Match Preview

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Fans at Protective Stadium will be treated to some breakfast ball on Wednesday as Birmingham Legion FC welcomes the Tampa Bay Rowdies for a pivotal USL Championship matchup between two clubs looking to break into the playoff chase. A game of such importance will kickoff at the peculiar time of 11:30 a.m. CT with a special crowd of students across the local area as part of the club’s first ever Education Day, which will include an array of fun and informative activities throughout the stadium.

Wanting to put on a good show for the young fans and grab a must-have victory, the Three Sparks are approaching the morning match a little bit differently.

“I’m kind of looking forward to it,” said Legion FC defender Phanuel Kavita. “Waking up and immediately getting going makes it more exciting because you don’t have to sit all day and just wait for the game (in the evening). We’ve pushed training a little bit later this week to match up with this game so our bodies will be ready to go from the start.”

With just seven matches remaining in the regular season and Legion FC and Tampa Bay an identical five points back of the eighth place in the Eastern Conference table with a game in hand, the stakes have never been higher for both squads, knowing that a defeat would be a crushing blow.

“It’s the position we’ve put ourselves, so the magnitude of this game is huge,” said Birmingham coach Mark Briggs. “We’ve got to be able to perform under those restraints and meet the pressure. We’ve got to overcome it, step up and produce a performance that is worthy of three points.”

Unfortunately, three points have been hard to come by for Legion FC in USL-C play having last played out a victory on July 11 with a 3-2 result at North Carolina FC.

And it is not like the club hasn’t had its chances to accumulate more points in the time since, having held a second half lead in three of its four draws dating back to August, including a crazy 4-4 affair at Orange County SC where Legion FC grabbed the lead on four different occasions. It’s a statistic that is maddening because of the missed opportunities, but also one that provides hope that it is not far away from turning the corner and seeing a result through.

Midfielder Peter-Lee Vassell got a taste of that when he made his club debut in Birmingham’s 1-1 draw at FC Tulsa and now hopes to play a role in pushing the club up the table in this final stretch.

“I’m just coming in with the mindset of trying to add value to the team,” said Vassell who came on as a first-half substitute in Tulsa. “I want to be that missing piece and lock in to support each player and make a run to the playoffs.”

Like Vassell with Legion FC, Tampa Bay has made some recent acquisitions as well with former United States Men’s National Team goalkeeper Bill Hamid from Miami FC and midfielder Alex Mendez from Liga MX side FC Juarez. Both made their Rowdies debut earlier this week when Tampa played to a 3-3 draw at home against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

In addition to those two new faces, the visitors also have a new head coach in tow with Dominic Casciato taking over last July, making for a much different gameplan than when the two sides met in Florida for a 2-2 draw back on May 3, in what was Briggs’ first match in the Legion FC box.

“That’s another game that we should’ve won,” Briggs recalled of the Rowdies’ stoppage time equalizer. “We’ve put ourselves in position but instead of three points, we’ve come out with one and that’s the reason we’re in the position that we’re in. But that’s all in the past and we’ve got to go and do everything we can to win now.”

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After an emotional and physical rollercoaster of a match last weekend in the Phoenix, Arizona heat, Birmingham Legion FC knew that it wouldn’t have much time to rest, even with a week in between matches. With 12 matches left on its USL Championship docket and still a lot to be decided in the standings, the Three Sparks get set to host Hartford Athletic on Saturday with a full grasp on what’s at stake.

“This is a massive game, it’s our season, that’s how big it is,” said Legion FC coach Mark Briggs. “There’s no excuses now, we’ve got to turn up and do our job. This could be a six-point swing.”

While the draw against Phoenix Rising FC last time out saw Legion FC jump up to eighth place in the Eastern Conference table, midweek results from around the USL-C currently has the squad down to 10th place. Pending results on the weekend, Birmingham could find itself as high as sixth place and as low as 12th.

