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Thanks in large part to a backline that was superb this past weekend, the Tulsa Roughnecks FC earned a big three points on the road with a 1-0 victory over the RGV Toros. The club’s second shutout of the season sent a message across the league, and defender Francisco Ugarte was rightly recognized as a member of the USL Team of the Week after he helped anchor the squad’s strong defensive performance.

In the Roughnecks second victory over the Toros this season, Ugarte helped stymie the RGV offensive attack as he made five clearances, three tackles and two interceptions this past Saturday night.

The defender is playing in his first season with Tulsa after spending the past two years with FC Albstadt in Germany. Before that, he also spent time with TSG Balingen and VfB Stuttgart, also in Germany.

It was Ugarte’s first time this season being honored on the Team of the Week. He is the second Roughnecks player to be selected for the weekly honors, joining teammate Juan Caffa who earned a spot on the squad after Week 1.

The complete USL Team of the Week is listed below.

Following a bye week, the Roughnecks will return to action on Friday, May 5 when they travel to Colorado to take on the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.  Kickoff is slated for 8:00 PM CST. Fans wanting to watch the match and cheer the boys on can do so with the Tulsa Roustabouts at the official watch party at the Whiskey Dog Bar & Grill in Broken Arrow.

The next home match will be the following week on Thursday, May 11 when the Roughnecks host the Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 at ONEOK Field. Both full and partial season ticket packages are still available. Fans wanting to find out more can do so by clicking HERE.

USL Team of the Week

GK – Earl Edwards Jr., Orlando City B: Edwards recorded seven saves across two games – including a five-save shutout against Bethlehem – as OCB took four points from the week.

D – Hugo Arellano, LA Galaxy II: Arellano completed 83.5 percent of his 55 passes and recorded two tackles and five clearances in Los Dos’ 1-1 draw with Orange County.

D – Francisco Ugarte, Tulsa Roughnecks FC: Ugarte made five clearances, three tackles and two interceptions as the Roughnecks earned a shutout win against Rio Grande Valley.

D – Shane McEleney, Ottawa Fury FC: McEleney had a solid game defensively as Ottawa held Toronto FC II without a shot on goal, while also completing 80 percent of his 50 passes.

M – Kevin Oliveira, Swope Park Rangers: Oliveira’s two goals almost led an improbable comeback for the Rangers against Phoenix as the Cape Verde playmaker proved a threat throughout.

M – Billy Forbes, San Antonio FC: Forbes scored the game-winning goal and added another assist, leading San Antonio to a victory against Vancouver to open a three-game road trip.

M – Richie Laryea, Orlando City B: Laryea scored both goals and completed all 18 of his passes as Orlando took a 2-0 victory against Bethlehem on Sunday evening.

M – Brian Tah Anunga, Charleston Battery: Anunga’s late game-winner against Tampa Bay lifted the Battery to the top of the Eastern Conference as he also completed 81 percent of his passes in the contest.

M – Luke Rooney, Phoenix Rising FC: Rooney had a goal and assist as Rising FC recorded its second consecutive victory, defeating Swope Park 4-3 on Sunday night.

F – Victor Arboleda, Portland Timbers 2: Arboleda completed 92.3 percent of his passes for the game and scored the second goal in a 2-0 win against Sacramento for T2’s first victory of the season.

F – Enzo Martinez, Charlotte Independence: Martinez’s first two goals of the season lifted the Independence to their first win as Charlotte overcame an early deficit to defeat Saint Louis.

Bench: Angelo Cavalluzzo (TOR), Roy Meeus (OC), Jordan Murrell (RNO), Raul Gonzalez (RIC), Maikel Chang (CHS), Alessandro Riggi (PHX), Kenardo Forbes (ROC)

Thanks in large part to a backline that was superb this past weekend, the Tulsa Roughnecks FC earned a big three points on the road with a 1-0 victory over the RGV Toros. The club’s second shutout of the season sent a message across the league, and defender Francisco Ugarte was rightly recognized as a member of the USL Team of the Week after he helped anchor the squad’s strong defensive performance.

