Red Bull New York II are on a two-game losing streak. It’s the first such streak of the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season for Dominik Wohlert’s team, who have a 7-2-2 record heading into Saturday’s road game vs Carolina Core FC (1-6-4).
Saturday will be the fourth regular season meeting between Carolina and RBNY II. Famously, Michael Bradley’s Baby Bulls knocked Carolina out of last year’s Eastern Conference quarterfinals in the MLS NEXT Pro Cup playoffs.
That was a resounding 5-1 victory for the Baby Bulls and one that Carolina will be eager to avenge, however, the season hasn’t gone the way Carolina would have hoped, so far. The side from the American Southeast find themselves in second-to-last place in MLS NEXT Pro’s eastern conference with a league second-fewest eight points.
But Red Bulls II have their own problems. After scoring 22 goals over their first nine games, they have just three goals in their last two—two losses at home. Now they must embark on a three-game road trip and try to regain the form they had three weeks ago.
On the bright side, forward Dennis Nelich has been “Dennis the Menace” lately for Red Bulls II with four goal contributions in the last five games.
He spoke about how the team’s morale has been kept up in training this week following their second consecutive loss, last Sunday at MSU Soccer Park.
“Everyone’s keeping each other up. We’ve got a good group not only on the field but off as well. That connection is only going to help us on the road. We know what we have to do to be successful and were just going to stick with what we’ve been doing.”
Red Bulls II will have to do so at least for the next two weeks without goalkeepers Aidan Stokes and Tobias Szewczyk and starting midfielder Deven Cadigan.
On May 28, Totowa native, Aidan Stokes was called up into the United States U-19 Youth National Team training camp in preparation for the 2026 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.
Also on May 28, Szewczyk, a Morristown native, and Cadigan were called into the U-17 USYNT camp which will be held from June 1 to June 11. While there, the two Red Bulls academy products will try to earn spots in a U-17 USYNT squad that will compete against Brazil in two friendly matches. This was the first international call-up for Cadigan and the fourth for Szewczyk.
Stokes and Szewczyk’s absence means that veteran Austin Causey or first-round draft pick, Tomas Hut will be called upon to start between the sticks.
Plugging a gap for Red Bulls II is old hat to Causey who stepped in last season when number one Aidan Stokes left on international duty after the quarterfinals of the playoffs and started the next three playoff games including the final. In the final, Causey made the championship-deciding save on the last penalty kick of the penalty shootout.
As for Hut, the 21st overall pick at the 2026 MLS SuperDraft out of Syracuse University, has played just 26 minutes this season for Red Bulls II. He came into a game after Szewczyk was shown a Red Card for playing the ball with his hands outside the 18-yard box and conceded the ensuing free kick.
This will be an interesting stretch for Wohlert’s team, where we will inevitably find out what they are made of. The team is going through its first bit of adversity this season and has to find a way to collect itself on the road for the next three games.
After training on Thursday and during a media availability, Head coach Wohlert sounded confident in his team’s ability to turn it around come Saturday’s game.
“Last week was good. I think the guys are making steps and developing in the right direction. We feel really good about that and we’re just trying to continue that progress.”
Although Red Bulls II got outshot and outscored in their most recent game, a 3-1 loss to Connecticut United, there was a bright spot—a great team goal scored by Dennis Gjengaar. Gjengaar is signed as a first-team player but has been sent down to the second team so far this season. The 22-year-old has handled this with grace, professionalism and by producing as the full back’s three assists are tied for the team lead with Nelich.
During the postgame press conference after the loss to CT United, Gjengaar said he’s “found a good connection” with Nelich, who assisted his goal—the team’s only goal—in their most recent game.
Wohlert spoke about the connection between these two players and what they’re doing to help the team recently.
“Both Dennis’s (Nelich and Gjengaar) have been really good and really beneficial for us so far. It’s nice to see players contributing in different positions and taking steps forward in their development.”
On the road this season, Red Bulls II outscored opponents by 7-4 and have a 3-0-1 record (one tie). The tie came early in the season, in March, against their rival, New York City Football Club (NYC FC). Since that game, the Red Bulls II have been undefeated in three games on the road. One of those road games against Philadelphia Union II, Nelich scored the game-winning goal in the 72nd minute, knocking home a pass from teammate Dennis Gjengaar at the back post while being marked.
Lastly, Nelich touched on his great recent form amidst the team’s losing streak and what they need to do to get back on track.
“I’ve been happy with my recent performances, but for me it’s always important that the team is doing well… We have a quality group of players so I think we can turn it around. And now we have a little stretch of away games so we’re focused on getting good results.”
Red Bull New York II will kick things off at Truist Point Stadium in High Point, North Carolina at 6 p.m. Saturday. Coverage will be available on OneFootball and MLSNEXTPro.com.