That volatility in the standings is likely to be the case for the foreseeable future with the 10 teams from third to last place separated by 10 points. The East being so crammed together is why there is such a sense of urgency for Legion FC as it takes on a Hartford side that has an identical 19 points, but is ahead on goal differential and has the head-to-head tiebreaker via a 1-0 win in Connecticut back in April.

“We need to start winning,” said Briggs. “I want to win for the club, for Birmingham and for the fans. The players should feel the same, but they also need to have an internal motivation and understand just how important this Hartford game is.”

And that motivation can manifest itself in closing out matches, something that Birmingham was unable to do against Phoenix. Just minutes away from a valuable three points on the road, a 90th minute equalizer from Rising FC spoiled the party. It was the third time in the past four matches that Birmingham had allowed goal in the final 20 minutes.

But on the flipside, the squad showed its mettle in being able to overcome an early 2-0 deficit with three consecutive goals. It now looks to build on that momentum, while eradicating the late goal woes.

“It shows that we are persistent,” explained Sebastian Tregarthen who scored a goal and was heavily involved in the other two against Phoenix. “We were away and the heat was very tough, but we showed that we could fight through it and come back. It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to hold on for the win, but I think we just need to clear our minds and focus on the positives going forward.”

Legion FC’s upcoming opponent certainly has a lot of positives to focus on. Since the beginning of the 2025 campaign, Hartford exclusively spent the first four months of the season at or near the bottom of the table with its early-season win over Birmingham its only USL-C victory through June.

When July came along, the club flipped things on its head with just one defeat in its last six league matches and is currently on a three-match unbeaten following a 1-0 win against Miami FC on Wednesday. Led by reigning USL-C Player of the Week Mamadou Dieng with seven goals, the Athletic are suddenly one of the hottest teams in the league.

“They’ve had a lot of injuries this year, but are just starting to get healthy and you’re now seeing their quality,” Briggs said of Hartford. “They have good experience and know how to get points in big moments, so it’s no surprise that they are doing well in the back half of the season.”

So with a tough task in front of it and well aware of what is at stake, the ball is firmly in Legion FC’s court. The club preps to get back on the Protective Stadium pitch, with just one defeat in its last five league outings, but understands that more wins need to keep coming.

“We just need to start from the beginning,” Tregarthen noted. “We can’t wait to react to other teams scoring goals. We have good players on this team and we know we can succeed.”

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Riding high on the emotions of a thrilling cup victory in front of its home crowd a week ago, Birmingham Legion FC must now carry that momentum while also refocus upon its return to USL Championship play on Saturday at Phoenix Rising FC.

“They have quality that can hurt you if you’re not prepared,” Legion FC coach Mark Briggs said of the upcoming opponent. “But we have quite a few talents as well. So it’s about understanding what they have but also knowing that we have some pieces that can make a difference.”

Following a 2-1 victory over Forward Madison FC to advance to the knockouts of the 2025 USL Jagermeister Cup, Briggs noted that the first half was the best he has seen Legion FC look since he took over the squad at the beginning of May. However, the head coach also made sure to point out that is still just 45 minutes and that he is still working with the squad to turn in that first truly complete performance.

“If soccer games were 45 minutes, we might be at the top of the league,” Briggs deadpanned. “We played well and look, it’s a cup game, it’s all about winning. I still want to see a more disciplined performance and the mindset be correct.”

In search of that full 90 minute outing, Briggs has been busy on the scouting side of things with numerous roster changes in recent weeks.

Those moves paid off in spades last Saturday with super-sub Sebastian Saucedo providing the go-ahead goal, while Samuel Shashoua assisted the opener as both forwards rewarded their new club in just their second matches in the Magic City. While fairly normal across all of professional sports, it is an interesting process of having new faces pop up throughout the course of the season and are charged with building new chemistry dynamics on the fly.

“It’s really easy when you have good players around you,” Shashoua explained of the fitting-in process. “This is a group that has a lot of talent all over the field. The more that we all get minutes together, the connection is only going to get more and more strong.”

