 2019.
