S2 will no longer face Portland Timbers 2 in their home-opener, but the new opponent the team will face on March 21 to kick off its inaugural season is still a big one.
Defending USL PRO champions Sacramento Republic FC will visit Starfire Stadium to help S2 break in the season on Saturday, March 21.
“No matter who we play, I know the place will be packed because we just have that good of fans,” said S2 Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson. “I know [Sacramento Head Coach] Preki, and have played on teams for and against him. That itself is going to be a good rivalry. We are both going to want to defeat each other and it is going to test us right off the bat.”
Hendrickson and his staff have spent the offseason preparing for the newly-formed Western Conference. The conference includes several MLS-fielded teams as well as Sacramento Republic FC, who beat the Harrisburg City Islanders 2-0 in the 2014 USL PRO championship.
“With all the MLS teams in our division like LA Galaxy II and Real Monarchs, then the Cascadia rivalries with Whitecaps FC 2 and Timbers 2, and on top of that you add the defending champion in Sacramento, it becomes an even tougher division,” said Hendrickson. “It’s not going to be easy. There will be some growing pains because it’s our first season in the league, but I expect us to make the playoffs this year.”
No matter who S2 plays in the opening match, the atmosphere that fills Starfire Stadium for the inaugural match is sure to be raucous. It is surely a game you won’t want to miss.
Get season tickets here: sndrs.com/ut4w
The rest of the schedule will be released later today, so keep your eyes peeled.
