Phoenix Rising begins workouts ahead of 2022 season; here's a breakdown of roster

Nearly three months after its stunning first-round upset loss to the Rio Grande Valley Toros in the USL playoffs, Phoenix Rising returned to training this week at Wild Horse Pass.

Now in their fifth season under manager Rick Schantz, the Rising are aiming to turn a half decade worth of regular season dominance into their first-ever USL title.

That ambition, though, can only be realized nine months from now. The more pressing focus for Schantz is finding the right blend of returning players and new signings ahead of Phoenix’s regular season opener on March 12.

The Rising’s four-game preseason begins on Feb. 8 with a friendly against Houston Dynamo. They then return to Wild Horse Pass to take on Sporting Kansas City and Louisville City before closing out the preseason against FC Tucson.

Over the next month, then, Schantz’s preferred lineup combinations will crystallize. For now, here’s a look at who Phoenix is bringing back, who it lost, and who it's adding.

Goalkeeper

Returners: Edward Delgado, Ben Lundt

Departures: Andre Rawls (Loan Expired), Zac Lubin (Free Agent)

Additions: None

Early in the 2021 season, Schantz rotated between Lundt and Rawls between the sticks. By mid-summer, though, Rawls emerged as Schantz’s top option, helping an improved Rising defense concede the Pacific Division’s fewest goals.

Rawls was never expected to return this season after his loan from the MLS’s Colorado Rapids expired — although he is currently a free agent. Lubin, meanwhile, missed the 2021 season with a back injury after starting 56 games across the previous three campaigns. He, too, is a free agent.

Delgado served as the Rising’s No. 3 goalkeeper throughout most of 2021 but is set to be the primary backup this year for Lundt, who signed a multi-year extension in January.

Defense

Returners: Niall Dunn, Joe Farrell, Ryan Flood, Darnell King, Manuel Madrid, James Musa.

Departures: Tate Schmitt (Loan Expired), Noah Billingsley (Loan Expired)

Additions: Channing Chasten (Ohio State, NCAA), Baboucar Njie (RGV Toros, USL)

The Rising’s defense largely remains the same from a season ago. By the end of the year, King established himself at right back, with Musa and Farrell pairing up in the middle and Schmitt at left-back. Only Schmitt, whose loan from Real Salt Lake expired, departs from that foursome.

In his place, Flood — who started early last season — and Njie will compete for the left back role.

“(Flood), it was his rookie year and like most rookies, you come out of the gates flying, you're super confident,” Schantz said. “(Then) we bring in Tate Schmitt, your confidence gets hit a little bit and he wasn't prepared to deal with it. His responsibility this year will to be able to maintain a level head throughout the year and hopefully he puts consistent performances together. But it's not gonna be easy. (Njie) is a very good player.”

Chasten, meanwhile, will likely deputize King at right back. The 2019 Chandler Hamilton graduate started all but one game for Ohio State this year, prompting the Rising to sign him out of college with one year of eligibility remaining.

In the middle, Musa and Farrell will likely be Schantz’s first-choice duo with Madrid as the top backup. Sixteen-year-old Niall Dunn — the Rising’s first-ever academy graduate — will have a bigger role than he did in 2021, when he made just one first-team appearance.

Midfield

Returners: Joey Calistri, Ivan Gutierrez, Kevon Lambert, Jonathan Levin, Aodhan Quinn, Arturo Rodriguez, Luis Seijas

Departures: Jon Bakero (Slavia Sofia, Bulgarian First League), David Loera (San Antonio FC, USL)

Additions: Carlos Anguiano (Tacoma Defiance, USL)

Over the back half of last season, the Rising leaned on their midfield dominance to control matches and suffocate opponents. With one of the USL’s best midfield trios returning, this year should be no different.

“It's massive any time you can keep a group together,” Schantz said. “At this level, it's very difficult. You don't see players signing for multiple year contracts very often in the USL and I think that's something that (general manager) Bobby Dulle and our ownership has supported me on.”

Kevon Lambert is returning for his sixth season as Phoenix’s starting defensive midfielder. Although Schantz wouldn’t name a captain to replace outgoing talisman Solomon Asante in his press conference Tuesday, Lambert is the Rising’s longest-tenured player and would be a logical replacement. He’s joined in Phoenix’s presumptive starting midfield by Aodhan Quinn and Arturo Rodriguez — a player Schantz said “has the potential to be in the conversation for one of the better players in the league.”

Anguiano is just 22 years old but provides another attacking threat with USL experience. In 78 career appearances in the league, he has 13 goal contributions.

Attack

Returners: Santi Moar

Departures: Solomon Asante (Free Agent), Darren Mattocks (Free Agent), David Egbo (Loan Expired), Prince Saydee (Hartford Athletic, USL)

Additions: Greg Hurst (Union Omaha, USL1), Marcus Epps (San Antonio FC, USL), Richmond Antwi (Legon Cities, Ghanaian Premier League)

The bulk of the questions facing Phoenix entering the new season revolve around its front three.

While Santi Moar returns after scoring a team-leading 16 goals a year ago, the biggest story is Asante’s departure. For four years, Asante terrorized USL defenses and winning two league MVPs. In 114 appearances for the Rising, he scored 54 times and assisted on 44 goals. In short, he is the club’s best ever player.

Now, Schantz admits, more attacking responsibilities will fall on the midfield trio, especially Quinn and Rodriguez. That, though, doesn’t mean Phoenix’s attack is devoid of options.

Hurst will have to adjust to the increased level of the USL Championship but proved his goal scoring chops in Omaha, scoring 14 times in 30 games last season. Epps, meanwhile, has 106 games of USL experience spread between five different clubs and is the most likely replacement for Asante in Schantz’s first-choice XI.

“(Epps) is different. He's physically on another level. One v. one with his speed, he can get behind. It allows us to play a little bit different. We can, instead of always having to press to keep Solo and Santi in high positions, I think we can be pretty good on the counter attack and I'm really excited about our flexibility this year.”

The 21-year old Antwi is more of an unknown, having played his entire career in Sudan and Ghana. He was prolific in the Sudanese Premier League and had seven goal contributions last season in Ghana.

Theo Mackie covers Arizona high school sports and Phoenix Rising FC. He can be reached by email at theo.mackie@gannett.com and on Twitter @theo_mackie.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Breaking down Phoenix Rising's squad ahead of the 2022 season