• Rio Grande Valley (4 wins, 12 draws, 10 losses) currently sits in 15^th spot in the USL Western Conference with 24 points, 13 places below and 26 points behind Rising, who can go level on points with Conference leaders Real Monarchs if they win tonight.
• The two sides last met back in June at H-E-B Park, with Rising having to settle for a 0-0 draw despite having 13 second half shots.
• Since that game, RGV has picked up 3 wins and 4 draws in 11 games.  The 3 victories came against LV Lights (2-0) and the Switchbacks at home (1-0), and at Orange County away (2-0) on August 25.
• RGV’s impressive victory at Orange County is their only 3 point return on the road this season.  However, they have also picked up away points at Fresno (2-2), Saint Louis (0-0), Swope (0-0), and Los Dos (1-1).

• There have been several changes to the RGV roster since their June 23 draw with Rising.  Midfielders Jhon Montaño and Zach Wright, plus forward Guillermo Delgado, have all left H-E-Park by mutual agreement.  They have been replaced by forward Carlos Small, and midfielders Romilio Hernandez and Brandon Morales.
• Romilio Hernandez is no stranger to the desert, having made two starts for Rising in 2017.  The 23-year-old midfielder has earned 6 call-ups for El Salvador’s U20 team, including games in the 2015 CONCACAF Championship.
• 18-year-old Brandon Morales became the first Toros Academy player to sign a professional contract with RGV in July, but is still awaiting his first team debut.
• Forward Carlos Small joined the club on loan from Árabe Unido (Panama) in early July, scoring twice in 7 appearances (334 minutes).  Small opened the scoring in a 2-1 defeat away to Sacramento, and also scored RGV’s second away to Orange County in first half stoppage time 11 days ago. Known for his strength and speed, Small has scored 24 goals in 85 games since making his debut in 2016, and has also earned 2 full international caps for Panama in 2016 and 2017 friendlies against El Salvador and Grenada.
• The acquisition of Small is clearly intended to increase RGV’s attacking prowess.  RGV currently has the worst shot conversion rate (10%) and the third lowest goals tally (25) in USL.

• Forward Jesús Enriquez is the top scorer for RGV with 5 goals this season. Born in California, he came through the youth ranks at Club Tijuana (Mexico), before moving to Texas ahead of this season.  Enriquez scored in RGV’s last game away to San Antonio, but his 3^rd minute opener was cancelled out by 3 second half goals by the home side.
• Aldo Quintanilla has scored 4 goals so far this season. Arriving from Querétaro Premier (Mexico) over the winter, he impressed enough early in the season to earn a call up for parent club Houston Dynamo in the US Open Cup, but has yet to find the net for RGV since.
• Argentinian midfielder Matías Zaldívar has scored 3 times for RGV this season, including two on the road at Sounders 2 and Orange County.
• Todd Wharton is the leading chance creator for RGV (54 in 23 appearances). The 24-year-old will have to be careful though, as he is just one caution shy of a suspension.  Wharton has also clocked up the most game time this season – 2,012 minutes in 23 out of a possible 26 games.
• RGV is a little stronger in defense than up front.  The team has recorded 10 clean sheets this season – the 8^th highest number in the league.  This includes 3 shutouts on the road at Swope, Saint Louis, and Orange County.
• Nevertheless, RGV do appear more susceptible after the half-time break.  A staggering 25 of the 32 goals conceded by RGV this season have been scored in the second half, including 21 in the last 30 minutes of games.

• Nicolas Corti is RGV’s first choice in goal. Since joining from Burlingame Dragons in the PDL, he’s kept 6 clean sheets in 19 appearances.
• Tyler Deric (1 clean sheet in 2) and Michael Nelson (3 clean sheets in 4) have also featured in goal for RGV in recent weeks.
• Deric’s clean sheet away to Orange County on August 25 earned him a place in the USL Team of the Week.
• Nelson has an impressive 94.1% save success rate in his 4 league games to date.

• RGV rarely incurs the wrath of match officials.  They’ve recorded the 3rd lowest yellow card tally this season (34), and only one red card.  Zaldívar was dismissed for a 94^th minute second yellow in the 3-2 defeat away to Timbers 2 back in April.

From the Ashes Prediction:  Rising to grind out another win, despite the absence of Kevon Lambert and Shaft Brewer Jr. on international duty.