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PRESENTED BY TRAVELERS

Date: Wednesday, July 27th, 2022

Time: 8:30 PM ET

Location: H-E-B Park, Edinburg, Texas

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or hartfordathletic.com/watch

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (4-12-4) at Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (7-11-3)

LAST TIME OUT 

Hartford Athletic fell 2-1 in dramatic fashion to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds last Saturday at home. The Green and Blue out possessed the road side for the entirety of the game, but they struggled to create chances on goal. They had just one shot attempt, which turned out to be a brilliant goal off the right foot of Conor McGlynn in the 55th minute from well outside the 18 yard box. Pittsburgh responded 20 minutes later when two of their substitutions, Robbie Mertz and Russell Cicerone, connected on a cross and header to even up the score. In the final minutes of stoppage time, Shane Wiedt received a lead pass in Hartford’s box and beat Yanik Oettl to the top right corner of the net to secure a last-second 2-1 win for the Riverhounds.

SIMILAR SIDES

Hartford and Rio Grande Valley hold more similarities than just their mirrored positions at 10th place in the Eastern and Western Conference tables. Their scoring leaders each have four goals to their names this season, with Joel Johnson being the lone leader for Hartford’s squad while three Toros, Frank Lopéz, Robert Coronado and Emilio Ycaza, are tied for their top-scorer. In addition, both clubs have had difficulty scoring this season. RGVFC hold a 12% conversion rate, good for fourth-lowest in the USL Championship, while Hartford posts a 13% clip. Oddly enough, the Toros actually have the sixth-most shots taken this season with 276, but are middle of the pack with 25 goals. 

BACK WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Rio Grande Valley FC was Juan Carlos Obregón Jr.’s first USL Championship club, debuting for them in 2019 and spending the 2020 season with them as well. He scored one minute into his debut with the team in 2019, and he led the team in goals in the shortened 2020 campaign. Wednesday will mark the first time Obregón Jr. faces his former squad.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Hartford Athletic, Conor McGlynn, MF #28:

Conor McGlynn is second on Hartford Athletic in total shots with 16 on the year, and struck a peach of a ball for his first goal of the season last Saturday. He made the most of a long distance opportunity when Rashawn Dally trapped a pass in to McGlynn about 10 yards back outside the box, and the midfielder rocketed a goal into the upper left corner of the net. McGlynn has an extremely powerful right foot, and is a threat to score from yards outside of the box. 

Rio Grande Valley FC, Isidro Martinez, MF #6:

Isidro Martinez is a born and raised Texan in his second stint with RGV Toros. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) alum has astounding numbers as a distributor this season with six assists, which has him tied for the sixth most assists in the USL Championship. Two games ago in a 1-0 loss to Las Vegas Lights FC, Martinez had four shot attempts and three on target.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT

Rio Grande Valley FC Toros is returning to the Lone Star State after a 2-1 loss against San Diego Loyal SC on Saturday, July 23rd. They currently sit 11th in the Western Conference Table of the USL Championship with an overall record of 7-11-3. Their recent five game form is 0-3-2 with only two goals during that stretch, and there are three players that are tied for the team lead in goals with four each. The Toros head into their first ever matchup with Hartford Athletic at H-E-B Park in Edinburg, Texas. 

INJURY REPORT

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Jimmy Slayton (Knee)

Rio Grande Valley FC Toros:

Out: None

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: For live updates, follow along on twitter using the hashtag #RGVvHFD

After dropping the season-opener in Pittsburgh back on March 19, Hartford looked to exact revenge on their rival in far warmer weather than their last meeting. Despite holding a second half lead, Athletic met the same fate as their previous matchup with the Riverhounds, falling 2-1 in the final seconds. 

In an atypical Connecticut climate, Hartford kicked off with their second-most faced opponent in club history in 90 degree weather. Athletic came out on the front foot, holding 70% possession and entering the final third three times throughout the first ten minutes. Despite the Green and Blue early dominance in possession, the Riverhounds took the first shot of the night when Arturo Osuna sent one on net that landed in Yannik Oettl’s hands. Pittsburgh’s keeper soon got some action of his own when Andre Lewis drew a foul in the 15th minute, earning a free kick from halfway between midfield and the box. After the set piece was denied, Joel Johnson broke free down the sideline and tried to send a cross into the box that was deflected on net, but turned into a simple save for Jahmali Waite.

15 minutes later the Riverhounds threatened to break the seal on scoring, when Alex Dixon found a sliding Danny Griffin in the center of the 18 whose touch missed wide. Griffin was involved once again in the 39th minute, when he led Albert Dikwa through a seam in Hartford’s backline. He looked to be all alone, but Logan Gdula was able to recover and knock the ball out of harm’s way. Hartford carried this momentum to the other end of the field. During a three-minute stoppage time period, Andre Lewis was brought down and earned another free kick from beyond Pittsburgh’s box. Danny Barrera sailed the set piece to the end-line where Modou Jadama’s header was unable to find its way on goal. 

After a back and forth first half, the team’s went into the locker rooms with the same score as kickoff. Despite possessing the ball for over 60% of the first 45 and leading Pittsburgh in final third entries, Hartford was not able to get much going once in the final third. The RIverhounds took the game’s only eight shots and more touches in the box than the Green and Blue. 

