Chester — It has been 13 days since Union II last took the pitch in MLS Next Pro, defeating Atlanta United 2 in a 5-1 victory in Chester. The win marked Ryan Richter’s first as head coach of Union II. Now, he and his squad will reset and refocus as they head to Belson Stadium on Wednesday in Jamaica, New York, to take on NYCFC 2 in another Eastern Conference matchup.

Start and Stop Scheduling

For anyone who follows MLS Next Pro, the scheduling is start-and-stop, to say the least. Unlike MLS, where most teams play weekly, the same cannot be said for the second teams. Case in point: Union II had nine days off between their matches against Huntsville FC and Atlanta United 2. After Wednesday’s match, they’ll have another 10-day break. In May, they face a 14-day gap, and in June, a 12-day break, before the schedule becomes more consistent during the summer and into the fall.

Speaking with Richter on Tuesday ahead of the match, he shared his thoughts on the inconsistent early-season schedule.

“Look, no one wants to play a game every two weeks. You want to get a rhythm. You want to get your normal training rhythm. It’s okay, every once in a while, it’s nice to have a break to shut down, but when it’s like, how it’s been the first couple weeks and stuff. Credit to the players, they’ve continued even without a game on the weekend. Like, the weeks of training have been great. So that’s what we can do when we have the break. You know, just keep trying to get better.”

So what have Richter and his staff been focusing on with all this time between games?

“Doing a better job of recognizing moments where it’s on the press, getting our shape, getting organized, and then leading it, leading a new pressure. And that’s what we’ve kind of worked on in the last couple weeks is the structure of the organization, just trying to be more clear about every ball is not a ball that we can press, invite the right ones and then go from an organized position, and that’s when we can be really successful and really good at in winning the ball.”

Union II have scored just eight goals in their first four matches — with only three goals in the first three games before exploding for five against Atlanta — but one area that has remained consistent is the defense. The club has allowed two or fewer goals in all four matches so far, a mark currently tied for third best in MLS Next Pro.

Speaking to Richter about this, he credited the quality of players like Andrew Rick, Neil Pierre, Rafael Uzcátegui and others, while noting that defensive success starts at the top.

“The defensive record starts with the front line. And if they lead the pressure, they don’t allow time and space in the ball. It makes it much easier for our defenders to read the play, to be able to step, to read when they should drop. If they’re inconsistent in that then it puts pressure on any defender, you know, but start with the quality of the defenders, their focus and their ability. But then go give credit to the full team of how they can make the game easier for our defenders.”

A Showdown with NYCFC 2

Matt Pilkington’s NYCFC 2 squad is coming off a 2-2 draw against FC Cincinnati 2. Through six matches this season, they are 2-2-2, having scored 10 goals and conceded 13. Regardless of their record, Richter knows his squad will be tested on Wednesday.

“They have quality attacking players, kind of similar to the Huntsville game, where they have attack quality in their attack, and good midfielders on the ball. And if we can challenge our back line with really decisive movements, counter movements, the strikers working off each other, we should be able to find times we’re driving at the back line or finding the space behind them, and that’s been the clips that we’ve showed. To not take this game lightly, we have to be really organized defensively. But there are things where we feel like we can be successful.”

Speaking with Union homegrown forward Eddy Davis at training, he echoed his coach’s sentiments about the NYCFC 2 matchup.

“I feel like it’s just been consistency. We haven’t had the results, and we got our first result last game. So it’s just carrying the same things that we did from last game into this current game. When I don’t think we’re as focused on NYC as we are, more on ourselves, we just need to do what our game plan is, and we’ll get the result.”

Davis, who was Union II’s leading scorer last season, signed a homegrown contract in the offseason. Though he was added as an off-roster Homegrown designation and missed a match due to a minor injury earlier this season, Davis looked sharp in the second half against Atlanta United, helping the team earn its first win.

“I want to do, is help the team and bring impact every time I get on the field. So it’s great to be back. And there’s obviously more to come from me. It’s just the beginning of the season. We played four games. I’m unfortunate with the early injury, but trying to carry through to the rest of the season.”

While he has not yet received a call-up to the first team this year, Davis remains focused and motivated.

“The club signing me as a homegrown, they see value in me and they see potential in me, so all I have to do is put my head down and keep working like I’m not really worried about what happens right now. I want to be the best 24 year old, so I know my time will come, and I just need to keep grinding, keep grinding every day, because I know my opportunity will come.”

He also shared Richter’s expectations for him this season.

“I’m on the field to create impact, if that’s defensively or offensively, that’s what he wants. That’s what he expects from me every time I get on the field. So that’s what I need to do every single time.”

Speaking of impact players, NYCFC 2 has one of their own that Union II will need to keep in check Wednesday night: midfielder Máximo Carrizo.

Carrizo signed an MLS homegrown contract on his 14th birthday in February 2022. The academy product became the youngest first-team signing in MLS history at the time, a record since broken by Union homegrown Cavan Sullivan.

Though Carrizo has just one goal in NYCFC 2’s first six matches — after tallying two goals and six assists last season — Richter is well aware of his ability.

“You know, he’s quality. He’s good on the half turn. He’s good at driving line. He makes goals and assists. So that’s what good attacking players do, is they produce for their team. But you see that when he’s out there, like he’s moving different. So it’s, it’s one that we definitely have to keep an eye on. The guys know him because they played against him over the over the years, but definitely a really good player, one that’s exciting for us to watch in this league and see how far he can go and when he can hopefully break through into the first team for
them.”

All time, Union II have six wins and three losses against NYCFC 2. The last meeting between the two clubs came on Oct. 20, when Union II won 1-0 in the MLS Next Pro Cup Playoffs. However, the last time they played in New York — in July 2024 — Union II lost 2-1 on a last-minute goal.

But this is a new year, and Richter and his team will look to build off their most recent performance heading into Wednesday night. As for Davis and what he’s focused on?

“Getting my first goal of the season, I need to get that so then they’ll just start coming and coming after that, but just super excited to get out there on the field with the boys and compete.”

The match is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22nd at 7:30pm and will be available on Apple TV as part of the MLS Season Pass.

Main Article Photo Courtesy of Philadelphia Union II