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MIAMI, Fla. (March 6, 2013) – The seven teams that will kick off the 2013 North American Soccer League Spring Season a month from now wade deep into preseason action in March, facing opposition from across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“The goal is to create a rhythm and have the team functioning not only how you want it to for the first few games of the new season, but for the entire season,” said Ricky Hill, head coach of the defending NASL champion Tampa Bay Rowdies.  “These games are really valuable for us regarding the team’s pattern of play, regardless of whether the opposition comes from MLS, colleges or other leagues.

“You wrap up the season in November and don’t see each other again until February and that is a long time for a team to be apart in terms of cohesion and understanding.  Preseason brings everyone back together and because people go on to pastures new and newcomers arrive, everyone has to acclimatize to other players and the system.”

Already five games into their preseason campaign, Hill’s Rowdies will renew The I-4 Derby with cross-state rival Orlando City of the USL away at the Florida Citrus Bowl this Saturday, March 9, and back at home at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday, March 30.  Both games kick off at 7.30pm.

The Carolina RailHawks will officially open their WakeMed Soccer Park home venue on Wednesday, March 20 against Pumas UNAM, with all fans that pre-purchase tickets eligible to attend the Mexican team’s in-stadium practice the day before the big game.

The Atlanta Silverbacks undertake a five-game home preseason schedule against three college teams, one amateur team, and one fellow professional team when they welcome the Charlotte Eagles to Atlanta Silverbacks Park on March 30.  

FC Edmonton heads to Trinity Western University in British Columbia to face Vancouver Whitecaps, University of BC and Gonzaga University between March 26 and 31.

Having faced Swedish Europa League qualifiers BK Hakken behind closed doors last month, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers go on the road close to home for six preseason games against Florida International University, the Copa Latina All-Stars, Florida Gulf Coast, Barry University, Nova University and Florida Atlantic University.

“Our home opener is just around the corner and we’re excited to be able to play against many of our local colleges and other good competition as we prepare for our first game against Edmonton,” said head coach Daryl Shore.

Sporting their new name of Minnesota United, Manny Lagos’ team take on a Sporting Kansas City XI today before traveling to face the University of Missouri on Friday, Bridges FC, Creighton University, Hastings College and finally Chicago Fire at Toyota Park.

The San Antonio Scorpions face the University of the Incarnate Word twice on the road and also take on St Edwards University and the Galveston Pirates.

North American Soccer League preseason games by team

* All games subject to change

Atlanta Silverbacks

Date:March 7th, 2013
Game: Atlanta Silverbacks vs. North Georgia
Kickoff: 4:00pm
Location: Atlanta Silverbacks Park
 
Date: March 9th, 2013
Game: Atlanta Silverbacks vs. Georgia State University
Kickoff: 2:00pm
Location: Atlanta Silverback Park
 
Date: March 16th, 2013
Game: Atlanta Silverbacks vs. University of Birmingham - Alabama
Kickoff: 2:00pm 
Location: Atlanta Silverbacks Park
 
Date: March 24th, 2013
Game: Atlanta Silverbacks vs. Nashville FC
Kickoff: 4:00pm
Location: Atlanta Silverbacks Park
 
Date: March 30th, 2013
Game: Atlanta Silverbacks vs. Charlotte Eagles
Kickoff:  4:00pm
Location: Atlanta Silverbacks Park

Carolina Railhawks

Date:February 24th, 2013
Game: Carolina Railhawks vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
Kickoff:  1:30pm
Location: Wakemed Soccer Park

Date:March 2nd, 2013
Game: Richmond Kickers vs. Carolina Railhawks
Kickoff:  TBD
Location: Richmond, VA

Date:March 9th, 2013
Game: Carolina Railhawks vs. Wake Forest University
Kickoff:  12:00pm
Location: Wakemed Field #6

Date:March 15th, 2013
Game: Carolina Railhawks vs. Charleston Battery
Kickoff:  2:30pm
Location: Wakemed Field #5

