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Monterey Bay F.C. Positional Preview: Goalkeepers

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Monterey Bay F.C. Positional Preview: Goalkeepers

by Eli Corona & Steven Vargo

As the 2023 USL Championship season grows nearer, the team will look slightly different from the inaugural squad. In the Crisp and Kelp’s quest for the playoffs, the team has acquired experienced forward Alex Dixon, enthusiastic defender Alex Lara and most recently, rookie defender Max Glasser from UC Davis. These three new signings so far will combine with the core squad built last season to form the foundation for both a strong sophomore campaign and a playoff push. This week, we’ll take a look at each of the four position groups in the lead up to the home opener at Cardinale Stadium this Saturday.

First up, a breakdown of the goalkeeping duo heading into year two. The Union’s shot stopping unit has undergone the most significant changes of any position group over the past year.

At the beginning of the Club’s inaugural 2022 season, the goalkeeper room consisted of Rafi Díaz and now-retired Dallas Jaye. When Díaz went down to a season-ending injury just three weeks into the regular season, and with Jaye’s midseason retirement looming, young keepers Carlos Herrera and Antony Siaha were brought in to compete for the number one spot. It is these two promising goalkeepers that make up the unit for the upcoming campaign, leaving Monterey Bay F.C. in safe hands heading into 2023.

Antony Siaha
When the opportunity to make his professional debut presented itself in July, Siaha seized the moment and never looked back. He began his professional career with an impressive run of six clean sheets in his first seven matches, including five consecutive from the jump. Supplemented by numerous big saves that resulted in multiple USL Championship Save of the Week nominations, Siaha took the league by storm. He finished the year with eight clean sheets in 17 starts and posted an impressive 74.6 percent save percentage overall.

Carlos Herrera
Herrera showed impressive ability when called upon last season and earned his fair share of club firsts. Upon making his professional debut between the sticks in the inaugural home opener, Herrera earned the first clean sheet in Club history in a 1-0 victory. Herrera then earned USL Championship Save of the Week honors on the final matchday of the season, a night in which he saved the first penalty in Club history. The San Leandro native earned seven starts and finished the year with a 61.5 percent save percentage.

The Club created previews for each position group going into 2023. Each breakdown can be read here:

Monterey Bay F.C. Holds Annual Media Day, Looks Ahead to 2023 Campaign

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Monterey Bay F.C. Holds Annual Media Day, Looks Ahead to 2023 Campaign

SEASIDE, Calif. (Monday, March 6, 2023) – Monterey Bay Football Club (Monterey Bay F.C.) held its annual Media Day last week. A Proud Partner of the Club, Monterey Marriott, hosted the occasion at its downtown location. The Union have worn the white tops from last season in every preseason matches thus far, so while it was the first time in 2023 for returning players, it was the new players’ first-ever time donning both the primary Kelp kits and secondary white kits in full. Thousands of photos and videos preceded questions from the media about the Club’s mindset heading into its sophomore season – and a clear theme emerged among the team’s leaders: unfinished business.

Defenders Morey Doner and Hugh Roberts
On the potential for this team in 2023:
Roberts: “Honestly we have a sour taste in our mouths from last year. We felt that we should have been a playoff team. We were unfortunate to not be in there after the last couple of games of the season. We felt like we were right there so we are itching to get back going. With our core group of guys back, we’re aiming for a top four finish in the conference. We are desperate to bring a home playoff game to Seaside. That’s one of our biggest goals and we know we can do that with our defense especially, but also with our core of attacking guys. Everyone is coming through, continuing to gel, and we’re all on the same page. There’s unfinished business. We have high expectations.

Doner: “The main thing for us will be consistency. Last year we were too fluctuating, we were always up and down. Obviously the first part of the season we were only on the road, but for me personally, one of my favorite quotes that I love to live my career and my life by is ‘keep your highs low and lows high.’ So if bad things happen, don’t get too low, but if good things happen don’t get too high. We need to stay level headed. I just want the group to be focused every week. We have goals on the board for a reason – these are the things that we are looking at to get the best out of each other. Come October, we should be where we want to be hopefully.”

On the goals for the defense:
Roberts: “We have high expectations for ourselves. We finished the season on a decent note, but we know we can carry that on for a full season. Realistically our goal is to be top five, maybe top four in the entire league. We want to be one of the top team’s in terms of shutouts and goals against average as well. We have high hopes for this group, especially with our back four returning and the goalkeeper. We already have that chemistry which is rare in this league.”

Doner: “To have us back as the core is really important, for me in particular, to have that familiarity and just that confidence with each other. That’s really important for me. Going forward, a few teams have left the USL Championship this year so everything is going to be a little bit more competitive. I am looking to emulate last season for myself personally, but Hugh [Roberts] is a great leader and Kai [Greene] has over 150 appearances in the league, so I just want to keep learning. Hugh and the other guys are always communicating – I just want the best for us and he brings that out of us.”

On Doner playing in every match last season:
Doner: “A lot of people don’t know that I started my career late. I only started playing pro when I was 24, so of course that helps, but I look after my body, and take really good care of myself. Sometimes I am very particular about my routine, but I think over the days and months in a season that really helps me become the best player I can be on the pitch. I just want to do what I love and I don’t take it for granted so whenever I am out on the field I give my 100%. I just want to keep doing what I love and keep appreciating every moment.”

