USL League One – Game 1
Forward Madison FC at North Texas SC
Saturday, July 25, 2020; 8 p.m. CT
Globe Life Park – Arlington, TX
Where to Watch
TVW and ESPN+
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live updates
Keep track of the official stats on the USL League One Match Center
After nine months, numerous delays and many questions over whether the team would even take the field, Forward Madison FC will finally kick off its long-anticipated 2020 season this Saturday evening. With the USL League One season underway at last, the Flamingos will resume exactly where they left off in 2019: On the road against North Texas SC.
Well, maybe not exactly where they left off.
The 2020 season will look a lot different for the Flamingos. Each team will be allowed five substitutes, rather than the regular three, to compensate for increased fatigue in a congested schedule. Only two of 11 teams in League One will make the postseason. And Head Coach Daryl Shore knows that without a true preseason (Forward Madison has only held full-contact training sessions for several weeks), his team must adjust quickly.
“Our guys are just excited to actually get on the field again and play a game,” Shore said. “Will it be a little sloppy? I’m sure it will be at times. But we’ve had some good training sessions and I’m sure they’ve had some good training sessions. I think it’ll be a good game.”
Saturday’s game will feature a roster with plenty of familiar faces for Shore, with 12 players returning from the previous season. There will be plenty of room, however, for new additions, such as striker Wojciech Wojcik, to introduce themselves to fans. Shore pointed to the veteran attacker as someone who the Flamingos will count on to help produce goals during their 16-game sprint of a season.
“We had a good year last year, but it wasn’t good enough because we didn’t lift the trophy,” Shore said.
Forward Madison are quite familiar by now with its opponent, North Texas SC, whom the Flamingos faced off against five times in their inaugural campaign. Despite winning both matchups at Breese Stevens Field, FMFC has yet to claim a point in Texas, falling to the eventual 2019 League One champions in the playoff semifinals.
Still, NTSC’s lineup will certainly look different from the two teams’ previous meeting. Last year’s league MVP, Arturo Rodriguez, has moved to Real Monarchs on loan; Similarly, 2019 captain Brecc Evans was loaned out to Austin Bold FC.
Although North Texas may well look to its MLS parent club, FC Dallas, for reinforcements, Shore said he can’t afford to play a guessing game.
“They don’t miss a beat,” Shore said. ‘I know they’ve lost a lot of players from last year, but they reload. We know they’re going to be good. We know they’re going to get after us.”
Following Saturday’s season opener, Forward Madison will return to Wisconsin for its home opener on July 31 against Greenville Triumph SC at Hart Park in Wauwatosa.
USL League One – Game 1
Forward Madison FC at North Texas SC
Saturday, July 25, 2020; 8 p.m. CT
Globe Life Park – Arlington, TX
Where to Watch
TVW and ESPN+
Follow @ForwardMSNFC on Twitter for live updates
Keep track of the official stats on the USL League One Match Center
After nine months, numerous delays and many questions over whether the team would even take the field, Forward Madison FC will finally kick off its long-anticipated 2020 season this Saturday evening. With the USL League One season underway at last, the Flamingos will resume exactly where they left off in 2019: On the road against North Texas SC.
Well, maybe not exactly where they left off.
The 2020 season will look a lot different for the Flamingos. Each team will be allowed five substitutes, rather than the regular three, to compensate for increased fatigue in a congested schedule. Only two of 11 teams in League One will make the postseason. And Head Coach Daryl Shore knows that without a true preseason (Forward Madison has only held full-contact training sessions for several weeks), his team must adjust quickly.
“Our guys are just excited to actually get on the field again and play a game,” Shore said. “Will it be a little sloppy? I’m sure it will be at times. But we’ve had some good training sessions and I’m sure they’ve had some good training sessions. I think it’ll be a good game.”
Saturday’s game will feature a roster with plenty of familiar faces for Shore, with 12 players returning from the previous season. There will be plenty of room, however, for new additions, such as striker Wojciech Wojcik, to introduce themselves to fans. Shore pointed to the veteran attacker as someone who the Flamingos will count on to help produce goals during their 16-game sprint of a season.
“We had a good year last year, but it wasn’t good enough because we didn’t lift the trophy,” Shore said.
Forward Madison are quite familiar by now with its opponent, North Texas SC, whom the Flamingos faced off against five times in their inaugural campaign. Despite winning both matchups at Breese Stevens Field, FMFC has yet to claim a point in Texas, falling to the eventual 2019 League One champions in the playoff semifinals.
Still, NTSC’s lineup will certainly look different from the two teams’ previous meeting. Last year’s league MVP, Arturo Rodriguez, has moved to Real Monarchs on loan; Similarly, 2019 captain Brecc Evans was loaned out to Austin Bold FC.
Although North Texas may well look to its MLS parent club, FC Dallas, for reinforcements, Shore said he can’t afford to play a guessing game.
“They don’t miss a beat,” Shore said. ‘I know they’ve lost a lot of players from last year, but they reload. We know they’re going to be good. We know they’re going to get after us.”
Following Saturday’s season opener, Forward Madison will return to Wisconsin for its home opener on July 31 against Greenville Triumph SC at Hart Park in Wauwatosa.
Forward Madison FC's 2020 season is here! Secure your spot for eight home games at Hart Park by calling by calling 608-204-0855 or visit https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/tickets.
Forward Madison FC’s 2020 season is here! Secure your spot for eight home games at Hart Park by calling by calling 608-204-0855 or visit https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/tickets.