Possession was a bit more even to start the latter half, but Pittsburgh once again got the first shot when Russell Cicerone found his way to the ball in the box and on Athletic’s endline in the 54th minute. He fired a hard shot from in close, but Oettl was able to send it sky high and caught it after a long descent. Hartford clearly did not want the same story as the first 45, as just a minute later they took their first shot of the game and made it count. Rashawn Dally dished a pass to McGlynn above the box who launched his shot past the Riverhounds keeper and into the top left corner of the net to give his squad the 1-0 lead. The Riverhounds tried to quickly answer back when Robbie Mertz lucked into a shot from the middle of the box, but Oettl was able to prevent the equalizer and keep Athletic in ahead. 

Pittsburgh was due for a goal and their prayers were answered in the 74th minute. At this time they had double-digit second half touches in the box compared to Hartford’s zero. Mertz floated a beautiful ball into the box for Cicerone. The halftime sub elevated and was able to head it home and even up the game at one apiece, good for Pittsburgh’s league-leading eighth goal via substitutes this season. The Riverhounds nearly took their first lead of the match minutes after tallying their first goal, a corner kick set piece ended with a close shot that was blocked by Oettl and cleared into safety by Lewis. The flurry of scoring chances for Pittsburgh foreshadowed how the game would end. Seconds away from a draw in stoppage time, Kenardo Forbes led Wiedt into the box who dealt the heartbreaker, rocketing a beautiful shot past a sprawling Oettl and into the top right corner of Hartford’s net. Athletic would have one more rush down the field but nothing would come of it and the final whistle confirmed a difficult 2-1 loss. 

Hartford has a quick turnaround as they will meet Rio Grande Valley FC for a midweek matchup on the road Wednesday, July 27, at 8:30 PM. 

FAST STATS 

Shots (On-Target): Hartford 1 (1) – Pittsburgh 21 (6)

Corners: Hartford 2 – Pittsburgh 5

Fouls: Hartford 12 – Pittsburgh 16

Offsides: Hartford 2 – Pittsburgh 4 

Possession: Hartford 58.2% – Pittsburgh 41.8%

Passing Accuracy: Hartford 82.6% – Pittsburgh 79.2%

Saves: Hartford 4 – Pittsburgh 0 

SCORING SUMMARY:

55’ – McGlynn (Dally)

74’ – Cicerone (Mertz)

90 + 4’ – Wiedt (Forbes)

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

24’ – Prpa (Yellow)

66’ – Williams (Yellow)

69′ – Boudadi (Yellow)

73’ – Brewitt (Yellow)

90 + 4’ – Wiedt (Yellow)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Yannik Oettl; 2 (DF) Younes Boudadi, 3 (DF) Logan Gdula, 5 (DF) Tom Brewitt, 23 (DF) Modou Jadama, 30 (DF) Joel Johnson (P. Vassell, 67’); 10 (MF) Danny Barrera (P. Saydee, 85’) 11 (MF) Luka Prpa (A. Martínez, 82’); 77 (MF) Andre Lewis, 28 (MF) Conor McGlynn, 18 (FW) Rashawn Dally (J. Obregón, 66’)

PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC STARTING LINEUP:

26 (GK) Jahmali Waite, 2 (DF) Nate Dossantos (D. Rovira, 69’); 3 (DF) Shane Wiedt, 5 (DF) Mekeil Williams, 15 (DF) Arturo Ordóñez, 7 (MF) Alex Dixon (J. Peters, 84’); 11 (MF) Kenardo Forbes, 12 (MF) Danny Griffin, 13 (MF) Luke Biasi (R. Cicerone, 46’); 18 (MF) Marc Ybarra (R. Mertz, 46’); 9 (FW) Albert Dikwa (E. Kizza, 69’)

PRESENTED BY TRAVELERS

Date: Saturday, July 23rd, 2022

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, CT

Tickets: HERE

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or hartfordathletic.com/watch

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (4-11-4) vs PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS (10-6-4)

LAST TIME OUT 

Hartford Athletic are coming off 3-1 a road loss to Charleston Battery last Saturday night. Charleston’s first goal came off a turnover in Hartford’s back line that left Yannik Oettl out of his net, creating an easy finish for standout striker Augustine Williams. The visiting side responded quickly with a goal from Prince Saydee nine minutes later, but it was all Battery from that moment on. They regained the lead before the half when Enock Kwakwa booted in a rebound after a free kick opportunity in Hartford’s third. Hartford had their biggest chance of the night off of a well-executed free kick in the 39th minute that fell to the feet of Rashawn Dally, but Charleston keeper Hugo Fauroux made a quality save on his shot attempt. Williams opened up the second half with a fantastic header for his second goal of the night in the 53rd minute, giving his club a 3-1 lead. Hartford had just three shots in the second half. 

AN INTERESTING HISTORY

Hartford Athletic and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds have faced off 10 times since Hartford entered the league in 2019, the second most matchups that the Green and Blue have had with one club. The copious meetings have created a variety of both tight and lopsided results, ranging from a 1-0 Hartford victory in 2020, a 5-0 Pittsburgh win in the same season, and a 0-0 draw in the last game of the 2021 season, among others. It’s been a matchup Hartford have largely been on the wrong side of, posting a 1-7-2 record against the Hounds.

SHARING HIS WEALTH

Forward Alex Dixon is now in his second season with the Riverhounds after scoring 11 goals over two seasons with Hartford Athletic, the third most in club history. He has a history of burning his former club, as he scored two goals in a 3-1 victory over Hartford at Highmark Stadium last season. This year, Dixon has four goals and six assists. The eight-year USL Championship veteran has shared some of his best seasons with Hartford and Pittsburgh. 