Date:March 20th, 2013
Game: Carolina Railhawks vs. Pumas UNAM
Kickoff:  7:30pm
Location: Wakemed Soccer Park

Date:March 23rd, 2013
Game: Carolina Railhawks vs. University North Carolina
Kickoff:  TBD
Location: Wakemed Field #5

Date:March 27th, 2013
Game: Carolina Railhawks vs. NC State
Kickoff:  10:00am
Location: Wakemed Field #5

Date:March 30th, 2013
Game: Charleston Battery vs. Carolina Railhawks
Kickoff:  TBD
Location: Charleston, SC

FC Edmonton

Date:February 26th 2013
Game: FC Edmonton vs. University of Alberta
Kickoff: TBD
Location: Edmonton
 
Date: March 23rd 2013
Game: FC Edmonton Inter-squad scrimmage
Kickoff: 7:00pm
Location: Trinity Western
 
Date: March 26th 2013
Game: FC Edmonton vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
Kickoff: 7:00pm
Location: Trinity Western

Date: March 29th 2013
Game: FC Edmonton vs. University of British Columbia
Kickoff: 7:00pm
Location: Trinity Western
 
Date: March 31st 2013
Game: FC Edmonton vs. Gonzaga University
Kickoff: 10:30am
Location: Trinity Western
 
Fort Lauderdale Strikers

Date:February 25th 2013
Game: Strikers vs. BK Hakken (Sweden)
Kickoff: 3:00pm
Location: Lockhart Stadium

Date: March 8th 2013
Game: FIU vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Kickoff: 7:30pm
Location: FIU soccer Stadium
 
Date: March 10th 2013
Game: Copa Latina All Star vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Kickoff: 4:00pm
Location: Ted Hendricks Stadium
 
Date: March 13th 2013
Game: Florida Gulf Coast vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Kickoff: 7:00pm
Location: FGCU
 
Date: March 16th 2013
Game: Barry University vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Kickoff: 5:00pm
Location: Barry University
 
Date: March 20th 2013
Game: Nova University vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Kickoff: 7:00pm
Location: Nova University
 
Date: March 22nd 2013
Game: Florida Atlantic University vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Kickoff: 7:00pm
Location: FAU

Minnesota United FC
 
Date: March 6th, 2013
Game: Minnesota United vs. Sporting Kansas City
Kickoff: TBD
Location: Swope Park
 
Date: March 8th, 2013
Game: Minnesota United vs. University Missouri – Kansas City
Kickoff: TBD
Location: Swope Park
 
Date: March 15th, 2013
Game: Minnesota United vs. Bridges FC
Kickoff: 10:00am
Location: Augsburg College
 
Date: March 22nd, 2013
Game: Minnesota United vs. Creighton University
Kickoff: TBD
Location: Creighton University
 
Date: March 23rd, 2013
Game: Minnesota United vs. Hastings College
Kickoff: TBD
Location: Hastings College
 
Date: March 30th, 2013
Game: Minnesota United vs. Chicago Fire
Kickoff: TBD
Location: Chicago Fire – Toyota Park
 
San Antonio Scorpions

Date:March 20th, 2013
Game: University of Incarnate Word vs. San Antonio Scorpions
Kickoff: 5:00pm
Location: University of Incarnate Word – San Antonio

Date:March 22nd, 2013
Game: San Antonio Scorpions vs. St. Edwards University
Kickoff: TBD
Location: TBD

Date:March 27th, 2013
Game: University of Incarnate Word vs. San Antonio Scorpions
Kickoff: 8:00pm
Location: University of Incarnate Word – San Antonio 

Date:March 30th, 2013
Game: San Antonio Scorpions vs. Galveston Pirates
Kickoff: TBD
Location: TBD

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Date: March 9th, 2013
Game: Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Orlando City Soccer Club
Kickoff: 7:30pm
Location: Citrus Bowl
 
Date: March 30th, 2013
Game: Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Orlando City Soccer Club
Kickoff: 7:30pm
Location: Al Lang Stadium