In the Roughnecks second victory over the Toros this season, Ugarte helped stymie the RGV offensive attack as he made five clearances, three tackles and two interceptions this past Saturday night.

The defender is playing in his first season with Tulsa after spending the past two years with FC Albstadt in Germany. Before that, he also spent time with TSG Balingen and VfB Stuttgart, also in Germany.

It was Ugarte’s first time this season being honored on the Team of the Week. He is the second Roughnecks player to be selected for the weekly honors, joining teammate Juan Caffa who earned a spot on the squad after Week 1.

The complete USL Team of the Week is listed below.

Following a bye week, the Roughnecks will return to action on Friday, May 5 when they travel to Colorado to take on the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.  Kickoff is slated for 8:00 PM CST. Fans wanting to watch the match and cheer the boys on can do so with the Tulsa Roustabouts at the official watch party at the Whiskey Dog Bar & Grill in Broken Arrow.

The next home match will be the following week on Thursday, May 11 when the Roughnecks host the Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 at ONEOK Field. Both full and partial season ticket packages are still available. Fans wanting to find out more can do so by clicking HERE.

USL Team of the Week

GK – Earl Edwards Jr., Orlando City B: Edwards recorded seven saves across two games – including a five-save shutout against Bethlehem – as OCB took four points from the week.

D – Hugo Arellano, LA Galaxy II: Arellano completed 83.5 percent of his 55 passes and recorded two tackles and five clearances in Los Dos’ 1-1 draw with Orange County.

D – Francisco Ugarte, Tulsa Roughnecks FC: Ugarte made five clearances, three tackles and two interceptions as the Roughnecks earned a shutout win against Rio Grande Valley.

D – Shane McEleney, Ottawa Fury FC: McEleney had a solid game defensively as Ottawa held Toronto FC II without a shot on goal, while also completing 80 percent of his 50 passes.

M – Kevin Oliveira, Swope Park Rangers: Oliveira’s two goals almost led an improbable comeback for the Rangers against Phoenix as the Cape Verde playmaker proved a threat throughout.

M – Billy Forbes, San Antonio FC: Forbes scored the game-winning goal and added another assist, leading San Antonio to a victory against Vancouver to open a three-game road trip.

M – Richie Laryea, Orlando City B: Laryea scored both goals and completed all 18 of his passes as Orlando took a 2-0 victory against Bethlehem on Sunday evening.

M – Brian Tah Anunga, Charleston Battery: Anunga’s late game-winner against Tampa Bay lifted the Battery to the top of the Eastern Conference as he also completed 81 percent of his passes in the contest.

M – Luke Rooney, Phoenix Rising FC: Rooney had a goal and assist as Rising FC recorded its second consecutive victory, defeating Swope Park 4-3 on Sunday night.

F – Victor Arboleda, Portland Timbers 2: Arboleda completed 92.3 percent of his passes for the game and scored the second goal in a 2-0 win against Sacramento for T2’s first victory of the season.

F – Enzo Martinez, Charlotte Independence: Martinez’s first two goals of the season lifted the Independence to their first win as Charlotte overcame an early deficit to defeat Saint Louis.

Bench: Angelo Cavalluzzo (TOR), Roy Meeus (OC), Jordan Murrell (RNO), Raul Gonzalez (RIC), Maikel Chang (CHS), Alessandro Riggi (PHX), Kenardo Forbes (ROC)

Spanish Version

The Tulsa Roughnecks FC was beaten 2-1 by the Sacramento Republic Saturday night at ONEOK Field, but Tulsa may have turned in its most spirited stretch of the season in the defeat.  After giving up two goals early in the second half, the Roughnecks applied constant pressure over the final 20 minutes, but were unable to produce a second goal to get something from the match.