TWO ALL-TIME GREAT DISTRIBUTORS 

The top two all-time USL Championship assist leaders will meet on Saturday night. Pittsburgh’s Kenardo Forbes enters the match as the record holder with 52 all-time assists, and Danny Barrera enters at second all-time with 45. The veteran midfielders started out the year with just one helper separating them, Forbes with 45 and Barrera with 44. However, Forbes has extended his lead with seven assists so far (tied for second in the league) to just one for Barrera. The Hartford captain could gain some ground on Forbes on Saturday night. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Andre Lewis, MF #77

Andre Lewis has been a consistent bright spot for Hartford Athletic over the past few weeks. The Jamaican midfielder has found his stride midway through the season, contributing to goals in three straight games. He earned Team of the Week honors for his performance in Hartford’s 2-0 victory over Colorado on June 28th, in which he scored a goal and created two chances. He bagged another goal later that week against Detroit, and picked up an assist last Saturday in Charleston. Lewis has been an important piece for Hartford all season, appearing in all but one game and making 13 starts, and he is currently second on the team in chances created (29).

Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Russell Cicerone, FW #10

Russell Cicerone has picked up his goal scoring pace recently, scoring four goals over Pittsburgh’s last five games. He had a career year in 2021 with 16 goals, and has followed it up nicely in 2022. The forward has earned Team of the Week honors three times and has added three assists to his eight goals. He scored three goals against Hartford Athletic last season, including a stoppage time winner in Hartford on August 28th, 2021. 

ABOUT THE OPPONENT

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are 3-1-1 in their last five matches and are coming off a 1-1 tie to New Mexico United last Saturday. They went down 1-0 in the first minute of the match, and awaited an equalizer that came in the 75th minute from Dane Kelly. The Hounds have been one of the most consistent teams in the Eastern Conference, posting a 10-6-4 record and having just one poor stretch of three straight losses. Russell Cicerone leads the club with eight goals and three assists. 

INJURY REPORT

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Jimmy Slayton (Knee)

Pittsburgh Riverhounds:

Out: Robbie Dambrot (Tonsilectomy)

Questionable: Dane Kelly (Lower Body)

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: For live updates, follow along on twitter using the hashtag #HFDvPIT

Hartford Athletic have signed goalkeeper Sam Howard for the remainder of the 2022 season, pending league and federation approval. 

Howard has played in the USL Championship with former clubs Fresno FC in 2018 and 2019, and with OKC Energy in 2021. He made 68 appearances for IFK Åmål of the Swedish second division across two seasons in 2016 and 2017, posting a 48–15–5 record with 16 clean sheets. In 2016, Howard earned the Dalsland Goalkeeper of the year award. 

The Takoma Park, Maryland native played collegiately for Kenyon College, Lasalle University, and eventually returned close to home to play his senior year at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He started all 18 games in 2015 and made 78 saves on the season. 

Howard joins Yannik Oettl, Jimmy Slayton, and Sebastian Pliszka as goalies currently on the Hartford Athletic roster. Slayton underwent surgery on his knee earlier this week and is expected to return in four to six weeks.

Hartford Athletic returns to action tomorrow night, July 23rd, when they host Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at 7:00 PM. Fans interested in purchasing tickets should visit hartfordathletic.com/single.

“It didn’t take long for me to become obsessed with the game.”

My name is Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. I was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 29th, 1997. Growing up in the inner city had its challenges, but there were a lot of moments of joy as well. Life always revolved around two constants that continue to take precedence above all else as the closest things to my heart: family and soccer. My fondest memories as a kid are going to the park with my parents and sister kicking the soccer ball around. I envisioned a pro career in my future, but there was more to the dream than that. I wanted to be a goalscorer; a dominant goalscorer.   

East New York is a vastly diverse place and being the son of two Honduran immigrants, our family definitely fit into that mold. I predominantly spoke Spanish at home and English at school, effectively utilizing my bilingual abilities. Honduran culture runs deep through my veins and I loved when my family would gather to celebrate the holidays. Similarly to many other countries worldwide, soccer in Honduras is like a sacred religion. Everyone plays, and the burning passion for the game was certainly passed down to me from my parents. It didn’t take long for me to become obsessed with the game, and I was determined to put in the maximum effort possible to be the best.

At the age of four, I played for Liga Cristo del Consuelo (CDC Academy) in Brooklyn. It was fun because at that point, I was just running behind the ball and kicking it. I wasn’t thinking about anything else and I never got tired of playing. The game was simple. 

“It was a great opportunity to test myself.”

BW Gottschee Academy in Queens was my next stop when I was eight years old, which is one of the oldest club teams in New York City. The competition intensified in a way I wasn’t used to in the past, but it was a great opportunity to test myself with kids at a higher level. I fit in well during my two years there and developed into one of the stronger players with promising potential.

From the ages of 10-13, I played for Red Bulls Youth Academy in Harrison, New Jersey. The weekly schedule was always jam-packed, consisting of nightly training sessions and tournaments on the weekends. Our preparation was never geared towards evaluating one team at a time, we had to physically be in shape for several games with very little recovery in between. I separated myself as one of the most talented players among the group and graduated from the program.

I was brought up to the Red Bulls Academy to play my U13-U15 years. It was an amazing experience because it gave me an inkling of what it takes to thrive in a professional environment. The level of play once again increased, and it was a chance to compete with other young phenoms who were just as hungry to make a name for themselves as I was. However, due to the significant travel commitment from Brooklyn to New Jersey, I decided to leave the academy to find an option closer to home. I remember days where my Mom would pick me and my sister up after school, drive to New Jersey for a 7:00 pm training, arrive back home at 10:30-11:00 pm, and repeat the same cycle the next day. In addition, I was eating dinner in the car and rushing to complete my homework, which was never ideal.    

