Just two short years ago, MNUFC2 wasn’t even a thing. As in, it didn't exist. And, when Cameron Knowles took on the challenge of becoming the head man for a brand-new club before the 2022 season, he knew it wouldn’t necessarily be easy. That isn’t just because of the results he was hoping to gain on the field. The even bigger challenge of getting the Twosies off the ground was that he would need to take a group of young, talented players from several different places around the globe and forge a culture of success that his players would buy into. While 2022 had its own variety of growing pains for the club, the 2023 season has started to bear some of the fruits of his and his staff’s labor. The Twosies came out of the gates hot in 2023, rattling off three consecutive road wins to start off the season.
But, starting out the season with six consecutive road games is bound to weigh heavy on any club, and the hot start gave way to a more up-and-down series of games throughout the duration of the first half of this season. Now, as the Twosies sit in the ninth slot of the Western Conference, they will be looking to steady the ship and get more positive results on a more consistent basis. And, with the kind of talent their roster has and Knowles continuing to build upon this new-ish undertaking, the Twosies are certainly capable of finding the right conditions to be on the come-up for the back portion of the season. Before we dive into the second half, let’s take a look back at the players that have or are beginning to make a name for themselves with Minnesota United fans and opponents within MLS NEXT Pro.
MIDSEASON MVP:
Diogo Pacheco, Forward / Midfielder / Mustache Connoisseur
It would be easy to glance at the statistical categories and see who the club leaders are for a particular stat. If you did, you would see Pacheco’s name atop the list for a number of those categories, specifically goals, assists and shots on target. But, while the numbers speak for themselves, Diogo Pacheco’s impact on the squad is something that you can’t put a number on. While he is the Twosies most prolific attacking player, leading the team with six goals so far this season, Pacheco wears the captain’s armband because of his individual character and ability to lead others. Pacheco has that in spades, as the midfielder (and cancer survivor) is no stranger to adversity. While the recent run of form for the Twosies has had its own brand of adversity to deal with, if Diogo Pacheco can continue scoring at this pace, there’s reason to be optimistic that the Twos can turn the tides and move back up the Western Conference standings — and if he can continue to grow into his role as a leader for the Twosies, than “optimistic” is an understatement of how high the Twos can rise during the second half of the season.
TWOS TO WATCH IN THE 2ND HALF:
Rory O'Driscoll, Midfielder
Similar to his attacking counterpart, Diogo Pacheco, O’Driscoll has found himself atop a few of the club’s statistical categories through the first 14 games. Not only does he lead the club in minutes played (1178 min.) for the first half of the season, he’s made the most of those minutes, especially on the defensive end. As the current club leader in tackles (22) and interceptions (21), the Minneapolis-native is proving to be a complement to Pacheco’s attacking prowess. Expect more of the same from Rory O’Driscoll throughout the second half of 2023.
Britton Fischer, Defender
After being acquired from North Carolina FC of USL League One back in February, Fischer has made his presence felt when it comes to defending the box. Over the first 14 matches, Fischer’s name could be consistently found at the top of the list for defensive clearances, as well as tackles, for which he has compiled a 76.2% percent success rate during the first half of the Twos season. At only 19 years old, the sky's the limit for Fischer and the impact he can have on the Twosies defensive front for the remainder of the season and beyond.
Kameron Lacey, Midfielder
Kameron Lacey had been on a bit of a roll of late. Prior to their last game against St Louis CITY2, the Miami native had registered a goal for the Twosies in three straight games. Seeing as the club only acquired the UNC Charlotte-alum at the beginning of May, the first half of Lacey’s season feels more like a sample of the potential he has to become another scoring threat for the Twos.
FULL STEAM AHEAD, YOU TWOS!
It will be exciting to see how this crop of young fellas will rise to the occasion for the second half of the season. Heck, there may even be standouts-in-waiting that haven’t had the chance to contribute to the Twos’ on-field success yet. It won’t be too much longer now before fans get the chance to see how high this future generation of Loons can fly.