On Doner’s decision to return to Monterey Bay:
Doner: “Firstly, Frank [Yallop] has given me a lot of belief. He is Canadian as well, so we have that link, and I think this was one of my best years as a pro. To have that confidence is always important. You want to try to bring yourself to be the best you can be. Frank brings that out of me and now I have rewarded him by playing well, but once you do well you want more for yourself. Coming back here, I want to keep pushing on individually, but also with Hugh and the other guys – we want a playoff game. We want a home playoff game. That is something that we are aiming towards. We really want to represent this community in the best way that we can. That comes with every training session and there are things that we do off the field that not a lot of people see. We are trying to put it all together. We have 85% of the minutes played back this year, so there’s really no excuses. We have the core, we have camaraderie, we have everything we need. Now we’re looking to be consistent and to perform every week.”

Roberts: “Having guys like Morey [Doner], one of the top leaders who holds himself to a high standard helps bring the whole group’s standard to a high level. You have to have people at the top to help keep that standard high and he is one of the top guys here. He was a stalwart last year and he is coming into this year with the same kind of energy. We only had three days before the Earthquakes game when camp started, but guys kept in shape and kept themselves ready. Morey was a great example of that. He showed everybody that they have to keep themselves ready preparation wise both on the field and off the field, both are equally as important. I commend him for coming in strong both mentally and physically because we expect to be flying from the jump next week.”

On one word to describe the defense in 2023:
Roberts: “Tenacious. We are very hungry out there, all of us. We’re hungry to block shots, block crosses, keep a zero on that score board. It takes a tenacious effort. We came together last year halfway through and decided that our performance had been unacceptable from a defensive standpoint. At the end of the day we can’t control the offense, but we can control stopping some of these shots and these goals. And we came together as a back five and buckled down, and it helped the whole group gain confidence out there. We are tenacious out there.”

Defenders Max Glasser and Alex Lara
On playing professionally close to home:
Glasser: “It’s super nice, family can come to games and they are really enjoying it. Grew up in NorCal, went to school at UC Davis, so I’m staying local. I love NorCal, it’s super nice here and I’m excited to be here. Being close to home definitely played a part in me being here. I’m big on my family having a chance to see me play so I am happy it worked out. I am blessed.”

Lara: “I am excited to be here, I am from Southern California so it’s not too far away either. Being closer to home and having the opportunity for your loved ones and friends and family to come up and see you play and do what you love is definitely a blessing. I am happy to be here.”

On what he will bring to the team:
Lara: “Personally, I want to help out as much as I can defensively. Try to get shutouts and really contribute on the defensive end of the game. That’s what I will try to do all season. My goal is to contribute as much as I can whether that be getting minutes, helping getting shutouts – that’s really what I came here to do. Help the back line by reinforcing what is already here. There is a lot of experience here with Kai [Greene] and Hugh [Roberts] so adding onto that would benefit the whole team.”

On an aspect of the team that has stood out:
Glasser: “It’s a tight knit group, a really close team. Everyone knows each other. That’s a big help at the start of the season and has given me a lot to learn from. Everyone is super helpful and I’ve really enjoyed it.”

On the potential for this team in 2023:
Glasser: “Everyone’s goal is to get into the playoffs, ideally get a home game in the playoffs and I don’t see why we can’t do it. That’s the goal.”

Lara: “I agree. Not only are we aiming to make it into the playoffs, but also to make a run in the playoffs. Everyone is on the same page when it comes to that. We are setting the standard pretty high for ourselves and we’re hoping to accomplish those goals.”

Midfielder Sam Gleadle
On Year 2:
“We learned a lot as a group last year and we brought that big core group back so I am excited to push our limits even more and build on the momentum that we built in year one.”

On having the core group back:
“It’s huge, we have a lot of different guys at different levels of their careers bringing that experience in. We all bring different things to the table that we can all learn from. We will work really well together and work really hard for that goal of playoffs and a home playoff game. We have high aspirations.”

On how the new guys have meshed in:
“Yeah the guys that we have brought in, the two Alex’s [Dixon and Lara], they have been very good and are bringing their USL experience, and Max [Glasser], the rookie, he has jumped in very well and has shown what he is good at really quickly. So all of these little pieces, the gaffer and the coaching staff know what they are doing. Dixon and I have shown a little bit together already, so I’m glad to get more going.”

On his mindset going into 2023:
“Any great team, you have to have those high aspirations and goals. We have a lot of different experience level guys. Guys like Hugh [Roberts], being the captain and everything, he brings a lot of knowledge and experience in. He’s seen the playoffs, he knows what it takes. You have to have those goals. It makes us want to improve every day, every week and every game. There is no losing. If we do get a bad result, we learn from that and the next time we won’t make those mistakes.”

Midfielders Walmer Martínez and Adrian Rebollar
On the biggest difference coming into this year:
Rebollar: “A big difference is that we have a big group of guys returning this season. We know our tendencies and how each other plays. As everyone can remember, the last segment of the season, we were on fire. And we want to start off this season just how we ended it. We showed what kind of team we are and we’re here to prove it in year two.”

Martínez: “Like he said, we are bringing a big core of the group back. We have that chemistry already and that plays a big role. We have unfinished business to take care of. Near the end of last season, we expected a lot more from us. This year, we all have it in our minds that we have one goal and one goal only and that is to make the playoffs and then go as far as possible.”

On the idea of bringing a championship to their hometown:
Rebollar: “It would be a dream come true. We are local guys, we love our community. We love seeing everyone come out to our games. To be able to bring a trophy to the 831, that’s the end goal.”

Martínez: “It’s every footballer’s dream to win a championship and how great would it be for two local guys to win a championship in their city. It would be a big inspiration to all of the kids growing up. I know it’s a big dream for them too. As we continue to live out our dreams, they are dreaming as well.”

