Monterey Bay Football Club Announces 2025 Roster Decisions

SEASIDE, California (Tuesday, November 19, 2024) – Monterey Bay Football Club has announced its end-of-season roster decisions ahead of the 2025 USL Championship campaign. As of now, seven players from the 2024 squad are primed for a return to Seaside.

The following players have guaranteed contracts for the 2025 season: Luther Archimède, Morey Doner, Mobi Fehr, and Carlos Guzmán. In addition, Monterey Bay FC exercised contract options on Pierce Gallaway, Xavi Gnaulati, and Adrian Rebollar.

The following players are entering free agency: Jerry Ayon, Chase Boone, Ryan Dieter, Alex Dixon, Max Glasser, Michael Gonzalez, Kai Greene, Miguel Guerrero, Diego Gutiérrez, Carlos Herrera, Alex Lara, Jesse Maldonado, Walmer Martínez, Anthony Orendain, Grant Robinson, Antony Siaha, Tristan Trager, and Christian Volesky. For select out-of-contract players, conversations to remain with the club are ongoing.

Monterey Bay FC roster as of November 19 is listed alphabetically by position below:
Goalkeepers:
Defenders: Morey Doner, Carlos Guzmán
Midfielders: Mobi Fehr, Pierce Gallaway, Xavi Gnaulati, Adrian Rebollar
Forwards: Luther Archimède

Monterey Bay FC Communications – @MontereyBayFC

Monterey Bay Football Club Visits Monterey Bay Charter School, the Winners of the 2024 Back to School Challenge

SEASIDE, California. (Thursday, October 31, 2024) – Monterey Bay Football Club (Monterey Bay F.C.) paid a special visit to the winners of the 2024 Back to School Challenge, Monterey Bay Charter School on Wednesday, October 30. The school purchased over 200 tickets to the Union’s Back to School Night match against El Paso Locomotive FC on August 24, the most tickets purchased out of the 20 plus schools that participated in the challenge. As a result, the entire team split into two groups to visit both Monterey Bay Charter Schools campuses in Monterey and Pacific Grove.

MBFC players and coaches visited over 400 students aged K-8th grade, both answering questions from students and teachers as well as asking trivia questions of their own for fun prizes such as mini soccer balls and water bottles. Local news station KION also made an appearance to capture the students’ excitement as all of the players took photos with the students and signed their player cards, shirts, shoes, and more. The students then performed their school song for the players to end the visit.

If your school would like to participate in next season’s Back to School Challenge, visit montereybayfc.com/btsn for more information.

Monterey Bay Closes Out 2024 Campaign with 2-1 Defeat in Tulsa

TULSA, Oklahoma (Saturday, October 26, 2024) – Monterey Bay F.C. (8-16-10, 34 points) saw its 2024 campaign come to a close with a 2-1 defeat to Western Conference foe FC Tulsa (8-24-11, 35 points) at ONEOK Field. Diego Gutiérrez scored his first Crisp-and-Kelp goal with a second-half penalty kick, but it was not enough to earn a result on the road.

Monterey Bay created an early chance in the match with Gutiérrez slicing a low ball perfectly across the six from the right side, but it had just a bit too much pace and Ryan Dieter was unable to get his foot on it to tap it in at the far post. FC Tulsa responded with back-to-back attacks of their own while controlling possession in the Union’s half of the pitch. Initially, Monterey Bay fought off the immense pressure with a couple of blocks, including an impressive open-net, goal-line clearance by Alex Lara with his head. But in the 10th minute, FC Tulsa managed to breakthrough with a goal by Alex Souahy to bring the match to 1-0. The hosts then doubled their lead at the half hour mark with a right-footed shot by Andrew Booth to make it 2-0 in favor of FC Tulsa at the halftime break.