Having joined Birmingham on loan from Minnesota United FC just a couple of weeks ago, Shashoua is no longer the newest man in the squad. That title now goes to defender Maliek Howell who was acquired last week from Las Vegas Lights FC and is still waiting to make his Legion FC debut after being an unused substitute last weekend.

“I’m ready to get rolling,” said Howell. “To be seen and accepted by the staff and players has been remarkable. It’s now in my hands to come in and add my qualities that I’ve displayed in the past and to gain that belief and embrace it as much as possible.”

Howell’s Western Conference pedigree could come into play this weekend as he gets set to face Phoenix for a second time this season, having played the full 90 against the squad on May 28 when he was with Las Vegas.

Now a member of Legion FC, he and the rest of the squad hit the road knowing that they need a result as it teeters on the playoff line in the East with two months left in the season. Three points will see Birmingham, currently sitting in 9th place on 8th, potentially vault up to as high as sixth. Meanwhile, Rising FC returns home also needing something positive after it a 4-1 trouncing to Orange County SC sees it just three points clear of ninth place in the West.

The home side displays an interesting profile as one of the better attacking clubs in the league, thanks in large part to the play of midfielder Hope Avayevu, who not only leads Rising FC in goals (4) and assists (6), but also in interceptions (15) and tackles won (17). But despite ranking third in the league with 27 total goals scored with the highest conversion rate, Phoenix still has a goal differential of -3. Its 30 goals allowed is the worst in USL Championship.

Having won in its only two previous meetings at Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium, Legion FC knows that it will be in for a tough one as it tries to keep the streak alive.

“This week has been about preparing the guys for what Phoenix can do,” Briggs said. “It’s about identifying what they do well, finding areas we can exploit and then putting it all together to go in and execute our gameplan.”

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – On the heels of a trying defeat at home last weekend, Birmingham Legion FC coach Mark Briggs lamented on the lack of intensity his squad showed in front of his home crowd. Part of that disappointment was because it signified the end of a good run of form for the Three Sparks, but another part was because Briggs was well aware that another important home match was on the immediate horizon.

Heading into a home showdown this Saturday against Forward Madison FC for the final match of group play in the 2025 USL Jagermeister Cup, the task is simple for Birmingham — win and move on to the knockout phase.

“We need to realize that this is the first playoff game of the year,” Briggs said. “We’ve got to make sure that we turn up and we don’t freeze in that. We need to embrace the moment and perform at the level that we know we can perform at.”

Should Legion FC pull out a victory in regulation against Madison, it is guaranteed to advance to the quarterfinal match, whether that’s as one of the two second-place wild card teams or as the Group 3 winner, if Indy Eleven fall at FC Tulsa in regulation or on penalties. If Legion FC were to lose or go to penalty kicks on Saturday, then a whole host of advancing scenarios open up that heavily depend on numerous outside results.

With so many possibly outcomes, Briggs notes that it can be easy to get bogged down by it all with an incorrect mindset, which is why training this week has been more insular than past weeks. The intensity has also been ratcheted up a notch following a poor performance in 1-0 loss to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC to mark the third consecutive match that Legion FC was held scoreless at Protective Stadium.

“There was consequences (in training) for how the team performed this week,” noted Briggs. “Hopefully they won’t want those consequences again. The response has been good and the attitude in the sessions this week have been good. So let’s see what happens. It’s no use training good and then turn up on Saturday night and not produce. Once we cross that white line, I don’t want to be screaming and shouting at them, I want to see a group of guys that have been caged up all week and be ready to let go at kickoff.”

When Briggs and Legion FC do cross the white line on Saturday, they will have some familiar faces staring at them on the other side.

Prior to joining Forward Madison FC in 2023, head coach Matt Glaeser twice served on Briggs’ coaching staff, first at Real Monarchs in 2017 and then at Sacramento Republic FC, with the two remaining close friends. On top of that, Legion FC has loaned forward Lucca Dourado and midfielder Temi Ereku to the Wisconsin-side this season. In fact, Dourado has scored a goal in two of Madison’s last three matches, including the decider in a 1-0 win over South Georgia Tormenta FC on Wednesday.

