TULSA – As FC Tulsa heads off to Fenton, Missouri for its first match outside of Group D since the restart, the team is looking to build on what has been a historic start to the new era of FC Tulsa.
FC Tulsa has the most points from its opening three matches in club history, the best defensive record through three matches, and it sits as one of just four remaining unbeaten teams in the league. But according to Head Coach Michael Nsien, the team feels like it could be even better than that.
“I would have signed up for 5 points heading into the fourth game right away,” Nsien said, “although looking back I think we could have gotten even more points off the opening three games. Restarting the season, trying to get things back on track and find a rhythm, good cadence for training and rhythm for games.”
After the 19-day gap between the July 13 match at OKC Energy FC and the August 1 match at RGVFC, it’s been a much more manageable 7-day break, even if that match lasted nearly seven hours.
“I have tried to sleep well since then but at the same time I give credit to the players for a professional attitude,” Nsien said. “I remember in the locker room before the game when the times kept getting pushed back the players and their body language was still good, still enthusiastic and they fought all the way till 2:30 in the morning. As a coach that sets the right precedent and shows me that I have a good team with the right mentality.”
After the final whistle blew just after 2:30 a.m., FC Tulsa was on a flight at 8 a.m. the next morning with sights set on Saint Louis.
“We have had a few days to recover now,” defender Matt Sheldon said. “We got to catch up on sleep and we had a nice off day, so I just tried to sleep as much as possible and just get caught up. You are never going to be 100% recovered all the time so we just have to stay mentally focused and mentally tough and keep making a push.”
Sheldon, the former Saint Louis FC defender, will be making his first return to West Community Stadium since he last played there in 2017, only this time he’ll be lined up on the other side as his former club.
“It always adds a little bit extra motivation whenever you go back and play one of your old clubs,” Sheldon said. “But it is a great environment and it will be really exciting to play for all three points and have something on the line. They look good, they are a dynamic and we have been watching them a lot, scouting them. I think it will be a really good matchup.”
The match is set to kick off at 7 p.m. from West Community Stadium in Fenton, Mo. Fans can catch the match on My41 Tulsa on local television, on ESPN+ anywhere else in the United States, or on YouTube internationally. Fans in Tulsa are also invited to a watch party at ONEOK Field Saturday night, where there will be socially distanced seats, concessions, and an opportunity to cheer on FC Tulsa at ONEOK before the home opener August 12.
TULSA – As FC Tulsa heads off to Fenton, Missouri for its first match outside of Group D since the restart, the team is looking to build on what has been a historic start to the new era of FC Tulsa.
FC Tulsa has the most points from its opening three matches in club history, the best defensive record through three matches, and it sits as one of just four remaining unbeaten teams in the league. But according to Head Coach Michael Nsien, the team feels like it could be even better than that.
“I would have signed up for 5 points heading into the fourth game right away,” Nsien said, “although looking back I think we could have gotten even more points off the opening three games. Restarting the season, trying to get things back on track and find a rhythm, good cadence for training and rhythm for games.”
After the 19-day gap between the July 13 match at OKC Energy FC and the August 1 match at RGVFC, it’s been a much more manageable 7-day break, even if that match lasted nearly seven hours.
“I have tried to sleep well since then but at the same time I give credit to the players for a professional attitude,” Nsien said. “I remember in the locker room before the game when the times kept getting pushed back the players and their body language was still good, still enthusiastic and they fought all the way till 2:30 in the morning. As a coach that sets the right precedent and shows me that I have a good team with the right mentality.”
After the final whistle blew just after 2:30 a.m., FC Tulsa was on a flight at 8 a.m. the next morning with sights set on Saint Louis.
“We have had a few days to recover now,” defender Matt Sheldon said. “We got to catch up on sleep and we had a nice off day, so I just tried to sleep as much as possible and just get caught up. You are never going to be 100% recovered all the time so we just have to stay mentally focused and mentally tough and keep making a push.”
Sheldon, the former Saint Louis FC defender, will be making his first return to West Community Stadium since he last played there in 2017, only this time he’ll be lined up on the other side as his former club.
“It always adds a little bit extra motivation whenever you go back and play one of your old clubs,” Sheldon said. “But it is a great environment and it will be really exciting to play for all three points and have something on the line. They look good, they are a dynamic and we have been watching them a lot, scouting them. I think it will be a really good matchup.”
The match is set to kick off at 7 p.m. from West Community Stadium in Fenton, Mo. Fans can catch the match on My41 Tulsa on local television, on ESPN+ anywhere else in the United States, or on YouTube internationally. Fans in Tulsa are also invited to a watch party at ONEOK Field Saturday night, where there will be socially distanced seats, concessions, and an opportunity to cheer on FC Tulsa at ONEOK before the home opener August 12.
