PREVIEW: “Full Focus on Tulsa”

Rising Match Preview Presented By NAU

Heating up at the right time, Rising (11-8-8) won three matches in eight days last week, but head coach Juan Guerra is not interested in talking about the past as Phoenix travels to Tulsa (8-12-8) Saturday (5:30 p.m. on AZFSEN & ESPN+).

“What happened last week doesn’t matter,” said Guerra. “Full focus is on Tulsa. To us, it is the most important game this year.”

Tulsa is just 1-3-1 in its last four matches but came up with a vital win against a tough San Antonio side last time out.

“Watching that game back, I thought Tulsa came out full of energy against San Antonio,” said Guerra. “They wanted to go forward and create. They defended very well. You could see players trying their best to play their way out of turbulent times. Coming into that match they had some matches that did not go their way, but they found a way to get a win.”

Longtime Tulsa midfielder Eric Bird had a goal and an assist that 2-1 win against San Antonio. Last season Bird shared a locker room with Phoenix’s Gabi Torres.

“I certainly respect the opponent and going back to Tulsa will be special,” said Torres, who is tied for the team lead in assists this season despite missing several matches due to injury. “We have seven games left. From now to the end of the season, every team we play needs to win. Everyone will be hungry for three points. It’s going to be a make-or-break game for them. We need to match their intensity.”

Tulsa sits in the eighth and final playoff spot in the East – a position Rising was in less than a month ago.

“There are a lot of growing pains in the first year,” said Guerra. “That is what I have seen from Tulsa. It’s a team that does a lot of good things, but it is also a new team that has to go through those turbulent moments. It’s a tough league. Better players, better coaches keep coming into it and [former Rising Assistant Coach] Blair [Gavin] is one of them. His awareness and tactical knowledge – how organized he is… you can see it.”

“It is going to be a difficult match,” said Guerra. “We have to match their intensity. Concentration levels are high. The hungriness of the players is on. We have turned the page from last week. They’re ready to go again.”