So this weekend’s tilt will see two identical styles matching up, featuring players that know each other’s tendencies, setting the stage for an interesting tactical chess match.

“We sent Lucca and Temi to Madison because they have a good head coach and play similar to how we play,” Briggs explained. “That will be an added motivation tomorrow, because they will want to come in and show me that they deserve to play here. It’s something that we will have to handle as a group because, that’s a very good team we’re facing.”

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Back at home for the first time in two weeks, Birmingham Legion FC gets set to take the Protective Stadium and keep the summer vibes strong. Coming off of a big road victory against North Carolina FC, the Three Sparks have pulled back above the USL Championship playoff line thanks to a three-match unbeaten streak and now have a chance to solidify that positioning even more ahead of Saturday’s tilt with defending champions Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

“We take it game by game,” said Legion FC coach Mark Briggs. “I talk about where we want to be at the end of the season and how we’re going to get there. I’m not stupid, we all look at the table and see that we’ve jumped up, but it’s about getting this group’s mindset right and getting their confidence. If we stay above that line, teams are going to be nervous to play us.”

Looking back on the most recent win, Briggs does not even believe it was the best performance from the squad this month, but he and the rest of the team were more than happy to achieve their first three-point outing on the road to validate this stretch of good form.

A big reason for that has been the play of forward Tyler Pasher who has kicked things into an extra gear under Briggs.

“You’re seeing a Tyler Pasher that is hungry,” Briggs said of the 31-year-old veteran winger. “He wants to show his leadership and show his qualities to pull the group forward. He’s been exceptional.”

Pasher provided the assist on the first of Danny Trejo’s two second half goals last Friday, but his head coach was even more impressed by a cross field sprint in the final minute of stoppage time to end a North Carolina threat and, ostensibly, the match. It’s that type of work rate that earned Pasher the captain’s armband, and although it’s a new role he’s assumed with club, he doesn’t feel the pressure thanks to a veteran-laden roster.

“At the end of the day, all of our older guys are leaders,” Pasher explained. “We all have a job collectively to work together and pull the rest of the squad to buy into what we’re doing here. I’m grateful for it, but in reality, me, Enzo, Phanny and Matt are all united as one captain in helping the team grow.”

Birmingham has an opportunity to put that growth on full display this weekend as it hosts a Switchbacks FC side that is finding out how tough a title defense can be.

In search of a first victory in over a month, defense has been quite the issue for Colorado Springs, having allowed 22 goals on 59 shots. It currently sits in last place in the Western Conference and that frustration has manifested itself in four red cards, which is tied for second most in the USL-C. On top of that, the squad will be reminded of its golden 2024 run with Legion FC forward Ronaldo Damus lining up on the other side.

Currently Birmingham’s leading scorer with 10 goals across all competitions, the Haitian striker made his mark in Colorado Springs last season with a team-leading 14 goals.

“He’s got a chip on his shoulder,” Briggs said of Damus, who found the back of the net in his last two outings. “Anytime you play against a former team there’s a little bit more incentive and spice, so I’m sure he’ll be ready for gametime. He’s got aspirations and something to prove.”

But despite the opposite run of form for the two teams coming into the match, Briggs is still quick to point out that Colorado Springs is still a proven champion that can cause problems if his squad isn’t up for it on Saturday. After all, a quick snapshot of the league shows that 18 of the 24 teams across both conferences are within 10 points of each other, so nothing is given.

“This league is to the point now where there is no longer games where you can just show up and win,” he said. “Those days are gone because every team can beat you. You can’t take anyone for granted.”

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CARY, NC – Following a condensed stretch of three matches within a week, it has felt like an eternity since Birmingham Legion FC last took the field, despite a Friday match at North Carolina FC technically still be a short turnaround. Still, a near full week of training has been welcomed by a Three Sparks squad that needs to start racking up points to meet its postseason aspirations.

