Monarchs are more than butterflies, folks. For the first time in two weeks, the Twos are coming back to Blaine for their next match, with their second showdown against the Real Monarchs waiting for them this weekend.
The Loons are fresh off their Texan extravaganza, having played three matches in the Jumbo State in an eight-day span. Though they failed to take any points from this extended road trip, there were, as always, positives to take away. The Twos not only managed to get on the scoresheet in every match, they saw three different goalscorers step up and find the back of the net. Rory O’Driscoll, Jordan Adebayo-Smith, and Darius Randell all brought their finishing boots with them, and while they would have liked to grab a few more goals, consistency in scoring is a step in the right direction.
In Wednesday’s match against Austin FC II, the Loons were in the match to the very end. Despite an early deficit in the seventh minute, a wonderful equalizer just two minutes later gave MNUFC2 the confidence they needed to really compete with their hosts. The goal itself came from a fantastic run from Darius Randell, who got on the end of a brilliant through ball courtesy of Britton Fischer. Randell rounded the keeper and calmly slotted the ball into the open net, demonstrating the progress this young team has made this season. The next step is getting the results to reflect that progress.
This Saturday’s match could be the perfect opportunity to do just that. The Real Monarchs have had a similar season to MNUFC2, as they currently sit in 12th place, just two spots above the Loons in the Western Conference standings. Their 25 points from 22 games is just six points better than the Black and Blue, and last time these teams met, a narrow 2-1 scoreline could have seen the points go either way.
The Monarchs are likewise coming off a loss in their last match, a 3-1 defeat at the hands of third-place Ventura County FC. In their last five, RSL’s second team has lost twice, won twice, and drawn once. All things considered, this is a team that the Twos should feel that they are capable of beating, and with their first chance to play at home since mid-August, they’ll certainly be hungry to mark their return with three points.
As the college soccer season gets going and the club prepares for a new academy season to start, the makeup of the MNUFC2 roster is in constant flux at the moment. New faces will continue to get opportunities while familiar faces take on new challenges, all while the core roster adjusts and flexes around the changes. While such movement isn’t the easiest thing to deal with as a team, the opportunity to raise the club’s standards through MLS NEXT Pro is as clear as ever. This is the pathway to the pro game, and it’s certainly being used.
Saturday’s match is set to kickoff at 2:00 p.m. at the National Sports Center Stadium. Come on out to Blaine to see your Twos for the first time since August 18, or tune in to MLSNEXTPro.com if you aren’t able to make it to the match.
