Phoenix Rising FC wraps challenging preseason, sets sights on USL title

For players and coaches at Phoenix Rising FC's media day, the goals for this season are not subtle.

"This year, the motivation will be to be champions," head coach Patrice Carteron said.

Carteron's confidence is tied to the fact that he now gets to coach the club for an entire season. Last year, the Frenchman took over as head coach in late May, after Frank Yallop stepped aside for personal reasons.

"This time, it’s really totally different," Carteron said. "Last year, I came in the middle of the season, and it was difficult for me, but we reached the playoffs for the first time."

After Carteron took over, the Rising got hot in August, and in their 15 last games of the regular season, they lost only once. They were knocked out in the first round of the United Soccer League playoffs, losing to the Swope Park Rangers 4-2 in penalties.

Phoenix finished the season 17-8-7.

To gear up for this season, the Rising played a slate of MLS teams and traveled to Ecuador to face Liga Deportiva Universitaria, one of the country's top clubs. In six games, they notched one win over the New York Red Bulls, 2-1 in Tucson.

"It was so hard for the players, but I guess sometimes it's the best to prepare the players with more difficult games," Carteron said. "If we want to be competitive and we want to progress, it's not by playing easy games."

Coaches and players felt the loaded preseason helped them tune up for USL play. The international trip also led to team bonding, which players believe led to better team chemistry.

"It's been a grind, obviously, but it's been fun," forward Chris Cortez said. "The trip down to Ecuador was cool, a different experience, different atmosphere."

After a number of offseason transactions, the Rising will have a different look when they take the field this year. So with limited WiFi at the training sites in Ecuador, the team instead played card games, sang karaoke and watched movies, getting to know their new teammates off the field.

"There's a lot of camaraderie," said Kevaughn Frater, a Jamaican striker on loan from Harbour View. "Everyone is eager for success, and as a group, I think we did a good job of sticking together and helping each other out. We're just looking forward to the start of the season."

The roster will still be headlined by Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast’s all-time leading scorer and a four-time Premier League champion with Chelsea.

Drogba's 10 goals last season were good for second on the team, behind forward Jason Johnson's 13.

"We have a lot of talented players offensively," Carteron said. "We have to work defensively because we have a lot of young players. I think we needed to have another team this year. We needed to have young players."

The Rising will start their season on the road, taking on the Orange County Soccer Club on March 17. Their home opener will come one week later, against OKC Energy FC on March 24.

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