“I found my niche as a bona fide goal scorer.”

I ended up joining Cosmos Academy in Uniondale, New York. I had a very successful season there, lighting up the stat sheet in both goals and assists on any given night. Under the guidance of the coaches, I was truly able to display my offensive capabilities to the fullest and positively impact every aspect of the game. 

In 2010, my former club BW Gottschee agreed to form a partnership with Cosmos Academy. The cost to play was no longer free and the fees were challenging for my parents to afford. So, I started to play for Metropolitan Oval (Met Oval) Academy in Queens when I was 16 years old. 

Met Oval was the spot in my youth career where I evolved the most as a player, and I found my niche as a bona fide goal scorer. I was getting used to hitting the back of the net two or three times a game and enhancing my ability to distribute the ball too. In 2014, we won the national tournament in the Super Y League, which consists of some of the most elite youth teams from the U.S. and Canada. I won the Golden Boot as the tournament’s leading goalscorer with five goals in five games, an incredible achievement that would draw the attention of many collegiate coaches. Shortly after the national tournament, I received and accepted an offer to play Division I soccer at Siena College. 

“It was an incredible feeling to be contributing to a great team.”

I transitioned well to the style of play my freshman year at Siena, but I wasn’t a regular starter. My fitness level and stamina needed to improve if I wanted to play for the full 90 minutes of a game. The summer before my sophomore year, I played in the PDL (Premier Development League), which is now called USL League Two, with F.A. Euro in my hometown of Brooklyn. I embraced the grind and wouldn’t let anyone outmatch my work ethic on the field. I ended up leading the PDL in goals with eight in 11 appearances and I was super proud of myself. The hard work paid off that summer and I was primed for a great season in my second go around with the Saints in 2016.

We had a really talented group my sophomore year and started the season winning our first four games, cracking the top 25 ranking threshold in the country. It was an amazing feeling to be contributing to a great team, as I scored two goals over that four game span myself. 

Not long into my sophomore year, an unexpected call changed my plans and had me pack my bags quickly. I got called up to the U20 Honduran national team to be a part of their training camp. It was an opportunity I couldn’t let slip away and it was a huge honor to represent the country where my family is from. I continued to try and play in every game that I could for Siena throughout the fall, but it was difficult to do so because I was re-called to report to the U20 team in Honduras multiple times. I finished the season with four goals and three assists, and we made it to the semi finals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament.

During the shortened spring season for Siena later that year, I played in five games. I scored a hatrick and dished out an assist in the finale against the University at Albany in a razor close 4-3 win. Having experience with the Honduras U20 national team under my belt, I felt ready to make the leap to the professional ranks and decided to forgo my last two years of college eligibility.

“I was starstruck.”

I joined Liga MX side Club Necaxa, which plays in the top flight of football in Mexico. I was a member of the U20 reserve team for two seasons, and I played tremendously well on the biggest stage of my career up until that point. I hit the back of the net twice in an abbreviated 2017 campaign and led the league in goals with 12 in 17 appearances the following year. The first team was intrigued by my goal scoring prowess and oftentimes would allow me to practice with them. I was starstruck to be around the likes of players who represented their national teams at the World Cup, most notably Matías Fernández from Chile and fellow Honduran Brayan Beckeles.

In the middle of the 2018 season, I was told that I would debut for the first team in their next Copa MX game, a football tournament that is considered by many to be one of the most profound in all of Mexico. However, things took a turn for the worse after I received a red card in a reserve game just a few days prior. I lost control of my emotions, and my lack of judgment got me suspended from the chance I had desperately been working for my whole life.

The following preseason, I returned to Club Necaxa and expected to sign a contract with the first team. I didn’t have an agent at the time, so I did all of the negotiating myself. They made an offer to sign me, but as part of the deal, I would be loaned to a second division team to get playing time. At that moment, I was disappointed because I felt that I had proven myself enough to lock in a first team contract. I turned the offer down and came back to the U.S. immediately signing with an agent to assist me in the search for another opportunity.

“I realized that I belonged at the professional level.”

The Houston Dynamo showed interest in me, and I trained with them for a bit before signing with their USL Championship affiliate, Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (RGV Toros). I only played in four games during the 2019 campaign after joining the team in late September, but I made an immediate impact in my debut against Orange County SC. In a game we led 1-0, I came on as a substitute in the 84th minute and scored in the 85th to put the game out of reach in front of our home crowd. Scoring my first professional goal was a really proud moment and amounted to an indescribable feeling of happiness. I was saddened to have to leave Necaxa, but I got a newfound boost of confidence that made me realize that I belonged at the professional level.

In 2020, I trained with the Dynamo again and appeared in their second preseason game as a substitute. I ended up drawing a penalty that led to the final goal of a 5-0 victory, and I’ll never forget the rush of excitement I felt to suit up in a Major League Soccer (MLS) jersey. 

I was called up to the U23 Honduran national team before the start of the MLS regular season to be a part of training camp for the Olympic Qualifiers. Unfortunately, with two weeks left in the tournament, COVID put the world on hold and canceled the remaining games for the foreseeable future. I was devastated that an opportunity to be on the world’s biggest stage in soccer was taken away from me, but my family encouraged me to be optimistic and work even harder during quarantine when no one else was watching.        