“It’s been so important,” Legion FC Mark Briggs said of his team finally getting a bit of a break between matches. “We’ve been able to get in rest and two full days of training, allowing for the players to better understand what they are preparing for. I’m really looking forward though to the next few weeks where we really begin to have a proper build up.”

Following a rare Friday trip to North Carolina, the Three Sparks’ schedule cadence becomes routine with nothing but Saturday matches for the next month. Briggs and company will especially enjoy that change of pace if they head into it with the momentum of a much-needed three points.

The last three outings have seen Birmingham play its opponent to draws in regulation, the most recent of which was a 1-1 draw at Rhode Island FC. It was a much that, once again, Briggs felt his side should have come away with the full three points after it outshot its RIFC and had the higher expected goals metric. In fact, over the last five matches, Legion FC has created more scoring chances while outshooting the opposition 53-43, but have posted just one victory in that span.

“We’re getting into dangerous spots, but we’re just not getting that final detail,” explained Briggs. “We have to focus on retaining the ball in those dangerous spots to cash in on those opportunities that we create. We’ve got to get better with the finishing element, there’s no running away from that.”

At Rhode Island, it was Ronaldo Damus who provided the lone finish, as he headed in his club-best seventh USL Championship goal of 2025 off of a perfect cross from Stephen Turnbull. It was the defender’s second assist of the season and a welcome sign for a player that, now healthy after missing time due to sickness, can provide quality on both ends of the pitch.

“It’s taken a little bit of time,” Turnbull said of getting back to playing shape. “Lost a lot of weight, lost a lot of fitness, had to get it back and now with games coming consistently, it’s a good opportunity for me to continue to build.”

Turnbull will likely be called on again on Friday against a North Carolina FC side that has shown the ability to attack the backline from all angles, no matter who is on the pitch.

The club currently sits in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and has reached that lofty spot thanks in large part to an 18% conversion rate, which ranks in the top third of the league despite no player having more than three goals. Midfielder Mikey Maldonado has shown to have no problem in sharing the wealth with a team-high six assists.

“They are a good team and have been since they’ve joined the Championship,” said Turnbull of NCFC. “It’s going to be tough, but honestly every game in this league is tough.”

North Carolina has experienced that firsthand, having dropped three of its last four matches. However, it’s one win was a giant one — a 2-1 result to saddle Louisville City FC with its first USL-C defeat of 2025. That June 20 victory was the last time NCFC played on its home turf at First Horizon Stadium, so Legion FC knows that it will have its hand full on Friday.

“They’re where they are in the table for a reason,” said Briggs. “They may see 10th place Birmingham coming in and know that means they’ve got to get a home win. I’m sure they’re going to be aggressive and get after us to put us on the back foot. We’ve got to be able to handle that.”

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PAWTUCKET, RI – Just three days after snapping a five-match skid against the Charleston Battery with a draw at Protective Stadium, Birmingham Legion FC have an opportunity to do something similar as it hits the road for a Saturday showdown at Rhode Island FC. Having dropped its first three meetings against the 2024 newcomers, the Three Sparks will look to buck that trend where three points could vault it back into positive postseason positioning in the USL Championship.

“We’re going to go in and try to get a result,” said Birmingham coach Mark Briggs. “It’s going to be a difficult task but we just have to go in and focus on the areas that we can improve on. They are a good and well-coached team who we haven’t had much success with since they came in.”

This weekend’s matchup at the brand new Centerville Bank Stadium will be the second time Birmingham and Rhode Island square, with the latter earning a 1-0 in Alabama on a Maxi Rodriguez 14th minute goal. That result currently stands as the difference between the two sides in the Eastern Conference table with Rhode Island holding onto the eighth and final playoff spot on 15 points, while Legion FC is two spots back in 10th with 14 points.