With the loss, the Roughnecks remained with three points on the young season, while Sacramento remained perfect with three wins in three outings.

The match marked the return of Sammy Ochoa to Tulsa.  The former MLS striker spent the past two seasons with the Roughnecks, scoring 19 regular season goals.  Ochoa did not find the net on Saturday, but he did play a role in the game’s first goal.

An entertaining first 45 minutes did not produce any goals, but both teams had chances.  TRFC had two good scoring opportunities in the game’s first 11 minutes.  First, Joaquin Rivas found space on the left side of the penalty area in the eighth minute, but he pulled his left-footed shot wide of the far post.

Three minutes later, Cristian Mata, who was making his first appearance of the year, got free on a breakaway.  In a one-on-one with the keeper, Dominic Jakubek forced him wide and Mata’s shot struck the side netting. 

For Sacramento, Roughnecks keeper Bryan Byars saved a deflected shot from Adam Moffat in the 25th minute and a soft header from Danny Barrera in the 35th minute.

Spanish Version

The Tulsa Roughnecks FC was beaten 2-1 by the Sacramento Republic Saturday night at ONEOK Field, but Tulsa may have turned in its most spirited stretch of the season in the defeat.  After giving up two goals early in the second half, the Roughnecks applied constant pressure over the final 20 minutes, but were unable to produce a second goal to get something from the match.

With the loss, the Roughnecks remained with three points on the young season, while Sacramento remained perfect with three wins in three outings.

The match marked the return of Sammy Ochoa to Tulsa.  The former MLS striker spent the past two seasons with the Roughnecks, scoring 19 regular season goals.  Ochoa did not find the net on Saturday, but he did play a role in the game’s first goal.

An entertaining first 45 minutes did not produce any goals, but both teams had chances.  TRFC had two good scoring opportunities in the game’s first 11 minutes.  First, Joaquin Rivas found space on the left side of the penalty area in the eighth minute, but he pulled his left-footed shot wide of the far post.

Three minutes later, Cristian Mata, who was making his first appearance of the year, got free on a breakaway.  In a one-on-one with the keeper, Dominic Jakubek forced him wide and Mata’s shot struck the side netting. 

For Sacramento, Roughnecks keeper Bryan Byars saved a deflected shot from Adam Moffat in the 25th minute and a soft header from Danny Barrera in the 35th minute.

After the break, Tulsa started slowly and the Republic quickly capitalized.  In the 49th minute, Ochoa flicked a header to an unmarked Wilson Kneeshaw who used the outside part of his right foot to leave Byars with no chance as Sacramento took the 1-0 lead.

It remained that way until the 67th minute when Tyler Blackwood doubled the lead for SAFC.  Ochoa fired a shot from the right side that Byars saved, but the rebound rolled to directly to Blackwood who side footed his finish into the open net to make it 2-0.

From there, TRFC applied nearly constant pressure in an attempt to salvage something from the match. 

In the 78th minute, Joey Calistri blistered a shot that Jakubek saved with his right hand.  The Sacramento keeper stayed down with an apparent injury after the save, but quickly recovered enough to blow a kiss to the TRFC supporters section and to get into a pushing match with Juan Caffa.  After the two teams were separated, it was Caffa who was given a yellow card.

A breakthrough for TRFC finally came two minutes later.  Substitute Brady Ballew nearly found the net, but his curling, right-footed shot from the top of the box bounced off the post and directly to Calistri.  Calistri chested down the rebound and fired his right-footed shot past Jakubek to make it 2-1.  It was the second goal of the season for the midfielder who is on loan from the Chicago Fire of MLS.

For the next 10 minutes, the Roughnecks appeared destined to find an equalizer, but chance after chance came up empty.  One of the best opportunities came in the 87th minute when Caffa’s corner found a wide open Jorge Corrales at the back post, but the defender’s left-footed shot skied over the crossbar.

