OFFICIAL GAME DAY PROGRAM VS AUGUST 28, 2019 presenting sponsor Forward Madison FC has climbed into the USL League One playoff spots and will now look to stay there as it hosts Greenville Triumph SC this Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Breese Stevens Field. The Flamingos are in third place with six games remaining, but will want to extend a one-point gap with sixth place Greenville that leaves little room to breathe. According to Head Coach Daryl Shore, his team is kicking on at the right time, but can’t afford to fade before the finish line. “At the end of the season is when you want to be playing your best soccer,” Shore said. “We do like the way we’re playing right now. We know that Wednesday night is a huge game for us against Greenville. It’s not a must-win, but a have-to-win.” Wednesday’s game represents Forward Madison’s only midweek match at Breese Stevens Field during the team’s inaugural USL League One season. The Flamingos have only won twice on weekdays this year in six tries, although all of those games were on the road. After picking up a crucial 1-0 win against the Richmond Kickers on Saturday, Shore must now manage late-season fatigue in his starting lineup. “It’s been a long season, we have to count on guys maybe that haven’t played a lot of minutes that might be called upon either to start a game or come on as substitutes,” Shore said. “At this time of the season, there’s no sitting out of the game because you’re sore.” Forward Madison has been led as of late by its stellar defensive play, which has carried the team from near the bottom of USL League One all the way up the table. The Flamingos PREVIEW CONT. AUGUST 28 have allowed just one goal in four games this month, and have gone seven matches in a row without conceding twice. The Greenville Triumph, meanwhile, come into Wednesday’s game with one extra day of rest, having drawn 0-0 last Friday at Toronto FC II. The Triumph have played one less game than FMFC, and would move in front of the Flamingos outright with a win. “We feel like we’ll be able to create chances, but we also know that they’re going to create chances,” Shore said. “It’s just (about) being solid defensively, not giving up a lot of chanc- es and just doing better in front of the goal.” The Triumph are led by forward Jake Keegan, whose nine goals are second in League One this year, as well as Guam international goalkeeper Dallas Jaye, who tops League One in clean sheets with 11. Forward Madison and Greenville have met twice already this year, but the season series has yet to see a goal; the first game, FMFC’s snow-covered home opener, ended 0-0, as did the rematch a week and a half ago in South Carolina. The difference this time, Shore said, could be the raucous home crowd in Madison, which leads League One with 4,263 fans in atten- dance per game. “We’ve got the best fans in League One and you could argue we have the best fans in low- er-league soccer in the United States,” Shore said. “Knowing that we have our fans behind us and knowing that they’re there flocking like they are, it’s really awesome. We’re excited to play at home, we’re excited to play in front of them.” Forward Madison is promoting the game as “Office Night,” which will feature a special ap- pearance by actor Leslie David Baker, who played Stanley on the NBC show “The Office.” Baker will be situated near the (Dunder) Mifflin St. entrance from 6-7 p.m., and fans who wish to meet him are encouraged to arrive early. Following its game against the Triumph, Forward Madison will enjoy a rare weekend off before returning home to host fourth-place South Georgia Tormenta FC on Sept. 7. UP NEXT! SHOP FMFC MERCH GET THE PARTY STARTED! OFFICIAL PRE-GAME PARTY LOCATION AVENUE CLUB 1128 E Washington Ave. Madison, WI 53703 KEEP THE PARTY GOING! OFFICIAL POST-GAME PARTY LOCATION ESSEN HAUS 514 E Wilson St. Madison, WI 53703 KEEP THE PARTY GOING! The Official Health Care Provider for Forward Madison FC And for Athletes of all Levels Click here to learn more: uwsportsmedicine.org (608) 263-8850 CONNECT WITH US: UWHEALTHSPORTS SM-345444-19 FORWARD MADISON FC PLAYER PROFILES FORWARD MADISON FC PLAYER PROFILES # 14 | Brian bement FW | 26 | 6’0” | 180 LB | WATERLOO, IL S # 1 | Ryan COUlter GK | 30 | 6’1” | 195 LB | DUBLIN, IRL S 5 non-penalty 12 substitute AT • Coulter serves as both goalkeeper and goal- goals allowed in • Bement has made the roster for every team in TAT appearances GP/GS MIN CS GA SV SV% YC/RC keeper coach for FMFC. He previously played GP/GSMIN GASH PASS% YC/RC his career (Peurto Rico FC, Jacksonville Arma- KEY S 2019 KEY ST six matches 2019 da, FMFC) through invitation tryouts. 