Austin FC II is returning to home turf this Friday night at Parmer Field at St. David's Performance Center, aiming to build on their winning streak in a venue where they have yet to suffer a loss.
“We’re looking to feed off the atmosphere and the energy that the fans provide here,” said ATXFC II captain Joe Hafferty ahead of Friday’s home match against Earthquakes II. “We’re going to work as hard as possible to get three points and protect our home field.”
The Verde & Black are coming off their first loss of the season to Colorado Rapids 2 on Sunday. In a highly competitive match, the two sides had the same number of shots (6), shots inside the box (4), and shots on target (2). ATXFC II won the possession battle (58 percent to 42 percent) and had the advantage on passes in the final third 121-61.
“It was a little frustrating, but the overall takeaway was that when we’re playing a top-of-the-table team, we showed that we can compete,” said Hafferty. “We’re going to use this loss as fuel to continue to keep working and keep improving and we have our sights set on Friday’s match.”
Friday’s contest will be the 10th match of the season for the Verde & Black and the only home game during the month of May. The club looks to improve on its unbeaten record at home but will first endure an intense week of training before putting it all together against Earthquakes II.
“The hardest days we have are in training when it’s just us against ourselves,” Hafferty said on the fierce training sessions of the club. “We’re competitive. Our team is very cohesive and we’re willing to work for each other, so I think this team is special and one loss isn’t going to get in our way”
The team spirit remains strong at St. David’s Performance Center. ATXFC II has established chemistry both on and off the field, recognizing the importance of strong relationships among players. This team values its unique identity, which serves as a cohesive force during challenging times as the team looks to bounce back.
“This group is very connected,” said Hafferty on the chemistry of the team. “Every day in the locker room, on the field, there’s a good atmosphere. It’s a competitive atmosphere but everyone supports each other. Everyone wants to see each other succeed and I think that’s something we feed off to get energy and we take it to the games. This team is resilient and is very talented and I think there’s a lot in store for us going forward.”
