Recently the New York Red Bulls II released their schedule for the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season.
This season will be the second for the Baby Bulls in MLS NEXT Pro and they will be looking to follow up their successful inaugural campaign where they finished fourth in the Eastern Conference standings and won a first round playoff game.
They will play a total of 28 games against all Eastern Conference opponents, from March to October 2024. For the second year in a row, the Baby Bulls begin their season on the road at Lower.com Field against Columbus Crew II. That match is scheduled for March 17 at 3:00 p.m. ET and fans will be able to stream it on Apple TV with the MLS Season pass.
The opponents whom Red Bulls II will become most familiar with throughout the season are Columbus Crew 2, New York City FC II, Philadelphia Union II, Chicago Fire FC II, and Toronto FC II. They will face each one of these teams three times throughout the season.
There will be three New York Derby matches which Head Coach Ibrahim Sekagya's team will enjoy this season. The first two will happen on Apr. 10 and June 1, and will involve the Red Bulls II visiting St. John's University, while the final New York Derby game of the upcoming MLS NEXT Pro will be played at MSU Soccer Park on Aug. 11.
The Baby Bull Preseason
Not so fast! The Red Bulls II are not going to start their season off cold, but instead will play three preseason games. The first of these is on Feb. 18 at the Red Bulls training facility against CF Montreal's Reserves.
Then, Sekagya's club head up I-95 to Connecticut to face Hartford Athletic on Feb. 23. Their last preseason game is an unconventional one against FC Motown of USL League 2 and the National Premier Soccer League on March 2 at MSU Soccer Park.
Meet your Baby Bulls!
One of Red Bulls II's most consistent players last season was Ugandan midfielder Ibrahim Kasule. Kasule finished with a club-best 17 goals and was named to "MLS NEXT Pro Best XI" and awarded two "Player of the Month" awards in 2023.
Kasule's fellow Ugandan, Steven Sserwadda was signed by the Red Bulls to an MLS NEXT Pro contract and will play for the Baby Bulls this season. Sserwadda missed almost all of 2023 due to a torn MCL but should be back to his old self in 2024.
“Steven is a talented young player that has an incredibly useful skillset in the midfield,” said Head Coach Ibrahim Sekagya. “We have seen how he can thrive within our system, and we cannot wait to have him back in the squad.”
Kasule is returning to a young and talented midfield that can boast of having such talents as Bloomfield, New Jersey native Bento Estrela and Julian Hall. Last season was a fantastic start for Hall's professional career; he became the second youngest player to make his debut in MLS history and scored three goals and an assist for his club in MLS NEXT Pro.
Also, New York's 2024 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick, center back Aidan O'Connor should replace the minutes that defenders whose options were declined this offseason, like O'Vonte Mullings provided the Baby Bulls on the backline last season.
These are just a few of the players who could be starring in the MLS in the future that will play for the Red Bulls II this season. Hurry up and get that MLS Season Pass so you can find out how good they are!
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