Halftime substitute Walmer Martínez saw an opportunity in the first few moments of the second half, but his low shot from the center of the box was blocked. FC Tulsa looked to make it three a minute later, but the shot missed wide to the left. Martínez created an even better look with a move down the left side of the box, but his shot was deflected slightly enough by a defender to go just wide of the right post. In the 58th minute, Gutiérrez flew down the left side of the pitch before crossing it into the box towards Dieter, but the pass was knocked down by the hand of an FC Tulsa defender and the referee pointed to the spot. Gutiérrez stepped up to the spot and buried it to the goalkeeper’s right to pull one back for Monterey Bay. From the 80th to 83rd minutes of the match, the Union made a strong push ahead for the leveler and looked likely, but were unable to convert one of several chances, including an impressive effort by Dieter to score with a midair side-volley, but the shot was saved. Monterey Bay then earned a slew of corners in stoppage time, culminating in one last opportunity for the Union that was taken short to Martínez, but his left-footed grass-burner missed just inches wide of the far post and the hosts scraped by to win 2-1.

Additional Notes

• Named to the eleven, tonight marked the first regular season start of Ryan Dieter’s professional career.
• Missing the match due to injury were Luther Archimède (knee), Chase Boone (knee), Alex Dixon (illness), Xavi Gnaulati (ankle), Jesse Maldonado (knee), Antony Siaha (knee), and Tristan Trager (lower leg).

Information

Date: October 26, 2024
Venue: ONEOK Field; Tulsa, Oklahoma
Weather: Sunny and 76 degrees

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

FC Tulsa 2 0 2
Monterey Bay F.C. 0 1 1
TUL: Alexis Souahy (Harvey St. Clair) 10’
TUL: Andrew Booth (Owen Damm) 31’
MB: Diego Gutiérrez (penalty) 59’

Lineups

FC Tulsa (4-5-1): Johan Penaranda; Harvey St. Clair, Patrick Seagrist (Arthur Rogers, 57’), Alexis Souahy, Bradley Bourgeois; Sebastian Sanchez, Alex Dalou (Diogo Pacheco, 65’) (Matthew Bell, 80’), Owen Damm (Rashid Tetteh, 81’), Andrew Booth, Santiago Sanchez (Aaron Bibout, 81’); Stefan Stojanovic
Subs not used: Joey Roggeveen, Anthony Harper, Aaron Kacinari

Monterey Bay F.C. (4-3-3): Carlos Herrera; Grant Robinson (Walmer Martínez, 45’), Kai Greene, Alex Lara, Morey Doner (Max Glasser, 45’); Jerry Ayon (Miguel Guerrero, 63’), Mobi Fehr, Pierce Gallaway; Ryan Dieter, Michael Gonzalez (Christian Volesky, 67’), Diego Gutiérrez (Adrian Rebollar, 78’)
Subs not used: Carlos Guzmán

Stats Summary: TUL / MB

Shots: 11 / 19
Shots on Goal: 6 / 4
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 3 / 6
Fouls: 5 / 11
Possession: 38% / 62%

Misconduct Summary

MB: Christian Volesky (caution) 82’

Officials

Referee: Muhammed Hassan
Assistant Referee: Seth Barton
Assistant Referee: Eric Del Rosario Gandara
Fourth Official: Emmy Nonso

Monterey Bay Set to Wrap 2024 Campaign in Tulsa

TULSA, Oklahoma (Friday, October 25, 2024) – Monterey Bay F.C. (8-15-10, 34 points) travels to Oklahoma to wrap up the 2024 USL Championship campaign with a 5:00 p.m. PT showdown on Saturday against FC Tulsa (8-14-11, 35 points) at ONEOK Field in Week 34 of the regular season. Live streaming of the match will be available on ESPN+.

Monterey Bay F.C. will look to close out its third season in USL Championship with a win against FC Tulsa at ONEOK Field, a venue that the Union have yet to earn a result in. Though officially eliminated from postseason contention, the Crisp-and-Kelp are focused on ending the season on a high note as it heads into its first full season under new head coach Jordan Stewart in 2025.