6/6 540 17 25 78.1% 1/0 nearly 10 years in the top two leagues in Ire- 14/2 318 2 1868.0% 5/0 land. # 15 | Shaun Russell DF | 26 | 6’0” | 170 LB | CHESAPEAKE, VA S # 2 | Carter ManleY DF | 22 | 5’11” | 170 LB | ELKRIDGE, MD S 12 key passes 40 clearances AT • Manley joins FMFC on loan from Minnesota 16 intercep- • Russell scored the winning goal in FMFC’s TAT 10 interceptions GP/GS MIN GASH PASS% YC/RC United. He was the 23rd overall pick in the 2018 GP/GSMIN GASH PASS% YC/RC KEY S KEY ST tions 2019 2019 played left back, but moved to center back this 14/14 1234 1 01 77.4% 0/0 MLS Superdraft. 11/9 812 1 0376.9% 0/0 # 17 | Zaire bartley FW | 21 | 5’8” | 150 LB | NEW YORK, NY S # 3 | Eric Leonard DF/MID | 23 | 5’9” | 165 LB | PALATINE, IL S 60.5% tackle 5 substitute AT • Leonard won the Premier League Players’ success rate • TAT appearances GP/GS MIN GASH PASS% YC/RC Player of the Year award during his time with GP/GSMIN GASH PASS% YC/RC game against Indy Eleven. Scored four times in KEY S KEY ST 9 blocks 2019 2019 four games during 2018 NPSL playoffs. 21/19 1719 0014 77.2% 3/0 Nerang SC in Australia. He can play as either a 6/1 136 0 0176.6% 1/0 DM or a CB. # 19 | vital nizigiyimana MF | 22 | 5-7 | 155 LB | CLARKSTON, GA S # 6 | Brandon Eaton MF | 24 | 5’8” | 165 LB | CHESAPEAKE, VA S 124/163 passing Started in exhi- AT • Missed almost all of rookie year with ACL tear. 4 shots on tar- • Only player to make the team from Forward TAT bition match vs GP/GS MIN GASH PASS% YC/RC Came back in 2018 to become a regular player GP/GSMIN GASH PASS% YC/RC Madison’s open tryout. Didn’t have a place to KEY S Hertha Berlin KEY ST get 2019 2019 live after dropping out of Madison College in 8/5 390 0212 76.1% 1/0 for the Richmond Kickers. 0/0 0000N/A 0/0 # 20 | OLIVER WHITE FW | 24 | 5’10” | 161 LB | BOSTON, MA S # 7 | Don smart FW | 31 | 5’7” | 157 LB | KINGSTON, JAMAICA S 8 goals total 71.4% shots on AT • First-ever player signed in Forward Madison FC • Loan player from Memphis 901 FC. White TAT target rate (1 in Open Cup) GP/GS MING ASHPASS% YC/RC GP/GS MIN GASH PASS% YC/RC histry. Previously made over 100 appearances played three games in the USL Championship KEY S 2019 KEY ST 31 key passes 2019 this year, and made an appearance against Or- 21/19 1713 7428 80.0% 5/1 for Indy Eleven in the NASL. Won USL League 9/6 466 1 2771.2% 2/0 One Midseason MVP award. lando City in the U.S. Open Cup. # 21 | LOUIS BENNETT MF | 24 | 5-6 | 154 LB | SHOREWOOD, WI S Acquired 7/1 on # 9 | mason toye FW | 20 | 6’3” | 181 LB | SOUTH ORANGE, NJ S 2 shots on target TAT AT • Loan player from Memphis 901 FC. Bennett is loan from Mem- • On loan to Forward Madison FC from Minneso- 4 key passes GP/GS MING ASHPASS% YC/RC GP/GS MIN GASH PASS% YC/RC the son of Marquette Head Coach Louis Ben- ta United. Toye was the 7th overall pick in the KEY S phis 901 FC. 2019 KEY ST nett, and played for the Golden Eagles during 2019 2018 MLS Superdraft. 7/1 131 011 86.3% 1/0 7/6 545 00772.0-% 1/0 his college career. # 22 | wyatt omsberg DF | 23 | 6’4” | 180 LB | BELGRADE, ME MF | 26 | 5’9” | 160 LB | ESMERALDAS, ECU S # 10 | Danny Tenorio Returned from TS 58.5 passes per AT • Second-ever signing for Forward Madison FC. injury on 6/22 vs • A loan player from Minnesota United, Wyatt was TA 90 minutes GP/GS MIN GASH PASS% YC/RC GP/GSMIN GASH PASS% YC/RC drafted as the 15th overall pick of the 2018 MLS KEY S 2019 KEY ST North Texas 2019 SuperDraft. 5/2 150 11686.1% 0/0 left meniscus tear. 11/11 990 0 0484.8% 0/0 # 23 | carl schneider DF | 26 | 5’10” | 165 LB | MADISON, WI S # 11 | Paulo junior FW | 30 | 5’7” | 158 LB | TERESINA, BRAZIL S 58.8% of shots 14 interceptions AT • Paulo is reunited with Head Coach Daryl Shore, are on target • The only Forward Madison FC player who grew TAT 9 key passes GP/GS MIN GASH PASS% YC/RC who managed him 10 years ago at Fort Lauder- GP/GSMIN GASH PASS% YC/RC up in Madison.