THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – After battling back from a 2-0 deficit to tie their last game with only 9 men on the field the Thunder Bay Chill (3-3-2) will have to face their next opponent without the services of defender Neville Morgan and midfielder Ruben Garcia. Both are suspended for being ejected in last Saturday night’s game against the Des Moines Menace.
The Green Bay Voyageurs (2-2-2) in their first season of play in USL League 2 will make their first appearance in Thunder Bay to face the Chill on Saturday night. Game time is 7:30 PM at Tbaytel Place at Fort William Stadium.
“What we know about Green Bay is that they have played Kaw Valley four times so far this season and are 1-1-2. That tells me that they are a strong side and we expect nothing less than a difficult match here on Saturday night” said Chill head coach Giovanni Petraglia. Kaw Valley FC beat the Chill on May 25th by a 3-1 score.
The Voyageurs opened the season with a 2-0 loss to Des Moines Menace and rebounded with a 3-0 victory over WSA Winnipeg in the only two other games against Heartland division opponents this season.
The Chill will celebrate Canada Day by hosting an old rival in the St. Louis Lions (2-5-1). The Lions beat the Chill back on May 26th by a 1-0 result but have lost twice to the Menace and three times to Kaw Valley FC and sit in fifth in the Heartland Division.
The Chill will need nothing less than two victories from this long weekend’s doubleheader in order to have any hope of qualifying for the postseason. The Chill is currently 11 points back of Kaw Valley FC and the second playoff spot available in the Heartland Division. The Menace look poised to win their second straight Heartland division title as they sit top of the table with 26 points.
“I feel that the grit and passion displayed by this team in our last game against Des Moines will provide them with the confidence to win these next 3 games at home and give us a chance at the playoffs”, said head coach Petraglia.
About USL League Two
The developmental leader in North American soccer’s evolving tiered structure, USL League Two features 72 teams within four conferences throughout the United States and Canada. USL League Two has proven to be an important stepping-stone for top professionals, with nearly 70 percent of MLS draftees since 2010 having League Two experience.
