Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Scottish forward Greg Hurst has two goals and an assist in his first four matches with the Chattanooga Red Wolves.The Chattanooga Red Wolves are working to secure one of two remaining spots in the USL League One playoffs, and home-field advantage is in their favor.
They will complete their inaugural regular-season schedule over the next three Saturdays with matches against Orlando City B, the Richmond Kickers and Toronto FC II at Chattanooga Christian School's David Stanton Field, where the Red Wolves are 6-1-4. Orlando, Richmond and Toronto are a combined 18-39-6 overall this season and are the bottom three teams in the standings of the 10-team professional soccer league, which is also in its first season.
North Texas SC has clinched the regular-season title and Lansing Ignite FC has secured a playoff berth. The top four teams make the playoffs, and entering the weekend Greenville Triumph SC was third with 37 points while Forward Madison FC was fourth with 36.
South Georgia Tormenta FC and the Red Wolves each have 33 points, but South Georgia is fifth and Chattanooga sixth. Orlando has been eliminated from the playoff hunt, but the league's other three teams - FC Tucson (31 points), Toronto (29) and Richmond (28) are still lurking.
Chattanooga (8-8-9) begins its push Saturday night at 7 against Orlando (3-18-4).
"These final three matches will make our season," Red Wolves midfielder Conor Doyle said. "There will be a different type of intensity and adrenaline, but we can't get overwhelmed. We have to fight and have the right attitude and energy to get three points (each match with wins) the rest of the way."
The Red Wolves are coming off a 4-3 loss at Lansing, where they put together a good offensive showing against their Michigan hosts despite playing a man down for the final 30 minutes. Vangjel Zguro, who leads Chattanooga in assists, also must sit out against Orlando due to his red card.
"All of us need to just go for it," said 22-year-old Scottish forward Greg Hurst, who had two goals at Lansing in his fourth appearance for the Red Wolves. "We have to win the ball high and defend from the front. I like getting the ball and running past players and getting on the end of things. (Team captain Steven) Beattie has been a great mentor to me since I arrived."
Chattanooga goalkeeper Alex Mangels leads the league with 72 saves and has allowed just 12 goals in 11 home matches, including a shutout of North Texas.
"We need to have better reactions in certain areas of the field, get our goals and take advantage of our home field like we have done all season," said Doyle, who helped the Red Wolves put together a nine-game unbeaten streak at home this season.
Added Hurst: "Everyone is up for this playoff push. I really think we have it in us."
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.