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Greenville, SC – Three Triumph players were named to USL League One’s Team of the Week for Week 3 following the club’s 1-0 win at Richmond to open their season.  Triumph defenders Max Hemmings and Tyler Polak, as well as midfielder Noah Pilato, earned the honors after holding off Richmond despite playing down a man for more than an entire half of action.

Max Hemmings (D) logged his first start for Greenville since suffering an ACL injury in Richmond two seasons ago. He played a major role in Greenville’s 10-man shutout win and was unlucky not to score on a header in the first half. Hemmings won four duels while completing 84 percent of his passes.

Tyler Polak (D) did well to limit chances for Richmond’s dangerous attackers despite his side being down to 10 men throughout the second half, making two tackles and nine recoveries.

Noah Pilato (M) reprised his do-it-all performances in the center of the park which were so common last season. He was dispossessed zero times during the match, won five duels, and made three interceptions while recording two shots and a key pass.

The Greenville Triumph return to Triumph Stadium to host North Texas SC in a battle of the two previous League One champions for the club’s 2021 home opener. The match will include a trophy celebration and presentation ahead of the 7:00pm kickoff and will be broadcast locally on The CW-62 as well as ESPN+.

Richmond, VA – Despite going a man down early in rainy and cold conditions Saturday night at City Stadium in Richmond, a resilient Greenville Triumph side collected three points on the road after a Richmond own-goal midway through the second half of action. The 1-0 win will send Greenville back to the Upstate tied for first ahead of the club’s home opener on May 1.

The match started out with a controlled and deliberate pace of play from the defending League One Champions, as, the Triumph possessed and switched the point of attack well through the first 40 minutes of action. Richmond’s sloppy play out of the back and turnovers in dangerous parts of the field led to promising moments for Greenville early on.

Perhaps the best chance of the match came for Greenville at the midway point of the first half, when an unmarked Max Hemmings had a free header on the back post only to be snatched with a tremendous save by the Richmond goalkeeper, Akira Fitzgerald.

As the game began to stretch and play got chippy, right back Cesar Murillo was shown a second yellow and given an automatic red card, which resulted in the Triumph playing with 10 men for the remainder of the match.

The Triumph controlled almost every ounce of the first half, including the last five minutes when John Harkes’s side was down a man. However, the Triumph head coach made immediate changes heading into the second half that included a formational change, Abdi Mohamed making his 2021 debut, a much deeper Triumph backline and a more conservative attacking mindset.

Richmond struggled to move the ball effectively into dangerous positions throughout the second half, only recording two shots on goal and recoding less shots in the second 45 minutes (5) than in the first 45 (7) despite being up a man for more than an entire half.

At an obvious disadvantage, the Upstate side made every move with purpose. In the 74th minute, off a Dallas Jaye punt, Andrew Booth found the well-timed diagonal run of Lachlan McLean to put him behind the Richmond backline and down the right flank. McLean served a dangerous cross into the box and found the foot of retreating Richmond defender Luke Pavon, who cleared into the back of the his own net for an own goal.

The match was full of obstacles and adversity for the defending title-winners, but John Harkes’s side proved to be mentally prepared for whatever situation came their way, something the Greenville head coach has been working on daily leading up to the team’s first match. 

The Greenville Triumph return to Triumph Stadium at Legacy Early College on May 1 for the club’s 2021 home opener and welcome fellow title-winning side North Texas. There will be a trophy and banner  presentation to the Triumph fans ahead of the 7:00pm kickoff with gates opening at 6:30pm.

FINS CAR WASH: Clean sheets? Clean cars! Head to Fins Car Wash and mention the Greenville Triumph’s 1-0 clean sheet for $3 off. Valid the entire day after a Triumph clean sheet.

Leading up to the first match of the regular-season, take a minute to catch up on the Greenville Triumph in the local news!

Greenville, SC – Each Saturday home match in 2021, the Greenville Triumph Soccer Club will be offering the Dave and Buster’s Family Fun Pack. Each ticket package comes with 4 tickets, 4 Pepsi product drinks, 4 slices of Coastal Crust pizza and 4 Dave and Buster’s power cards for only $80!

