The upstart Myrtle Beach FC Mutiny will be thrown to the fire in their inaugural road game Saturday when they face the defending NPSL champion Jacksonville United.
After earning a hard-fought, 1-0 victory in their home opener last weekend at their new home Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium, the Mutiny hope to take the same attitude and approach with them on the road.
“They’re a good team with great coaches,” Mutiny coach Patrick “Thunder” Olelere said of the Jacksonville United. “It will be an exciting test.
The Mutiny showed they are a team to reckon with in their debut, with a staunch defense led by NPSL Goalkeeper of the Week Brock Duckworth leading the shutout.
But Jacksonville also opened its title defense campaign with an equally impressive albeit higher scoring 4-2 road victory over the Mississippi Storm.
The United will be playing their first home game since capturing the NPSL crown last season, so a large crowd is expected to both great the home team and intimidate the visitors. Not so, says Olelere.
“We’re going there to win, not to be in awe of the champs. That’s nonsense. These guys have not come this far to look up to anyone. We’ve shown we can compete at a high level throughout the preseason and we’re going to Florida with one purpose.”
Win, lose or draw, the Mutiny will return home for a May 19 match with the Knoxville Force. Tickets are available at mysoccerusa.com
- Photo by Hernandez Photography
