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To celebrate this year’s #GivingTuesday, FC Tucson has teamed up with some of Tucson’s most charitable organizations to help further their goal of bettering the Southern Arizona community. With your help we can accomplish their missions through the global generosity movement of Giving Tuesday. 

Here are the community partners you should consider donating to along with more information on their great work:

Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona

1.6 million Arizonans do not have reliable access to adequate food for an active, healthy life. These families often have to choose between food and housing, medical care or education. To help combat this problem, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona distributes fresh produce and non-perishable food to a vast network of community partners by collaborating with local agencies, health institutions and government.

Sunnyside Unified School District Foundation

Since 1991 the Sunnyside Foundation has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into exceptional education programs in SUSD. By working with SUSD educators, the foundation strives to make sure every student is college, career, and community ready. In the past seven years, Sunnyside Foundation has invested $679k into critical education programs across SUSD and has funded four strategic areas: Fine Arts + Music, Literacy (Early Childhood Emphasis), STEM/STEAM, Student Wellness (medical assistance, scholarships, clothing, etc.).

Southern Arizona Aids Foundation

In 2015, SAAF celebrated 30 years of providing services and continues to be the only community-based organization in southern Arizona providing case management and ancillary support services for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families; culturally appropriate prevention and education programs to reduce the rate of infection; & LGBTQ community outreach & engagement. SAAF offers those living with HIV/AIDS an array of services based on need including Housing, Food, Case Management, and Support Groups.

United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona

United Way of Tucson responds to our community’s needs, transforms lives and brings long-lasting systemic change to our community by focusing on the underlying issues.

United Way of Tucson fights for education, financial wellness, equality and healthy communities for every person in Tucson and Southern Arizona. Their role as community convener enables them to serve more than 175,000 people each year by forming strategic partnerships, mobilizing the best resources and being the catalyst for needed, positive change.

 

What is GivingTuesday?

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement that unleashes the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world.

GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past seven years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

GivingTuesday strives to build a world in which the catalytic power of generosity is at the heart of the society we build together, unlocking dignity, opportunity, and equity around the globe.

GivingTuesday’s global network collaborates year-round to inspire generosity around the world, with a common mission to build a world where generosity is part of everyday life.

TUCSON, AZ. – USL League One announced the Team of the Week for Week 14 of the 2020 regular season on Tuesday, with FC Tucson forward Josh Coan named Player of the Week for scoring both goals in a 2-0 win over Orlando City B on Saturday night at Kino North Stadium. Teammates Samuel Biek and Charlie Dennis join Coan on the Team of the Week after standout performances in their last match of the 2020 season.

The 22-year-old Coan scored at the tail end of both halves as Tucson finished its 2020 season on a high note. The brace brought him level with Shak Adams as the club’s leading scorers for the year with four goals each. This results in an excellent end to what has been a strong second half of the season for the young striker.

Biek was everywhere for Tucson on Saturday, an instrumental part of the team’s clean sheet against Orlando. He won a game-high three tackles, won 8 of 12 duels, made four interceptions and completed 53 of 59 passes.

In the midfield, Dennis wrapped up an impressive season with a great showing, creating eight chances and assisting the team’s opening goal just before halftime. He also completed 40 of 44 passes, made six recoveries and won four duels. This is Charlie’s second Team of the Week honor of the season. 

TUCSON, AZ. (Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020) – FC Tucson has announced today that Elivelton has been voted by over 400 fans as the 2020 FC Tucson Fan’s Most Valuable Player out of a total of over 800 votes. The club formally opened voting to fans to decide FC Tucson’s 2020 Most Valuable Player of the Year, presented by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), on Thursday, October 15. Shak Adams, Charlie Dennis, Niall Logue and Elivelton were the four nominees for the award, selected by the club’s technical staff.

Upon joining the Men in Black in mid-March from Brazil, Elivelton became a spark within the starting lineup. Coach John Galas played Elivelton as both a left-back and an attacking midfielder throughout the season and the 24-year-old proved himself as an effective playmaker in both roles throughout his 1,153 minutes played.

Elivelton completed the 2020 USL League One season with three goals and two assists in 16 appearances, in just his first year in USL League One. The Brazilian has earned prior honors from the league as the Top Ten USL League One Newcomer. 

A pair of goals by Josh Coan, one in dying second of each half, were enough to wrap up FC Tucson’s season on a high note with a 2-0 victory over Orlando City B at Kino North Stadium on Saturday night.

The strikes, both curling shots, took Coan’s goal total for the season to four, tying him with Shak Adams for the team lead.

The win also meant the Men In Black finished the season at .500 (6-6-4, 22 points) and picked up their fourth win to go with three draws in the last eight matches.

“It’s been an up-and-down year for us and, obviously, we wanted to go out on a high note,” said the 22-year-old Coan. “So it means something to go out there and get three points, end the season well and probably finish in the top half of the table. It can help us build momentum for next season.”