After many months away, the 2020 season resumed in mid-July and I played in my second year with RGV Toros. Individually, I paced the team in goals with three, but we finished tied for the second lowest point total in the USL Championship. 

Heading into 2021, RGV Toros split from the Houston Dynamo and became an independent club. I felt like I deserved a contract or even a preseason invite with the Dynamo, but it never came about. While offers rained in from numerous other USL Championship teams, the Olympic Qualifiers were finally happening and training camp was starting up for the U23 Honduran national team. I had still not signed with a club yet, but I had faith in my ability to shine in the spotlight.

“I felt untouchable.”

In a do or die match for a guaranteed spot in the Olympics, we played against the U.S. in front of an empty Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico. I had a whole bunch of emotions when both anthems played, but I knew there was business to be taken care of and I was determined to dominate the game. I wanted to prove I was worthy of another shot with an MLS side.

When the referee blew the opening whistle, I felt untouchable. I never lost the ball, I was creating opportunities, and I was rewarded for my efforts when I scored the opening goal of the game. I actually started the chance while making a run, and then I was tripped up by one of the U.S. center backs just over half field that drew a free kick. A cross was lobbed into the box, headed towards the net by my teammate Denil Maldonado, and I tapped in the goal. We held on to the advantage and came out victorious 2-1. I became an Olympian representing the country where my parents were born, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled.

“I love the city of Hartford.”

MLS rosters had already closed when I returned to the states, so my agent recommended that I play with a USL Championship team. In early April of 2021, I signed with Hartford Athletic. The people in the organization embraced me with open arms and the fact that Connecticut is a two hour drive from home in Brooklyn allows me to see my family often. They have never missed a home game since I joined the club, and their support means the world to me.

We started out the season winning games, but we ended the back half of the season on a difficult losing stretch, missing out on the playoffs. Individually, I performed at a high level, breaking the single season scoring record in Hartford Athletic history with 10 goals. I was also pleasantly surprised by the amount of support we received from our fan base, and I honestly believe we are better in that department than every other organization.

I missed five games during the month of July that year to go to the Tokyo Olympics. I was surrounded by an aura of greatness, and it was an incredible honor to represent Honduras in what is considered the holy grail of sport. I didn’t play much on the pitch, but I entered the game as a substitute for 20 minutes in our second matchup against New Zealand. Sure enough, I scored the equalizer in the 78th minute that we were desperately looking for that knotted the game at two apiece. We ended up winning the game 3-2, and contributing in the way I did was one of the most satisfying moments of my career that I will never forget.

Hartford Athletic picked up my option after the 2021 season ended, and I am happy to be back with the Green and Blue once again. We have a resilient group that is willing to do whatever it takes to claw back into the playoff race. I love the city of Hartford, and I know our fans will continue to bring thunderous energy to every home match. They are, without question, the best fanbase there is in the USL Championship.

I’m Juan Carlos Obregón Jr., and this is my story.

Charleston Battery was sharp at home from start to finish and defeated Hartford Athletic by a score of 3-1 in the first matchup of the season between the two teams.

Charleston didn’t waste much time in this one to get on the front foot, quickly reacting to a communication error from Luka Prpa and Younes Boudadi in the 13th minute. The ball rolled into the box forcing goalkeeper Yannik Oettl to come off his line and bat the ball with his hand out of the box in a diving effort. No one in teal was near the ball to clear it away, so Charleston midfielder Matthew Sheldon ran up and delivered the ball to a streaking Augustine Williams. The Sierra Leone national team member calmly tucked his left footed shot into the goal as Oettl was out of position, extending his team lead in goals to eight on the season.

Hartford responded last week against the Rowdies when they were down by a goal in the first half and did so again in the 22nd minute in Charleston. Captain Danny Barrera sailed a high ball that led Andre Lewis down the field, who then used his physicality to get past a Battery defender. With open space, the Jamaican midfielder swiftly dribbled down the field in what was a three on one man advantage for the Green and Blue. He sent a pass to Prince Saydee that nutmegged Battery defender Leland Archer, who hit his shot past keeper Hugo Fauroux to level the score at one.

With both teams maintaining an intense pace of play with many chances, it made for an entertaining first 30 minutes of play. Charleston was on the prowl for another tally, and had a great chance in the 25th minute. A free kick from outside the box on the right was sent into traffic that ended up in the feet of Joseph Schmidt. The Indiana Hoosier graduate had his volley attempt saved by Oettl back into the clutter of players in the box. Enock Kwakwa was on the other end of the rebound and boomed his left footed one touch effort into the back of the net to regain the lead for the home side.

Rashawn Dally, born and bred in Bloomfield, Connecticut, had a threatening chance on goal in the 39th minute to equalize the score for Hartford once again. His point blank rocket was stopped by Fauroux and the score remained 2-1 in Charleston’s favor after 45 minutes of play.

After a 15 minute break to regroup, Hartford needed a newfound boost of energy to get back into the game. The possession numbers were nearly identical, but the home side dominated in their ability to put the ball on target. Battery defender Carlos Asensio bended a left footed cross into the box from well outside the 18′ in the 53rd minute intended for Williams. The 6’3 forward floated in the air and redirected a flying header off the right post and past Oettl, increasing Charleston’s lead to 3-1.

The Green and Blue struggled to take control of chances in their opponents half and didn’t make their first change until the 57th minute, bringing on Ariel Martinez for Saydee. 

In the 81st minute, Battery’s Sheldon was assessed a straight red card for elbowing Logan Gdula behind a play up the field. Despite the man advantage, Hartford failed to generate a dangerous chance on goal to mount a comeback, falling on the road.