The previous meeting between the two sides took place earlier this season on July 13, a nil-nil draw at Cardinale Stadium in Seaside. Through three matches in the series, FC Tulsa owns the slight series edge 1-0-2. Monterey Bay will not only be looking to jump up a spot in the table, but will be looking to earn its first win against the former Eastern Conference side.

FC Tulsa vs. Monterey Bay F.C.

Venue: ONEOK Field; Tulsa, Oklahoma
Date: Saturday, October 26, 2024; 5:00 p.m. PT
Weather: Clear and 66 degrees

Access TULvMB Match Notes

The Adobe PDF version of the 2024 Match Guide in advance of Saturday’s contest between Monterey Bay F.C. and FC Tulsa can be found here. Media members looking to receive the document as an attachment or have further questions are asked to please contact Steven Vargo in MBFC Communications via email at steven@montereybayfc.com.

2024 Records

FC Tulsa (8-14-11, 35 pts, 10th West); Monterey Bay F.C. (8-15-10, 34 pts, 11th West)

Monterey Bay Falls to Colorado Springs at Cardinale Stadium in 2024 Home Finale

SEASIDE, California (Saturday, October 19, 2024) – Monterey Bay F.C. (8-15-10, 34 points) fell 1-0 to Western Conference opponent Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (14-12-7, 49 points) at Cardinale Stadium in the 2024 regular season home finale.

Access the postgame quote sheet here

The visitors began the match on the front foot, applying a lot of pressure on the Union backline early and often throughout the first quarter hour, but goalkeeper Carlos Herrera recorded three early saves to keep Colorado Springs off the board. Monterey Bay’s first look of the night came from just outside of the box on the top right when Morey Doner won a foul in the 16th minute, but the ensuing free kick from Walmer Martínez was saved by the goalkeeper at the near post. Martínez stepped up for another free kick for Monterey Bay in the 43rd minute, this time connecting with Christian Volesky, but his flicked-on header was knocked away for a corner to no avail, and the sides entered scoreless into the break.

Colorado Springs opened the scoring five minutes into the second half with an impressive string of passes inside the box that led to Zach Zandi burying the ball into the back of the net with his left foot to give the visitors the 1-0 lead. 12 minutes later, Zandi attempted to score again with a shot from distance, but his shot ricocheted off the crossbar. Monterey Bay looked to level the match with an attack two minutes later. A solid spell of possession for the Union in the opponents’ half resulted in a half volley from Xavi Gnaulati from the top of the box, but his shot missed just over the bar. In the 78th minute, Doner whipped a ball into the box from the right side towards Michael Gonzalez, but his header at the near post was somehow saved by the goalkeeper with an outstretched hand. Gonzalez saw another attempt at a header come his way in the 83rd minute, but he could not keep it down and direct it on frame and the match ended 1-0 in favor of Switchbacks FC.

Up Next

Monterey Bay wraps up its third USL Championship campaign on the road against FC Tulsa on Saturday, October 26. Kickoff from ONEOK Field is set for 5 p.m. PT. Live streaming of the match will be available on ESPN+.

Additional Notes

• Kai Greene made his 100th career Monterey Bay F.C. appearance in the match, becoming the second player in club history to reach the milestone.
• Missing the match due to injury were Luther Archimède (knee), Chase Boone (knee), Alex Dixon (illness), Anthony Orendain (calf), Tristan Trager (lower leg), Jesse Maldonado (knee).

Information

Date: October 19, 2024
Venue: Cardinale Stadium; Seaside, California
Weather: Clear and 59 degrees
Attendance: 4,150

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

Monterey Bay F.C.  0 0 0
Switchbacks FC  0 1 1
COS: Zach Zandi (Ronaldo Damus) 50’

Lineups

Monterey Bay F.C. (3-5-2): Carlos Herrera; Carlos Guzmán, Kai Greene, Alex Lara; Walmer Martínez (Grant Robinson, 69’), Adrian Rebollar (Diego Gutiérrez, 57’), Pierce Gallaway, Mobi Fehr, Morey Doner; Christian Volesky (Michael Gonzalez, 57’), Xavi Gnaulati (Jerry Ayon, 90+8’)
Subs not used: Antony Siaha, Max Glasser, Ryan Dieter

