MATCH PREVIEW – Roughnecks Face Rangers In KC Saturday

Tulsa Roughnecks F.C. (TRFC) will continue its four-match road swing with a trip to Kansas City on Saturday, May 14 to face the Swope Park Rangers.  The Rangers are the USL side for Sporting KC of MLS.  Kickoff for the match is scheduled for 7:30pm at Children’s Mercy Victory Field at Swope Park.
It is the second meeting of the season between the USL Western Conference rivals.  SPR beat the Roughnecks 2-1 at ONEOK Field on April 2.

Tulsa Roughnecks F.C. (TRFC) will continue its four-match road swing with a trip to Kansas City on Saturday, May 14 to face the Swope Park Rangers.  The Rangers are the USL side for Sporting KC of MLS.  Kickoff for the match is scheduled for 7:30pm at Children’s Mercy Victory Field at Swope Park.
It is the second meeting of the season between the USL Western Conference rivals.  SPR beat the Roughnecks 2-1 at ONEOK Field on April 2.

TWO IN A ROW?
The Roughnecks will be looking for their second straight win.  Tulsa defeated Seattle Sounders 2 last Sunday in Seattle, posting a 2-1 victory.  The win left TRFC with seven points on the season with a 2-5-1 record in eight matches.

THE OPPONENT
The Rangers have not won since their victory in Tulsa in the second match of the season.  Since that match, they have one draw and three losses, including defeats in each of their past three outings.  Like Tulsa, Swope Park has seven points, with a 2-3-1 record in six matches.  

TWO IN A ROW?
The Roughnecks will be looking for their second straight win.  Tulsa defeated Seattle Sounders 2 last Sunday in Seattle, posting a 2-1 victory.  The win left TRFC with seven points on the season with a 2-5-1 record in eight matches.

THE OPPONENT
The Rangers have not won since their victory in Tulsa in the second match of the season.  Since that match, they have one draw and three losses, including defeats in each of their past three outings.  Like Tulsa, Swope Park has seven points, with a 2-3-1 record in six matches.  

RECENT FORM						Last 5 Matches
TRFC	W	L	L	L	D	(April 16 – May 8)
Swope Park	L	L	L	D	W	(April 2 – May 7)

RECENT FORM						Last 5 Matches
TRFC	W	L	L	L	D	(April 16 – May 8)
Swope Park	L	L	L	D	W	(April 2 – May 7)

Photo by Rich Crimi

 

OCHOA HONORED AFTER CONSECUTIVE BRACES
Tulsa forward Sammy Ochoa was a member of the Seattle Sounders earlier in his career, and he enjoyed his trip back to the Pacific Northwest last week.  In Vancouver on Wednesday, Ochoa twice put the Roughnecks ahead with his first two goals of the season before Whitecaps 2 rallied for a 3-2 win.  On Sunday in Seattle, the TRFC captain scored a pair of first-half goals to help the Roughnecks snap a six-match winless streak with their 2-1 victory.  
On Tuesday, Ochoa was named the USL Player of the Week for his four-goal performance.  He became only the second Roughnecks player to ever receive the award, joining goalkeeper Jake Feener who was honored following his 13-save debut last year.

ROUGHNECKS ADD MIDFIELDER
Head Coach David Irving has added his second player within the past ten days with the announcement that TRFC has come to terms with midfielder Gustavo Villalobos.  The 24-year-old has three years of professional experience.  He began his career in Sweden, spending one season with Ange.  Villalobos has been in Malta Premier League the past two years, scoring 2 goals in 14 appearances with Qormi in 2014/2015.  He just finished his season with Pembroke in the MPL last weekend, scoring 14 times in 31 regular season appearances.

COMING HOME
The Roughnecks will be playing their fourth straight road match on Saturday.  After the meeting with the Rangers, TRFC will play three of its next four matches at ONEOK Field.  The trio includes a visit from Saint Louis FC on May 21 and the first edition of the 2016 Black Gold Derby in a June 4 matchup with the Oklahoma City Energy.