Hartford Athletic is back at home next Saturday, July 23rd against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Tickets are available at hartfordathletic.com/tickets.

FAST STATS 

Shots (On-Target): Hartford 10 (3) – Charleston 19 (8)

Corners: Hartford 5 – Charleston 7

Fouls: Hartford 8 – Charleston 13

Offsides: Hartford 3 – Charleston 1

Possession: Hartford 50.8% – Charleston 49.2%

Passing Accuracy: Hartford 82.1% – Charleston 83.7%

Saves: Hartford 5 – Charleston 2

SCORING SUMMARY:

13′ – Augustine Williams (Matt Sheldon) 1-0

22′ – Prince Saydee (Andre Lewis) 1-1

25′ – Enock Kwakwa 2-1

53′ – Augustine Williams (Charlie Asensio) 3-1

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

2′ – Charlie Asensio (Yellow)

27′ – Preston Kilwein (Yellow)

38′ – Dominic Oduro (Yellow)

48′ – Conor McGlynn (Yellow)

61′ – Romario Piggot (Yellow)

81′ – Matt Sheldon (Red)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Yannik Oettl; 2 (DF) Younes Boudadi, 5 (DF) Tom Brewitt, 23 (DF) Modou Jadama (Tulu, 66′), 30 (DF) Joel Johnson (Logan Gdula, 76′); 10 (MF) Danny Barrera, 11 (MF) Luka Prpa, 77 (MF) Andre Lewis (Ash Apollon, 76′), 28 (MF) Conor McGlynn, 7 (MF) Prince Saydee (Ariel Martinez, 57′); 18 (FW) Rashawn Dally (Juan Carlos Obregón Jr., 66′)

CHARLESTON BATTERY STARTING LINEUP:

30 (GK) Hugo Fauroux; 23 (DF) Preston Kilwein, 20 (DF) AJ Paterson, 5 (DF) Leland Archer, 26 (DF) Charlie Ascensio (Alexander Dexter, 72′); 15 (MF) Joseph Smith, 8 (MF) Dominic Oduro (Dionysius Harmon, 84′), 13 (MF) Matt Sheldon; 10 (FW) Romario Piggot (Aiden Apodaca, 72′), 21 (FW) Enock Kwakwa (Geobel Pèrez, 73′), 9 (FW) Augustine Williams (Patrick Hogan, 90+2′)

After back to back weeks with weekday games, Hartford Athletic got a full week of training in before heading to Charleston for a matchup with the Battery on Saturday night.

PRESENTED BY TRAVELERS

Date: Saturday, July 16th, 2022

Time: 8:00 PM ET

Patriots Point Soccer Complex, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or hartfordathletic.com/watch

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (4-10-4) vs CHARLESTON BATTERY (2-14-3)

LAST TIME OUT

Hartford Athletic are coming off a disappointing 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies at home last Saturday. The Green and Blue played some of their best soccer in the second half of the match, after going down 1-0 in the 36th on a Sebastian Dalgaard highlight-reel goal. Hartford tied the game on Danny Barrera’s first goal of the season in the 49th minute, with Ariel Martínez taking advantage of a Rowdies turnover to pick up the assist. Seven minutes later, Rashawn Dally gave Hartford the lead on a clinical finish off a feed from Barrera. In the following 30 plus minutes, Tampa Bay were the beneficiaries of two penalty kicks, as Leo Fernandes went two-for-two and recorded the game winner late in stoppage time.

TURNING THE PAGE

Hartford Athletic were in the driver’s seat on their way to pulling off a significant Eastern Conference upset against the Tampa Bay Rowdies last Saturday. Or at the very least, earning a point against a strong opponent. The Green and Blue held a 2-1 lead from the 56th minute to the 73rd, after Leo Fernandes’ scored his first penalty kick of the night after Tom Brewitt fouled Steevan Dos Santos in Hartford’s box. With the game still tied in the 90th minute, three minutes of stoppage time were added to the match. Just one minute after a Jordan Scarlett red card, Tampa Bay were awarded a second penalty kick at the 90’+5:55 mark of stoppage time. Fernandes finished the penalty, and a deserved point slipped away from Hartford. It’s a heavy page for the Green and Blue to turn, but they’ve had a full week of training to shift their focus to Charleston. 

FOLLOW THE CAPTAIN 

Danny Barrera recorded both his first goal and assist of 2022 last Saturday night. It was the strongest game of this season for the team captain, and it’s a great sign for Hartford’s hopes at a stronger run of form over the remaining 16 games. Barrera had the best season of his career in 2021 (eight goals, 12 assists), and the Green and Blue won a record 12 games despite missing the playoffs. He’s been involved in positive play for Hartford at times this year, as he leads the team in chances created (31), but it’s taken him longer than expected to be involved in a goal. The club’s best performances are largely consistent with Barrera’s, and a strong second half of the season for him may be the most essential piece to a run up the table for Hartford.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Rashawn Dally, FW #18

Forward Rashawn Dally is on a quality stretch for Hartford Athletic as of late. He picked up two assists in the final weeks of June, and scored his second goal of the season last week in what was a clinical finish against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Dally has been a frequent threat to score for the Green and Blue, attempting 13 shots and putting five on target. A higher conversion rate in the second half of the season for the Bloomfield, Connecticut native could be a massive boost for his club. 