Three minutes into stoppage time, it looked like Mata might produce an equalizer.  Joaquin Rivas’ cross set up an unmarked Mata at the penalty spot, but his side-footed shot rolled harmlessly past the post. 

Despite the disappointing defeat, TRFC Head Coach David Vaudreuil saw positives from the match. 

“We gave up a couple of soft goals, but then we showed great character and a good attitude,” said Vaudreuil.  “We could have easily scored another goal or two as we threw the kitchen sink at them.”

“I was disappointed that there were periods where they controlled the game, but we have two weeks now to get fit and get prepared for a good Rio Grande Valley side.  Overall, I think we are in a very good position.”         

The two weeks of preparation occurs because TRFC will be off next week.  The Roughnecks will next be in action on Saturday, April 22 when they travel to Rio Grande for a rematch with the Toros.  On April 1, the Roughnecks recorded a 1-0 victory over RGV at ONEOK Field.  It will be the first away match of the season for Tulsa.

The meeting in south Texas will be the first of two straight road matches.  On Friday, April 28, the Roughnecks will play at Colorado Springs in another rematch.  Tulsa’s next home game will take place on May 11 when it hosts Vancouver Whitecaps 2.

After the break, Tulsa started slowly and the Republic quickly capitalized.  In the 49th minute, Ochoa flicked a header to an unmarked Wilson Kneeshaw who used the outside part of his right foot to leave Byars with no chance as Sacramento took the 1-0 lead.

It remained that way until the 67th minute when Tyler Blackwood doubled the lead for SAFC.  Ochoa fired a shot from the right side that Byars saved, but the rebound rolled to directly to Blackwood who side footed his finish into the open net to make it 2-0.

From there, TRFC applied nearly constant pressure in an attempt to salvage something from the match. 

In the 78th minute, Joey Calistri blistered a shot that Jakubek saved with his right hand.  The Sacramento keeper stayed down with an apparent injury after the save, but quickly recovered enough to blow a kiss to the TRFC supporters section and to get into a pushing match with Juan Caffa.  After the two teams were separated, it was Caffa who was given a yellow card.

A breakthrough for TRFC finally came two minutes later.  Substitute Brady Ballew nearly found the net, but his curling, right-footed shot from the top of the box bounced off the post and directly to Calistri.  Calistri chested down the rebound and fired his right-footed shot past Jakubek to make it 2-1.  It was the second goal of the season for the midfielder who is on loan from the Chicago Fire of MLS.

For the next 10 minutes, the Roughnecks appeared destined to find an equalizer, but chance after chance came up empty.  One of the best opportunities came in the 87th minute when Caffa’s corner found a wide open Jorge Corrales at the back post, but the defender’s left-footed shot skied over the crossbar.

Three minutes into stoppage time, it looked like Mata might produce an equalizer.  Joaquin Rivas’ cross set up an unmarked Mata at the penalty spot, but his side-footed shot rolled harmlessly past the post. 

Despite the disappointing defeat, TRFC Head Coach David Vaudreuil saw positives from the match. 

“We gave up a couple of soft goals, but then we showed great character and a good attitude,” said Vaudreuil.  “We could have easily scored another goal or two as we threw the kitchen sink at them.”

“I was disappointed that there were periods where they controlled the game, but we have two weeks now to get fit and get prepared for a good Rio Grande Valley side.  Overall, I think we are in a very good position.”         

The two weeks of preparation occurs because TRFC will be off next week.  The Roughnecks will next be in action on Saturday, April 22 when they travel to Rio Grande for a rematch with the Toros.  On April 1, the Roughnecks recorded a 1-0 victory over RGV at ONEOK Field.  It will be the first away match of the season for Tulsa.

The meeting in south Texas will be the first of two straight road matches.  On Friday, April 28, the Roughnecks will play at Colorado Springs in another rematch.  Tulsa’s next home game will take place on May 11 when it hosts Vancouver Whitecaps 2.