Last Season

Only through the most unfair of lenses would Chattanooga’s 2022 campaign be considered even close to a failure. In NISA play, the club finished 14-3-7 and second in the regular season standings. With the exit of Detroit City in 2021, many thought that CFC would roll through the league and, for the most part, Rod Underwood’s team delivered. The club finished only behind California United Strikers in the standings and headed into the playoffs with a bye week in hand. Due to a quirk in the schedule, the last match of the regular season and the NISA semifinal matchup would be against the same team, Michigan Stars. Though CFC had beaten the Stars 3-2 to wrap up the season, Michigan would pay them back with a scrappy 1-0 defeat in the playoffs. Given the level of expectation after a very successful regular season, losing in the semifinals was not the end of the season anyone, fans and pundits alike, expected for CFC.

Off Season

Stung by an early exit from last year’s playoffs, second-year head coach, Rod Underwood, took stock of the setbacks of the 2022 season and refined this roster once again with an eye towards a championship run. The defense went through a near-complete makeover. Gone are the entire goalkeeper corps and only one defender remains.

Naglestad will always be central to CFC’s attack.

CFC looked to the shuttered California United Strikers for a handful of new players. That includes CB Aydan Bowers and LB Joseph Patrick Perez. Jonathan Partida, who started 2022 with Bay Cities FC, returns to NISA after spending the latter part of last year with Northern Colorado Hailstorm of USL League One. Rounding out the starting back line is CB Anatoile Prepeliţă, a Moldovan National Team member who joins from the professional ranks in Europe. Jungwoo So, a trialist, and Colin Stripling, the lone returnee from 2022, round out the defending group.

CFC also brought in Jean Gamain Antoine from California United Strikers to replace Kevin Gonzalez as starter in goal. Backup Jon Burke, from Drake University, will provide Antoine a breather here and there.

Captain Richard Dixon returns to anchor the defensive midfield. With the retirement of Juan Hernandez, Dixon is now the longest tenured Chattanoogan. Alex McGrath returns in his pivotal role as CFC’s box-to-box midfielder. Mutaya Mwape joins from Tormenta FC of USL League One to be the likely starter at right midfield. CFC brought in two more Cal United Strikers, Beto Alvarenga and Luis Garcia Sosa, to provide real depth at central midfield. A question for CFC is whether the new additions can make up for the loss of AM Ian Cerro who joined RGV FC Toros of the USL Championship. Ethan Koren and academy prospect Hugo Martinez are also part of a solid midfield corps.

The attacking core was the least changed part of the CFC roster this offseason. Last year’s Golden Boot winner and league MVP, Markus Naglestad, returns as the primary striker. Also returning is LW Taylor Gray who had USL insiders buzzing after a strong 2022. And, former academy player, Damian Rodriguez returns as the primary option on the right side after solidifying his status as a starter last year. Alex Jaimes and current academy player, Fabian Rodriguez, return to provide depth on the wings along with recent signee Juan Louis who joins from a season with the Syracuse Pulse.

This Season

It’s championship or bust for CFC in 2023. The roster is likely the deepest in NISA and the technical staff attempted to upgrade every position they found to be a weakness in 2022. Last year, the team’s high-powered offense would regularly score bushels of goals. But the squad was knocked off their game just enough to miss out on a title by more physical opponents and gameplans that exploited tactical issues.

Look for CFC’s bigger center backs to help the team be more physical on corner kicks (as well as other dead ball situations) and shut down attacking runs that tended to get past the midfield defense last year. The new midfielders might not have the attacking power of Cerro but may provide more flexibility. The acquisitions are likely pointing to an emphasis for keeping possession as well as improved distribution. No improvement is needed to the goal-scoring from last season. Good seasons from Naglestad and Gray should be enough for a title-contending team

The pressure will be squarely on CFC this season. Can the club maintain their composure and pivot when things aren’t going their way? Can the boys in blue get it done this season? Everyone is expecting them to.

by Dan Creel and Dan Vaughn