Arizona United hopes second year brings playoff push

For the first time in its brief history, Arizona United Soccer Club had the luxury of having an offseason.

The second-year club was created just weeks before the United Soccer League PRO season last year, and ownership had to scramble to create a team.

This year, the team had more than a month of offseason training and played in three preseason games, while USL dropped the PRO from its official league name and added 13 teams with seven of them operated by Major League Soccer teams.

The league now features 24 teams split into two conferences: Eastern and Western.

"Now, it's game on. Preseason is behind us, we did everything that we wanted to do," head coach Michael Dellorusso said. "We got everything accomplished like we wanted to, as far as getting them physically ready and mentally ready, and now, we're looking forward to the important stuff."

The team will kick off its regular season on Saturday as it travels to take on the Orange County Blues FC. After finishing 10-5-13 last year, the team hopes to improve enough to qualify for the playoffs.

"We're just looking to be consistent as much as we can, build off last season and then hopefully make the playoffs. Because once you're in the playoffs, you never know what can happen," defender Scott Morrison said. "There's always been a lot of talk about professional soccer in Arizona, but people now feel that this is it. People like the organization. People like the brand of Arizona United. Everyone's got a good feeling about it, which is great. It's helping the club."

Morrison is one of 10 returners for United. Most notably, the team has signed three former players from Orlando City. Orlando City made the jump from USL to MLS for the 2015 campaign and revamped its roster with several high-level acquisitions (former Ballon D'or winner and FIFA Player of the Year, Kaká).

Goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski, defender Rob Valentino and forward Dennis Chin all joined United this offseason.

"You're starting to see billboards pop up around town. Coach Dellorusso and we've all really talked about building an identity for this club," Woszczynski said. "This is the biggest professional market without an MLS team, so we think we can kind of fill that void. Even if it's not the MLS, build that great support and a great fanbase in this area."

Woszczynski and Valentino both signed with the team early in the offseason and were able to convince Chin (the league leader in goals in 2013) to join them last week.

"After I left Orlando, I went to Europe for a little bit. It was good, but the style of play was a little bit different. Meanwhile, I was talking to Rob, Carl and (Long) Tan, guys from Orlando City who said they were building something good over here," Chin said. "When it came down to it, nothing beat this weather and the team they're building here."

Another big change this offseason was the move to a new stadium. The team previously played in the Peoria Sports Complex, but will now call Scottsdale Stadium home.

"Everybody knows what Scottsdale is like. There's not much to do from 7-9 p.m. in downtown Scottsdale," Dellorusso said. "There's plenty to do before and plenty to do after, but now we're that thing that people can go and enjoy. We're very excited and we're looking forward to it."

The team will have to wait until April 25 to play in Scottsdale, as its first four games are on the road. Regardless, there's a feeling around the locker room that the team will make a big leap this year.

"Things have been coming together. As Coach Dellorusso said the whole time, it's a progression. So we started building, and we've built to this level," Woszczynski said. "I think most importantly, this is a great group of guys we've got together. A great group of guys from last year, and a great group of guys that we've brought in."

2015 Arizona United SC Schedule

Saturday: Arizona United SC at Orange County Blues FC, 7 p.m.

April 2: Arizona United SC at LA Galaxy II, 7:30 p.m.

April 11: Arizona United SC at Austin Aztex, 6 p.m.

April 18: Arizona United SC at Orange County Blues FC, 7 p.m.

April 25: Portland Timbers 2 at Arizona United SC, 7:30 p.m.

May 2: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Arizona United SC, 7:30 p.m.

May 9: Tulsa Roughnecks FC at Arizona United SC, 7:30 p.m.

May 16: Austin Aztex at Arizona United SC, 7:30 p.m.

May 23: Arizona United SC at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 6 p.m.

May 31: Arizona United SC at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, 2 p.m.

June 13: Sacramento Republic FC at Arizona United SC, 7:30 p.m.

June 20: Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Arizona United SC, 7:30 p.m.

June 27: Real Monarchs SLC at Arizona United SC, 7:30 p.m.

July 2: Arizona United SC at Portland Timbers 2, 7 p.m.

July 5: Orange County Blues FC at Arizona United SC, 7:30 p.m.

July 12: Arizona United SC at Seattle Sounders FC 2, 5 p.m.

July 17: Arizona United SC at Austin Aztex, 6 p.m.

July 25: Austin Aztex at Arizona United SC, 7:30 p.m.

July 31: Arizona United SC at OKC Energy FC, 5 p.m.

Aug. 2: Arizona United SC at Tulsa Roughnecks FC, 5:30 p.m.

Aug. 9: Arizona United SC at LA Galaxy II, 4 p.m.

Aug. 15: Orange County Blues FC at Arizona United SC, 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 22: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 at Arizona United SC, 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 29: LA Galaxy II at Arizona United SC, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 5: Real Monarchs SLC at Arizona United SC, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 12: Arizona United SC at Real Monarchs SLC, 3 p.m.

Sept. 16: OKC Energy FC at Arizona United SC, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 19: Arizona United SC at Sacramento Republic FC, 7:30 p.m.