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THE MORNING TEA – Buzz Increasing for Wehan in New Mexico

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 08/08/20, 7:30AM EDT

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Louisville sees opportunity in Indy’s visit; Locomotive FC looking to rebound against Switchbacks

It’s a packed day of action in the Championship with 13 games in all across the schedule, including a notable clash between Memphis 901 FC and the Charlotte Independence on ESPN Deportes at 5 p.m. ET. To kick off today, though, let’s take a look at one of the players who’ll be central in one of the biggest games of the night. Here’s your Morning Tea for Saturday.

 

THE BIG STORY

When he was first starting to build New Mexico United’s roster, Head Coach and Technical Director Troy Lesesne knew one player in particular he was keen to bring on board.

“[Chris Wehan was] a player that I really wanted to work with, not only because he played at [the University of New Mexico] and he had that tie to New Mexico, but I wanted him all the way back in 2014 when I was scouting for the Vancouver Whitecaps,” said Lesense this week. “He was this young, skinny player for UNM, but this guy’s level of intelligence for an attacking player is off the charts. He sees things that other players don’t see. He positions the ball for himself in ways that other players don’t do.”

Wehan’s ability was already well-known in Championship circles. The winner of the 2017 Rookie of the Year award after tying the then-league record with 12 assists in a season at Reno 1868 FC, Wehan earned a move up to the San Jose Earthquakes the following year.

While that move didn’t work out for attacking midfielder, Lesesne saw someone he could build a midfield around to support the already-signed Devon Sandoval on his new squad in New Mexico.

“I felt like if I could work with a guy like that based on how we want to play and how we attack, then I can put him in a position more central – because he’s played wide quite a bit in his professional career besides from us,” said Lesesne. “I wanted to play him either as an 8 or a 10, and I felt if we could get him in one of those two positions then he could score goals and he could create goals for our team, and he’s done just that.”

After reeling off 10 goals and six assists in the league for United last season, he’s now on a four-game scoring streak that has coincided with United’s rise to the top of Group C ahead of Saturday night’s game with Phoenix Rising FC. His play has also drawn admirers beyond United – Rising FC Head Coach Rick Schantz called Wehan “a bone fide star in this league” during his midweek conference call.

As New Mexico has progressed this season, Wehan has taken on a central role. That could put him in line for an even bigger award than the one he earned three years ago at the end of this season, and solidify his place as one of the Championship’s stars.

And from there, who knows what might happen.

“I’m just happy to see him hit the form he’s hitting right now because he’s a top player in this league,” said Lesesne. “I think we have a number of players who can make that jump to the next level, and he’s one of them.”

 

THIS WEEKEND'S ACTION

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8


Memphis 901 FC vs. North Carolina FC

(1-2-2)
Group G

5:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: AutoZone Park

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: MEM Wins 28% | Draw 26% | NC Wins 46%
(1-1-1)
Group G
The Gist: Both Memphis and North Carolina will look to build on their first wins of the season when they meet at AutoZone Park with second place in Group G up for grabs between the two sides. 901 FC claimed its first win – and former U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard recorded his first shutout for the club – in a 1-0 win against Saint Louis FC as Keanu Marsh-Brown scored his first goal for the club last Saturday. North Carolina also took a 1-0 win against a 10-man Birmingham Legion FC side last Saturday, and having played two games fewer so far than Memphis could take a big step toward a postseason place with victory on the road.

Charlotte Independence vs. Charleston Battery

(1-1-1)
Group G

7:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Sportsplex at Matthews

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: CLT Wins 38% | Draw 28% | CHS Wins 34%
(2-2-1)
Group H
The Gist: The Independence will be looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season on Wednesday night when they host a Battery side that pulled a draw out late in its midweek clash for an interdivision contest. Charlotte fell behind early against Birmingham Legion FC and never truly recovered as they fell 4-1 at BBVA Field, but the side will hope its home opener in 2020 inspires a better performance against its regional rival. Charleston, meanwhile, got a goal in second-half stoppage time by Mauro Cichero – his first in the professional ranks – to take a 1-1 draw against Atlanta United 2 to remain in second place in Group H. After rotating his lineup in Atlanta, Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser will have the chance to pull key players like Zeiko Lewis back into the starting lineup on Saturday, while veteran Jarad van Schaik is available again after serving a one-game suspension.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC vs. New York Red Bulls II

