After a frustrating run of draws for Manager Jimmy Obleda and the Red Wolves, the squad responded in a big way Tuesday night. A five-star result saw one of USL League One’s brightest stars in Ricky Ruiz control the game once again, with a marvelous hat trick of assists. A quick-fire double in the first half saw Jackson Dietrich and Marky Hernandez score wonderfully worked goals, both assisted by Ruiz. The intensity did not let up in the second half, with 2 goals coming in 6 minutes from homegrown Jonathan Ricketts and Red Wolves leading goal scorer Juan Galindrez. A late consolation would have disappointed Trilk and the backline after controlling the game but could not dampen spirits for what was one of the most resounding results of the season.
The win gave Obleda’s side more separation at the top of the table, sitting four points above third place Greenville Triumph with a massively important two games in hand. League leaders Union Omaha visit Saturday night in what will be the heavyweight bout of the campaign so far, but first the Red Wolves must get through a surging North Texas side that continues to work its way up the table.
Matt Denny and his side from Arlington travel to CHI Memorial with hopes of spoiling what has been an unbeaten start to the campaign at home for the Red Wolves. The two sides have played twice already in the USL League One season, with North Texas only gaining one point from a possible six. Even so, North Texas has put together their best stretch of the season, going unbeaten in their last five matches. In those results, Denny’s side got crucial draws against Union Omaha and the Red Wolves and smashed four past North Carolina FC at Globe Life Park in a 4-0 victory. They will look to ride that momentum into a hostile environment at CHI Memorial, where no side has earned three points this campaign.
North Texas has spread their goals around the squad this season, with ten different players putting their name on the scoresheet so far. Kazu is the side’s leading goal scorer with 5 goals and Gibran Rayo is behind him with 4 goals. In addition, 4 different North Texas players sit level on 2 assists apiece. Their uptick in performance does not solely fall to the feet of the attack however, with the defense keeping 4 clean sheets in fifteen games and in the top half of the league with only twenty goals conceded. The balanced approach taken by North Texas should make life difficult for the Red Wolves as the joy is spread around, presenting a tough challenge to one of USL League One’s best backlines in the Red Wolves.
The previous two matches between the two sides both took place at Globe Life Park in Arlington, with the Red Wolves taking a 1-0 win in May and then stealing a point in July with a 90th minute Jackson Dietrich equalizer. Leading goal scorers Juan Galindrez and kazu respectively will look to make their mark on the match against two impressive defenses. Ricky Ruiz figures to play a big part in the match once again, as Obleda’s sensational playmaker now sits tied at the top of the league with 7 assists.
Off the field, the Red Wolves are bringing back the ever popular $2 beer night in celebration of taco Tuesday, which will feature new bang bang shrimp tacos.
The action kicks off from the Red Wolves’ own personal fortress in CHI Memorial Stadium Tuesday, August 17th at 7 PM EST, when the red-hot Red Wolves look to extend their incredible unbeaten streak to eleven games.
