The Tampa Bay Rowdies will attempt to maintain their perfect start to the season Saturday night when they host Loudoun United FC at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg. The Rowdies enter the match with a 2-0-0 record and 6 points, placing them third in the Eastern Conference, while Loudoun United sits 11th with a 0-1-1 record and 1 point. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, with the match broadcast on Tampa Bay 44 and CBS Sports Golazo.
The Rowdies are coming off a commanding 3-0 victory over defending league champions Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC last week. Tampa Bay stands as the only club without a goal allowed this year and is one of just three teams that have yet to lose or draw a match. The team has already matched the total number of shutouts from last season with their perfect defensive record through two games.
Forwards MD Myers and Evan Conway made impressive debuts in the Pittsburgh victory, with Myers scoring the second goal and assisting on Conway’s third goal in added time. Myers brings proven efficiency to the Rowdies attack, posting a 69.4 shooting accuracy rate over the last two seasons while with Charleston. Conway extended his scoring streak to four straight regular season matches, having scored in his last three regular season appearances for North Carolina FC before joining Tampa Bay.
Goalkeeper Austiin Pack will make his first start of the season with Jahmali Waite on international duty for the Jamaica National Team. The 32-year-old Pack brings extensive USL Championship experience from stints at Portland Timbers 2, Pittsburgh, and Hartford Athletic. Most recently, Pack played for South Georgia Tormenta FC during the 2025 season and earned USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2023 while with Charlotte Independence.
Rowdies Head Coach Dominic Casciato earned his first USL Championship Coach of the Week selection since taking charge last July following the victory over Pittsburgh. Casciato has successfully integrated 20 new faces brought in during an offseason overhaul, with the team recording back-to-back wins to start the season for the first time since 2021. The Rowdies have historically dominated the series against Loudoun with 8 wins and 2 draws in 14 contests, though Loudoun has performed better in recent meetings.
Loudoun United enters Saturday’s match under new leadership after the departure of former head coach Ryan Martin, who now leads Oakland Roots SC. Australian Anthony Limbrick has taken over as head coach, marking his first coaching stint in America after primarily coaching in England’s lower leagues. The club is coming off their most successful season in history last year, earning their first-ever playoff appearance.
Goalkeeper Adam Beaudry earned a spot on the USL Championship Team of the Week after making 10 saves in Loudoun’s scoreless draw against Miami FC. The 19-year-old goalkeeper is on loan from Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids and helped Loudoun earn their first point of the season. The club retained 2025 USL Championship Young Player of the Year winner Abdellatif Aboukoura, though he has yet to take the field this season.
Two former Rowdies players now call Loudoun United home, with goalkeeper Ethan Bandre and midfielder Pacifique Niyongabire both signing with the club in the offseason. Bandre started Loudoun’s season opener and U.S. Open Cup win over West Chester United but did not play in last week’s draw against Miami FC. Conversely, Rowdies center back Yanis Leerman began his professional career with Loudoun, spending three seasons there before moving to Tampa Bay.
Fans attending Saturday’s match can visit the Michelob Ultra Fan Zone outside Gate 2 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for games and activities, with $3 Michelob Ultras available while supplies last. Attendees can also enter for a chance to win two tickets for this year’s FIFA World Cup by scanning the Michelob Ultra World Cup Giveaway stand in the Fan Zone. The last time the Rowdies defeated Loudoun was in September of 2023, making Saturday’s match crucial for maintaining momentum in their championship pursuit.