Forward Madison vs Richmond Kickers | Breese Stevens Field, Madison, WI | 7 pm | ESPN+

Tonight, we begin a four-game home stand which should result in four straight wins. I know that’s asking a lot, but Forward Madison’s form of late has the look of a team much better than seventh place, and all four of our next four opponents are below us in the table. So on paper it should be 12 points and a bit of a clambor up the standings, depending on what happens above us.

Whether it will yield that remains to be seen, of course, but I don’t mind putting the expectation out there. I’m sure Matt Glaeser has similarly high expectations.

The home stand begins with Richmond, a team that has seen better years. They’ve won just three in the league, losing eight and drawing three. They’ve scored just 12 goals over that span — less than one per game — while conceding 24. They did beat Greenville 2-1 in a meaningless USL Cup match on the weekend, thanks in large part to a Zane Bubb own goal.

Only two Richmond players have scored more than one goal in league play: Joshua Kirkland and Tarik Pannholzer have three each. Even our old friend Lucca Dourado, who arrived just before the season began after by way of Tormenta, has only tickled the twine once in league play.

So I think tonight the first goal is a clean sheet.

The second goal, of course, is … well … goals.

We will certainly expect some rotation from Saturday, and in fact will get something closer to our first string on the field. That could mean AJ Edwards back in the starting XI and/or Jackson Castro in the pivot alongside Roman Torres. We haven’t heard whether Derek Gebhard or Claudel N’Goubou will be back from injury.

But with Ryan Carmichael really hitting his stride and Stephen Annor Gyamfi finding himself in all sorts of dangerous spots, Madison really should be able to get at least a couple.

In the end, the bottom line is that when the final whistle goes, the Henny should be staying home, and our unbeaten streak should click up to seven.

Forward Madison had one job: spoil the USL Cup for Omaha, and ensure they couldn’t make it to the knockout round of the tournament. Our boys understood the assignment and not only won the game, but did so in ridiculously exciting fashion. After we break down that match, state Rep, Gubernatorial candidate and lifelong soccer fan Francesca Hong joins us to talk about flipping pancakes on the campaign trail and what soccer rule she’ll change as governor.

Listen here or on your favorite podcast app!

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After we dopped the podcast on Monday, USL held the draw for the Prinx Tire Cup. The quarterfinals are set for Wednesday, August 12:

5 pm - Charlotte Independence vs Hartford Athletic

5 pm - Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Louisville City

6:30 pm - San Antonio vs Miami

7 pm - Spokane Velocity vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks

So both of the USL League One teams that won their groups drew home matches, and the way Charlotte is playing right now, I wouldn’t be shocked to see them in the semifinals on September 9. (BTW, I believe there will be another draw to determine those semifinal matchups.)

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