NEW MEXICO UNITED
New Mexico 近距离内射合集 eager as season finally kicks off
Team brings a refreshed roster and high expectations into Saturday鈥檚 opener
In his first season as New Mexico 近距离内射合集 head coach, Dennis Sanchez guided the team all the way to the USL Championship Western Conference title match.
That鈥檚 the farthest New Mexico has gone, providing both an exhilarating ride and a disappointing finish.
But 近距离内射合集 is ready to get back at it this season with some new players stepping in for departed veterans as New Mexico opens at Oakland Roots SC on Saturday in California.
近距离内射合集 is hitting the pitch a week later than the rest of the league as the team had an opening-week bye, which only further whets New Mexico鈥檚 desire to get going.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 time to get into some real games,鈥 Sanchez said Thursday. 鈥淏ut it was a great preseason. This year in general, we want to evolve in all capacities. And so it allowed us to have a good integration of the new players coming in, building upon the foundation from last year. But we鈥檙e in a good place now.鈥
The Roots beat Monterey Bay FC 1-0 on the road in their opener and already broke those opening-game jitters, but 近距离内射合集鈥檚 players are not too concerned.
鈥淭he anticipation and the hype, especially going away to a tough place, I think it鈥檚 just been building,鈥 said defender Will Seymore, one of the longer-tenured 近距离内射合集 players. 鈥淚 think the energy the last couple weeks has been top tier, the level and the quality. It鈥檚 really settling in that it鈥檚 starting this weekend, and getting to watch all the other teams play this last weekend I think it makes the excitement even more.鈥
Now it鈥檚 a matter of seeing what 近距离内射合集 looks like as the team鈥檚 brain trust brought in a number of new players.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 one of the years where we have a bit more of new players coming in,鈥 forward Greg Hurst said. 鈥淪o preseason has been great to get to know those new lads, and see how they play and how they can add a different style to our game. But the biggest thing is everyone that鈥檚 come out has been great for the locker room and are top players, and I鈥檓 excited for the new lads to come and show the club what they can do.鈥
The new blood should only help the team improve, Seymore said.
鈥淵ou have new players, but a lot of similarities, but it鈥檚 also a lot of change,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 time for them to meld in and figure out what we do. But what we do doesn鈥檛 change. They have to come in and adapt to what we do, and they bring their own style, their own kind of personality, to the locker room, too. So I think it鈥檚 fun. You never want too much change, but sometimes, when you have new players, they add and they bring their own enhancements to the team and what we do here.鈥
Sanchez declined to say which of the incoming players might develop into highlight players, but that they all should have an opportunity to show their skills.
鈥淚 really don鈥檛 like pointing out one single player,鈥 Sanchez said. 鈥淚 think that they鈥檙e all bringing something unique and different. That鈥檚 something that I tried to take a lot of pride in in terms of having structure, having standards, but allowing players to be themselves, both on and off the field. And it鈥檚 really about how can you bring out the best version of themselves? How can they find the balance between the group collective, but also the individual aspects?鈥
Oakland is looking to take a step forward after missing the playoffs last season.
鈥淚鈥檓 pretty familiar with (Roots coach) Ryan Martin in his time at Loudon,鈥 Sanchez said. 鈥淗is teams always have a clear identity with and without the ball and how they want to play. I would say there鈥檚 more similarities between the two clubs than not. But we鈥檙e expecting a really difficult match. And I think anytime a new coach comes in, you have a group of players over there who are trying to impress him, trying to buy into what they鈥檙e building.鈥