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New Mexico United is once again back in regular-season play after Saturday鈥檚 USL Cup debacle.

On top of that? It will be another two-match week for United, starting with Wednesday鈥檚 home showing against Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Here are some things to note:

Free kicks

1. HEAD OF THE TABLE: The top club usually gets the best seat. Right now, that belongs to Rowdies 鈥� not only in the Eastern Conference, but in the USL Championship as well. 

Tampa Bay has a league-best 18 points, two clear of Louisville City in the East and one up on San Antonio FC in the West. Much of that is due to Rowdies鈥� unbeaten start in USL play. (The club has also won its first two USL Cup matches.)

Tampa Bay has done so with more well-timed scores than simply barraging its opponents. Rowdies have only scored multiple goals in three regular-season matches 鈥� a 3-0 win against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on March 21, a 3-1 victory against Loudoun United FC a week later and a 2-2 tie against Oakland Roots SC on April 11. 

But whatever works, right?

New Mexico, conversely, sits eighth of 12 in the Western standings with 10 points. 

2. THIRD TIME鈥橲 THE CHARM? Rowdies were founded in 2008. Its first season was in 2010. United came along in 2018 with its inaugural season the next year.

Despite being in the same league since then, the clubs have only met twice 鈥� in 2023 and 鈥�24. Both matches were in St. Petersburg, Florida. Both matches went in Tampa Bay鈥檚 favor.

Rowdies won the first meeting 3-2 with Charlie Dennis scoring the go-ahead goal to break a 1-all tie in the 55th minute. Ryan Spualding tacked on Tampa Bay鈥檚 third score in the 70th minute. Harry Swartz scored United鈥檚 second goal in the 77th.

Rowdies took the second matchup 3-0 behind a pair of goals from Cal Jennings in the 7th and 16th minutes, and another on a 58th-minute penalty kick from Manuel Artaega.

So, maybe a home match for New Mexico could change its fortunes. 

3. A DIFFERENT FLAVOR: United鈥檚 first seven matches have been against clubs from the Western Conference. Wednesday marks the beginning of a stretch of games against the East.

After Tampa Bay, New Mexico hosts Charleston on Saturday and plays at Hartford Athletic on May 30. 

United has three other matches against Eastern foes. It travels to Birmingham Legion FC on July 24 and Loudoun United FC on Aug. 22, and hosts Indy Eleven on Sept. 11. 

New Mexico went 3-3-1 against the Eastern Conference last season.

4. NO FREEBIES: As stated above, Rowdies don鈥檛 score many goals. (Just three regular-season matches have featured more than one score.)

That also means Tampa Bay doesn鈥檛 concede many, either. And it hasn鈥檛. Rowdies have allowed a league-low five goals and just six overall against USL teams if one wants to include the USL Cup. Sacramento Republic FC and Detroit City FC are tied for second with seven conceded. Sporting Jax is last with 20.

Tampa Bay doesn鈥檛 offer many shots to opponents. Keepers Jahmali White and Austin Peck have faced 20 combined shots on target with White seeing 18 in six appearances. White has allowed four of the club鈥檚 five goals.

To put that in perspective, United keeper Kris Shakes has dealt with 36 shots in six regular-season matches. He has saved 26.

Key matchup

United forward Niall Reid-Stephen vs. Rowdies defender Brian Schaefer

Will Reid-Stephen be back in United鈥檚 starting lineup? Chances are, yes. New Mexico manager Dennis Sanchez decided to switch his lineup around in last Saturday鈥檚 match against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC to prepare for a two-match week. Reid-Stephen was one of six regular starters who was available to substitute. Others, like midfielder Zico Bailey and forward Greg Hurst, did not play. We鈥檒l see if the move pays off. Reid-Stephen leads United with three goals, but Schaefer and Tampa Bay鈥檚 defense will provide some challenges. Schaefer has 48 clearances and 11 interceptions this season.

Player of the match

United forward Jake LaCava

The forward hasn鈥檛 been playing all that much forward. He鈥檚 really been playing along United鈥檚 back line. LaCava, like a number of his teammates, was given most of last Saturday off before coming on in the second half. It didn鈥檛 help New Mexico鈥檚 defense, which played a part in conceding three first-half goals.

By the numbers

3-2-1: United鈥檚 record in multi-match weeks.

10: United鈥檚 regular-season goals 鈥� eight have come at home.

5: Rowdies with at least two goals, including former New Mexico midfielder Marco Micaletto. 

115: Tampa Bay shot attempts 鈥� ranked sixth in the USL Championship. United has 86, good for a tie for 20th.

David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X .