Family Fun Pack seats are located in sections 114 and 118. This ticket offer starts at four tickets, but additional tickets can be purchased as needed and will also receive a Pepsi product drink, slice of pizza and power card from Dave and Buster’s.

Family Fun Packs are not available for purchase at the ticket office on match days, and sales for Family Fun Packs will end at midnight the day before the match. Tickets and pick up information will be texted between 12-24 hours prior to the match. 

If you have any additional questions please give us a call at 864-203-0565 (press 1 for tickets).

Greenville, SC – The Greenville Triumph SC has officially signed winger Jesus Ibarra and midfielder Allen Gavilanes, pending league and federation approval. Ibarra and Gavilanes bring Greenville’s new signings to six, joining Don Smart, Marios Lomis, Jacob Goodall and Will Mejia.

Ibarra, a San Diego native, is a familiar name to the South Carolina soccer scene, having spent time with amateur side Greenville FC in 2018 before playing the 2019 season with third-tier Swedish club, Bodens BK. Ibarra returned to the Palmetto State in 2020 as a trialist for USL Championship club Charleston Battery, eventually signing with the team after an impressive preseason showing.

Gavilanes will also join John Harkes’s title-winning side ahead of the 2021 season, adding depth and grit to the Greenville midfield. The North Plainfield, New Jersey native is a recent graduate of Marist, where he was a three-time All-MAAC First-Team selection. Most recently added to the All-MAAC 40th Anniversary Team, Gavilanes scored 20 goals in three seasons with 22 assists and was voted the MAAC Offensive Rookie of the Year and the MAAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2017.

The Triumph’s 2021 season is set to begin this Saturday against the Richmond Kickers at 6:30PM ET, and will air locally on The CW-62, nationally on ESPN+ and internationally on YouTube. 

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Greenville, SC – Greenville Triumph has announced AFL, an international manufacturer headquartered in Spartanburg, as an official presenting partner ahead of the club’s 2021 season. The partnership will include a co-branded initiative known as the “Pass It On Program,” aimed to provide mentoring and camp scholarships to underserved and disadvantaged youth players in the Upstate community.

“Partnering with the Greenville Triumph allows us to continue our investment in the Upstate, bringing together the community through sports, and engaging youth with an opportunity for them to learn and grow in a positive environment,” said Jody Gallagher, President & CEO of AFL. “It aligns with who we are and our commitment to positively impact our communities through service to others.”

Greenville Triumph and AFL have teamed up for the “Pass It On Program” as both organizations seek to mentor the local youth community through the game of soccer, with the goal of the program providing the opportunity for anyone to experience the sport of soccer regardless of background or economic standing. The 60-minute program sessions, set to begin this May, will provide individuals with the opportunity to learn about nutrition, physical activity and life skills in a safe, stress-free environment. Additionally, AFL will provide $1,000 in scholarships to be used to support eligible players wishing to attend Triumph camps and clinics.

Headquartered in Spartanburg, AFL is an international manufacturer of fiber optic cable and accessories with a mission to connect customers around the world with innovative technologies, exceptional products and high-quality services.

Greenville, SC – In one week, the Greenville Triumph will take the field for their first regular season match since being crowned league champions last October. The 2020 season was unlike any other year the sports world had experienced; yet through many challenges, the Boys of the Upstate showed us all just how much can be accomplished when you pair daily commitment with an unwavering determination. The 2020 season is something that will be bookmarked in our club’s history forever, but, for Hall of Fame head coach John Harkes, it’s really just a starting point for what is still to come.

Preseason officially began on March 1, when 14 Triumph veterans and a handful of new faces gathered together for the team’s first practice. Harkes understood from the jump how important a tough preseason schedule would be in order to determine weak spots but to also build confidence within his players. Four preseason matches were scheduled against four upper-division opponents, starting with historic MLS side, D.C. United, then moving onto three USL Championship teams: Charleston Battery, Louisville City FC, and Charlotte Independence.

“Having that confidence to compete against an MLS side was huge for us,” said Harkes. “It really taught the coaching staff that we have players that can compete at the highest level. And it’s reassuring for the players. It confirms their self-belief which is a key component of preseason.”