Since Rhode Island entered the league ahead of the 2024 season, Birmingham has been in search of that first victory against a side that is coached by former Legion FC assistant Khano Smith and rosters a handful of players that have spent time in the Magic City in the past. It’s that unique history that has led to this becoming a rivalry of sorts despite being separated by over a thousand miles.

“I played with Zach (Heriveaux) when he was here, I’ve also played with (Albert) Dikwa and I room with Jojea (Kwizera) on the (Rwanda) national team,” explained Legion FC defender Phanuel Kavita. “I know a lot of these guys and I’m looking forward to this game because they’ve beaten us every single time and it eats me up.”

On top of the familiarity aspect of things, both sides enter the match looking to ignite something on offense.

Last time out, RIFC dropped four goals in a USL Jagermeister Cup victory over USL League One side Portland Hearts of Pine on June 27. However in its last five USL-C matches, Rhode Island has scored just three total goals while getting shutout as many times in that stretch.

The same goes for Legion FC in its previous five USL-C outings, including its most recent time out against Charleston on Wednesday where it had issues completing passes in the final third.

“I think it’s focus,” said Briggs. “It’s the mindset of staying in the moment, and if you stay present, you don’t make those mistakes. (Against Charleston) we would do the hard work to win the ball, and then we’d relax and that’s where the mistakes came.”

While those mistakes have hampered Legion FC thus far in 2025, the squad is also keenly aware that there is some congestion in the standings with 10th place and fourth place currently separated by just nine points. A run of good form, which means a run of goals, could flip the perspective on what can be attained this season and that starts with a strong showing against Rhode Island.

“I believe in this group and even when I talk to other teams, they believe in this group,” Kavita said. “We just have to keep doing the right things. Mark is doing the right things in making sure we stay disciplined. The results will come.”

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The grind continues for Birmingham Legion FC as it reaches the midway point of the USL Championship still in search of a magical run of results in the Magic City. Set to play its seventh match over the last 30 days, the Three Sparks are presented with an opportunity on Wednesday to find a spark as it welcomes an in-form Charleston Battery side to Protective Stadium.

“Any time you face Charleston, it’s looked at as a chance to make a statement, because they are one of the top teams,” said Legion FC coach Mark Briggs. “We’ve got to focus on one game at a time and make sure that progress is being made.”

Despite coming up short in penalty kicks at Indy Eleven in the USL Jagermeister Cup just a few days ago, Briggs noted afterwards that he saw that progress from the squad.

While it may have taken a stoppage time free kick effort from Preston Tabort Etaka to force penalties, Legion FC were clearly the ones making its mark on the pitch throughout the course of the match by holding the overwhelming majority of possession while outshooting its opponents 22-9.

“We performed at a level that we want to perform at, but we still didn’t win,” explained Briggs. “We’ve got to take that quality that we showed, that confidence and freedom that we showed and do it out here at our stadium.”

The most recent meeting with Indy was the second time in June that Birmingham created more chances and had the higher expected goals metric, but was unable to secure victory. Finding a positive end product is something that continues to be a work in progress for a squad that is in the bottom half of the USL-C with a 14% conversion rate, but the feeling is that goals are near as the confidence in the system continues to grow.

“If I knew the answer, I’d be a millionaire,” laughed midfielder Enzo Martinez when asked what is missing in the final portion of his club’s attack. “A lot of the game has to do with rhythm and when you’re struggling to score, they seem hard to come by. But once you start converting those chances, everything starts coming easier, so we’re just continuing to work towards opening up the floodgates.”

Birmingham will likely need a multi-goal performance to claim three points against Wednesday’s opponent. Not only does Charleston approach the Magic City unbeaten in its last five games, but also comes in having won its last five meetings with Legion FC.

The offseason addition of Cal Jennings to its attacking front has paid huge dividends for the Battery with the prolific USL-C striker tied for the lead league with 11 goals this season. That has played a big part in the club currently boasting 32 total goals in 2025 which leads Louisville City FC by four for tops in the league.

