HUNTSVILLE – Whatever it is called – mojo, momentum, motivation – the Huntsville City Football Club wants more of it.
After failing to notch a win over the first 10 games of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season, the Boys in Blue are suddenly on a roll after winning for the second straight match. And there’s really no magic — the squad is getting healthy and adding some new faces to the roster.
HCFC (2-7-3-0, 9 points) defeated Crown Legacy FC 4-2 Saturday night at Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium through a Forster Ajago brace and goals from Jony Bolaños and Woobens Pacius.
“Playing ten games and not winning is tough,” Ajago said after the match. “When you practice from Monday to Friday and you don’t get results on Saturday it’s disappointing. But at the end of the day, you know, it happens, it’s life and part of the game. Sometimes you go up, sometimes you go down.”
HCFC moved out of last place in the 15-team Eastern Conference with nine points ahead of Carolina (1-6-3-2, 8 points), which HCFC beat 4-0 last week for its first victory. The Boys in Blue have scored eight goals the last two matches after scoring 10 total in the first 10.
“I think when we’re down it’s all about believing, working hard, working extra, trying to stay healthy and getting everybody on board to believe in one purpose,” Ajago said. “And I think we believe in the purpose and now I think we begin to get results.”
Pacius was making his HCFC and MLS Next Pro debut as was defender Will Perkins, added prior to the match on short-term loan from Union Omaha. Midfielder Axel Picazo was also added before the match and recorded an assist.
Along with the new additions and the recent return of Ajago among other injured players, has created a new vibe for the squad.
“Competition is healthy,” HCFC interim coach Christophe Berra said. “You can get complacent. Sometimes you need someone on the bench looking so you always look over your shoulder to make sure you get the razor game and get your maximum effort.”
The Boys in Blue will be back in action Sunday to host Chicago Fire FC II at 6 p.m. Tickets to the match can be purchased here.
Game notes:
- Huntsville City FC
- scored the opening goal of a match for the first time since April 13 vs. Crown Legacy FC
- has scored eight goals in its last two matches
- is undefeated against Crown Legacy FC at Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium (2W-0L-1D, 0SOW)
- have had two players start every match this season: Jony Bolaños and Fernando Ciceron
- Forster Ajago
- scored his team-leading fourth and fifth goals of the season
- has scored five goals in his last four games
- Jony Bolaños
- served as team captain for the seventh-straight match
- scored his fourth goal of the season
- recorded his team-leading fourth and fifth assists of the season
- has recorded four assists in his last two matches
- Simon Jillson made his Huntsville City FC debut
- Ethan O’Brien made his first Huntsville City FC and MLS NEXT Pro start
- Ollie Wright recorded his fourth assist of the season
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