On the higher expectations this year:
Martínez: “We are not satisfied with what happened last year. In our heads, we know we have the talent in our group to go as far as winning a championship. Everybody coming in, it’s already set in our minds that we are going to do way better than last year. We were disappointed last year because we know that we could have accomplished great things last year but it didn’t happen that way. This year we have our heads on straight, we know what we want and we’re determined to accomplish it one way or another.”

Rebollar: “These expectations are from everybody, not just the manager, but everyone in the organization. We know we had a rough start at the beginning of last year, but then we really saw what we are capable of. So we are aspiring to get as many results as possible, make the playoffs and then go from there. It’s definitely a different mentality this year. Everyone coming in is buying in and that’s a beautiful thing.”

Goalkeeper Antony Siaha
On the upcoming season:
“I am very excited, working hard everyday. I can’t wait until our home opener on March 11. The chemistry that we have coming back is very important in soccer and the guys that we have coming in are going to really help the team. Personally, I have been ready. This last game against Sacramento is going to get us ready for the opener. I think we’re 90% ready, just need another 90 minutes in and then get everybody healthy.”

On his goals for himself and the team:
“For myself and the defense, our goal is definitely to get the most shutouts, keep that zero as much as possible. And then of course to go as far as possible. We are definitely a playoff team so we are going to make sure we get there this time.”

On fans often mentioning him alongside bagels and where that came from:
“Every time the team gets a shutout, everybody who has a ticket gets a free bagel. So that’s pretty good and it only motivates us to get as many shutouts as we can to give everybody those bagels. Honestly, stuff like that just makes me smile.”

Forward Alex Dixon
On his decision to join Monterey Bay:
“It was nice to be wanted to come out here and it definitely made my decision a little bit easier to know that I would be the first guy to come in outside of the returning core group. I am just excited to be here, get to work and get the season started next weekend. Hopefully we will have some success. What also drew me here was the fans. I watched some of the games, went back and did some research. Plus the good group of guys coming back. Obviously there was some bad luck last year with some of their results, but I thought that we could be a contender. I didn’t come here to do anything less than compete. We have big hopes and big dreams and we hope to achieve those this year.”

On the team’s expectations this season and having unfinished business:
“I picked up on it talking to the guys during the offseason, the guys that were here last year. They had a nice run of form last year followed by some tough games. Obviously that left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth, so I’ve picked up on that and I’m raring to go.”

On his excitement for heading into the season:
“This is like my 13th or 14th year, but it still feels like year one for me. I am never going to lose that feeling and the home opener next weekend against Hartford, one of my former teams, I am definitely looking forward to that. I want to start the year off with a bang. Three points and nothing less. Playing against a former team is always fun, but I look forward to every game. It’s about going out and competing, and proving to everyone in the league that we are one of the better teams. We just have to take it game by game, week by week, and be the last team standing at the end of the season.”

On the fan support through the preseason:
“The San Jose match three days into the preseason was a crazy experience. I was not expecting the fans to come out in full force like that, so that was definitely exciting. I just can’t wait to see how crazy it’s going to be once the regular season gets started.”

Goalkeeper Carlos Herrera
On heading into year two:
“I think it’s really special to be a part of the core group that was here from year one. It gives the players a sense of pride in defending the badge and giving it everything for the club being that you’ve been entrusted to stay as a part of this group going into its second year.”

On the fan support through the preseason so far:
“I was thrilled with the Earthquakes game. We weren’t really sure what to expect, obviously we expected a lot of support, but it was a rainy night and it was cold. Thankfully it didn’t rain the whole game, but the fans stayed until the final whistle playing their trumpets, beating their drums, chanting – there were a couple of moments in the game where I just had to take a step back, appreciate it all and be thankful that I am in the spot that I’m in.”

Forward Jesse Maldonado
On his excitement for the new season:
“I am very excited. As a player personally, I would like to get on the pitch a lot more, common goals individually. As a group, I am very excited. This is a good group and we have something to look forward to.”

On being a part of the core group that returned this season:
“There are a lot of key players in the core group from last year and they have all said it. There is unfinished business. We just have to take care of it this year. We are looking forward to doing that.”

On the new guys learning about the team’s fan support:
“They can feel the energy, they can see the atmosphere, I feel like they have picked it up on their own. It’s not something we have to tell them about, it’s just something that they can already see from our fans, our staff, everyone. It’s the complete atmosphere here.”

Forward Chase Boone
On bringing back the group and the role it plays in reaching the team’s goals:
“It’s huge for our goals moving forward. Last year we struggled as we had never played together before, but this year we don’t have that excuse anymore. I think it’s going to be great for us because we’ve had a whole year under our belt building chemistry – we know each other. Now we use that moving forward.”

On being a part of the returning group:
“It’s pretty special. It’s really cool to be a part of a team in its inaugural year. Especially here at Monterey Bay, everybody is a family. From our front office to our coaching staff, everybody is a part of it. It’s a huge collective and it’s really special to be a part of. It’s always good to be wanted, especially here. It felt great to be invited back and I am excited to get to work with my brothers and my family.”

On his goals individually and for the team:
“Individually I just want to keep building off what I did last year by hitting the ball into the back of the net and getting some assists. I just want to help the team overall. As a team we have a lot of unfinished business. Our goal is obviously to make the playoffs, but we are looking beyond that as well.” 

On the effect of the fan support throughout the preseason:
“Seeing that we had 5,000 people at our first preseason game against San Jose – we have great fans and we love them. We’re a community team. We do a lot for the community and they do a lot for us. It’s a give-give. I’m really excited about moving forward with the team because we’re only going to get more fans and grow bigger in the area. I’m excited to see where it goes.”

