FC Tucson has early season rematch

The season is still new, but FC Tucson is already scheduled for a rematch. Saturday's match is against Pali Blues, a team that FC Tucson beat on May 12.

The Blues have not have the best of seasons so far. Their last goal was scored by Evan Raynr in a draw against the Orange County Blue Star on May 4. The only points they have earned this season are from that draw and another scoreless one against the Southern California Seahorses.

Even so, head coach Rick Schantz is taking nothing for granted.

"It wasn't as if we dominated that match when we were down a man," Schantz said. "We were really hanging on and (Pali Blues) had a lot of possession and it was just hard work and grit that didn't give up a goal."

"To expect that (our team's) performance would make the guys feel like 'Oh, we're going to easily win this game.' If anything it might be the very opposite," he said. "It was a difficult win. It wasn't easy and we expect that they're going to want revenge."

Kick off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Field No. 5 at the Kino Sports Complex.

New faces Saturday

Three University of San Diego players will be joining the team. One is truly new to the squad.

Midfielder James Cohn could be making his first appearance Saturday. Cohn was an all-conference player for Brophy Prep in Phoenix, and started 19 games for the USD Toreros last season.

Tucson native goalkeeper Michael D'Arrigo and defender Eli Galbraith-Knapp made the trip to Pacific Palisades for the previous game against the Blues, but will be joining the team on a more permanent basis now that school is out.

Other players training with the team this week, according to general manager Jonathan Pearlman, are University of Massachusetts and former Ironwood Ridge defender Nigel Negm and University of New Mexico defender Riley McGovern.

Reason to be Blue?

Pali feels like they have something to prove to FC Tucson. They were unable to break the team down despite FC Tucson playing a man down after Kevin King received a red card.

"They are very hungry for three points," said Zack Goldman, Pali's director of operations. "They want revenge."

Who does this team look for production? Evan Raynr scored in their first match, but it turned out to be not his only goal, but the only goal his team has scored.

"He's highly regarded," said Goldman of Raynr, who played in 23 matches last season for UCLA.

Still, like FC Tucson, Pali is a team still in formation, still getting used to each other.

"The team is starting to gel," said Goldman. "They are all still finding their feet."

Papa on PDL Team of the Week

Thursday, the Premier Development League released its Team of the Week, and it included Dominic Papa. Although both Travis Sanchez and Donny Toia have been on previous "honorable mention" lists, Papa is the first FC Tucson player to be selected to the Team of the Week.

Papa was a solid member of the back line in the shut-out of the Seahorses on Saturday, but also pushed forward enough to record four shots on goal.

Tucson's Donny Toia, who scored in that match, was named as an honorable mention, his second time to be selected.

The PDL's Player of the Week honor went to Mark Sherrod of the Portland Timbers U-23. Sherrod scored a hat trick in his team's 4-1 win over the Victoria Highlanders.

Catching up with Analisa Marquez

Former University of Arizona forward Analisa Marquez has re-started her playing career after a torn ACL stopped her from playing for an Australian team. She is now signed on with the lower division Women's Professional Soccer League's Phoenix del Sol.

Marquez had already had a taste of the top level when she had played for the Boston Breakers and the Atlanta Beat of Women's Professional Soccer.

Unfortunately for her and other women players, the league put itself on hiatus back in January. Last week, they announced that they were shutting down permanently.

Count Marquez as one of many in women's soccer who is frustrated with the lack of a stable first division professional league in this country.

"It's disappointing that we can't keep a league in the United States when all other countries can," she said.

Her current team, Phoenix del Sol, sits atop the Big Sky North Division after last week's emphatic 8-0 win over FC St. George. Their next match is also against St. George on June 4.