Matchday 16 Info:
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Charleston Battery
Saturday, June 18, 7:30 pm ET
Tickets: Fans can purchase tickets for the match here.
Pride Hat & Ticket Combo: Fans also secure an exclusive Rowdies Pride hat and ticket to the match for only $29 here.
Pride Auction: Bid to win a player-worn Rowdies Pride warmup jersey. The auction go live online starting at 4 pm ET and concludes at the 60th minute mark of Saturday’s match. Proceeds from the auction benefit the Rowdies Soccer Fund, with a focus on Local LGBT+ Organizations and Charities. This year’s donation will benefit The Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber Scholarship Foundation’s Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to LGBTQ and allied students who exhibit leadership potential, demonstrate strong academic abilities, and are actively involved in school and community organizations.
Pre-game show: Catch the pre-game show hosted by The Unused Substitutes for giveaways, special guests, and the best Rowdies analysis around. The show air live on matchday on Twitch.tv/RowdiesGG at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Watch: Stream the match here on ESPN+.
Follow Along: Live updates on Twitter at @RowdiesGameday
As the only unbeaten team in the Eastern Conference over the last five matches, the Tampa Bay Rowdies are trending in the right direction in the USL Championship standings. Heading into the weekend, only three points now separate them from first-place Memphis 901 FC.
With 19 more matches left to play, though, the work is far from over as the Rowdies look to solidify their spot at the top of the conference and as a contender for the league title once again.
“We’ve shown a little bit better side of our game, but you know what? We’re gonna have to do it the rest of the season as well,” said Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins. “We need to keep improving because I still don’t think we’re fully capitalizing on just how well we’re playing. We should have beat Tulsa based on the chances we created and the other night in Miami we should have been out of sight. That’s the great challenge.”
This Saturday’s matchup versus the Charleston Battery at Al Lang Stadium offers the Rowdies a good chance to prove they are ready to take the next step. As good as recent results against Phoenix and Pittsburgh are, the Rowdies have yet to take advantage of opponents struggling to find their form. In seven matchups with teams currently in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference standings, the Rowdies have posted a record of 3 wins, 1 loss, and 3 draws.
Charleston will do doubt refuse to roll over and give in to Tampa Bay, though. The Battery are coming off their second win of the season, an impressive 3-0 result over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. After such a positive result, first-year head coach Conor Casey’s squad will come to Al Lang with a new level of confidence, ready to take points off of the Rowdies.
“It’s a stark reminder of how important every game is,” said Collins. “Every team’s had some fantastic wins and every team’s had their disappointments. Not that we needed a reminder. We always treat everyone with respect. Conor’s implementing his way and it sometimes takes time. People are always quick to jump on the results without looking below the surface. We know what they’re capable of. They’re a team that attacks really well. They’ve got really experienced defenders.”
LaCava Thriving in Rowdies Culture
After two seasons playing for New York Red Bulls II, striker Jake LaCava is enjoying his new surroundings as a member of the Rowdies. LaCava currently leads the team with six goals and has also assisted on two tallies.
“Being in the environment that the staff has created and that the players maintain every day, I think it’s kind of hard not to develop as a player,” said LaCava. “The standard at training is really good and the more chances we get to have out on the field together, the higher the standard gets. I have guys who push me in training and I’ve got an unbelievable staff at my disposal as well to help me and go over video and help me on the field, so I feel I’ve definitely improved over the last couple months.”
The Rowdies secured Lacava on a season-long loan from New York after the organization’s MLS club signed the 21-year-old attacker to a contract.
“We pushed hard all off-season to get Jake and he’s even exceeded our expectations,” noted Collins. “We were already excited because we knew he was a good player, but I think the biggest thing for us is people buying into being part of the team. It’s easy for someone to come on an MLS loan and make it about them, but Jake’s made it all about the team. He knows that if he does well for the team he’ll get what he needs from this experience, and the boys have seen that. He’s been a really good addition to a really good squad.”
Scarlett Joins Up with Reggae Boyz
This week, defender Jordan Scarlett received his first national team call-up for Jamaica ahead of the country’s CONCACAF Nations League match with Mexico. He joined former Rowdies Junior Flemmings and Damion Lowe on the Jamaican squad. Scarlett was an unused substitute as Jamaica recorded a 1-1 draw in Kingston to secure their spot in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Rowdies center back has since returned to Tampa Bay and will be available for selection on Saturday night.
Collins Continues UEFA Pro License Course
Head Coach Neill Collins will miss his second match of the season as he continues the final stages of his UEFA Pro License course in Europe. Collins departed Tampa Bay on Thursday after overseeing preparations for Saturday’s match. Assistant Coach Jon Stead will take on the primary coaching role from Tampa Bay’s sideline on Saturday versus Charleston, with Assistant Coaches Stuart Dobson and Eric Wilde supporting him. Collins will return next week to travel with the team for its match against Pittsburgh on June 25.
Injury Report:
OUT: Robert Castellanos, Steevan Dos Santos, Dayonn Harris