Triumph SC followed up the 1-1 draw against D.C. United with a 0-0 draw against Charleston Battery before suffering their only preseason loss, a 4-2 defeat against LouCity. The team rounded out its preseason tour with a 2-1 win over Charlotte Independence at Bob Jones University.

“I think the number one thing as to how I approach preseason is going back to the basic principles and getting those right. For us, that’s our team philosophy and our style of play,” said Harkes. “Are we a team that likes to go direct, or are we a team that likes to build through lines of pressure? We want to have adaptability. We want to recognize moments during the game that are trying to teach us things and have the willingness to change the way we play.”

Coaches often use a determinant of success during the preseason matches that differs from their results-oriented approach during the regular season. For Harkes, the preseason matches are about making sure players understand the team’s philosophy and style of play and making sure that he understands where his team sits mentally. 

With a team of 14 returning players from the 2020 title-winning squad, team philosophies are borderline habitual for the Greenville Triumph. But with that strong of a retention rate from season to season, it’s easy to wonder how the Triumph newcomers are adapting. For Harkes, incorporating different players into the mix is one of the most important things he can do for his veteran players.

“When you bring other players into the mix, they will inevitably challenge the team in a different way; and we need that healthy competition, but we also need to understand how to be a team first and foremost.”

Harkes and company added a handful of talented players to the mix ahead of the 2021 season including former Forward Madison FC attacker, Don Smart and former USL Championship striker, Marios Lomis.

When asked about the newcomers he’d been most impressed with, Harkes replied stating, “I’m always impressed when new players come into the environment and try to understand our team’s culture right away, and from day one, Don Smart has stepped into that.” He continued to say, “I’ve always respected Don’s intelligence as a player, but I’ve really enjoyed understanding him as a person more.”

In a team filled to the brim with talent — including five All-League First Team selections and newcomers such as Lomis, who Harkes describes as “quality” — how does a coach choose his starting eleven? 

“In terms of performance culture, and transparency from a coaching standpoint, if you’re performing well in training then that is going to give you a showcase window,” Harkes said. “You’re automatically putting yourself on a platform to start on the weekends, and that’s the environment we’re trying to create here. That’s how we believe guys will improve every single day.”

On multiple occasions throughout our conversation, Harkes preached the importance of mentality and response to adversity being a key factor to determine and master throughout the preseason. With the 2021 season only a week away, I asked the Hall of Fame head coach what his approach was going to be and if that approach was different now that he’s won a league title.

He responded, “The first thing I said to our team was that our attitude is not going to be one of defending a title with a target on our back. We’re going to attack it.”

In reflection, Harkes said “What we did in 2020 was exceptional as a club. Growing our brand, being number one all season: you honor that work.” He then added the caveat, “But you don’t carry over that work. You start fresh, and you approach the new season in terms of how to make it better than the last.”

Asking Harkes how they could make it better, he touched on a few specific items such as an increased amount of creativity on the field, solid levels of conditioning and joining the midfield third with the attacking third more consistently. But he ended with a big picture idea that seemed as much of an everyday philosophy as it did a season-long mentality.

“We will always rely on the foundation of who we are, and of course, we want to win a championship. But you have to put the work in,” Harkes said. “Once you put the work in, then it becomes a great process, and that’s what you begin to enjoy.”

Spartanburg, SC (April 19, 2021) – The Greenville Triumph Soccer Club and WSPA/WYCW announced Monday a renewal and expansion of their local broadcast partnership for the upcoming 2021 season. The CW-62, which aired seven Triumph matches last season, plans to air 15 of the club’s first 19 matches, with additional September/October matches to be announced at a later date.

The two organizations began their partnership to locally air Triumph matches last season, with the Triumph unable to host fans for their home opener due to COVID restrictions. Following a successful debut, The CW-62 aired an additional six matches in 2020 during the club’s run to their first USL League One title.

“All of us with the Triumph are excited to expand our partnership with CW-62 and WSPA,” said Chairman Joe Erwin. “We see this as a major boost in growing the brand. Given their viewership throughout the Upstate, western North Carolina and northeast Georgia, more fans than ever before will have access to Triumph matches on free TV.”