MBFC’s Boone, Doner, Gleadle, and Siaha Train at Ipswich Town FC

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MBFC’s Boone, Doner, Gleadle, and Siaha Train at Ipswich Town FC

One month after being inducted into the Ipswich Town FC (ITFC) Hall of Fame, current Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop has arranged for Union players Chase Boone, Morey Doner, Sam Gleadle, and Antony Siaha the opportunity to train with the development squad at Ipswich Town this January in preparation for the 2023 campaign.

“I can’t wait for the opportunity to see Ipswich and train with the team,” said Boone ahead of the trip. “Frank has told me great things about Ipswich Town, so I am just very thankful to get the chance to experience it first hand.”

After spending the majority of his professional playing career for Ipswich Town FC in England, Yallop has built a lifelong connection to the Blues. And it is that connection that has allowed these four Monterey Bay F.C. players this special opportunity on the Ipswich Town grounds.

“I think every footballer’s dream is to play in England. To get a chance to test yourself against players in a different country and league is something that motivates me as a player,” said Doner. “Ipswich is a historic club. Seeing the culture and the ins and outs around the club is something I’m really looking forward to. I want to elevate my game this year so having this early preseason training will help carry into the season really well. I’m grateful to Frank and the coaching staff for helping me with this opportunity.”

Yallop was officially inducted into the Ipswich Town FC Hall of Fame at a match at Portman Road on December 2, 2022 in recognition of his almost 400 appearances for the Blues during a career that began as a teenager and lasted nearly 16 years from 1980 – 1996. A month after making the trip to Ipswich himself, four of his players now get the opportunity to see where their manager’s playing career blossomed.

“I am very excited. I think it’s a blessing to get this opportunity. Training with top-level goalkeepers and a top-level goalkeeper coach will definitely have me ready to perform for Monterey Bay F.C. this season. I want to improve as much as I can and this will be a good opportunity to see what it takes to get to the next level.”

The training opportunity with the Blues comes in advance of the Crisp and Kelp’s 2023 preseason opener at Cardinale Stadium on February 4 against Major League Soccer (MLS) side San Jose Earthquakes, a club which has also inducted Yallop into its Hall of Fame. And for Boone, Doner, Gleadle, and Siaha, there is no better way to prepare for Monterey Bay’s second season in USL Championship.

“This trip to Ipswich with the guys will be a great experience on and off the pitch,” said Gleadle in December. “Getting to see the facilities, chat to other players at various levels there, as well as train with them every day for three weeks is huge. Not a lot of players get this level of training, so we won’t take it for granted. This will help us a lot to get into top fitness levels and fast track our readiness for the 2023 season with Monterey Bay. As long as we take care of ourselves and handle the load well, we will be flying come preseason and heading into the regular season.”

Monterey Bay F.C. Agrees to Two-Year Contract Extension with Goalkeeper Antony Siaha

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Monterey Bay F.C. Agrees to Two-Year Contract Extension with Goalkeeper Antony Siaha

SEASIDE, Calif. (Thursday, November 10, 2022) – Monterey Bay F.C. announced today that the team has come to terms with goalkeeper Antony Siaha on a two-year contract extension ahead of the club’s 2023 USL Championship campaign, pending league and federation approval.

The 24-year-old signed with Monterey Bay F.C. in May of last season and went on to start in between the sticks in the club’s final 17 matches of the season, totaling 1,529 minutes. Siaha made his first start for the Union on July 9 against Orange County SC, a 2-0 victory that earned the goalkeeper a clean sheet in his professional debut en route to an 8-6-3 record in goal.

“Antony’s career has a big upside,” said Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop. “He showed what he was capable of doing last season. I am really happy that he is going to be with us for the next couple of years. It’s important to have continuity, I am very excited for the future.”

Continuing the form from his first start in Crisp and Kelp, Siaha went on to record clean sheets in each of the following four matches as well, a stretch that lasted into August, bringing the club’s shutout streak to five full consecutive matches and 558 minutes in total, the ninth highest streak in USL Championship history and third all-time for an expansion club. Siaha finished the season tied for eighth in the league in clean sheets with eight, and saved 47 of his 64 shots faced for an impressive goals-allowed average of 1.00. In addition, Siaha earned USL Championship Team of the Week honors in weeks 18, 23, and 28.

“I am very blessed to have signed a two-year deal with Monterey Bay,” said Siaha. “I can’t wait for the 2023 season to get going. I am already looking forward to making the playoffs and going as far as we possibly can as a team. I’m very excited to get back out there and play in front of our amazing fans at Cardinale Stadium.”

Gleadle, Siaha Earn USL Championship Team of the Week Honors in Week 28

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SEASIDE, Calif. (Tuesday, September 20, 2022) – Following Monterey Bay’s resounding 5-0 victory at Cardinale Stadium over Eastern Conference side Indy Eleven on Saturday, September 17, midfielder Sam Gleadle has been named to USL Championship’s Team of the Week, while goalkeeper Antony Siaha earned a spot on the bench.

Gleadle now makes his third-consecutive team of the week behind a top-11 performance in which the Chichester, England native had his hands in just about everything on the night for the Union. On top of his goal in the 50th minute of the match, Gleadle assisted on two additional goals in the 43rd and 66th minutes to help the Crisp & Kelp to a season-high in goals scored in a single match.

In just his 12th professional start, Siaha recorded his seventh clean sheet and the team’s 10th shutout of the campaign. In addition, the goalkeeper recorded five saves on the night.