Colorado Spring Switchbacks FC (3-5-2): Christian Herrera; Matt Mahoney, Duke Lacroix, Matt Real; Adain Roche, Speedy Williams, Tyreek Magee (Juan Tejada, 82’), Zach Zandi (Steve Echevarria, 90+2’), Yosuke Hanya; Jairo Henriquez (Quenzi Huerman, 71’), Ronaldo Damus (Justin Dhillon, 82’)
Subs not used: Joe Rice, Koa Santos, Cole Mrowka

Stats Summary: PHX / MB

Shots: 10 / 9
Shots on Goal: 2 / 5
Saves: 4 / 1
Corner Kicks: 3 / 5
Fouls: 15 / 18
Possession: 55% / 45%

Misconduct Summary

MB: Alex Lara (caution) 15’
MB: Walmer Martinez (caution) 62’
COS: Tyreek Magee (caution) 69’
COS: Zach Zandi (caution) 74’
MB: Xavi Gnaulati (caution) 90+7’
MB: Matt Real (caution) 90+8’

Officials

Referee: Alex Beehler
Assistant Referee: Salvador Reyes
Assistant Referee: Justin Fillmore
Fourth Official: Sergiu Iordachi

Monterey Bay Hosts Colorado Springs in 2024 Home Finale at Cardinale Stadium

SEASIDE, California (Friday, October 18, 2024) – Monterey Bay F.C. (8-14-10, 34 points) returns to Seaside for their 2024 regular season home finale this Saturday. The Union will host Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (13-12-7, 46 points) at Cardinale Stadium in USL Championship Week 33. Kickoff for Fan Appreciation x Breast Cancer Awareness Night is set for at 7:00 p.m. PT. The match will be broadcast locally on KION (46 & 23 over the air, 46 Dish, 27 DirecTV and 5/705 HD Xfinity), with live streaming available on CBS Sports Golazo Network via Paramount+, the CBS Sports app, CBSSports.com, and Pluto TV.

Monterey Bay has taken four out of a possible six points from its last two matches, both on the road against strong Western Conference opponents in Phoenix and Sacramento. With the Club’s third campaign winding down, fans can view these impressive back-to-back performances as potential insight into both new head coach Jordan Stewart’s style of play and the direction of the club as a whole. With two matches left to play this season, the Crisp-and-Kelp will aim to finish on a high note and build momentum heading into Stewart’s first full offseason at the helm, with high hopes for a promising 2025.

In the Union’s most recent match against Sacramento, 19-year-old Xavi Gnaulati scored his first goal for Monterey Bay and the third of his professional career thus far with a blast from nearly 25 yards out. In addition to helping earn Monterey Bay a good result on the road, the goal was also voted by fans as the USL Championship’s Goal of the Week for Week 32.

The previous meeting between Monterey Bay F.C. and Colorado Springs took place earlier this season on June 29, with Switchbacks FC securing a 1-0 victory at Weidner Field. Interestingly in the all-time head-to-head, the home team has won every match in the series so far. With three matches having already been played in Colorado Springs, Switchbacks FC currently has the slight edge heading into the weekend with three wins to Monterey Bay’s two (3-2-0).

Monterey Bay F.C. vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Venue: Cardinale Stadium; Seaside, California
Date: Saturday, October 19, 2024; 7:00 p.m. PT
Weather: Clear and 60 degrees

Access MBvCOS Match Notes

The Adobe PDF version of the 2024 Match Guide in advance of Saturday’s contest between Monterey Bay F.C. and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC can be found here. Media members looking to receive the document as an attachment or have further questions are asked to please contact Steven Vargo in MBFC Communications via email at steven@montereybayfc.com.

