Bounce back

Roughnecks finally playing the game we want to see

Count Tulsa Roughnecks FC in with everyone else who had a miserable 2016. At 5–21–4, they had the worst record in the United Soccer League. The Roughnecks made sweeping changes during the off-season that have, for the most part, resulted in a much more entertaining and successful product on the pitch.

Under new head coach David Vaudreuil, the Roughnecks have a load of new players, bringing back just two holdovers from last year. After a big 3–0 victory at home over Phoenix Rising FC (featuring international stars Didier Drogba and Omar Bravo) on July 22 at ONEOK Field, Tulsa was riding a 3–0–1 unbeaten streak and sat sixth in the Western Conference with an 8–8–1 record.

The club still endures its share of ups and downs. They had an opening night victory overturned due an ineligible player on the field. Then, they advanced to the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup tournament but lost 2–1 to Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas on a late stoppage time goal. After losing three straight matches in June, though, they defeated the USL’s best team, the 15–2–2 Real Monarchs SLC, 2–0 at ONEOK Field on July 1.

Overall, despite the occasional inconsistency, it’s been a much better showing than last year’s disaster, in which Tulsa scored a league-low 25 goals in 30 games, while surrendering a USL-high 64 against.

Under Vaudreuil this year, we see a more aggressive offensive style that has already resulted in 27 goals over the first 17 games (not including the four goals from their forfeited opening night).

“We should be able to attack the ball with more numbers on defense and keep getting four, five, even six guys into the final third and pressing the other team,” Vaudrieul said. “When you see our backline playing close to the mid-field stripe for most of the game, that’s the way we want the game to be.”

A key component to the squad’s success this season has been a new affiliation with the MLS’ Chicago Fire, who have supplied several important contributors to the roster, including midfielders Joey Calistri and Collin Fernandez. Recently, Tulsa also received midfielder Jacori Hayes on loan from FC Dallas.

They also have two veteran players with MLS experience serving as mentors to the younger guys: defender Kosuke Kimura and two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Donovan Ricketts, who is officially the squad’s third ‘keeper and goalie coach.

Ricketts’ impact has been particularly noticeable on starting goalkeeper Fabián Cerda, who has been outstanding.

“We’ve brought in a more talented roster than probably we’ve ever had,” Roughnecks President/General Manager Mike Melega said. “The Chicago Fire affiliation is big for us. The relationship with the Fire helps us on the pitch and off as well, just from a business relationship standpoint, opportunities to train with them—those things help us recruit. We really appreciate our relationship with them.”

In addition to Calistri, who has amassed five goals and two assists through the first 17 games, Tulsa has been led by midfielder Juan Pablo Caffa and 23-year-old striker Ian Svantesson.

Caffa, a 32-year-old Argentinian who played two years in Spain’s La Liga, has provided strong leadership as team captain, along with five goals (not including one from the forfeited opener) and five assists (tied for sixth in the USL).

Svantesson has been a revelation, notching eight goals on the year so far (10 if you count opening night).

“When we brought him here, we thought he had a lot of potential and he stepped up,” Vaudreuil said. “He’s got to keep working on his game, but I expect him to be dangerous all year long.”

Top 3 Highlights of the First Half

TOP 3 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FIRST HALF

1. March 25 A dominant season-opening 4–1 victory over Colorado Springs at ONEOK Field set the tone, even though it was eventually forfeited due to using a player who was deemed ineligible (the team says the USL okayed the player’s participation beforehand). Still, the strong performance was an indicator that this year would be different.
2. May 31 Defeating San Antonio FC (who is 10–1–7 in USL play) on penalty kicks in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup Tournament at TU’s Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium, which enabled the Roughnecks to reach the fourth round and face an MLS squad for the first time. Even though that ended with a heartbreaking 2–1 loss in Dallas June 14, it was a big step forward.
3. July 1 An impressive 2–0 win over Real Monarchs SLC, the USL’s top team, at ONEOK Field snapping a three-game losing streak. “If we play like this all the time, no one’s going to beat us,” assistant coach Lloyd Kinnear said.

For more from John, read his article on BIG3.