FRISCO, Texas – You may have been woken up this morning with your clock radio playing “I Got You Babe.” Let us ease that moment of panic.
Today is a new day. It just seems like yesterday because it’s another FC Tulsa matchday.
The club wakes up this morning in College Station and makes a 3-hour drive to Frisco, Texas to take on North Texas SC from USL League One this afternoon at 3 p.m. While the back-to-back matchdays would never happen in matches that count, it does provide a unique experience for FC Tulsa to build fitness and gain experience.
It will be the first of two matches against North Texas SC, the second coming on Saturday, at Toyota Soccer Center, north of Dallas. Let’s dive in with what the next two matchdays could look like for FC Tulsa.
SCOUTING NORTH TEXAS SC
North Texas SC should be somewhat familiar to FC Tulsa fans as the teams met one year ago in the 2020 preseason. The club is only one year removed from capturing the 2019 USL League One title, although many of those contributors have either moved up to FC Dallas or onto other clubs. With FC Dallas producing what is widely considered one of the best youth to pro systems in the country, you can be sure that North Texas SC will have plenty of young talent on the pitch for these preseason scrimmages.
Like FC Tulsa, NTSC already has one preseason match in the books this Spring, a 3-1 defeat at the hands of San Antonio FC last Saturday.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
1) Doubleheader Against League One
It’s not often in soccer you play the same team on back-to-back matchdays, but the 2021 preseason will allow FC Tulsa that opportunity. Kickoff on Thursday will be at 3 p.m. CT while Saturday’s kick is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT. Without participating in the U.S. Open Cup in 2021, these two matches will be the only opportunity for FC Tulsa to face off against a League One opponent this season.
2) Early Indications
With each preseason match that occurs, fans will have the opportunity to learn a little more about what head coach Michael Nsien and his staff think about the 2021 squad. Different formations, combinations, Starting XIs and more will offer clues as to how the staff plans to lineup on opening day at OKC Energy FC on April 24.
One thing to keep in mind is that it is still very early in preseason. Like all clubs at this point, FC Tulsa is dealing with a few minor knocks here and there and also with two absences due to international duty. Later preseason matches might bring clearer focus as to how the roster shapes out.
3) Youth versus Youth
FC Dallas, and thus North Texas SC, have a strong youth movement as a part of their on-field culture. With numerous Academy signings over the last two seasons, FC Tulsa has begun that process as well under Nsien. Both midfielder Tony Mota and keeper Austin Wormell, two young Tulsa natives, made preseason debuts on Wednesday against Houston and 2020 Academy signing turned Pro, Ciaran Winters, also received extended minutes. Could more in be in store against a younger side in North Texas? It would make sense and allow the coaching staff to see these young players in a different environment against a more familiar age-range of competition.
HOW TO TUNE IN
There will be no stream again today and the two matches will be closed to fans. However, follow @FCTulsa on Twitter for live updates from pitch-side in Frisco.
FRISCO, Texas – You may have been woken up this morning with your clock radio playing “I Got You Babe.” Let us ease that moment of panic.
Today is a new day. It just seems like yesterday because it’s another FC Tulsa matchday.
The club wakes up this morning in College Station and makes a 3-hour drive to Frisco, Texas to take on North Texas SC from USL League One this afternoon at 3 p.m. While the back-to-back matchdays would never happen in matches that count, it does provide a unique experience for FC Tulsa to build fitness and gain experience.
It will be the first of two matches against North Texas SC, the second coming on Saturday, at Toyota Soccer Center, north of Dallas. Let’s dive in with what the next two matchdays could look like for FC Tulsa.
SCOUTING NORTH TEXAS SC
North Texas SC should be somewhat familiar to FC Tulsa fans as the teams met one year ago in the 2020 preseason. The club is only one year removed from capturing the 2019 USL League One title, although many of those contributors have either moved up to FC Dallas or onto other clubs. With FC Dallas producing what is widely considered one of the best youth to pro systems in the country, you can be sure that North Texas SC will have plenty of young talent on the pitch for these preseason scrimmages.
Like FC Tulsa, NTSC already has one preseason match in the books this Spring, a 3-1 defeat at the hands of San Antonio FC last Saturday.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
1) Doubleheader Against League One
It’s not often in soccer you play the same team on back-to-back matchdays, but the 2021 preseason will allow FC Tulsa that opportunity. Kickoff on Thursday will be at 3 p.m. CT while Saturday’s kick is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT. Without participating in the U.S. Open Cup in 2021, these two matches will be the only opportunity for FC Tulsa to face off against a League One opponent this season.
2) Early Indications
With each preseason match that occurs, fans will have the opportunity to learn a little more about what head coach Michael Nsien and his staff think about the 2021 squad. Different formations, combinations, Starting XIs and more will offer clues as to how the staff plans to lineup on opening day at OKC Energy FC on April 24.
One thing to keep in mind is that it is still very early in preseason. Like all clubs at this point, FC Tulsa is dealing with a few minor knocks here and there and also with two absences due to international duty. Later preseason matches might bring clearer focus as to how the roster shapes out.
3) Youth versus Youth
FC Dallas, and thus North Texas SC, have a strong youth movement as a part of their on-field culture. With numerous Academy signings over the last two seasons, FC Tulsa has begun that process as well under Nsien. Both midfielder Tony Mota and keeper Austin Wormell, two young Tulsa natives, made preseason debuts on Wednesday against Houston and 2020 Academy signing turned Pro, Ciaran Winters, also received extended minutes. Could more in be in store against a younger side in North Texas? It would make sense and allow the coaching staff to see these young players in a different environment against a more familiar age-range of competition.
HOW TO TUNE IN
There will be no stream again today and the two matches will be closed to fans. However, follow @FCTulsa on Twitter for live updates from pitch-side in Frisco.