2024 Records

Monterey Bay F.C. (8-14-10, 34 pts, 11th West); Colorado Springs (13-12-7, 46 pts, 4th West)

Monterey Bay Scores in Stoppage Time to Secure a Point in Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, California (Wednesday, October 9, 2024) – Monterey Bay F.C. (8-14-10, 34 points) earned a hard-fought point with a 2-2 draw against Sacramento Republic FC (13-9-9, 48 points) at Heart Health Park. Xavi Gnaulati scored his first career goal in Crisp-and-Kelp with a first half banger, and Morey Doner equalized deep into stoppage time to secure a crucial point for Monterey Bay with two matches left to play this season.

Monterey Bay’s first opportunity of the night presented itself in the 11th minute when a cross from Adrian Rebollar was headed away by a Sacramento defender, right to the feet of Mobi Fehr. Fehr stepped up and fired a shot on goal, but it was parried away by Daniel Vitiello at the near post. In the 16th minute, Sacramento Republic FC’s Cristian Parano gave the hosts the 1-0 lead with a left-footed tap from just inside the six yard box. Five minutes later, 19-year-old Gnaulati leveled the match for the Crisp-and-Kelp. Gnaulati collected a pass from Rebollar, drove past two defenders, and pinpointed a left-footed strike into the top-left corner from distance to bring the match to 1-1. The home side earned a free kick from outside the 18 yard box in the 38th minute, but the shot was saved by Carlos Herrera at the near post and the sides entered the halftime break with a goal apiece.

Sacramento jumped onto the front foot to start the second half, creating three looks within the first three minutes. The closest was a right-footed shot by Kieran Phillips, but it was saved by Herrera and cleared out by Doner. In the 55th minute, Gnaulati found himself beyond the Sacramento back line and in on goal with Doner to his right, but as the youngster looked to make a play on the ball, a sliding tackle from behind by a defender blocked the ball and thwarted the chance. A nice attack for the Union saw a low shot across the goal from the top of the box by Michael Gonzalez in the 65th minute, but it was saved by Vitiello at the far post. Sacramento Republic FC managed to retake the lead in the 78th minute. Russell Cicerone flicked a back-heel pass to spring Nick Ross behind the Union back line inside the box and Ross buried his shot past Herrera’s right. Monterey Bay earned a free kick in the range of a short corner at the onset of four minutes of stoppage time. Second-half substitute Diego Gutiérrez stepped up and fired a curling effort towards goal, but it just missed the top-right corner. In the dying moments of the match with Monterey Bay desperately searching for the equalizer, Kai Greene picked his head up to find Doner making one final run into the box. Doner took a touch to center himself, and then fired off a right-footed grass-burner with his second touch that made it way through the legs of Vitiello and into the back of the net to stun the home crowd and steal a more-than-deserved and much-needed point on the night for Monterey Bay.

Up Next

Monterey Bay returns home to host Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Breast Cancer Awareness Night at Cardinale Stadium on Saturday, October 19. Kickoff from Seaside is set for 7 p.m. PT. The match will be broadcast locally on KION (46 & 23 over the air, 46 Dish, 27 DirecTV and 5/705 HD Xfinity), with live streaming available on CBS Sports Golazo Network via Paramount+, the CBS Sports app, CBSSports.com, and Pluto TV.

Additional Notes

• Tonight’s match was the 100th regular season match in Monterey Bay F.C. history.
• Morey Doner and Walmer Martínez recorded individual milestones in the match, each making the 100th appearance in their USL Championship careers.
• For Doner, the match also marked his 100th consecutive league start, the longest such streak in USL Championship history.
• Missing the match due to injury were Luther Archimède (knee), Chase Boone (knee), Alex Dixon (illness), Jesse Maldonado (knee), Grant Robinson (calf), Tristan Trager (lower leg), and Christian Volesky (wrist).

