Tulsa on the Brink of Franchise Record Win Streak
Tulsa on the Brink of Franchise Record Win Streak
TULSA – FC Tulsa is in the midst of an all-out blitz of the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference, winning four consecutive matches and ascending up the standings. Following its fairy-tale ending in dramatic fashion on Saturday night, let’s dive into the win streak and what FC Tulsa has accomplished over the last two-and-a-half weeks.
To start off, its current win streak is the second-longest in franchise history. The club record sits at five straight victories, a feat FC Tulsa has a chance to match next Friday when it hosts Rio Grande Valley Toros FC. Tulsa’s only span of five straight wins took place from August 22-September 8, 2021.
Over its current win streak, Tulsa has scored eight goals – Phillip Goodrum has accounted for four, Marcus Epps has accounted for three, and Moses Dyer for one.
Goodrum has been simply magnificent for FC Tulsa since being acquired in mid-May from Memphis 901 FC. In nine matches for Tulsa, Goodrum is averaging 0.89 goals+assists/90 minutes, the most in FC Tulsa history by any player with more than 300 minutes played.
Not only is Goodrum scoring, but he’s netting last-second goals that win FC Tulsa matches. Two of his six goals have come in the final minute of stoppage time, both match-winners at Louisville City FC and vs. Hartford Athletic on Saturday.
Late goals have been a very common theme for Tulsa over the past two years. Last season, FC Tulsa led the USL Championship with 19 goals beyond the 75′ minute, and through 20 matches played in 2023, Tulsa is once again leading the league in that category with nine. Whatever you do, do not head to the parking lot or turn off the TV until the final whistle sounds when watching an FC Tulsa match.
“I couldn’t be happier playing for FC Tulsa here – going to war day in and day out with my teammates,” Goodrum told Tulsa media on Saturday night. “This group has a never die mentality and I’ve just bought into that. The 90’ minute is when the game is most open.”
The USL Championship has witnessed three 5-match win streaks this season belonging to El Paso Locomotive FC (7), Memphis 901 FC (5), and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (5). FC Tulsa’s current run is the longest active win streak in the league.
Interestingly enough, two of those three streaks belong to clubs with head coaches in their first year with the club – Stephen Glass with Memphis and Brian Clarhaut of El Paso. Should FC Tulsa win its next contest, Blair Gavin would join those ranks as new blood and new coaching philosophies continue to redefine the USL Championship in 2023.
“These guys are incredible,” said Blair Gavin. “Through any adversity, they stick together. It would’ve been easy to put your head down after having the lead twice after a long, grueling week, but the guys came on the field, made a difference, and ultimately, it’s incredible what they are doing. I couldn’t be prouder.”
In late June, before commencing its win streak in, sportsclubstats.com gave FC Tulsa less than a 20% chance to make the Playoffs. After its 3-2 over Hartford on Saturday, FC Tulsa now has an 86.5% chance to see postseason action according to the site.
Gavin and his coaching staff have made the necessary adjustments on the pitch, brought in mid-season difference makers, and the squad has responded to every change. FC Tulsa is on the brink of club history and can make it five straight wins next Friday on Channel 6 vs. RGV.
We’ll see you next week.
Tickets to the match, including $1 Beer Night tickets, can be purchased here.