Following a bounce back victory over Orlando City B last week, the New York Red Bulls II are looking to make it two in a row this Sunday against Carolina Core FC at home.
The Baby Bulls are 2-0 at home so far during the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season and sit second place in the Eastern Conference.
The Red Bulls II exploded for four goals last week against Orlando City B after being defeated the week before that by FC Cincinnati II. Red Bulls II forward Tanner Rosborough scored his second goal of the season in the game against Orlando City B and he described what he believes that win proved about his team.
It was a big game for us to show our response and show that that Cincinnati game was just a fluke game that happens. So I think that the Orlando game showed who we really are and how we deal with adversity really well.
Head coach Ibrahim Sekagya chimed in with his thoughts on the previous game.
We had a tough week from the previous game with Cincinnati. I think we correct our mistakes. And the guys, they worked hard. This is what I talk about every time, like, whenever we do things together, whenever we do everything in the right time, right moment. This is the result. The game was not easy. We know Orlando is not an easy team. They have good players, but we worked together, and we came out with the win.
Recently, the Red Bulls II loaned defender Aidan O’Connor to Vancouver FC in the Canadian Premier League. O’Connor will be missed from the Baby Bull lineup as he led the team in total minutes played last season and started all five games of this season.
The position O’Connor played was center back and Brooklyn Schwarz has been chosen to take his place in the lineup. Schwarz made his second start of the season last week against Orlando City B and played all 90 minutes for the first time in his professional career.
Coach Sekagya discussed Schwarz’s emergence as a viable option at center back.
This is the thing we talked about from the first day, when we started our preseason, [is] anytime you get a chance, you have to use it. We know when Brooklyn [Schwarz] came in the first time, that is, he’s also a good player [who] is still learning, but these are the chances for the players who are here with the center backs. Brooklyn stood up well in the position, and we know he can do it. This is just to push. It was good for him to see that’s exactly [what] we need. When the player is not in the team, the other one step up to show himself.
Another player who recently made his first start in a Red Bulls II uniform last game is Nehuen Benedetti. The midfielder is on loan from Club Estudiantes de la Plata and scored his first goal of the 2025 season against Orlando City B.
The last time that the Baby Bulls faced Carolina Core FC was Sept. 2024 and Carolina was able to pull out a 4-2 victory at home.
Rosborough is determined along with his teammates to not let Carolina come into MSU Soccer Park and take a second straight game from the Baby Bulls.
It’s going to be a tough matchup, we lost them last year at their place. The guys are hungry. We want to get a win against them, because I remember the last game, we were having a strong performance, a few lightning delays, and things kind of turned around. So we really want to show that we can beat an older, more veteran type of team.
Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday at MSU Soccer Park on the campus of Montclair State University.
