July 29, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – FC Tucson News Release
Donny Toia has goals in three straight matches he’s played, and he’ll be the first to tell that’s not important.
What is important is those goals helped FC Tucson pick up points in draws with Greenville Triumph SC and Northern Colorado Hailstorm. And the priority over the stat sheet is the final scores.
As FC Tucson heads into the final three months of the season, officially past the halfway point with 16 played and 14 remaining, the team still faces on uphill battle to reach the postseason for the second consecutive season. But there is still plenty of hope and optimism among the squad that FC Tucson can put together another summer hot streak.
The best chance to get on a roll comes Saturday when Tucson hosts North Carolina FC at Kino North Stadium at 7 p.m.
FC Tucson (3-9-4) sits 10 points under the cutoff line and five points behind North Carolina with a game in hand. Not only would a win move Tucson closer to getting out of 11th, it would send the team into August – where four of five matches are on the road – with some much needed momentum.
North Carolina is 0-6-1 in its last seven matches, and hasn’t won since a 2-0 victory over rival Charlotte Independence back on June 18. It is also 2-5-1 away from home and hasn’t picked up a road win since beating Tucson 2-1 on May 7.
Garrett McLaughlin leads North Carolina with eight goals in 17 matches, while Oalex Anderson has five goals in 14 appearances. Anderson also has a team-high three assists. England’s Showkat Tahir has been a pivotal piece of North Carolina’s midfield. Will Pulisic, cousin of U.S. men’s national team star Christian Pulisic, has played 14 games in goal on loan from Austin FC. The 24-year-old has two shutouts and given up 26 goals.
North Carolina also features former Tucson forward Shak Adams. Adams, on loan from USL Championship Charleston Battery, scored his first goal of the season in the team’s loss to Richmond last weekend.
Nine of Tucson’s last 15 games are against teams 5-10 in the standings, including a third and final meeting with North Carolina on Aug. 27, and two games against expansion Northern Colorado Hailstorm and Central Valley Fuego FC.
Which leaves Tucson’s playoff fate squarely in its own hands.
Tucson also host first-place Greenville in its next home game on Aug. 20 (BUY TICKETS). FC Tucson will celebrate the city’s 247th birthday on that day, including post-match fireworks and special appearances…