Hartford Athletic - 2026

[Waquoit]

Your Hartford Athletic is halfway through their season-opening 4-game road trip with a respectable 4 points. Most seasons they start in a deep hole so I don't care if the points came against two of the weaker squads. One of the few USL analysts out there, at the end of tactical review, just wrote "For now, it’s notable just how connected and intentional Hartford looks from back to front – starting with the press, but in more ways than one." I like to hear that after my team's second game.

I make post this now because tonight (3/18/26) Athletic is playing a US Cup game on national TV. On UConn's favorite sports network CBSSN, of course. It's at 7pm EDT for those who want to see what the excitement is all about.

 

[Windham4th]

Didnt realize it was on CBSSN I am watching it on Paramount plus

 

[kibblesnbits]

Didnt realize it was on CBSSN I am watching it on Paramount plus

I turned it on expecting to see a game from Detroit. Who knew that FC Motown is a USL Two team from Newark? Athletic only played about 20% of its regular lineup.

 

[Waquoit]

I was very happy with the game, mainly the coaching. Burke didn't just play the subs, he played the subs for the subs. But he always had a starter back deep. Good to see TJ battling for game time have a strong game when he got a shot. That speaks to HA depth, which is never a given.

 

[Waquoit]

Of course Athletic drew Rhody for the next round of the US Cup. Soccer Nation can't get enough of "El Clamico".

 

[Windham4th]

With the MLS aligning with European soccer next year, do you know if USL will do the same?

Also. I am excited for the relegation setup USL is driving toward.

Hope MLS eventually falls in line, but I doubt the greedy owners will buy into it. Because that means more investment on their end.

 

[Waquoit]

Last I heard, there was no plans to do a winter schedule. Which is smart because these teams need tickets sales and nobody goes to the games when it’s too cold.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Flicked on the Wednesday game on ipad, fairly rubbish quality even compared with MLS. Quickly paid less attention while watching the First Four games. Was that typical USL, or just Hartford and the opponent’s quality? Or, preseason blah?

 

[Waquoit]

Flicked on the Wednesday game on ipad, fairly rubbish quality even compared with MLS. Quickly paid less attention while watching the First Four games. Was that typical USL, or just Hartford and the opponent’s quality? Or, preseason blah?

Not typical. It was a cup game and they were playing a team two divisions lower than them. I think they only had two starters in the lineup. They played some academy kids and the third string keeper.

 

[Windham4th]

Saturday game was good 1st half terrible second half. Didnt like the tiny field in Brooklyn. Seemed so crowded all the time. Less spacing which impacts passing

 

[Kolumbo]

Random post regarding youth soccer. This year they are changing the age groupings from calendar year to Aug 1 - July 31. The club has told us our daughter would leave her team which will be 8th graders and join the 7th grade team. She is very upset so we are leaving that club. It seems they could have phased this in for the younger girls but leave the older girls as is. I don't know why they felt this change was necessary when it seems most kids still try to enter school based on their calendar year birth.

I think this would put her at a disadvantage because she would be playing with mostly 7th graders and then the following year she becomes a freshman in high school.

 

[KryHavok]

Random post regarding youth soccer. This year they are changing the age groupings from calendar year to Aug 1 - July 31. The club has told us our daughter would leave her team which will be 8th graders and join the 7th grade team. She is very upset so we are leaving that club. It seems they could have phased this in for the younger girls but leave the older girls as is. I don't know why they felt this change was necessary when it seems most kids still try to enter school based on their calendar year birth.

I think this would put her at a disadvantage because she would be playing with mostly 7th graders and then the following year she becomes a freshman in high school.

My youngest plays club soccer at the high school level, and though he won't be impacted by the new rules, I can imagine what his reaction would be by having to take a step back. Have you reached out the club director to see if there is any possibility for your daughter to "play up" a level and stay with her current team? Better to allow a play up rather than lose a full paying member I reckon.

 

[Kolumbo]

My youngest plays club soccer at the high school level, and though he won't be impacted by the new rules, I can imagine what his reaction would be by having to take a step back. Have you reached out the club director to see if there is any possibility for your daughter to "play up" a level and stay with her current team? Better to allow a play up rather than lose a full paying member I reckon.

We just had a convo yesterday and they are still to have tryouts so don't know all the details yet. I think 1 of the girls is probably playing up and there may be a couple of girls on the current 8th grade team who are dropping down so there's a lot of movement. It just seems like a lot of sudden unnecessary consternation for the kids.