After earning their first point of the regular season in a 1-1 road draw against LA Force on April 23, Albion San Diego returns home to take on Gold Star FC Detroit on Sunday, May 7 at Canyon Crest Academy Stadium. This match will be the first time the two teams have met in NISA competition with Albion San Diego joining the league in 2022 and this being the first season for Gold Star.

“I hope to see the team keep growing and being better in all the moments of the game,” said Albion San Diego head coach Diego Gomez. “Implementing the things that we have been working on during the week plus keeping the good things that we did versus LA Force. We are looking forward to taking the three points.”

Albion is coming off an impressive season where they reached the championship game against the Michigan Stars and once again have the services of veteran midfielder Tyler Gabarra, forward Jonathan Bazaes, and midfielder Misael Mendoza, in addition to the signings of midfielders Shinya Kadono and Cyrus Tran, along with a plethora of younger players led by 15-year-old Sebastian Szydlo, who is the first Albion Nation’s national affiliate player to sign a full professional contract.

As for Gold Star FC Detroit, it has already played four games this season including a 5-0 rout of the Savannah Clovers in their most recent match. Gold Star is led by head coach Alex Lubyansky with the team recently signing veteran and former Chattanooga FC goalkeeper Alec Redington to the roster.

Albion San Diego has played two games this NISA season – against Chattanooga FC and LA Force – in addition to its US Open Cup match versus San Diego Loyal on April 5.

“I am happy with the players, it is a very young group and they were able to work very hard and stay positive during the week,” Gomez added. Albion will play a total of 13 home games and 11 away this season including six-straight home games beginning on Aug. 8 against Club de Lyon FC. The match on May 7 at Canyon Crest Academy has a 5 p.m. start.

Photo courtesy: David Frerker