Information

Date: October 9, 2024
Venue: Heart Health Park; Sacramento, CA
Weather: Partly cloudy and 77 degrees

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

Republic FC 1 1 2
Monterey Bay F.C. 1 1 2
SAC: Cristian Parano (Kieran Phillips) 15’
MB: Xavi Gnaulati (Adrian Rebollar) 21’
SAC: Nick Ross (Russell Cicerone) 78’
MB: Morey Doner (Kai Greene) 90+3’

Lineups

Sacramento Republic FC (3-4-3): Daniel Vitiello; Lee Desmond, Conor Donovan, Jared Timmer; Jack Gurr (Harvey Neville, 58’), Aldair Sanchez (Damia Viader, 58’), Cristian Parano (Luis Felipe, 66’), Justin Portillo; Kieran Phillips (Trevor Amann, 67’), Russell Cicerone (Blake Willey, 90’), Nick Ross
Subs not used: Jared Mazzola, Rafael Jauregui, Da’vian Kimbrough

Monterey Bay F.C. (3-5-2): Carlos Herrera; Carlos Guzmán, Alex Lara, Kai Greene; Walmer Martínez, Adrian Rebollar (Jerry Ayon, 70’), Pierce Gallaway (Miguel Guerrero, 77’), Mobi Fehr (Max Glasser, 83’), Morey Doner; Michael Gonzalez (Anthony Orendain, 83’), Xavi Gnaulati (Diego Gutiérrez, 70’)
Subs not used: Antony Siaha, Ryan Dieter

Stats Summary: SAC / MB

Shots: 14 / 8
Shots on Goal: 4 / 5
Saves: 3 / 3
Corner Kicks: 11 / 2
Fouls: 14 / 17
Possession: 55% / 45%

Misconduct Summary

SAC: Nick Ross (caution) 68’
SAC: Russell Cicerone (caution) 89’
SAC: Harvey Neville (caution) 90+1’
MB: Walmer Martínez (caution) 90+4’

Officials

Referee: Trevor Wiseman
Assistant Referee: Clarence Clark
Assistant Referee: Benjamin Davis
Fourth Official: Conrado Garcia

Monterey Bay Prepares for In-State Clash with Sacramento Republic FC

SACRAMENTO, California (Tuesday, October 8, 2024) – Monterey Bay F.C. (8-14-9, 33 points) hits the road to the state capital to face Sacramento Republic FC (13-9-8, 47 points) on Wednesday at Heart Health Park in Week 32 of the 2024 USL Championship regular season. With only three matches remaining, Monterey Bay continues its battle for a playoff spot, sitting just three points outside of seventh place in the Western Conference. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PT with live streaming of the match available on ESPN+.

Monterey Bay F.C. heads into the match following an exciting victory over Phoenix Rising FC that saw both their winless and goalless droughts come to an end. The win gave the Crisp-and-Kelp the season sweep over Phoenix, while also marking Monterey Bay’s first victory in Phoenix since joining the USL Championship. Now with renewed hope of claiming a postseason berth, the Union will head North to face in-state rivals Sacramento Republic FC in a critical match that pits two sides desperate for points. A re-energized Monterey Bay squad needs as many points as possible in its final three matches for a chance to climb above the playoff line for the first time in Club history. Sacramento on the other hand, has lost three of its last four and would like a win not only to get back on track ahead of round one of the playoffs, but also to help secure a home playoff match by maintaining its current top-four position in the table.

Mobi Fehr scored his fourth goal of the season and sixth all-time for Monterey Bay F.C. in its 2-1 victory in Phoenix, while goalkeeper Carlos Herrera and Monterey Bay’s overall defense remained as strong as they had been of late. The goalless drought was finally quenched, but it is now going to be vital for the Club’s playoff hopes to find consistency in front of goal down the final stretch of the season.

The last meeting between these teams took place earlier this season on June 8, when Republic FC handed Monterey Bay F.C. a 2-0 defeat at Cardinale Stadium. Sacramento ultimately scored two goals in the span of eight minutes to secure their third consecutive win over the Union in all competitions dating back to last season. Monterey Bay will look to change that with their second-consecutive regular season win at Heart Health Park. In the all-time head-to-head between the sides, Sacramento holds the advantage with four wins to Monterey Bay’s two.

