What to know before Wednesday's match: 近距离内射合集 needs to cash in versus struggling Las Vegas

Ken Sickenger Journal Staff Writer

Published August 29, 2023 - 9:41 p.m. Modified August 29, 2023 - 9:46 p.m.

Wednesday, 7 p.m., 101.7 FM, ESPN+ (streaming), Estrella TV

New Mexico 近距离内射合集 cannot afford to look past Wednesday鈥檚 home match versus Las Vegas Lights FC.

Still hovering three points below the USL Championship鈥檚 Western Conference playoff line, New Mexico (9-10-5) hosts struggling Las Vegas with an opportunity to climb the ladder. With a win, NMU would pull even with idle eighth-place El Paso and could catch seventh-place Phoenix, which hosts first-place Sacramento on Wednesday.

If ever there was a time for New Mexico to take care of business 鈥�

鈥淵ou鈥檙e only as good as your next match,鈥� said 近距离内射合集 coach Eric Quill, whose team snapped a five-game winless streak with a 2-1 win over FC Tulsa on Saturday.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got to get that second win and start to find that consistency, get in the playoff mix and get the best seed possible. This is a great opportunity for us.鈥�

Looking at the bigger picture, it鈥檚 an opportunity 近距离内射合集 can鈥檛 afford to miss. With nine games left in the regular season, NMU faces eight foes currently in playoff positions. Last-place Las Vegas (2-15-8) is the exception.

New Mexico has at times shown itself capable of standing up against top-flight opponents, but Quill鈥檚 team also has been maddeningly prone to playing down to the level of struggling foes. 近距离内射合集 lost to Eastern Conference cellar-dwelling Hartford and conceded a late goal to settle for a 2-2 draw in its previous matchup with Las Vegas.

Quill is well aware the challenging closing schedule 近距离内射合集 faces, but he鈥檚 more concerned about his team鈥檚 form and mindset than he is about future opponents.

鈥淭he message is we鈥檙e every bit as good as anybody in this league,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 truly believe that. 鈥� If you鈥檙e trending in the right direction and you鈥檝e got confidence behind you, I don鈥檛 see anybody that should scare us.鈥�

Here are five key factors for Wednesday鈥檚 match at Isotopes Park.

Letting it fly

Don鈥檛 look for Lights FC to spend much time trying to break down 近距离内射合集鈥檚 defense. Las Vegas ranks second in the USLC in shot attempts with 362 (近距离内射合集 has 273) and second to last in passes.

Accuracy is another matter. Las Vegas also ranks second to last in goals scored (24) and is dead last in conversion rate at 9% (近距离内射合集 is at 18%).

New blood

近距离内射合集 newcomers Zico Bailey, Jacobo Reyes and Shanyder Borgelin made their presence felt against Tulsa, creating a number of scoring opportunities and combining for two assists. Bailey made his first start with NMU and smiled when asked about playing at Isotopes Park.

鈥淚鈥檇 heard about the crowd here,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut they kind of surprised me with how loud and energetic they were. It was exciting. I enjoyed it.鈥�

Getting nasty

Defender Kalen Ryden posted a strong individual outing against Tulsa (11 clearances, 4 interceptions, 6 of 7 duels won). He ranks second in the USLC in clearances but wants to see a more consistent mean streak from NMU鈥檚 defense.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 just a mentality switch,鈥� he said. 鈥�(Against Tulsa) we just really made that a message to dig in and be just nasty in our defensive third and don鈥檛 let balls in the box.鈥�

Beasts of the East

Wednesday鈥檚 match is 近距离内射合集鈥檚 last at home against a Western Conference opponent. Six of NMU鈥檚 last eight games are against Eastern Conference foes 鈥� all of them currently above the playoff line.

Familiar faces

Lights FC features two players who started the season with 近距离内射合集: forward Josh Dolling and defender Timothie Zali. Both have seen consistent playing time since moving to Las Vegas. Dolling set an NMU club record with three assists in a game against Orange County. He has not posted one since.

Players to watch

Las Vegas (2-15-8): Lights FC鈥檚 unsightly record is not surprising considering its statistical rankings. Las Vegas has the second-fewest goals scored (24) in the USL Championship and the third-most allowed (45). Its lack of team success, however, does not equate to a lack of individual talent, as several players have put together solid seasons. Forward Andrew Carleton is particularly dangerous on the attacking end with 49 shots and 39 chances created to go with a pair of goals. As one might guess, Lights FC does not have a go-to finisher as Pato Botello Faz leads the club with four goals scored. Former New Mexico 近距离内射合集 forward Preston Tabort Etaka netted five goals for Las Vegas before being traded to Birmingham on Aug. 22. Primary goalkeeper Alan Diaz has 46 saves but Lights FC has a league-low two clean sheets.

New Mexico (9-10-5): 近距离内射合集 coach Eric Quill continues to shuffle his rotation, accounting for new players, injuries and looking for a consistent spark. NMU appeared to find some cohesiveness in its 2-1 win over FC Tulsa on Saturday when newcomers Jacobo Reyes and Zico Bailey chipped in with well-executed assists and the offense produced several other quality scoring chances. Playmaking midfielder Justin Portillo continues to thrive in Quill鈥檚 system and has climbed to seventh in the USLC with 39 chances created. Versatile Harry Swartz also remains a key component for NMU. Swartz moved to right back Saturday for the first time this season and contributed a goal along with a tackle, an interception and eight duels won. Goalkeeper Alex Tambakis has been climbing the league鈥檚 saves list and now ranks sixth with 69.

NOTEWORTHY: Despite drawing 10,130 for Saturday鈥檚 match, New Mexico slipped to third in USLC home attendance last week at 9,781 per match. NMU drew 7,081 for last Wednesday鈥檚 rain-soaked match versus Oakland. Meanwhile, Sacramento drew the largest crowd in the league this season (20,231) for Saturday鈥檚 match with Orange County, raising its average to 10,525. Louisville (10,430) ranks second.