Staying Focused on the Road

05/10/2013 6:57 AM
By: Orlando City Public Relations

Long road trips are something Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath and Defender Erik Ustruck don’t take lightly. They are also, as Heath and Ustruck say, a routine part of the season.

“It is what it is,” said Heath in his interview with Orlandocitysoccer.com. “We have to fly to Los Angeles. then fly to Seattle, but we’re looking forward to it. Playing against a really good Major League Soccer (MLS) club gives our players ambition (to get to that level one day).”

The Lions, who sit atop the USL PRO table with 16 points, look to regain momentum on the road in Washington especially since scoring 11 goals in their last two home games. The last match against Antigua Barracuda FC, which saw Forward Dom Dwyer net his first hat-trick in Orlando City colors, was the club’s highest margin of victory (+5) in franchise history in USL PRO play.

Sunday’s match against the Seattle Sounders Reserves will be the first of two in 2013, providing a barometer in which Heath can measure his league-leading squad against.

“We know it will be a difficult game, but I have a lot of confidence in these group of players,” Heath added.

The Sounders Reserves recently topped the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 in Reserve League play on April 23, but will also be fielding some of their first teamers that participated in Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City.

“Every game, whether we’re playing Stoke City, Bolton, Seattle or Wilmington, they’re all the same,” said Midfielder Erik Ustruck. “They have equal importance to us.”

Due to the offseason MLS/USL PRO partnership, points will be on the line for both clubs in their respective leagues. Ustruck, who saw his first playing time of the regular season in Saturday’s win over Antigua, added that no matter the opponent- the goal is to win.

“Every time we step on the field, we want those three points regardless of the opponent.”
 





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