Coming off a 1-1 tie at home against Bay Cities FC on Sunday, Albion San Diego now gears up for its toughest test of the season as they take on the NISA West Division leader Cal United Strikers FC at Canyon Crest Academy Stadium at 6 p.m. on June 10.

Albion San Diego currently has 14 points over its first seven matches sitting behind Bay Cities FC which has 18 points after 12 matches and first place Cal United which has 25 points after its nine matches.

Cal United is undefeated in its last 13 regular-season matches dating back to last season giving up only two draws during that span to the Maryland Bobcats and Bay Cities FC. This will be the first of four meetings between the two sides although Cal United and 1904 FC, the team that merged with Albion San Diego, played each other twice during the fall of 2021 with Cal United coming out with a 2-1 and 3-1 win to finish in second place in the standings behind Detroit City FC.

“Our entire club, from our youth players and coaches to pro team and front office, could not be more excited to take on our rivals from up Interstate 5, the Cal United Strikers,” said Albion San Diego co-owner and CFO Paul Redfern.

“The Strikers youth club has a great reputation as a top-notch organization, and many of our youth teams have played them over the seasons. It is no surprise their pro side is so well run and is leading the NISA standings.”

The top three teams from each division qualify for the playoffs with the winners getting a bye in the first round. Despite the fact that Albion San Diego currently sits in third place, the team led by head coach Ziggy Korytoski has only played seven matches, which is the least amount of games played along with LA Force in their division.

“I think this will be a special night for many reasons,” Redfern added. “Two historic Southern California clubs to have their senior professional teams competing. We get to see, for the first time this season, how we stack up against the Strikers.”

The match will be of special significance not just because it will be part of Youth Soccer Night, but also because Cal United goalkeeper Jean Gamain Antoine will be facing his former team. Antoine protected the net for ASC SD (Albion SC Pros) of the National Premier Soccer League from 2016 to 2019 before joining the professional ranks of San Diego 1904 FC in the fall of 2019.

Foto cortesía: David Frerker