Charleston Battery, Augustine Williams, FW #9:

At just 24 years of age, Augustine Williams is already among the greatest goal scorers in the history of the USL Championship. The Sierra Leone national team member sits in the top 30 all-time with 43 goals across four different clubs, dating back to the start of his professional career in 2016. The Battery have been blanked in three straight outings, but Williams scored their last goal on Wednesday, June 29th while falling 4-3 to Atlanta United 2. The forward parked himself in the box and easily hit pay dirt on a one touch rebound in the 19th minute. He also assisted on the team’s second goal of the night in the 50th minute on a header that set up a one-touch blast from teammate Mauro Cichero. Williams leads the Battery this season with seven goals and is tied for first in assists with two.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT 

Charleston Battery are coming off a 1-0 loss at The Miami FC on Wednesday. An early fourth minute goal from Miami’s Romeo Parkes lasted the following 86 minutes, as Charleston were shutout for a third straight match. The Battery have been on a poor run of form over the last month, losing five in a row and scoring just four goals across that stretch. Charleston also struggle with discipline, leading the league in yellow cards with 68. They are led offensively by Augustine Williams, who has seven goals on the year. Hartford are 2-4 all-time against the Battery, and they went 2-2 against them in four matchups in 2021.

INJURY REPORT

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Peter-Lee Vassell (Illness)

Charleston Battery:

Out: Andrew Booth, Kyle Holcomb, Joe Kuzminsky, Benji Ettienne, Mauro Cichero
Questionable: Pat Hogan

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #CHSvHFD

Hartford Athletic entered Saturday’s contest seeking a better outcome than the last meeting between the two sides, a 1-1 draw on March 26 that Hartford led for the majority of the game. The Boys in Blue put together a terrific display, but it was not enough to overcome two late-game penalty kicks. 

Both teams came into Trinity health Stadium riding high. Tampa Bay was looking to extend their unbeaten streak to nine games while Hartford was playing arguably their best soccer all season throughout the past few weeks, earning points four out of their last five times on the field. Athletic came out of the gates firing, looking to give their packed crowd something to cheer about. They controlled play early, possessing the ball 54% of the time throughout the first 10 minutes. They fired off the first shot of the game in just the fourth minute when McGlynn took a free kick from outside the box and sailed it over the woodwork. 

Tampa Bay fought back, entering the final third multiple times in the early stages of the game, but could not muster up their first shot until the 25th minute. The Rowdies snatched the ball away in the corner of their attacking third and after some quick touches, the ball ended up on the foot of Dos Santos right in front of Hartford’s net. He sent a shot that threatened to break open the scoring, but a diving Yannik Oettl swooped in to save a goal. 

After their first scoring chance, the Rowdies kept their foot on the gas and earned the game’s first tally in the 36th minute. They swiped the ball in the attacking third off a Hartford throw-in and after a tic-tac-toe passing display, Hilton served Dalgaard at the top of the box. Dalgaard delivered a highlight-reel goal, sending a laser off the bottom of the crossbar and into the back of the net to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead that would hold until the half. 

The Rowdies were unbeaten in the last 68 matches in which they scored first; Hartford left the locker-room hoping to end that streak. 

Tampa started the second half on the front foot, holding the ball for over 80% of the first few minutes, but the momentum would soon shift in spectacular fashion. In the 49th minute, Ariel Martinez intercepted a pass from the Rowdies keeper and dished it off to Danny Barrera just above the box who netted the equalizer. The Rowdies tried to roar right back, streaking into Hartford’s 18 in the 52nd minute, but Athletic’s backline was able to thwart the scoring opportunity before a shot could be fired off.

The Green and Blue continued to push the pace offensively. In the 56th minute, Barrera lofted a pass over Tampa’s backline. Rashawn Dally sprinted past the defense and onto the ball, finding himself alone with the keeper. He did not let the opportunity go to waste, beating a flailing Rowdies’ goalie to give Hartford a 2-1 lead. Entering tonight’s contest, Barrera led Hartford with 26 chances created, but had yet to see his name in neither the goal nor assist column. The captain’s luck changed tonight, tallying both in Athletic’s scoring flurry. 

The Rowdies were handed three yellow cards in the ten minutes following Athletic’s second goal. Hartford seemed to have seized control, but Tampa Bay’s prayers were soon answered. In the 73rd minute, Dos Santos was taken down in the box and earned a penalty kick, giving his team an opportunity to tie the game at two apiece. Fernandes was chosen to take the shot and he sent the equalizer to the back corner of the net. 

Both teams had multiple chances to grab the lead as the clock slowly wound down, but defense reigned supreme until stoppage time. In the seventh minute of a three minute stoppage time period, Joel Johnson stepped up in the box to defend and was called for a foul. The controversial call set up an opportunity for Tampa Bay to overcome a disastrous start to the second half and earn three points. Fernandes came through in the clutch, netting his second penalty kick goal and capping off a miraculous Rowdies’ win. 

Hartford will go back on the road in a weeks’ time to face the Charleston Battery on July 16, 7:30 PM at MUSC Health Stadium. 