“They make a lot of runs with their attackers so it’s about keeping track of them and putting a body on them,” defender AJ Paterson said. “They are one of the best teams in the league, they have great players that are in great form. Our focus is on us and performing our gameplan to do what we need to do to get three points.”

Freshness could play a key role in what ultimately decides the match with both teams coming off of midweek road outings that needed penalties to decide the outcome. For Birmingham, it will be the second time in three weeks that it takes on the two-matches-in-four-days gauntlet.

After dropping the back half the last time it went through, the team believes it is better prepared this time around.

“It’s tricky because you’re prepping for two different systems in four days,” said Martinez. “That plays such a big part and when you have a short turnaround it’s difficult to button up those little details. But we get paid to win games and that’s the most important thing and everything you do comes down to those 90 minutes.”

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – 48 hours following a frantic finish for its third win of the season, Birmingham Legion FC is still coming down from all of the emotions it endured against Sacramento Republic FC. And while the focus of the club now shifts forward to Saturday’s quick turnaround against another California opponent in Oakland Roots SC, Legion FC coach Mark Briggs doesn’t want his players to forget the feeling that the team and home crowd collectively experienced, courtesy of Sebastian Tregarthen’s stoppage time goal.

“To score a last minute goal to win a game, it gets people feeling good,” said Briggs of the memorable night. “You see, hear and feel that spirits are good, which in turn helps with recovery and everything really, so it gets us in a good mindset for the next match.”

Briggs was sure to point out the recovery aspect of things consider this next match will be Birmingham’s third time on the pitch in the span of seven days.

As the USL Championship schedule enters the dog days of summer, things can seem daunting, particularly when constantly playing in the sticky, southern summer heat. Which is why Tregarthen’s goal was not only important in terms of securing a much-needed three points, but also provided a boost in vibes as the squad hopes it can become a catalyst for what it hopes is the beginning of a turnaround after a turbulent past couple of months.

“That goal and win not only gives us momentum going into this weekend,” noted defender Jake Rufe. “It also gives us a belief that what we are doing is working. We still have a lot to improve on, but just the fact that our defense kept a clean sheet and we continued to put pressure on the goal, that’s all we need to win games.”

While the wins may not have been showing up until Wednesday, the changes that Rufe alluded to are showing up on the stat sheet.

Of its three matches in June, Legion FC has controlled possession and had a higher expected goal metric than its opponent in two of them, while outshooting its opponents in that stretch a combined 41-25 (14-10 on target). That success comes despite implementing a formation change in the middle of that.

Going from four to five on the backline has seen one less body in the midfield, forcing an increase in responsibilities for those manning it. Kobe Hernandez-Foster found himself flourishing through that adversity against Sacramento, leading the Three Sparks with 11 final third entries in a match where Briggs touted the midfielder as the best player on the pitch.

“I felt good,” Hernandez-Foster said. “On the ball I created a lot of chances and defensively I won a lot of possessions back in our own half. That’s what I’m here to do and I need to have those type of performances week in and week out to help the team.”

Hernandez-Foster and the rest of the squad now look to build on the most recent result and, hopefully, not wait until the last kick of the match to put things to rest.

There will undoubtedly be scoring chances available on Saturday as it goes up against an Oakland side that is currently at the bottom of the USL-C with 23 goals allowed and a -10 goal differential. Roots SC also finds itself in a state of flux, having opened the month by departing with head coach Gavin Glinton and giving the keys former United States Men’s National Team veteran Benny Feilhaber to pull the club out of the bottom of the table.

That turn hasn’t happened quite yet with Oakland still searching for its first win since May 10. Despite that, Briggs — who is familiar with the side from his time coaching in Sacramento — is aware of the challenges the Roots could present.

“Benny has very good ideas,” said Briggs. “He played at a high level and learned under Peter Vermes with Sporting Kansas City, so he’s got a lot of experience and I’m sure he’ll get his players energized and ready. They have a lot of talent. We have to make sure that we match their energy and grittiness.”

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