Below is USL Championship’s full Team of the Week for Week 28 lined up in a 3-4-3 formation:

Goalkeeper – Yannick Oettl (HFD)
Defenders – Patrick Seagrist (MEM), Sean Totsch (LOU), Duke Lacroix (SAC)
Midfielders – Sam Gleadle (MB), Enzo Martinez (BHM), Damia Viader (SAC), Dylan Mares (ELP)
Forwards – Phillip Goodrum (MEM), Maalique Foster (SAC), Ariel Martinez (HFD)
Bench – Antony Siaha (MB), Jackson Kasanzu (SD), Edgardo Rito (OAK), Jack Blake (SD), Christian Pinzon (RGV), Brian Ownby (LOU), Keko (SAC)

NEXT UP: Monterey Bay F.C. hosts Western Conference foe Phoenix Rising FC at Cardinale Stadium for a midweek fixture at 7:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday, September 21. Join us at Cardinale Stadium as the club looks to continue its playoff push! The match can also be streamed live on ESPN+.

Monterey Bay F.C. Topples Indy Eleven with Club Record Five Goals in Shutout Victory

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Monterey Bay F.C. Stakes Claim in Playoff Race, Join Us Wednesday at Cardinale Stadium vs Phoenix Rising FC

SEASIDE, California (Saturday, September 17, 2022) – Monterey Bay F.C. (12-14-2, 38 points) bested Indy Eleven (9-15-5, 32 points) 5-0 on Hispanic Heritage Night at Cardinale Stadium, recording club records for goals scored and goal differential in a single match. Chase Boone scored the opening goal in the first half, while James Murphy, Sam Gleadle, and Christian Volesky each added to the score sheet in the second half to give the Crisp and Kelp an impressive 5-0 win.

Access the postgame quote sheet here

Indy Eleven came into the match on the front foot for the first 10 minutes, earning a corner and a couple of chances created that were thwarted by the Union defense. In the 13th minute, Monterey Bay F.C. countered with a Gleadle run down the left side of the pitch. Boone received the ball beyond the top of the box in space, but his shot missed over the top of the crossbar. In the 31st minute, number 31 Boone raced inside the box following a shot from Volesky that was saved and spilled and buried it into the back of the net to open the scoring in the match. Immediately after Boone’s goal, the Union pushed forward for a second, but Simon Dawkins’ shot missed just wide of the far post. Then in the 43rd minute, Gleadle played the give-and-go with Volesky at the top of the box before whipping a ball in towards Boone. While Boone got his boot to it as the ball hit the back of the net, the goal was given as an own goal to Indy Eleven to bring the score to 2-0 in favor of the hosts. Three minutes later, Grant Robinson fired a pass into the box towards Gleadle, but his flick-on attempt missed just over the crossbar and the Union entered the halftime break with the 2-0 lead. 

Four minutes into the second half, Murphy rocketed a shot from distance into the left side of the net to bring the score to 3-0 for the Union. Just 79 seconds later, Gleadle played the give-and-go again, this time with Dawkins, who flicked the ball back with his right heel to perfectly set up Gleadle for the right-footed banger into the bottom left corner to make it 4-0 for the Crisp & Kelp. In the 66th minute, Robinson played the ball forward for Gleadle, who then sent a nicely weighted pass across the box and around the last defender to Volesky for the calm, right-footed finish to add a fifth for Monterey Bay F.C. on the night. Later, Indy Eleven looked to get on the board in the 75th minute, but a shot from point blank range by Jesus Vazquez was kick-saved and covered up by Antony Siaha. In the 80th minute, Walmer Martinez found Dawkins in space on the left side of the box, but his left-footed shot was saved at the near post. Then in the 83rd minute, Juan Tejada took a shot for Indy Eleven inside the box, but Siaha caught it in the middle of the sticks to preserve a second-consecutive clean sheet and a third consecutive win for the Crisp & Kelp.

Up Next: Monterey Bay F.C. hosts Phoenix Rising FC in a crucial Western Conference clash on Wednesday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m. PT. The match can be viewed live on ESPN+.

Notes:
– Tonight’s five goals marked a franchise record in goals scored for the Union, and the 5-0 victory marked the largest goal differential in the club’s short history.
– Following tonight’s result, Monterey Bay F.C. moves to 4-0-1 all time against Eastern Conference opponents.
– Midfielder James Murphy scored his first professional goal in the 49th minute of the match, officially opening his Monterey Bay F.C. account on his 25th birthday.
– Christian Volesky’s goal in the 66th minute was his 50th career goal in the USL Championship, and 5th of the season for the Union, to bring the scoreline to 5-0.
– Goalkeeper Antony Siaha recorded his 7th clean sheet in just 12 professional starts.
– Sam Gleadle has now scored four goals in the last three matches.
– Murphy and Gleadle scored 79 seconds apart in the 49th and 50th minutes.
– Walmer Martínez returned to the pitch in tonight’s match for the first time since returning from a hamstring injury that he suffered during the club’s win over New York Red Bulls II in July.
– Missing the match due to injury were Rafi Díaz (shoulder) and Jason Johnson (quad).