(3-2-0)
Group F

7:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Highmark Stadium

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: PIT Wins 59% | Draw 23% | NY Wins 18%
(2-3-0)
Group F
The Gist: The Hounds will be aiming to put distance between themselves and the Red Bulls II and earn a little revenge for their defeat at Red Bull Arena last month when the sides meet for the second time this season. Pittsburgh is coming off a 4-0 victory against the Philadelphia Union II last Saturday that saw Kenardo Forbes notch another pair of assists to move into the all-time lead for regular season assists in the Championship’s history. New York was looking for a similar performance against the Union II on Wednesday, but after taking a first-half lead suffered a 3-2 defeat at Subaru Park. That left the Red Bulls II three points behind the Hounds going into Saturday’s meeting, putting on some added pressure to get a result in the Steel City on Saturday.

Birmingham Legion FC v Atlanta United 2

(3-1-1)
Group G

7:30 p.m. ET |
Venue: BBVA Field

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: BHM Wins 61% | Draw 22% | ATL Wins 17%
(1-3-2)
Group H
The Gist: Legion FC will try to build on a convincing midweek victory when it hosts an Atlanta side that just missed out on a second consecutive victory in its last outing. Birmingham got a pair of goals from Neco Brett on Wednesday night in a 4-1 win against the Charlotte Independence, the Jamaican’s first two goals for his new club, and in the process built a five-point lead at the top of Group G. Atlanta has been in solid form of late, however, and almost claimed victory against the Charleston Battery on Wednesday night only for a stoppage-time equalizer to keep the side from all three points. With leading scorer Jackson Conway available again after a one-game suspension, Atlanta could give its playoff chances a solid lift if it can find a result at BBVA Field.

Louisville City FC vs. Indy Eleven

(2-3-0)
Group E

8:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Lynn Family Stadium

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: LOU Wins 34% | Draw 28% | IND Wins 38%
(5-2-0)
Group E
The Gist: The first edition of the Louisville Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest of 2020 comes at a crucial stage for both LouCity and Indy Eleven, with both sides aiming to bounce back from defeats in their most recent outings for different reasons. For Louisville, the season has not gone to plan so far as the defending Eastern Conference title-holder sits at the bottom of Group E following a third defeat in four games at home to Sporting Kansas City II on July 29. Finding a way to get past one of its biggest rivals would provide a major boost of confidence – say nothing of a boost to the club’s playoff chances – but that could be a tough proposition against an Indy side that sits on top of the standings and has looked to have taken another step forward since its defeat to Louisville in last season’s Eastern Conference Final. Also looking to rebound from defeat the Sporting – which snapped both an 11-game home winning streak and 28-game home undefeated streak in the regular season last Saturday – Indy will be eager to add more misery to its hosts on Saturday.

OKC Energy FC vs. San Antonio FC

(1-2-2)
Group D

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

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: OKC Wins 29% | Draw 24% | SA Wins 46%
(3-0-1)
Group D
The Gist: Energy FC will try to close the gap on San Antonio at the top of Group D – and bring the current front-runner’s undefeated start to the season to an end – when they meet for the first time this season. OKC is winless in its last two outings after suffering a 3-0 defeat to New Mexico United last Saturday night that saw Jaime Chavez miss a penalty kick that would have made it a one-goal game early in the second half. That result saw Energy FC slip out of the playoff places in Group D and leave it five points back of SAFC, which took a 4-2 win on the road against Austin Bold FC as Luis Solignac scored twice and Cristian Parano netted the game-winner. Another victory on the road would be another big step toward a return to the playoffs for San Antonio, which is making a serious case as one of the main contenders in the West.

