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Mini skid doesn't dampen Rowdies' optimism

 
The Rowdies' Robert Hernandez, right, competes for the ball with FC Edmonton's Kareen Moses, left, during a game in July at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg. [LARA CERRI   |  Times]
The Rowdies' Robert Hernandez, right, competes for the ball with FC Edmonton's Kareen Moses, left, during a game in July at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg. [LARA CERRI | Times]
Published Aug. 8, 2015

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rowdies take the field tonight at Al Lang Stadium against the Jacksonville Armada seeking their first victory in five weeks.

But coach Thomas Rongen insists it isn't time to hit the panic button.

"We are very aware of our situation, obviously," he said. "We built in a cushion, thank god, in the spring season."

And with that cushion the Rowdies sit third in the combined NASL standings, despite collecting only one point in their past four matches.

The skid started with a 3-0 loss July 11 at San Antonio. Tampa Bay then lost back-to-back home decisions against Edmonton and Fort Lauderdale before picking up a point in a 1-1 draw last weekend at Carolina.

"This league is very (tight) top to bottom, not like MLS where three teams are out of the playoff race already," Rongen said.

In the 11-team NASL, the first-place New York Cosmos sit just 12 points in front of last-place Jacksonville, an expansion team, with more than two months left in the season. The fall champion will join the Cosmos as automatic playoff qualifiers; the teams with next two best combined records will also make the postseason.

That's why Rongen and the coaching staff are doing their best to keep the Rowdies loose and relaxed.

"We're having a little fun right now, we're still feeling relaxed and focused," Rongen said. "Our locker-room demeanor throughout the week is very similar. They have a little bit of fun when they come in; they turn it on when they need to turn it on, when it's time to work."

Midfielder Georgi Hristov admits there is pressure, but it's nothing Rowdies players haven't experienced before.

"In professional sports, it's normal to have pressure, and you have to deal with it," Hristov said. "That's why you are getting paid."

For the Rowdies, who sit five points behind the Cosmos, it's time to capitalize on the downtrodden Armada, whom Rongen characterized as "vulnerable" and possibly feeling the same pressure.

Just like the Rowdies, Jacksonville has struggled early in the fall season. The Armada dropped its first three games but picked up four points with a win and a draw in its past two.

The good news for the Rowdies is that their injury list is dwindling. Defender Stefan Antonijevic (hamstring) is still out, but forward Freddy Adu is close to coming back from an issue with his Achilles tendon.

"Now we can choose from 20 players; a few weeks ago it was barely 16, and that's good competition for spots," Rongen said.

Rongen hopes a deeper bench will lead to more balls in the opposing net. The Rowdies have scored just twice in their winless streak and allowed eight goals.

"We're still in third place; there's no reason for (the players) or for me to push that panic button," Rongen said. "We're still very confident in this team, and now we can be very successful going forward."