Match: Monterey Bay F.C. vs Indy Eleven
Date: September 17, 2022
Venue: Cardinale Stadium; Seaside, California
Weather: Mostly cloudy and 63 degrees
Attendance: 3,804

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F 
Monterey Bay F.C.  2 3 5
Indy Eleven   0 0 0
MB: Chase Boone 31’
MB: Robby Dambrot (Own Goal) 43’
MB: James Murphy 49’
MB: Sam Gleadle (Simon Dawkins) 50’
MB: Christian Volesky (Sam Gleadle) 66’

Lineups:
Monterey Bay F.C. (4-2-3-1): Antony Siaha; Grant Robinson, Hugh Roberts, Kai Greene (Arun Basuljevic, 74’), Morey Doner; James Murphy (Hunter Gorskie, 71’), Mobi Fehr; Simon Dawkins, Sam Gleadle (Adrian Rebollar, 71’), Chase Boone (Walmer Martínez, 71’); Christian Volesky (Chris Cortez, 80’)
Subs not used: Carlos Herrera, Seku Conneh

Indy Eleven (4-3-1-2): Tim Trilk; Robert Dambrot, Jesus Vazquez, Mechack Jerome, Jared Timmer (Alex McQueen, 45’); Neveal Hackshaw (Ayoze, 56’), Sam Brown, Justin Ingram (Juan Tejada, 56’); Raul Aguilera (Bryan Rebellon, 56’); Stefano Pinho, Solomon Asante 
Subs not used: Sean Lewis, Wilfredo Rivera, Rodney Michael

Stats Summary: MB / IND
Shots: 17 / 8
Shots on Goal: 8 / 5
Saves: 5 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 2
Fouls: 19 / 15
Possession: 48.0% / 52.0%

Misconduct Summary:
MB: Chase Boone (caution) 28’
IND: Jared Timmer (caution) 40’
IND: Robby Dambrot (caution) 55’
IND: Juan Tejada (caution) 62’
MB: Hunter Gorskie (caution) 74’
IND: Alex McQueen (caution) 79’

Officials:
Referee: Gerald Flores
Assistant Referee: Bennett Savage
Assistant Referee: Benjamin Davis
Fourth Official: Adam Zarrin

Quote Sheet: MBFC 3-1 SD

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Cardinale Stadium; Seaside, California
Saturday, September 3, 2022

Sporting Director & Head Coach Frank Yallop
On Antony Siaha’s performance:
“He’s done really well, another great performance by him. We were playing against a really good team in San Diego. He made the saves when we needed him to make them. It was a bit of a springboard for us to go and get a good home win.”

On the match:
“Everyone did their part. Collectively I think we rode the storm a little bit. They had some really good chances against us. Again, they are a good side. They are going to have chances. They are one of the highest scoring teams in the league if I’m not mistaken. So for us to keep them to one goal was great. Our response to everything that happened in the game was great. I think we thoroughly deserved the win. Moon took his goal really well, it was a good finish. But we kept fighting, got back into the game and then at 1-1 at halftime, I felt that we still had a chance to go on and win the game and we did.”

On the importance of the result:
“I never get too high or too low as a coach. I did put the table up on the board before the game to show them that we are still in the hunt to make the playoffs. It was at least a visual way to show them that we have a chance to jump up points-wise tonight. And then going forward we play against a lot of the teams we’re fighting against, so we still have a chance. We have a big game Wednesday night now, I’m looking forward to that.”

Midfielder Mobi Fehr
On the result:
“At the end of the day it was definitely team spirit. We all believed that we could win and at the end, we did 3-1. We’re happy with three points.”

On the key to the match:
“The key was definitely to equalize, I think. We went down 1-0 in the first half, in the first 20 minutes. So, the key was to get an equalizer in the first half, and we were able to do that. That kind of got the wave going back in our favor heading into the second half. So, it was big to tie it up before the half for sure.”

On Antony Siaha’s performance:
“As you can tell, Antony [Siaha] is a big big presence in the back. He was hyped for the game because it was against his old team San Diego. It’s big time having him in goal for sure.”

On the insurance goal in the second half:
“Our goal is to score more than one goal and win. In our past home games, it feels like we’ve only been winning one nil. So, our goal is to pounce on teams. Get that second goal, third goal. We definitely had to go for that third goal today.”

On the game plan:
“They were pressing with a high press, so our game plan was to launch it long, get the second ball and then start the attack in their half. The game plan worked out very well.”

Forward Sam Gleadle
On his brace:
“Early on I felt there was space in behind, I made runs and didn’t get the ball. Then obviously Kai [Greene] played a great ball over top and in my head, I just focused on getting a good first touch, I put my head down and put the ball on frame. I’m very happy with that one. The second one, Adrian [Rebollar] did well to keep the ball and drive it into space. Then Arun [Basuljevic] was unlucky to not get a shot off, but it just happened to pop out and I was there.”

On the third goal:
“I think in past games, we’ve held on to one goal leads, but it’s been a bit stressful. So, I think getting that two-goal buffer definitely helped us mentally. But we’re a compact group, so even with two I think we would’ve come out with all three points. The third one definitely added a level of comfort for us though.”

On coming from behind to win:
“Even before their goal we had a lot of half-chances, we were pretty much on the front foot from the first whistle. I thought we started off well. Credit to the whole team because it’s easy to put your heads down when you go down a goal, but we didn’t do that. Once we got that goal back, it was like OK, we’re even again, let’s keep doing what we were doing, believe in ourselves and go get the winning goal.”

On the short week with a match on Wednesday:
“As players we love it. More games, less training, it’s definitely my favorite at least. Just have to do what we can in the training room and whatever else players like to do in their routines to get their bodies right. We’ll be ready.”

Goalkeeper Antony Siaha
On his saves:
‘The first half was crazy. When it was coming to me I just knew that I had to be set with my feet, be ready for the shot, and not dive too early, and that’s what I did. Then at the last second, my hand touched it.”

