USL Quote Sheet: Wolyniec, Bilyeu and Allen on #NYvHAR

Red Bulls II 3, City Islanders 1

Saturday, May 6, 2017

MSU Soccer Park | Montclair, N.J.

1. Overall thoughts on the match:

• We are getting results at home. I would’ve liked our performance in the first half to have been a little bit better but it was good to see a good response in the second half, it is nice to be able to get the third goal to separate ourselves in the game. Still a work in progress though.

2) Reasons for the slow start for the team:

• I’m not sure. I kind of asked that question at half time too, so not really sure. Maybe sometimes you play an opponent too many times and either they figure you out or you run out of answers but I just felt like we didn’t play with a ton of confidence in the first half and a ton of energy so I challenged the guys to come out with both of those things and for the most part we did that.

3) Difference in the team between this game and the game against Harrisburg last month (April 5)

• Yeah, I don’t know if a lot has changed. I think we have gotten better in certain aspects. In a lot of ways this game looked like that game. I think definitely coming in at halftime you could sense the frustration in myself and the group so we knew we could do more, maybe that is why we were a little bit better in the second half than [the first] one and maybe that’s the biggest difference between the two games.”

Defender Justin Bilyeu:

1. Thoughts on the performance tonight and the position switch midway through the game:

• To start off the game we were playing a little bit too fast but then we slowed down halfway through the first half and we couldn’t really get our rhythm the rest of the half. We tried to defend well but we couldn’t get through them and settle down. We didn’t have enough confidence to play through them in the first half and I think we came out firing in the second half and the entire second half we had the confidence going and we were able to play through them, create chances, and obviously we got the result from it.

2) Whether going in at halftime tied 1-1 motivated the team:

• Yeah, I think so. I think the guys in there know how good we could be and so when we come in not ahead like we would want to be, obviously we are down a little bit but we got the right guys in the locker room to come out firing like we did and to get a result. It’s a good group of guys in that locker room.

3) Whether playing through these last few matches has helped grow confidence in the team:

• Yeah, for sure. We are growing as a team each game. We’re getting to know each other better in training. It’s tough when we’re not together all week and then we’re thrown into a game but each game we’re getting better and better and it’s starting to show in our play, especially when we come out with confidence. We know we can play through teams.

4) Whether the team is up to the challenge next week (Thursday against Charlotte and Sunday against LA II):

• Definitely. We obviously look forward to the games. That is something we all want to be in so the more games the better and I think we are looking forward to it. We are looking forward to getting back into a groove with the week off and everything like that and to just push forward and get better each time we step on the field.

Forward Brandon Allen:

1. Thoughts on his two goals:

• It feels great. Obviously, first half we didn’t come out and I think we didn’t play our best soccer but overall in the second half I think we turned it around and John told us we need to counter press more and I thought second half we did that and we were able to find two goals.

2) Thoughts on his overall performance today:

• Every striker tries to stay in the middle and find ways to help the team win and I thought with my first goal I was lucky. I think it was David Najem that played it in and I was able to beat the goalie there and just got hit bad. Overall, I thought we played well and came out and got the result, which is very important.

3) Thoughts on his ability to score from the penalty spot:

• Well first it comes with my teammates helping me draw the penalty kicks. Them having the confidence in me to take them, it was very important and I think when I step up to the spot I’m just very calm and you know, my confidence is very important.