1st Place FC Tulsa Prepares For Crucial Home Match: 'There's A Lot Of Positives To Take Away In Terms Of Results, But We Can Be Better'

FC Tulsa wraps up a stretch of three matches in seven days on Saturday night, as the club hosts New Mexico United. Tulsa is coming off a 3-2 comeback win at Monterey Bay FC on Wednesday night. Tulsa is now riding an 11-match unbeaten streak, which is a club record. That breaks the previous record of 10 games set during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The victory also set a club record for most points gained from a losing position in a season at 16.

FC Tulsa In The Standings

Thanks to the 11-match unbeaten streak, FC Tulsa sits alone atop the USL's Western Conference standings with 35 points, 8 points ahead of second place Sacramento. Tulsa is 10-5-3 on the season, and the only team in the Western Conference ten or more wins. Tulsa has the third best record in the entire USL, just six points behind Louisville and Charleston.

Hosting New Mexico United

This will be the first meeting between the two clubs this season. New Mexico United comes into Saturday's match in the 5th place in the USL's Western Conference standings, 10 points behind 1st place Tulsa. New Mexico is 8-1-7 on the season but dropped its last match 4-0 at Hartford Athletic on July 30th. United is aiming to snap a winless streak and secure its first league victory since June 21.

Luke Spencer Meets With The Media

The USL Championship announced earlier this week that FC Tulsa's Luke Spencer is the USL Championship Coach of the Month for July. He met with the media on Friday morning to preview Saturday's match against New Mexico, his team's current unbeaten streak and their ability to always battle back.

On the change in his team during this unbeaten streak:

"I think we've improved going forward. We've created more chances; we've scored more goals. But I think that's come at a cost of conceding more chances and conceding more goals. But I think overall, the togetherness of the group, depth of the group has shown itself over the last several months and you see that by the impact the subs have, you see that by the rotation of the squad, you see that by the flexibility of the squad in the system we're playing, how we're playing in each game. I think overall we've shown a lot of growth, but you're able to see the many facets of this team."

On players stepping up in big moments:

"That's what we all sign up for. I think when you become a pro that's something you aspire to do. You want to play in the big moments; you want to play with that pressure. And that's an enjoyable process. That's something we speak about, and we train that. Something that we discuss is you can't just flip a switch and turn it on and turn it off. You have to train that way, to be prepared for when that moment comes. I think that's something the group does consistently, and hopefully we can continue to do so. Just not in the dramatic fashion of having to go down and then come back to do so."

The energy among the players:

"We had a travel day yesterday coming off the back of Monterey game, so naturally you're going to have some tired legs. Today has been more so about recovery, getting players ready to perform. As always when we play at home, there's a certain level of energy and excitement that we want to get back there. It's going to be a big game, we know they're a good opponent. As we approach game day it's always a feeling of excitement."