Saint Louis FC vs. FC Tulsa

(3-2-1)
Group E

8:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: West Community Stadium

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: STL Wins 53% | Draw 26% | TUL Wins 21%
(1-0-2)
Group D
The Gist: A rare interconference matchup brings together two sides that currently sit in the playoff places in their respective groups as STLFC hosts Tulsa. Saint Louis maintained second place in Group E on Wednesday night thanks to Phanuel Kavita’s goal in second-half stoppage time that earned a 1-1 draw against Sporting Kansas City II, and the hosts will be looking to maintain their undefeated record at home this season and take another step toward the postseason. Tulsa, however, is coming off a drawn out 2-1 victory against Rio Grande Valley FC that concluded in the early hours of Sunday morning in South Texas after lightning delays throughout the night. The win moved Tulsa into second place in Group D and kept the side undefeated through three contests, a record it will be hoping to build on as it heads to Missouri.
Discipline: Tulsa - Suspended: Fabian Bastidas

Austin Bold FC vs. Rio Grande Valley FC

(1-2-0)
Group D

9:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Bold Stadium

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: ATX Wins 62% | Draw 23% | RGV Wins 15%
(0-4-2)
Group D
The Gist: Austin will look to snap a two-game losing streak since the resumption of the season when it plays host to the Toros, who themselves are looking for their first win of the campaign. Bold FC produced a strong fightback against San Antonio FC last Saturday night before ultimately falling 4-2 on home turf but should have a full-strength squad available this week as it looks to build its bid for the postseason. The Toros, meanwhile, have shown positive signs recently but have yet to translate that into results as they sit at the bottom of Group D. A win against Austin, though, would provide a positive boost and add more pressure to Bold FC’s playoff chances.

El Paso Locomotive FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

(1-2-2)
Group C

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

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: ELP Wins 48% | Draw 27% | COS Wins 24%
(1-2-1)
Group C
The Gist: Both Locomotive FC and the Switchbacks will be hoping to return to the winner’s column on Saturday night in a matchup that will determine which side ends the day in second place in Group C. El Paso has suffered back-to-back defeats after falling 3-1 to Phoenix Rising FC last Saturday night despite producing plenty of chances against the Western Conference favorite. Locomotive FC has scored only five times in five games so far, but also sits in the Top 10 in the Championship in Total Shots, Shots on Goal and Chances Created, which could be a sign that a turnaround is coming. The Switchbacks, meanwhile, are winless since the season resumed after a late 2-1 defeat to Real Monarchs SLC. With a game in hand on El Paso, Colorado Springs could do itself a massive help with a win on the road which would vault the Switchbacks up into second.

Portland Timbers 2 vs. Sacramento Republic FC

(0-4-0)
Group A

10:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Providence Park

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: POR Wins 27% | Draw 24% | SAC Wins 49%
(1-1-3)
Group A
The Gist: Republic FC will try to claim its second win of the season against the winless T2 at Providence Park and get its season back on track in what is shaping up to be a competitive playoff race in Group A. Sacramento played to a 0-0 draw last Saturday against San Diego Loyal SC, the third time in five games this season it has finished level with an opponent. The lack of wins has allowed Tacoma Defiance to move into second place in the standings, but Portland’s struggles – which included a 4-0 defeat to Tacoma this past Monday night – could be the cure for what ails Republic FC and give it a chance to return to the playoff positions by the end of the night.

Las Vegas Lights FC vs. San Diego Loyal SC

(0-2-1)
Group B

10:30 p.m. ET |
Venue: Cashman Field

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: LV Wins 28% | Draw 29% | SD Wins 44%
(3-1-2)
Group B
The Gist: SD Loyal will try to maintain its place at the top of Group B as it heads to play a winless Lights FC side at Cashman Field. San Diego picked up a point in its last outing against Sacramento Republic FC last Saturday night after a 0-0 draw but has been strong on the road in its inaugural season, picking up victories against both Real Monarchs SLC and Tacoma Defiance so far. Las Vegas will try to kick-start its season after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Reno 1868 FC last Saturday in its home opener, and will be hoping to get some payback on SD Loyal after it suffered a 2-1 defeat at Torero Stadium in its first game back following the season resumption. Sitting nine points behind second-place Phoenix Rising FC as the day begins, it’s still early, but Lights FC needs to start firing soon in this abbreviated regular season.