Sacramento Republic vs. Monterey Bay F.C.

Venue: Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California
Date: Wednesday, October 9, 2024; 7:00 p.m. PT
Weather: Cloudy and 84 degrees

Access SACvMB Match Notes

The Adobe PDF version of the 2024 Match Guide in advance of Wednesday’s contest between Monterey Bay F.C. and Sacramento Republic FC can be found here. Media members looking to receive the document as an attachment or have further questions are asked to please contact Steven Vargo in MBFC Communications via email at steven@montereybayfc.com.

2024 Records

Sacramento Republic FC (13-9-8, 47 pts, 3rd West); Monterey Bay F.C. (8-14-9, 33 pts, 11th West)

Jordan Stewart Earns Coach of the Week Honors for Week 31

SEASIDE, California (Tuesday, October 8, 2024) – Monterey Bay F.C. earned a 2-1 victory on the road against Phoenix Rising FC over the weekend. For a coaching performance that led to his first win as head coach of the Crisp-and-Kelp, Jordan Stewart has been named USL Championship’s Coach of the Week for Week 31. In storybook fashion, Stewart’s first managerial win came against the club for which he played the final season of his playing career. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Carlos Herrera has been named to the bench.

Herrera’s honor is for his outstanding performance in goal in the victory over Phoenix, earning five saves on six shots faced. Through six starts this season, goalkeeper Carlos Herrera has now amassed an impressive 87.1% save percentage on 31 shots faced with a 0.67 goals allowed average and three clean sheets.

Below is USL Championship’s full Team of the Week for Week 31 lined up in a 3-4-3 formation:

Goalkeeper – Gabriel Perrotta (PIT)
Defenders – Keegan Tingley (LDN), Carter Manley (SA), Camden Riley (OAK)
Midfielders – Rafael Mentzigen (NC), Rida Zouhir (BHM), Taylor Davila (LOU), Ezra Armstrong (NC)
Forwards – Bertin Jacquesson (PIT), JJ Williams (RI), Augie Williams (IND)

Coach – Jordan Stewart (MB)

Bench – Carlos Herrera (MB), Tony Alfaro (ELP), Alex Villanueva (DET), Elijah Wynder (LOU), Juan David Torres (CHS), Amadou Dia (LOU), Noah Fuson (RI)

Monterey Bay Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive with Fiery Win in Phoenix

PHOENIX, Arizona (Friday, October 4, 2024) – Monterey Bay F.C. (8-14-9, 33 points) earned its first win in the Jordan Stewart era with a 2-1 victory over Phoenix Rising FC (9-11-9, 36 points) at Rising Stadium, against the club for which Stewart played the final season of his playing career. Mobi Fehr ended the Club’s scoring drought with a right-footed strike and Carlos Guzmán played a role in the Union’s second score of the night to push Monterey Bay over the top and keep its playoff hopes alive with three matches left to play.

Both sides spent the first quarter hour of the match feeling things out, but it was Monterey Bay who would strike first. In the 15th minute with the Crisp-and-Kelp on the attack, Christian Volesky laid the ball off to Walmer Martínez, who scanned the landscape before looping the ball towards Morey Doner just above the box on the right side. With his first touch, Doner tapped it to Fehr, who let it fly from the top of the half circle. The ball took a deflection on its way in and beat the goalkeeper to his left as it was buried into the back of the net to officially end the Union’s scoring drought at 557 minutes. A few minutes later, Fehr had another opportunity at goal from above the box, this time on the left side, but his curling shot just missed the top-right corner. In the 39th minute, Phoenix looked likely to score when a botched clearance saw the ball fall perfectly to Tomas Angel inside the box, but his left-footed strike was saved by Carlos Herrera. Then just before the half in the 44th minute, a corner kick for Monterey Bay resulted in Guzmán looping a ball back into the box, but the ball instead went untouched, bounced up high, and slipped through the goalkeeper’s hands just under the crossbar on its way down to double the lead for the Crisp-and-Kelp at the halftime break.

