Huntsville City FC adds former Notre Dame goalkeeper ahead of home match

HUNTSVILLE – The Boys (in Blue) are back in town and look to break a two-match losing skid tonight.

Huntsville City FC, which this week added goalkeeper Bryan Dowd on loan from Chicago Fire of the MLS, take on Carolina Core FC for the second time this month. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Dowd is eligible to play against Carolina Core FC.

“They’re a very, very dangerous team,” Huntsville City FC coach Christophe Berra said. “They create chance. They won their last game against Chattanooga and they’re dangerous. They’ve got dangerous players. So we need to, again, respect our opponent, know their strengths and weaknesses, but we focus on ourselves as well.”

Huntsville City (2-9-3-0, 9 points) is coming off a 2-1 loss at Cincinnati. Carolina Core (2-7-3-2, 11 points) defeated Chattanooga 2-1 in its last outing. The Boys in Blue won the first matchup with Carolina 4-1.

“We’re doing a lot right,” Berra said. “It’s just those fine details and we keep working away and, you know, we’re just looking forward to the game Friday night and back at our home stadium. And to get a victory.”

Tickets to see the Boys in Blue take on Carolina Core FC  can be purchased here.

Here are five things to know for tonight’s match, streamed live on MLS Season Pass on AppleTV:

1. Tonight’s match will also serve as Public Works night at Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium. Ahead of kickoff, guests can take pictures and get closer looks at public works vehicles, like tractors and excavators. Additionally, participants in this week’s Ring of Fire game will be outfitted with construction hard hats.
2. Huntsville City FC earned a 4-1 win against Carolina Core FC on June 1 in Core’s home opening match at Truist Point in High Point, N.C. After falling behind early in the second half, the Boys in Blue scored four straight goals to take three points back to the Rocket City. Forster Ajago, Tyler Pasnik, and Adem Sipić (two) each scored in the win.
3. Bryan Dowd was drafted sixth overall by his hometown club in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft after leading Notre Dame to the final of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship. Dowd started 21 times for the Irish during the 2023 season, posting a career-best .699 goals against average and becoming the only goalkeeper to be named a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is awarded annually to the top men’s and women’s collegiate soccer player
4. Huntsville City FC supporters will see a familiar face in a Carolina Core FC uniform this weekend. Forward Tyler Freeman spent the first half of 2023 in Huntsville, recording 10 appearances and five starts before being loaned to Birmingham Legion FC of the USL Championship in July 2023.

5. HCFC has transferred midfielder Isaiah Johnston to Loudoun United FC of the USL Championship in exchange for an undisclosed fee. Johnston was the club’s first signing on Dec. 19, 2022. The Canadian made his debut April 16, 2023 against New York Red Bulls II and would make his first start three weeks later against Columbus Crew 2. He served as team captain in the historic home opening match May 19, 2023. He leaves the Rocket City with 33 appearances and 27 starts over 2,423 minutes played, recording three goals and four assists.