PREVIEW: Rematch Against FC Edmonton is Set for Saturday

Armada FC Communications | April 7, 2017
 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Armada FC travels to Alberta, Canada, to face off against FC Edmonton on Saturday in the second matchup of back-to-back meetings. The 1-0 victory over the Eddies on Sunday was the second time the Armada FC defeated FC Edmonton in a season opener

"Obviously winning the home opener is always a good way to start the season," said head coach Mark Lowry. "We, as a group, understand that we haven't achieved anything yet though. We still have a lot of work to do and a lot more games to play."

The Armada FC got the best of the Eddies in the previous matchup when the clubs battled at Hodges Stadium on Sunday. J.C. Banks’ 77-minute goal proved to be enough to give Jacksonville the victory in its season opener and inaugural game in Hodges Stadium.  The midfielder stole the ball at midfield, dribbled through two FC Edmonton defenders to create enough space in the 18-yard box, and blasted a shot past the Eddies’ goalie into the bottom right corner of the net.

Captain Aaron Pitchkolan made a major impact in Sunday’s match as well.  His most notable play came in the first half when he made a goal-saving tackle at the face of the goal to disrupt one of the only true scoring threats of the half.  His composure in the back helped Armada FC goalkeeper, Caleb Patterson-Sewell, record his first clean sheet of the season.

Vice-captain Kevan George was a dominant force in the midfield for the Armada FC.  He completed 70 passes throughout the match, which was the third-most passes he has completed in a game in his 29 appearances for Jacksonville.

Jacksonville is 3W-0L-5D in its last eight matches, including the preseason.  A win on Saturday would give the Armada FC its first 2-0 start to the regular season in club history. 

"This weekend will be a very tough test against a good team in their own environment," said Lowry. "We have to be mentally ready to stand up to the test."

Below is a breakdown of each team and the match.

WHEN & WHERE

Saturday, April 8 at 9 p.m. ET | Clarke Stadium (Edmonton, Alta., Canada)

THE TEAMS

Jacksonville Armada FC (1W-0D-0L, 3 pts., 2^nd NASL Spring Season 2017)

FC Edmonton (0W-0D-1L, 0 pts., 8^th NASL Spring Season 2017)

SERIES HISTORY

The all-time series history sits at 3-2-2 in favor of the Armada FC, after Sunday’s victory over the Eddies at Hodges Stadium. 

LAST RESULT

Armada FC 1, FC Edmonton 0 - 4/2/17 in Jacksonville, Florida | Recap  

CLUB QUICK LINKS

Armada FC: News | Roster | Schedule

FC Edmonton: News | Roster | Schedule

WATCH

- ESPN 3

READ

- Live Twitter updates on @ArmadaFCgameday - #FCEvJAX

- Live stats on ArmadaFC.com

POTENT NOTABLES

- The Armada FC is looking for its first 2-0 start to a season in club history.

- Jacksonville has never won a game at Clarke Stadium in Alberta, Canada, and has an overall record of 1W-3L-1D when playing in Canada.

BY THE NUMBERS

3 – The number of times the Armada FC has won its home opener (3-0)

9 – Games played since Jacksonville’s last loss (4W-0L-5D dating back to the last game of 2016)

70 – Passes completed by Kevan George in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over the Eddies

INJURY WATCH

All players are in good health.

CLUB CONNECTIONS

Current Eddie and former Armada FC defender Shawn Nicklaw will face Jacksonville for the fourth time since being traded on July 6. Nicklaw started 20 matches and recorded two assists in 2016 for the Eddies. He played in 29 league matches for Armada as a fullback, including 21 starts, and notched 10 shots in 1,937 minutes of action and scored the first goal in Community First Park history in the Armada FC’s 1-0 preseason win over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Feb. 28, 2015.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Armada FC will be back in action on Saturday, April 15, when it returns to Hodges Stadium to face off against the San Francisco Deltas for the first time. Saturday’s match is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.