Phoenix Rising FC vs. New Mexico United

(3-1-1)
Group B

10:30 p.m. ET |
Venue: Casino Arizona Field

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: PHX Wins 57% | Draw 22% | NM Wins 21%
(3-1-1)
Group C
The Gist: The rivalry between Rising FC and New Mexico will be renewed on Saturday night with both teams riding positive performances in their most recent outings as they square off at Casino Arizona Field. Phoenix has been perfect on home turf this season, a record that was maintained last Saturday as each of the front three of Junior Flemmings, Rufat Dadashov and Solomon Asante found the net in a 3-1 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC. New Mexico, meanwhile, has forged its way to the top of Group C’s standings thanks to stellar road form that included a 3-0 win against OKC Energy FC last Saturday night. After the fireworks of the three meetings between the club’s last season, this game has been circled for a while since the season resumption schedule came out for both sets of fans and neutrals alike.

Reno 1868 FC vs. Tacoma Defiance

(3-1-0)
Group A

10:30 p.m. ET |
Venue: Greater Nevada Field

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: RNO Wins 57% | Draw 22% | TAC Wins 21%
(2-2-1)
Group A
The Gist: First place in Group A will be on the line in 1868 FC’s home opener with Tacoma sitting two points back of its hosts as they meet at Greater Nevada Field. The Defiance have been a revelation since the season resumed going undefeated in three games, which included a 4-0 victory against the Portland Timbers 2 on Monday night. At the center of the success has been 18-year-old forward Alec Diaz, who has scored four goals in the past three outings. The Defiance figure to get a challenging night from Reno, however, which is coming off a 1-0 victory against Silver State Cup rivals Las Vegas Lights FC, and took a 3-1 win against Tacoma when the sides met on the opening weekend of the regular season in March. Should 1868 FC take victory, it would take another strong step toward a fourth consecutive playoff appearance.
 

THE SOCIAL CIRCLE

 

THE USL LOWDOWN

- The Tampa Bay Rowdies were made to work defensively but pulled away late for a 3-0 victory against Miami FC on Friday night to stretch their undefeated start to the season to six games. The Rowdies’ Sebastian Guenzatti struck again, his fourth consecutive game with a goal, while Evan Louro made a key second-half save in the victory to keep the visitors ahead before late goals from Malik Johnson and Juan Tejada.

- Louisville City FC has struggled for form recently but going into the first LIPAFC clash of the season against Indy Eleven at Lynn Family Stadium on Saturday night the hosts see an opportunity to turn things back in the right direction. Dominique Yates has more for the Louisville Courier-Journal.

- Memphis 901 FC Head Coach Tim Mulqueen told the Daily Memphian’s John Varlas winning the midfield battle and giving North Carolina FC as little time and space to work is going to be key as his side looks to claim a second consecutive victory on Saturday evening at AutoZone Park.

- North Carolina FC could have a new – but familiar – weapon in attack available for its trip to Memphis. The side acquired forward Marios Lomis from El Paso Locomotive FC on Friday, returning the Dutch forward to his former club where he scored 11 goals over the past two seasons.

- El Paso Locomotive FC is still above the playoff line in Group C, but after back-to-back defeats Head Coach Mark Lowry’s side knows it needs to get back on track when it plays host to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday. KROD’s Joe Rodriguez took a look ahead to the matchup.

- Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has put in some good performances so far this season but has yet to reach its highest level according to Head Coach Bob Lilley. Ahead of Saturday’s clash with the New York Red Bulls II, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Greg Macafee took a look at what that might entail.

- Going from a USL Academy signing a year ago to joining the professional ranks with Sacramento Republic FC this season, Mario Penagos is looking to add to his role with the side five years after joining the club’s academy system. The Elk Grove Citizen’s Kerensa Uyeta-Buckley spoke with the youngster about his progress.

- Las Vegas Lights FC is still looking for its first win of the 2020 season, but it will get another chance against a familiar foe on Saturday night when San Diego Loyal SC visits Cashman Field. The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Le’Andre Fox looks ahead to the third meeting between the clubs this season.

 

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