On his performance:
“Everyone has a job and that’s my job. My teammates did their job, and I did my job. And doing that hopefully helped give them the motivation to put some goals in.”

On the crowd:
‘Man, the crowd out here is amazing. The love out here is unbelievable. I am speechless about them man.”

On interacting with the fans after the match:
“I like to show love back, they show a lot of love, so I like to show it back. They are a motivation. It’s great to have them, and it gets us hyped more. The fans are great.”

On his mindset coming into the match:
“We knew we had to get this one. We knew it. We knew it was going to be a tough game like last time, and we also knew we were going to get our chances. Especially in the first half, and then the second half there. We just had to finish our chances. We knew we could get them, so that’s what we did.”

Quote Sheet: MBFC 1-0 ELP

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Cardinale Stadium; Seaside, California
Saturday, August 6, 2022

Sporting Director & Head Coach Frank Yallop
On a difficult first half:
“Our possession in the first half was probably 25 percent to 75. We couldn’t figure out their system and how they played out of the back. We weren’t on the front foot either, that’s important for us. The second half was way better. It was tough to sit there in the first half and take that, but the good news is that when we went in at half time, it was nil to nil. Second half we came out with more energy, drive, and thought. I thought we did well enough to win the game. We created some good chances, so did they obviously, with the missed penalty too, but it’s about taking your chances. We got beat five nil by them a while back, but we’re a different team since that game.”

On the moment that changed momentum:
“I think the missed penalty was massive, right before half time. If they score there, it’s tough to come back from. Antony [Siaha] in goal is a big presence in there and I think that maybe it put him off, I don’t know, but it wasn’t a well taken penalty kick, obviously. We managed to get into half time at nil nil and that was huge for us.”

On preparing for two games next week:
“We’ll rest tomorrow, and then get at it on Monday. We’ll get prepared, then we’ll travel to San Diego on Tuesday afternoon. We’ll just rest up, kind of lick our wounds a little bit, and then get ready for San Diego which will be a huge game. Then we’ve got another game here at home against Sacramento. We’re playing two very good sides in our conference, so hopefully we can keep the momentum going and get a couple of good results.”

Goalkeeper Antony Siaha
On his save in the 55th minute of the match:
“It was a shot that came at me, and I was ready for it, that’s about it.”

On his fifth clean sheet in a row:
“I’m not really focused on the clean sheet, just the overall performance throughout the game. If I get a clean sheet, I get a clean sheet, but I just want to play well enough for the whole game.”

On the MBFC’s defense:
“The defense is always great, they saved me from a lot of shots. There’s really so much I can say about the defense. They are solid.”

On the momentum shift following the missed penalty kick:
“That was just God’s work, telling us to wake up and giving us another chance by saying we can’t be playing like this. And then we took advantage of it in the final minute.”

On what he thinks about before a penalty kick:
“We analyzed the players before the game, so I already knew where he was going to go. I just stood on that side and he hit it in the middle. Like I said, God’s work.”

Midfielder Adrian Rebollar
On how he felt after scoring:
“I felt like I had to make up for the earlier shot that I had, the one that was close to the box. I had one like that versus Orange County and kind of whiffed it the same way, so it was a relief to make up for that missed shot.”

On the satisfaction of scoring in the final minute:
“It always makes everything worth it because we’re busting our tails the whole game. The first half didn’t go as expected, but we went to the locker room and talked to each other, and we knew we had to come out and have a better second half. That’s exactly what we did. We came out and it definitely showed that we wanted it more. It showed in the result.”

On his last-ditch tackle in the first half:
“I feel like I messed up at the beginning when the left back gave the ball to the striker, that was my man, so I had to track back. I was in the perfect spot to make the tackle and I did it, it felt great. Sometimes a tackle like that is just as important as a goal, and we saw plenty of those today from all of our defenders. All around the field everyone was giving it their all.”

On how the crowd factors into how he plays:
“It gives us that extra push, hearing the fans chant for 90 minutes. It’s like having another player on the field. We love it, we love our fans and everyone here, we always want to thank them.”

On solving El Paso’s defense in the second half:
“We spoke about coming out and working harder than we had. We struggled a bit in the first half, we knew it wasn’t how we usually play, and I think that’s what we took out of it. We knew that we could do better, and we came out and definitely showed it.”

Quote Sheet: MBFC 0-0 DET

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Cardinale Stadium; Seaside, California
Saturday, July 16, 2022

Sporting Director & Head Coach Frank Yallop
On limiting Detroit City FC’s chances:
“Any time you can get a clean sheet, it’s good for the whole team – not just the goalkeeper and the back four. I thought the whole team’s attitude and demeanor tonight was good. It was an even game, and they are a decent side. They are doing well in the East, and it showed tonight. They kept the ball for long periods in the second half, but I felt that the couple changes that we made, Jason [Johnson] and Seku [Conneh] coming on, freshened things up. I think it springboarded us to go forward and try to win the game. I’m really happy with the clean sheet and the performance. Antony [Siaha] had another solid game. Both teams had good chances and I think a draw was a fair result.”

On breaking down Detroit City FC’s defense:
“I think it’s more about the missed chances. In the first half it looked like we probably should have scored at least one, but we didn’t, and they came into the game like most teams do. I thought we defended our box very well tonight, with last ditch tackles and blocked shots. And we were a little bit unlucky not to have scored with Seku [Conneh]’s chance.”

