Elm City Set for Regional Round
- Updated: July 20, 2017
Photo credit: Zack Putnam
Less than a week after clinching its first postseason victory in club history, NPSL expansion club Elm City Express is aiming for an encore on Friday when they face Legacy 76 (Virginia) in the Northeast Regional Semifinal.
While few debut clubs reach the playoffs in Year 1 – nevermind find success when they get there – Express general manager Brian Neumeyer isn’t surprised by what his club has accomplished this season.
“Making the playoffs for us is very rewarding considering all of the work that our administrative team, coaching staff and players have put into this project,” Elm City General Manager Brian Neumeyer told NESoccerToday. “We are preparing for the game out in front of us with the same approach that we have with every match this season.”
That approached has certainly served the Express well. They went 9-1-2 (29 points) during the regular season, good for first place in the Atlantic Blue Conference, then staked a 2-0 victory over TSF FC in the Divisional final last weekend.
So what’s allowed the New Haven selection to find the kind of success that’s eluded some the league’s most established sides?
“We have a confident group that is ready to play along with a staff that has done everything it can as far as match preparation goes,” Neumeyer said.
Elm City will no doubt need to enter Friday’s showdown at Yale University’s Reese Stadium fully prepared and supremely confident against Legacy 76. While the Virginia outfit wasn’t the most impressive side during regular season play (2-3-3, 9 points), the Express have never faced them, so preparing against Legacy 76 won’t be easy.
But one key development that bodes well for Elm City: they’ve never lost at home. And pitted against a team that’ll be on the road for over seven hours ahead of Friday’s clash, the Express have to like their chances against Legacy 76.
“We’re looking for some good things Friday night,” Neumeyer said. “We are also hopeful that we can give the City of New Haven another great soccer experience the following Saturday.”
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