For WSPA/WYCW, the renewal was an opportunity to build on the momentum from the Triumph’s title-winning run in 2020.”

“WSPA and WYCW are looking forward to supporting another season of Triumph soccer and continuing to bring live, professional matches to our viewers,” said station Vice President & General Manager Kenny Lawrence. “The expansion of our partnership with the USL League One Champion Greenville Triumph Soccer Club is something we are proud to announce and happy to offer to our local sports audience.”

The 2021 CW-62 slate will begin with the season-opening match in Richmond on April 24th at 6:30 PM. The station will then air three of the following four matches, including the home opener against North Texas on May 1.

Triumph on The CW-62 Schedule:

Saturday, 4/24| 6:30 PM | @ Richmond Kickers

Saturday, 5/1 | 7:00 PM | vs. North Texas SC

Saturday, 5/8 | TBD | @ North Carolina FC

Saturday, 5/22 | 7:00 PM | @ Tormenta FC

Sunday, 6/13 | 7:00 PM | @ North Texas SC

Saturday, 6/19 | 7:00 PM | @Tormenta FC

Saturday, 6/26 | TBD | @ Chattanooga Red Wolves

Sunday, 7/4 | 2:00 PM | @ New England II

Saturday, 7/10 | 7:00 PM | vs. North Carolina FC

Saturday, 7/17 | 7:00 PM | vs. Tormenta FC

Saturday, 7/24 | TBD | @ Chattanooga Red Wolves

Saturday, 8/7 | 7:00 PM | vs. Tormenta FC

Sunday, 8/15 | TBD | @ Fort Lauderdale CF

Sunday, 8/22 | 7:00 PM | vs. Richmond Kickers

Saturday, 8/28 | 10:00 PM | @FC Tucson

September/October Matches TBA

About WSPA and WYCW– Nexstar

WSPA and WYCW are leading television stations in the Spartanburg-Greenville-Asheville-Anderson, South Carolina television market, owned and operated by Nexstar Broadcasting, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexstar Media Group (NASDAQ: NXST). Nexstar is the nation’s largest operator of local television stations and a leading diversified media company that leverages localism to bring new services and value to consumers and advertisers through its broadcasting, digital and mobile media platforms. WSPA is affiliated with the CBS network and WYCW is affiliated with the CW Network.

Tuning in to WYCW, CW62

CW62 is widely watched across the viewing area on Ch. 62. It can be found on Spectrum Ch. 9 and 709, and on Chesnee Communications Ch. 7 and 709.

Greenville, SC – In partnership with The Blood Connection, the Greenville Triumph Soccer Club will be hosting a public blood drive event on April 23 at the club’s downtown storefront (22 S. Main Street). The co-branded blood drive event, set to take place between 12am-5pm, will also serve as the 2021 Season Ticket Member Pick-Up.

Greenville Triumph and The Blood Connection have entered into a two-year partnership agreement ahead of the 2021 season that will involve multiple blood drive events produced by The Blood Connection, featuring Triumph players and staff. Each event will feature unique incentive packages such as free t-shirts, bobblehead giveaways and more. 

“The Greenville Triumph is serving its community in a unique way to help collect vital blood donations for our neighbors who rely on them,” said The Blood Connection Media Coordinator, Allie Van Dyke. “Although it may be hard to believe, the local blood supply is in a worse place now than it was during the pandemic. Our blood drive and partnership with the Greenville Triumph is coming at a critical time, and The Blood Connection is very thankful to the Triumph team for supporting us when we need it most.”

“As a community, this is a time where we must take care of one another including the most vulnerable among us. One donation can save multiple lives, and we are proud to support the important work being done by The Blood Connection,” echoed Megan Kolak, Triumph SC’s VP of Sponsorship Marketing.

Blood donations will be spaced in 15-minute intervals with nine donors allowed to give at once. All donors will be seated at individual tables, and snacks and drinks will be provided. Anyone who participates will also receive an exclusive donor t-shirt.

Click the link below to sign-up for the April 23 event and help save local lives!