Greenville, SC – Saturday, March 25th the Greenville Triumph will host the Richmond Kickers for its 2023 Home Opener and 5th Birthday celebration.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET, Paladin Stadium in Greenville, SC
Buy Tickets: HERE
Streaming TV: ESPN+
International Stream: YouTube
Social Media: Greenville Triumph SC on Twitter
App: Download the Triumph app for free on Apple or Android
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
After nearly five months of preparation, The Greenville Triumph is set to take the pitch at Furman’s Paladin Stadium this Saturday at 7:00 PM. The team will step foot on the field for the first time since moving from Legacy Early College after four seasons.
Kicking off a half-decade of soccer in the Upstate, Greenville has much to celebrate this season. During the offseason, the club welcomed back 16 players and introduced six new members, along with a venue move, and three personnel changes on the technical staff.
After concluding the 2022 season in a semifinal loss against Tormenta, Greenville’s coaching staff was in search of more defensive depth and dominant attackers. New signings Leo Castro and Lyam MacKinnon have been tasked with aiding the club’s two leading goal scorers in 2022, Jacob Labovitz and Venton Evans, up top. Greenville should benefit from the veteran experience of Castro, and rookie-MacKinnon’s savviness and creativity on the ball. Labovitz and Evans brought in 18 goals together last season alone, their striking abilities mixed with new members, Castro and MacKinnon could make for a deadly combination.
In 2022, injuries tormented Greenville, and providing depth was a key objective during the winter. Brandon Fricke’s absence this weekend has he recovers from an offseason hip procedure may cause trouble in the backline without an experienced substitution, but Greenville will have experience back on the rest of the line with five-year player, Tyler Polak. Nate Shultz and 2022 All-League First-teamer Evan Lee also return to help guide defensive rookies Daniel Wu and Hassan Gabo.
Greenville’s tried and true midfielders, Aaron Walker, Lucas Coutinho, Noah Pilato and Allen Gavilanes will mix with fellow USL League One veterans Tevin Shaw and Devin Boyce this season. Already apparent in preseason friendlies, Shaw has the ability to clean up the midfield and hold position for Greenville. Boyce can transition outside or centrally, giving Greenville the flexibility, they need throughout the season.
Unlike Greenville, Richmond will be entering into their second match of the season after a 0-0 draw with Charlotte. With a match under their belt, Richmond will have game experience to pull from going into this weekend. Both teams last met during the 2022 regular season finale in a 1-1 draw.
NEWS AND NOTES
Team Updates:
Injury Report: Noah Pilato (M): knee- probable, Hassan Gabo (D): head- out, Ben Hale (GK): leg- questionable, Brandon Fricke (D): hip- out, Jamie Smith (D): ankle- doubtful, Allen Gavilanes (M): ankle- questionable
