Turlock home opener; Crunch v. Mustangs doubleheader to highlight Week 8 in M2

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Turlock Express will finally get to open the home portion of their Major Arena Soccer League 2 schedule this weekend when they host the Ontario Fury 2 Friday night to kick off a busy weekend of pro indoor soccer throughout the country.

The Express had their original Jan. 14 home opener against San Diego postponed due to Covid-19 concerns, and come into the game having played just once previously. That was on Jan. 8 against the Fury in Ontario, with the hosts winning 10-2. 

Turlock will be looking for its first win in three starts, while the Fury come in at 2-2. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PST. Broadcast information will be posted HERE.

The Cleveland, Chicago rivalry goes back over a number of years and leagues, so the doubleheader in Cleveland this weekend will be for bragging rights as the Mustangs look to snap Cleveland's undefeated start to the regular season.

They are also meaningful to the Eastern Division standings since the defending champion Crunch come in at 3-0 while Chicago is 2-1 to start the year. Kickoff Saturday is at 7 p.m. EST while Sunday's start is scehduled for 3:30 p.m. Ticket and broadcast information will be posted  HERE.

Mike Derezic ;leads the offense with eight goals in two games, including a six-goal game against Muskegon on Jan. 15. Goaltender Marijo Musa is second in the league in both saves percentage and goals against average.

For the Mustangs, Angel Rodriguez is the leading scorer with five goals and seven assists, while Alex Gomez is the leading goal Chicago goal scorer with six.

Amarillo and Omaha will meet for the first time in the 2021-22 season in Omaha. Kickoff is 5 p.m. CST, and broadcast information will be posted HERE.

Omaha's Murilo Ceruli is among the offensive leaders in M2 this year, No. 1 in overall points with 18 and assists with 11. Leonides Mejia leads the Kings in goals with 10. Amarillo is led by Conrod Goulbourne (five goals, five assists) and Vitor Patriani (nine goals and one assist). 

The Inferno will get a visit from one of the sport's most iconic franchises, the Wichita Wings, in a 7 p.m. MST kickoff. Ticket and broadcast information will be posted HERE.

The Wings come in led by veteran standout Kevin Ten Eyck who has seven goals and six assists. Leading Wichita in goals this year is Bransyn Felty with 10. Colorado Springs fans will be rocking the Soccer Haus for Armando Gonzalez who leads the team with three goals and six assists, and Francisco Rivas who leads the team in goals with five.

Muskegon will take to the turf at Mercy Health Arena in a 7 p.m. start Saturday against the Cincinnati-based BC Swerve. The Risers are 2-4 and the Swerve will be looking for a win after opening with two losses. Ticket and broadcast information can be found HERE.

The Risers feature the league's leading goal scorer in Ryan Zietlow who has banged home 11 goals already this year. Andrej Novakovic has been the Swerve's most dangerous threat, wtih four goals in two games.