On Jason Johnson’s instant impact:
“He’s come in to do that. He hasn’t played for over a year. It’s never easy to step onto the field with players he doesn’t really know and get used to the system that I want to play and how I want to do things, but he’s slotted right in. He’s now getting match fit and I was very happy with his performance both tonight and last weekend at Orange County. He made a difference tonight. Chris [Cortez] was a little unhappy with that header, it would have been a nice touch if JJ had gotten an assist tonight, but it was a decent performance by him.”

On three consecutive results and looking forward:
“I’m looking forward to the next home game next Saturday. A similar performance by us will hopefully get a result, but no game is ever easy. But we’re at home again and we obviously want to get some wins here. Performance wise, we’ve played very well in the last few games, and I’ve been happy with our demeanor and the way we’ve gone about things.”

Defender Grant Robinson
On having the backline together for several games in a row:
“As the results have shown in the last three, it means a lot to have all of us back in the rotation. It’s just a comfort level, it’s familiar and it’s a lot easier when we’re all together. It helps a lot having all four of us.”

On the result: 
“It’s frustrating, but that’s the game sometimes. We’ve all played long enough to know that’s how it’s going to be. The way they like to play gives us the ability to get some fast breaks, but they know it’s coming and they’re the type of team that’s ready to get everyone behind the ball and defend. It is frustrating that we didn’t get anything out of the game, a tie is one thing, but we want to win at home. We have another home game next weekend and we’ll go for it.”

On Antony Siaha: 
“All four of the guys who have come into goal this year have done a great job. It’s not easy, especially being a goalkeeper. Antony [Siaha] has been amazing the last two games, his first two games as a pro being two shutouts. It’s hard to ask for more from him than that and I know all of us are feeling comfortable with him as well as the other goalkeepers. All of these guys are really reliable back there and it’s huge to know they’re going to have our back.”

On the remaining calm defensively:
“It probably looks that way, but I promise we’re all wired. It’s very stressful as a back line. We want to show that we don’t give up goals, and as we get more and more shutouts it will look more relaxed and composed. It’s all confidence building. It’s good that from the outside it looks like we are settling in, but the mentality is probably even more intense than it has been.”

Goalkeeper Antony Siaha 
On a second consecutive clean sheet:
“I’m really proud of our defense tonight. We kept a shutout again and there weren’t too many shots for me to save in total. It was just a back and forth match, it was great.”

On keeping his composure between the sticks:
“I don’t know that I am very composed yet to be honest. There’s a whole bunch of stuff still going through my head during the match, but as long as I keep the ball out of the net, everything is good.”

On his confidence in the defense:
“I have full confidence in my back four and they have full confidence in me. It’s great because when I know my defense is doing good for me, I want to do better for them, and it keeps the energy up overall.”

On the team’s close chances offensively:
“We really wanted it, but unfortunately, we didn’t get one. That being said, it’s still a 0-0 draw and we got a point, so at the end of the day that’s a good thing.”

Quote Sheet: MBFC 2-0 OC

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Championship Soccer Stadium; Irvine, California
Saturday, July 9, 2022

Sporting Director & Head Coach Frank Yallop
On the result:
“I think it was well deserved to be honest. To come to a place like Orange County and get a shutout and score two good goals, I’m really proud of the guys. I felt comfortable from start to finish. They are a good side as we know, they won it last year, so they are always dangerous. But our guys handled it well, broke them down at the right times, and then for us to get those two good goals was great.”

On the defensive performance:
“Our back four was excellent tonight, really our back five with Antony [Siaha] included. It was his professional debut and it was fantastic. I’m really happy. I wanted to give him his shot in this game and he did great. He’s got a big upside, so hopefully he can continue what he is doing. I thought Hugh [Roberts] and Kai [Greene] were outstanding in the middle of the back four, and our two fullbacks were great as well. They have had a lot to deal with too with Grant [Robinson] finally coming back from injury, but it wasn’t just the back four tonight. I think the whole team was destined to win this game with the effort and togetherness that they had. They were very organized and it showed in the result.”

On carrying this momentum forward:
“This league is a crazy league. We’ve had a great result tonight, we’ll enjoy it, have a good week of practice and then look forward to playing Detroit City next weekend. They have been doing well in their conference in the East, so for me it’s just another tough game. We want to get better at home too. We’ve had three good wins on the road out of five, it’s time we have a couple of good wins at home. Hopefully we can do that next Saturday, but every game is tough.”

Goalkeeper Antony Siaha
On his professional debut:
“I just feel blessed. I knew it was going to happen exactly like this because I have been waiting for this for 24 years. I just wanted to come here, enjoy it, and play how I play.”

On earning the clean sheet:
“I have a great four guys in front of me. They all listen to me, we listen to each other, the communication is there. The goal was to keep a clean sheet and that is what we did. We made sure of it.”

Forward Christian Volesky
On earning another shutout victory on the road:
“It was massive for us. We got one point last week and then three today so we need to continue to carry that forward, and hopefully we have some momentum now. Coming up we have a schedule that we like. Our goal for the next four was 12 points, and we’ve taken that first step with three points tonight.”

On his goal and partnership with Morey Doner:
“Morey [Doner] and I have a relationship on and off the field. We talk a lot about crossing and finishing, and he’s come a long way. I can say that my runs have been there for most of the season, and to finally get rewarded feels good. But it’s really just a testament to how hard Morey has worked to not only get to that position, but to make the right pass. It really shows how much he’s grown.”

On the upcoming match against Detroit City FC:
“Now it’s time to break the wall down. We’ve been tip-toeing around getting results, and next week will be a big opportunity to get three more points and continue to carry that momentum. Let’s go as far as we can, we are only holding ourselves back at this point.”

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