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Friday, June 3, 2016

Mama, The Silverbacks Are Coming Home - By Taylor Peyton

The home opener is finally upon us. The Silverbacks take on Myrtle Beach Mutiny in yet another battle for first place in the South Atlantic Conference. Both teams have 7 points this season after two wins and one draw each.

Myrtle Beach Mutiny were in action on Thursday against the Georgia Revolution and one-upped the Silverbacks by winning 4-0 in Conyers. The goals came from Kieran Geldenhuys, Richard Juul, and two from Jon Ibarrondo who became the Mutiny’s leading scorer on the season with three goals in total. This scoreline brought the Mutiny’s goal difference to +6, which is two better than the Silverbacks’ +4.

The Silverbacks have not played since their May 24 win over Carolina Railhawks NPSL. Kemar Brown, who was injured in the US Open Cup game against Reading United, has been training and seems to have fully recovered in time for the home opener like he said he would. We will find out in a timely manner if he is in the starting lineup. A few names that seem to be locked into every starting lineup as long as they are available for selection include Abu Tommy, Pedro Polaz, Johanning, and Gabriel Obatola. These four players have started every game so far for the Silverbacks. Douglas Diwa has played in all three games but didn’t come onto the field until the 80th minute against the Georgia Revolution.

It could be said that it’s too early in the season to be jumping to any conclusions, but believe it or not the halfway point of the season fast approaching. After June 10th every team in the South Atlantic Conference will have played five of their ten games. Right now it seems that the Silverbacks and Mutiny have been the two most consistent teams, they have both shown that they are capable of winning whether it be beautiful or ugly.

If there is a winner on Saturday between the Silverbacks and Mutiny, they will gain the high ground over their opponent, and if their consistency is sustained they could possibly start to run away with first place. Trust me when I say I’m not trying to hype this game up for no reason apart from just generating excitement. With the short schedule of the NPSL, every game really matters. It’s exciting but also a bit nerve racking at times. It is definitely still too early to say this game could make or break the Silverbacks’ season, especially since there will be a second game between these two teams. Stakes are still pretty high nonetheless.

When it is all said and done on Saturday, the Silverbacks will be chasing Myrtle Beach for the South Atlantic Conference crown, or they can look in their rear view mirror and see every other team in the conference chasing them. Make your way to Silverbacks Park on Saturday, find a seat that you like, and be in that seat at 7:30 when the game kicks off. Trust me; you don’t want to miss this.

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