FAST STATS 

Shots (On-Target): Hartford 10 (3) – Tampa Bay 12 (5)

Corners: Hartford 4 – Tampa Bay 4

Fouls: Hartford 10 – Tampa Bay 11

Offsides: Hartford 3 – Tampa Bay 2

Possession: Hartford 53.3% – Tampa Bay 46.7%

Passing Accuracy: Hartford 87.6% – Tampa Bay 85.6%

Saves: Hartford 2 – Tampa Bay 1

SCORING SUMMARY:

36’ – Dalgaard (Hilton)

49’ – Barrera (Martínez)

56’ – Dally (Barrera) 

73’ – Fernandes (PK)

90+8’ – Fernandes (PK)

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:

32’ – Gdula (Yellow)

61’ – Vancaeyezeele (Yellow) 

62’ – Wyke (Yellow) 

64’ – Dos Santos (Yellow)

90+2’ – Scarlett (Red)

90+6’ – Oettl (Yellow)

HARTFORD ATHLETIC STARTING LINEUP:

13 (GK) Yannik Oettl, 2 (DF) Younes Boudadi, 3 (DF) Logan Gdula (A. Martínez, 46’); 4 (DF) Tulu, 5 (DF) Tom Brewitt, 9 (FW) Juan Carlos Obregón Jr (P. Saydee, 46’) 10 (MF) Danny Barrera, 11 (MF) Luka Prpa (A. Apollon, 80’) 18 (FW) Rashawn Dally (C. Hertzog, 77’); 28 (MF) Conor McGlynn, 30 (MF) Joel Johnson

TAMPA BAY ROWDIES STARTING LINEUP:

1 (GK) Carl Cochran, 3 (DF) Thomas Vancaeyezeele, 4 (MF) Lewis Hilton, 5 (DF) Jordan Scarlett, 7 (MF) Yann Ekra (J. Areman, 74’); 10 (FW) Steevan Dos Santos (L. Mkosana, 74’); 11 (MF) Leo Fernandes, 19 (FW) Jake LaCava (D. Harris, 63’); 23 (MF) Sebastian Asmussen (S. Guenzatti, 74’); 27 (MF) Laurence Wyke, 33 (DF) Aaron Guillen

Hartford Athletic return to home host the Tampa Bay Rowdies after a 1-1 draw at Detroit City FC on Wednesday night. The Green and Blue look to extend their undefeated streak to three while spoiling the Rowdies eight-game streak.

PRESENTED BY TRAVELERS

Date: Saturday, July 9th, 2022

Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, CT

Tickets: HERE

Local TV: WCTX MyTV9

Streaming: ESPN+ or hartfordathletic.com/watch

HARTFORD ATHLETIC (4-9-4) vs TAMPA BAY ROWDIES (9-3-6)

CONTAINING HIGH POWERED OFFENSE

Tampa Bay has had no shortage of goals lately, scoring a combined seven over their last two matches alone. This comes at no surprise, with the Rowdies being one of the most high-powered offenses in the USL Championship. Their 34 goals this season are tied for fourth in the USL Championship and Jake LaCava’s 9 goals are tied for fifth overall. It will be key for Hartford to win the possession battle and limit Tampa Bay’s chances, as the Rowdies are 8-1-0 in games where they score multiple goals this season. 

AWESOME ANDRE

Hartford Midfielder Andre Lewis has been on a quality run of form over the last two weeks. He has scored in back to back matches and was named to the Week 17 USL Championship Team of The Week after a stellar performance against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. He scored the goal to put the game away for Hartford against his former team on June 28th, and found the back of the net for Hartford’s only goal in the 1-1 draw at Detroit this past Wednesday. Lewis has been a key player for the Green and Blue all season long, as he’s appeared in every game and has led the team in chances created for much of the year (26). However, he has been on the finishing end of these chances lately and is capitalizing on his opportunities to score.

PLAYING FOR POINTS

Hartford Athletic have managed to earn points in four of their last five matches, two draws and two victories, with their only loss coming to Eastern Conference leading Louisville City FC on June 25th. Both victories during this span have been multi-goal wins, a 3-0 win over Atlanta United 2 and a 2-0 victory over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. They have also had two 1-1 draws, one to Memphis 901 FC and one to Detroit City FC most recently.

WORDS FROM THE STRIKER

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Hartford Athletic, Danny Barrera, MF #10

Danny Barrera has been a lead generator of offensive chances for Hartford Athletic this season. Despite having an empty goal and assist column on his stat sheet, he’s tied for first on the team in chances created with 26. Lately, he’s created five chances in Hartford’s last two games, and after the club’s upset victory over Colorado on June 28th, Technical Director Ray Reid said, “We need to get [Barrera] the ball more. He needs the ball to go and create chances, and he got the ball tonight and he did that. We need to let him facilitate the game.” The team captain has played and started in all but one game this season, and will be critical for Hartford on Saturday night. 

Tampa Bay Rowdies, Leo Fernandes, MF #11

Fernandes is a centerpiece for the Tampa Bay roster, playing in 17 of 18 matches this season and starting in 15 of them. He is a key distributor on the offensive side of the ball, leading the team in assists (4) and holding the second most chances created (29). Fernandes is also one of the major threats to score for the Rowdies, showing no hesitation to shoot with 29 shots on the year and seven goals. When the Rowdies have a chance to score, Fernandes is almost always involved.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT 

Tampa Bay enters Saturday’s contest third on the Eastern Conference playoff ladder with a 9-3-6 record and 33 points. They are entering Saturday’s match on a hot streak, having not lost a match since they fell 3-2 to San Diego Loyal SC back on April 30. Most recently, they earned three points in an impressive 2-0 win over Memphis 901 FC on Saturday, July 2nd. This will be the second meeting between Hartford and Tampa, as they tied 1-1 at Al Lang Stadium back on March 26th.

INJURY REPORT

Hartford Athletic:

Out: Modou Jadama (Quad)

Tampa Bay Rowdies:

Out: Robert Castellanos, Jake Areman

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #HFDvTBR