Michael Parsons

FLORIDA TODAY

Orlando City B has struggled to score in the first three games of the season, but that might change tonight.

Michael Cox is expected to make his first home start for OCB when they host the Harrisbug City Islanders at 7:30 p.m. at Titan Soccer Complex on the campus of Eastern Florida State College's Melbourne campus.

After a strong preseason, Cox injured his knee and missed the first two games of the season. But in his first start against Louisville City FC, Cox scored on a pass from Richie Laryea five minutes into the contest.

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“For me, I want to score goals for the team, that is my job as a striker and I am going to be doing my best to do my job well,” Cox said this week. “It’s been a building process, we are a new team and every day it is getting better. We should see some good results really soon.”

Coach Anthony Pulis agrees that while it was not the start he wanted, he believes the best is yet to come for the young team.

“The first three games have shown how competitive this league is,” Pulis said. “I think we have shown flashes of good bits, some not so good bits but so far it has been a real good learning experience. They played against a side in Louisville who I think are going to be the best team in the East this year so they have seen what the best is like and the level that we have to get to and we are working real hard this week to make sure we put in a good performance Saturday.”

Harrisburg comes into the matchup 0-2 and had its last game washed out so has not played in a couple of weeks. The team fell just short of the playoffs last year, finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference.

“I think the thing that has been clear this year is that there are no easy games in this league, and we have to approach every game the same and we have to have a good mentality, but we believe that if we can execute the game plan, then we have a decent chance of getting something out of it,” Pulis said.

Both the coach and Cox believe they are getting better each week and that the first win is just around the corner.

“Of course a little bit of a disappointment in the start but we know there is a long way to go so we are confident we can figure it out,” Cox said. “We have team goals that we are trying to accomplish – the playoffs. That’s really my goal, to do the best for the team and contribute to obtaining that goal.”

A win tonight against Harrisburg City will go a long way toward that goal.

Saturday night's game

Who: Orlando City B vs. Harrisburg City

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Titan Soccer Complex, Eastern Florida State College

Tickets: Begin at $12 at OrlandoCitySC.com/OCB or can be purchased at the gate