FRISCO, Texas – North Texas SC visits Earthquakes II on Friday, May 12 at 9PM CT at PayPal Park. Here is everything you need to know before the game.
How to Watch
Friday’s game will kick off at 9PM CT on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. James Hadnot will be on the call for the match.
Match Overview
NTX Record: 4-4-0 (12 points – 5th in West)
SJ record: 3-3-0 (9 points – 8th in West)
NTX vs. SJ all-time: 1-1-0 (2 GF, 4 GA)
STORY LINES
Back on Track
Following back-to-back losses, North Texas SC got back into the win column with a 4-1 victory over St Louis CITY2. After conceding a goal right before the end of the first half, the team responded by scoring 4 unanswered goals in the second half while keeping a clean sheet. This result marks the most goals scored in a game this season with four. The clean sheet in the second half speaks to the great defensive work being done by the club as they also registered a season high in number of tackles won with 16.
Talented Trio
Last match marked the first game this season where the entire attacking unit scored a goal. The team was led by striker José Mulato who scored a brace, netting the goals in the 53rd and 69th minute. Wingers Herbert Endeley and Hope Avayevu followed suit, scoring in the 82nd and 88th minute respectively to put the game out of reach. This prolific attacking trio represents 80% of the goals scored by the club this year, while also representing 10 total goal contributions. The team is led by forward Hope Avayevu with four goals, followed by Endeley and Mulato with two goals apiece. The trio hopes to build on their last performance in this week’s match against Earthquakes II.
Get to Know Earthquakes II
Earthquakes II enter the match on the back of a 1-0 loss to Sporting KC II. Led by head coach Dan DeGeer, the team is currently sitting in eighth position in the Western Conference with nine points through six matches. The club have been a formidable side defensively this season, posting three clean sheets in six games, which is tied for most in the league. The rotating goalkeepers of Earthquakes II, Eric De La Cerda and Emmanuel Ochoa have posted a combined save percentage of 80%, ranking third in the league. Coming into the match the team has lost three total games, with two of those losses coming at home.