Eight minutes into the second half, Angel fired a left-footed shot from distance, but Herrera dove across the goal to deny the chance at the left post and keep the match at 2-0. In the 67th minute, Doner placed a perfect cross at the far post for Volesky, but he was unable to direct his header on frame with a defender draped all over him and the chance was missed. Laurence Wyke had a chance inside the box for the hosts in the 72nd minute, but a right-footed shot was saved again by Herrera for his fifth save of the night. Phoenix Rising FC eventually pulled one back in the 84th minute with a right-footed shot by Dariusz Formella just outside the six yard box to bring the score to 2-1. Phoenix attacked frantically in search of the equalizer in the final minutes, applying immense pressure on Monterey Bay defensively. And just before the final whistle, Phoenix had one last dangerous look off the foot of Juan Azocar, but the shot missed wide to the right and the Crisp-and-Kelp held on for their first win in the Jordan Stewart era.

Up Next

Monterey Bay returns to the road against Sacramento Republic FC on Wednesday, October 9. Kickoff from Heart Health Park is set for 7 p.m. PT. Live streaming of the match will be available on ESPN+.

Golden Memorial Man of the Match

Carlos Herrera is tonight’s Golden Memorial Man of the Match for his outstanding performance in goal in the victory. Through six starts this season, goalkeeper Carlos Herrera has now amassed an impressive 87.1% save percentage on 31 shots faced with a 0.67 goals allowed average and three clean sheets.

Additional Notes

• Morey Doner’s first half assist was the 10th of his career in Crisp and Kelp, moving all alone into the Club lead for assists all time while also becoming the first player in Club history to reach double digits in the category.
• Alex Lara made his 100th career appearance in USL Championship in his return to the lineup tonight.
• Missing the match due to injury were Luther Archimède (knee),  Jerry Ayon (knee), Chase Boone (knee), Alex Dixon (illness), Jesse Maldonado (knee), Grant Robinson (calf), and Tristan Trager (lower leg).

Information

Date: October 4, 2024
Venue: Phoenix Rising Stadium; Phoenix, Arizona
Weather: Clear and 96 degrees

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

Phoenix Rising FC 0 1 1
Monterey Bay F.C. 2 0 2
MB: Mobi Fehr (Morey Doner) 15’
MB: Rocco Rios Novo (own goal) 44’
PHX: Dariusz Formella 84’

Lineups

Phoenix Rising FC (4-2-3-1): Rocco Rios Novo; Laurence Wyke (Juan Azócar, 74’), Gabriel Torres (Pape Boye, 45’), Alejandro Fuenmayor, Mohamed Traore; Renzo Zambrano, Jearl Margaritha, Charlie Dennis (Damien Barker John, 83’), Tomás Ángel (Giulio Doratiotto, 74’), Darius Johnson (Dariusz Formella, 61’); Rémi Cabral
Subs not used: Skylar Odle, Patrick Rakovsky, José Hernández, Jamison Ping

Monterey Bay F.C. (3-5-2): Carlos Herrera; Carlos Guzmán, Alex Lara, Kai Greene; Walmer Martínez, Adrian Rebollar, Pierce Gallaway, Mobi Fehr, Morey Doner; Michael Gonzalez (Xavi Gnaulati, 59’), Christian Volesky (Anthony Orendain, 80’)
Subs not used: Antony Siaha, Max Glasser, Miguel Guerrero, Diego Gutiérrez, Ryan Dieter

Stats Summary: PHX / MB

Shots: 22 / 8
Shots on Goal: 5 / 1
Saves: 0 / 5
Corner Kicks: 8 / 6
Fouls: 12 / 10
Possession: 62.4% / 37.6%

Misconduct Summary

PHX: Renzo Zambrano (caution) 25’
MB: Carlos Guzmán (caution) 61’

Officials

Referee: Brandon Stevis
Assistant Referee: Austin Holt
Assistant Referee: Bruno Rizo
Fourth Official: Pavel Georgiev