New York Red Bulls II get their 2020 season started at home against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday March 7.

Here are the Three Keys to the Game:

Home Cooking

Red Bulls II gets their season rolling at MSU Soccer Park, a place that was kind to them during the regular season. At home, NYRB II went 11-3-3 during the 2019 season. Five of the team’s first seven games are at home, affording the squad an opportunity to follow up on the strong home showing from 2019.

Two Sides That Know Each Other Well

Tampa Bay and Red Bulls II have co-existed in the USL Championship since 2017, when Tampa Bay made the transition from the NASL to the USL Championship. The two teams have faced off seven times in three seasons, including a Conference Semifinals matchup in 2017, which saw the Red Bulls come out victorious. Overall, the Red Bulls have won four of the seven matchups, losing two and tying the other. The first of the two games they will play against each other comes in the season opener at MSU Soccer Park, with the second game being in Tampa on June 24.

Same Face, New Place

A familiar face will be playing opposite the Red Bulls in the March 7 opener. Evan Louro, who has been the team’s goalkeeper for each of the last three seasons, will be making his Tampa Bay debut against NYRB II. During his three seasons with the club, Louro started 71 matches, had 11 clean sheets and a 30-21-20 record. He also leaves New York leading the franchise in games played, games started, saves, and minutes played, with 6,480.