In a first half that saw few viable chances for either team, it was an excellent sequence of three passes by FC Tucson and a bender by Coan that broke the scoreless deadlock. A long ball upfield by Azaad Liadi connected with Giovanni Godoy, who slotted it across the top of the box to Charlie Dennis. The midfielder pushed it along to Coan, who cut it back and then sent a left-footer around goalkeeper Austin Aviza and into the top left-hand corner in the third minute of stoppage time.

“I’m proud of the boys for their great response in the second half of the season,” FC Tucson coach John Galas said. “I don’t want to say it was a comprehensive win, but we defended exceptionally well. We had a clean sheet and we scored two goals.”

FC Tucson goalkeeper Carlos Merancio made one save to pick up his second clean sheet of the season.

In the second half, FC Tucson continued to keep knocking on the door. The Men In Black finished the night with 27 shots, 7 on target, including the last one of the game that doubled Coan’s total in the match. In the 90th, he fired in another left-footed curler for an insurance goal to extend the losing streak of Orlando City B (1-9-3, 6 points) to seven in a row.

“Both of the goals were kind of switching across the field and we did a good job just making the extra pass,” Coan said. “I just found myself open on the far side and was just able to finish it to the far post.”

The Rundown

Orlando City B has made three changes to their roster during the season, coming from within the Orlando City organization. They signed #26 Michael Halliday, #67 Moises Tablante, and #19 Jordan Bender on loan. Both Micheal and Jordan came from Orlando City SC first team while Moises was promoted from the Orlando City Academy. At 19 years old, Moises has been the most influential, starting in all 12 games along with leading the team with 3 assists and 22 shots. 

The team is coached by Marcelo Neveleff. Marcelo previously was the New England Revolution first-team assistant coach where he was also an adviser for the club’s development academy. During that role, Marcelo was an assistant for the U.S. U20 Men’s National Team. This season is Marcelo’s first as head coach of Orlando City B. 

You can view Orlando City B’s roster here

 

Team Form

In the last 5 games, Orlando City B has a record of 0 wins, 0 draws, 5 losses. At home, they have a record of 0-3-2 this season. Currently, Orlando City B sits at the bottom of the table with a record of 1-3-8 and a goal difference of -12. 

 

Head to Head 

The last time the Men in Black took on Orlando City B, Tucson won the game by a score of 4-1 on August 19 at Osceola Heritage Park. 

 

Players To Look Out For

 In attack #62 Wilfredo Rivera has been the most dangerous for Orlando. In 12 games he leads the team with 3 goals which is tied 10th in USL league one play. Wilfredo is tied 2nd on the team in assists with 1 and 2nd on the team for shots with 16. Wilfredo also leads the team in chances created with 14. 

In the midfield #59 Jose Quintero has been the supporting role to Wilfredo. Jose is tied 2nd in the club for goals with 1. Jose is also tied 4th in the club for both shots with 7 and chances created with 7. Jose has done this in only 9 appearances, starting in 8 of those.

In defense #55 Juan Pablo Monticelli has been the man in the back. Juan leads the team in clearance with 39, blocks with 12, interceptions with 18, and aerial duels with 29. Juan has done all of this in just 11 games, in which he started 9.

In goal, #61 Austin Aviza has been the main man in net. In 9 appearances Austin has 38 saves which puts him 4th in USL League Ome. Austin also has 1 clean sheet, putting him tied 11th in USL L1 play while also conceding 16 goals.  

 

Fun Fact 

Orlando City B’s stadium is actually located in Montverde, not Orlando, which is 23 miles east of the MLS stadium. This will also be Orlando City B’s last match against FC Tucson, following their announcement to withdraw from USL League One.

Did you know? Defender Niall Logue has started all 15 league matches this season for FC Tucson. In fact, he hasn’t missed a minute — notching up a total of 1,350 minutes in 2020. If he goes the full 90 in the final match of the season Saturday, he will become the first Man In Black ever to play every minute of every league match in a season.

* Only one player in FC Tucson history has started every league match in a season. Conor Spence started all 16 matches in the club’s inaugural PDL season in 2012. He missed just 77 of 1,440 league minutes on the field that year.

* Just four Men In Black have played in every league match in a season. Tate Schmitt (14 matches in 2016), Tim Harbison (14 matches in 2014) and Reid Schmitt (16 matches in 2012) join Spence on that list. If Roberto Alarcon and Elivelton play in Saturday’s match, they will also have played in every league match this season.

TUCSON, AZ. – USL League One announced the Team of the Week Presented by Cleer Audio for Week 13 of the 2020 regular season on Tuesday, with Carlos Merancio and Giovanni Godoy earning Team of the Week honors. The duo lead FC Tucson to its third consecutive unbeaten match, with a win and draw against South Georgia Tormenta FC and Greenville Triumph SC.

Merancio recorded 10 saves across two games on the week as Tucson claimed a win and a draw, including an eight-save shutout performance against South Georgia Tormenta FC last Wednesday night. 

Godoy scored two goals on seven total shots across two matches including the game-winner in FC Tucson’s 1-0 victory over Tormenta FC, while completing 43 of 61 passes and winning 12 of 18 duels overall. once and registered four shots, completed 21 of 31 passes overall and won 8 of 14 duels as Tucson played to a 2-2 draw with the Richmond Kickers on Saturday night.