NO REST FOR WHATLEY
Defender Matt Whatley is the only Roughneck to play every minute of every match this season, totaling 720 minutes.  Gary Cennerazzo has been off the field for only two minutes, logging 718 minutes.

SUPPORTERS ON THE ROAD
The Roughnecks are expected to have a supporters section at the match in Kansas City.  Members of the Roustabouts and La Union 918 are making the trip to Missouri and will attend the game.

LAMAR HUNT US OPEN CUP ACTION WEDNESDAY
From Kansas City, the Roughnecks will head even further north.  The club will travel to Des Moines, Iowa for a second round meeting in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday evening.  Tulsa will meet the Des Moines Menace, a PDL side.  Kickoff on Wednesday is scheduled for 7:30pm at Valley Stadium in Des Moines.
The Menace is tied with the Michigan Bucks for the most wins by an amateur franchise in the U.S. Open Cup competition with 13 all-time victories.  Last season, they were eliminated from the tournament by USL team Saint Louis FC, losing 2-1 in overtime in St. Louis.

KIT SELECTION
The Roughnecks will wear their orange kits with white socks for the match against the Rangers in Kansas City.  They are scheduled to wear their full navy kits for the Open Cup match on Wednesday.

Photo by Rich Crimi

 

OCHOA HONORED AFTER CONSECUTIVE BRACES
Tulsa forward Sammy Ochoa was a member of the Seattle Sounders earlier in his career, and he enjoyed his trip back to the Pacific Northwest last week.  In Vancouver on Wednesday, Ochoa twice put the Roughnecks ahead with his first two goals of the season before Whitecaps 2 rallied for a 3-2 win.  On Sunday in Seattle, the TRFC captain scored a pair of first-half goals to help the Roughnecks snap a six-match winless streak with their 2-1 victory.  
On Tuesday, Ochoa was named the USL Player of the Week for his four-goal performance.  He became only the second Roughnecks player to ever receive the award, joining goalkeeper Jake Feener who was honored following his 13-save debut last year.

ROUGHNECKS ADD MIDFIELDER
Head Coach David Irving has added his second player within the past ten days with the announcement that TRFC has come to terms with midfielder Gustavo Villalobos.  The 24-year-old has three years of professional experience.  He began his career in Sweden, spending one season with Ange.  Villalobos has been in Malta Premier League the past two years, scoring 2 goals in 14 appearances with Qormi in 2014/2015.  He just finished his season with Pembroke in the MPL last weekend, scoring 14 times in 31 regular season appearances.

COMING HOME
The Roughnecks will be playing their fourth straight road match on Saturday.  After the meeting with the Rangers, TRFC will play three of its next four matches at ONEOK Field.  The trio includes a visit from Saint Louis FC on May 21 and the first edition of the 2016 Black Gold Derby in a June 4 matchup with the Oklahoma City Energy.

NO REST FOR WHATLEY
Defender Matt Whatley is the only Roughneck to play every minute of every match this season, totaling 720 minutes.  Gary Cennerazzo has been off the field for only two minutes, logging 718 minutes.

SUPPORTERS ON THE ROAD
The Roughnecks are expected to have a supporters section at the match in Kansas City.  Members of the Roustabouts and La Union 918 are making the trip to Missouri and will attend the game.

LAMAR HUNT US OPEN CUP ACTION WEDNESDAY
From Kansas City, the Roughnecks will head even further north.  The club will travel to Des Moines, Iowa for a second round meeting in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday evening.  Tulsa will meet the Des Moines Menace, a PDL side.  Kickoff on Wednesday is scheduled for 7:30pm at Valley Stadium in Des Moines.
The Menace is tied with the Michigan Bucks for the most wins by an amateur franchise in the U.S. Open Cup competition with 13 all-time victories.  Last season, they were eliminated from the tournament by USL team Saint Louis FC, losing 2-1 in overtime in St. Louis.

KIT SELECTION
The Roughnecks will wear their orange kits with white socks for the match against the Rangers in Kansas City.  They are scheduled to wear their full navy kits for the Open Cup match on Wednesday.