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THE MORNING TEA - LouCity’s McCabe Ready for ‘Special Time’ at Stadium Opening

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 07/11/20, 7:30AM EDT

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Sunday clash set for historic tricast across television, radio; Preview every game over the next three nights

Nine games kick off the resumptions of the Championship season over the next three days, including five on national television. Here’s your Morning Tea to get ready.

 

THE BIG STORY

Of the 11 players that started the opening game in Louisville City FC’s history on March 28, 2015 against Saint Louis FC, only midfielder Niall McCabe can say he’s seen every moment in the club’s on-field history.

So, that might make Sunday’s opening game at the club’s new Lynn Family Stadium all the more memorable for the player who has made more appearances in LouCity’s colors than any other in the USL Championship.

“I’ve just been training hard, and I’m looking forward to it, really,” McCabe told media on Thursday. “It’s going to be the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people, so for sure it will be a special time. It’s important for us to make sure we win and make it memorable.”

McCabe has appeared 139 times for LouCity over the past five seasons in the Championship’s regular season and playoffs, with additional appearances coming in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Alongside him on Sunday could be fellow midfielder Magnus Rasmussen, who was also in the lineup for that opening game at Slugger Field five years ago and scored the first goal in club history in a 2-0 win.

A stint away from Louisville for a year in his native Denmark left McCabe as the lone player to appear in every season for LouCity, and while players like George Davis IV, Paolo DelPiccolo, Oscar Jimenez and Sean Totsch have also carved their names into the club’s history, the work ethic and talent that McCabe has shown has made him maybe the heartbeat of the club.

“I think, for Niall, this is just part of his path here at Louisville City,” LouCity Head Coach John Hackworth said. “He has seen it all. He’s done it all, and he is very proud of this moment, opening Lynn Family Stadium.”

With the national television spotlight sending the game across the United States on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, and throughout North America on SiriusXM FC, the expectations are high for the hosts to perform.

Given the new stage they’ve been provided in the $65 million venue, McCabe believes everyone is going to be ready.

“I really think it’s just that kind of next level of professionalism," he said. "It’s a world-class facility, and when you’re in and around that environment, it kind of just gives you that extra feeling of this is what professional football should be like.”

 

THIS WEEKEND'S ACTION

SATURDAY, JULY 11


Real Monarchs SLC vs. San Diego Loyal SC

(0-1-0)
Group C

4:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: SLC Wins 45% | Draw 26% | SD Wins 30%
(1-0-1)
Group B
The Gist: The Monarchs kick of their home slate with points a must in what looks like a highly competitive Group C in the Championship’s reformatted return to play. The hosts have been outstanding at home for the past three seasons, but could get a solid challenge from SD Loyal, which was undefeated in its opening two games before the season suspension and has some good high-end talent available led by defenders Joe Greenspan and Elijah Martin and playmaker Carlos Alvarez.

Indy Eleven vs. Saint Louis FC

(1-0-0)
Group E

7:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: IND Wins 47% | Draw 27% | STL Wins 26%
(1-0-0)
Group E
The Gist: Two teams that romped to victory in their opening games square off in what is the first of a series of massive games in Group E. With all three of Indy, Saint Louis and Louisville City FC matched in the same group, and only two playoff places available, contests like this are likely going to determine which team is going to be standing when the postseason arrives. It’ll be a great barometer for what’s to come.

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Atlanta United 2

(1-0-0)
Group H

7:30 p.m. ET |
Venue: Al Lang Stadium

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: TBR Wins 76% | Draw 16% | ATL Wins 8%
(0-1-0)
Group H
The Gist: The Rowdies began the season as one of the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference, and after a road victory against the New York Red Bulls II to kick things off they’ll be looking to reinforce those credentials in their home opener against Atlanta.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. New Mexico United

(1-0-0)
Group C

8:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Weidner Field

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: COS Wins 34% | Draw 27% | NM Wins 40%
(0-1-0)
Group C
The Gist: I said earlier this week that Group C was looking like the hardest to predict in terms of playoff teams, but this game is a potentially high-pressure one for New Mexico to resume. After falling to Austin Bold FC in its opening contest in March – and with the Switchbacks having picked up victory against OKC Energy FC – United will need to take something from this contest to avoid falling six points back in the early going.

El Paso Locomotive FC vs. Rio Grande Valley FC

(0-0-1)
Group C

9:30 p.m. ET |
Venue: Southwest University Park

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: ELP Wins 59% | Draw 25% | RGV Wins 16%
(0-1-0)
Group D
The Gist: The fourth team in Group C, Locomotive FC will look to get out to a winning start on home turf after playing to a scoreless draw with Orange County SC in its opener. As for Rio Grande Valley FC, time should have washed away all memory of its loss to the LA Galaxy II, and the Toros added reinforcements this week that could help defensively against a solid El Paso attack.

