After a variety of players not usually considered starters played their part in Saturday’s 6-3 victory over Las Vegas Lights, Phoenix Rising coach Rick Schantz touted the depth of his squad as a “massive” advantage for his side two weeks from the playoffs.
“I think we can change five players going into the first game and not miss a beat,” Schantz said. “I’m so proud of that. I think it’s a spectacular job by the staff and players, that it doesn’t kill our team to be able to do that.”
It wasn’t that way throughout the year, though.
“At one point this season, we were kind of questioning our depth, and we didn’t know, were we really that deep?” Schantz said. “We had a lot of good players in name, but it takes a little bit of time to get used to our style, our system. Then we had players go out on loan. We released a player. We brought in two new guys. I mean, these are all things that I thought were very calculated. We knew what we wanted to do and the personalities we needed, and we got lucky, you know.
“David [Loera] has been fantastic. Luis [Manuel Seijas] has been fantastic. But what it’s done is it’s helped Arturo [Rodriguez] as a pro. It’s forcing him to compete every day. It’s helped [Jon] Bakero. Now we’ve moved him to a 9, I think he’s reinvigorated. I think Tate [Schmitt] and Ryan [Flood] have been competing, and it’s helping Ryan understand that as a young rookie, life is not easy. If I look back on this season, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster emotionally for many of our players, but it’s been unbelievable that we’re sitting here having this discussion with 20 wins.”
The team is being forced to rely on that depth at the moment, with both Darren Mattocks and Solomon Asante missing the last two games through injury. While both have now resumed training, Schantz said they won’t be ready to play a full 90 minutes just yet.
Meanwhile, the battle for the final playoff spot in the neighbouring Mountain Division is heating up, with one of New Mexico United, Rio Grande Valley or Austin Bold set to face Phoenix. At present, only two points separate all three sides.
“New Mexico is different,” Schantz said. “They play a little bit more open, a little bit more possession football. It was an exciting game against them here. RGV could possibly get in. They’re pretty good on the counter attack. That could be dangerous. Austin is probably one of the most veteran teams in the league.”
Austin almost claimed pole position in the race, before conceding an 89th minute goal to Real Monarchs that followed a red cards for each side for violent conduct just minutes prior. Bold’s Jorge Troncoso has since been handed a three game ban by the league for punching Monarchs’ teenage goalkeeper.
“It was ridiculous,” Schantz said. “Their team was fighting back trying to get another goal. I think that tied the game up, and to get a red card is beyond me. I would lose my mind if any of my players ever did that.”
For now, though, the focus is on Phoenix, and Rising’s coach issued a challenge to its supporters.
“I can’t wait to see 10,000 people in this stadium over the next month,” Schantz said. “We need to fill it up. We need every one of them, because it’s going to be difficult. In order to win this thing, it’s going to take six games the way I figure it, and that starts this Saturday.”
Rising’s final two regular season matches are at home, starting with Sacramento Republic on Saturday.
Want to hear more? Preview Saturday’s game with Rising Matchday – streaming at 9 a.m. Saturday morning on YouTube and Facebook, and available on demand shortly after.