Phoenix Rising FC vs. LA Galaxy II

(1-0-0)
Group B

10:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Casino Arizona Field

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: PHX Wins 74% | Draw 16% | LA Wins 10%
(1-0-0)
Group B
The Gist: Rising FC was rampant in its opener, and the favorites to win the USL Championship Final as the season resumes will be hoping to pick up where it left off against a Los Dos side that may be without two of the key figures in its big victory against Rio Grande Valley FC, with Kai Koreniuk having signed an MLS contract before the Galaxy’s trip to the MLS is Back tournament and Homegrown signing Cameron Dunbar also in Florida.

SUNDAY, JULY 12


Louisville City FC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

(1-0-0)
Group E

5:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Lynn Family Stadium

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: LOU Wins 43% | Draw 27% | PIT Wins 29%
(0-0-0)
Group F
The Gist: LouCity’s Lynn Family Stadium will debut on national television and radio in the first tricast in the Championship’s history, and the defending Eastern Conference title-holder will be looking to pick up a second win of the season to christen its permanent home. Standing in its way are the Hounds, who while having suffered defeat to Louisville last year in the playoffs have posted an impressive 3-1-1 record all-time in their travels to Kentucky.

MONDAY, JULY 13


OKC Energy FC vs. FC Tulsa

(0-1-0)
Group D

8:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Taft Stadium

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: OKC Wins 50% | Draw 25% | TUL Wins 25%
(0-0-1)
Group D
The Gist: The Black Gold Derby kicks off a national television doubleheader of Monday Night Futbol with both teams looking for their first win of the season. Tulsa sits on a point after coming away with a draw on the road against Sacramento Republic FC back in March, while Energy FC suffered defeat to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC to open its campaign. Given the history – and animosity – between the two clubs, this one is likely to have a bit of everything, which could result in a great game.

Sacramento Republic FC vs. Tacoma Defiance

(0-0-1)
Group A

10:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Papa Murphy’s Park

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: SAC Wins 63% | Draw 21% | TAC Wins 16%
(0-2-0)
Group A
The Gist: Republic FC was denied victory in its home opener, and while the path to the playoffs in Group A looks a relatively simple one – FiveThirtyEight.com rates Sacramento a 71 percent chance to be postseason-bound again – making sure the side takes care of business at home to Tacoma will certainly settle any return-to-play nerves.
 

THE SOCIAL CIRCLE

 

THE USL LOWDOWN

- As alluded to above by USL Executive Vice President Court Jeske, Sunday’s opening game at Lynn Family Stadium is going to be historic for the Championship, with the first tricast in league history seeing the game carried on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and SiriusXM FC across the United States.

- USL President Jake Edwards said he believes the opening of Lynn Family Stadium is going to be a look into the future for the USL as well as a watershed moment for LouCity, and provide a live experience for fans and viewers that will be among the best at any soccer-specific stadium in the United States at any level.

- Lynn Family Stadium’s opening might welcome the grandest venue in the Championship’s history so far, but there have been numerous steps along the way to this moment. Ahead of Sunday’s game, we took a look back at other major stadium openings that have marked the Championship’s growth.

- The Athletic’s Jeff Rueters has a great guide to 16 players you should be watching this season in the Championship, including some notable young players like San Antonio FC’s Jose Gallegos that have already been drawing a spotlight this year.

- Kobi Henry recently became the latest U.S. Youth International to join the professional ranks with Orange County SC. The Beautiful Game Network’s Carson Merk caught up with the U.S. U-17 defender to talk about his decision to head West after most recently being part of the Inter Miami CF academy.

- Did you know that six players that came through the Sueño Alianza program are now playing for clubs in the USL Championship and League One? Find out who, and how you can register to be seen by scouts during this year’s tour.

- One player that is ready to shoot his shot this season is Hartford Athletic’s Alfonso Vazquez. I caught up with the 18-year-old recently to talk about his unconventional path to a professional contract, and what it might mean for Hartford’s youth development advances in the next few years.

- Real Monarchs SLC has a new jersey partnership with MarketStar as they return to action on Saturday. The detail you should closely at, though, is the sweet Wasatch Legion sleeve patch that also adorns the defending title-holders' jerseys.

- Things might feel slightly different for the Tampa Bay Rowdies when they resume play on Saturday, but Head Coach Neill Collins says there are more similarities than you might expect even with the Health and Wellness Protocols that have been put in place.

- The delay to the return to action has been far longer than players like the Charlotte Independence’s Enzo Martinez was expecting. Martinez and his teammates are eager to build on what was a good road victory back in March when they return to play.

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