The 2024 season has been a redemption story for North Texas SC.
After falling short in the inaugural 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs and missing the cut in 2023, the team retooled and brought something different to 2024.
General Manager Matt Denny and Co. went to work during the offseason and set their sights on international talents, bringing in key pieces like defender Nico Gordon from Birmingham, England to solidify the backline and Pedrinho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to add spark to the offense.
All while continuing to do what they do best, developing their own homegrown talent to create a balanced squad capable of competing against any team in MLS NEXT Pro.
Now, it all culminates with a return to the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs as the top overall seed.
The fortress at Choctaw Stadium
Holding the top seed means the road to MLS NEXT Pro Cup 2024 will run through Arlington, where they haven't suffered defeat in 385 days and counting.
Even with managerial changes during the season, North Texas SC still posted the best record in the league, finishing with a 16W-4L-8T record and 62 points, the second-best points record in league history.
Interim head coach Michel Garbini was appointed after John Gall was promoted to the FC Dallas first-team staff in June.
Since taking over, Garbini has led North Texas SC to a 9W-3L-4T record and was named the MLS NEXT Pro Coach of the Month for September.
One key to North Texas SC’s success has been home form. Choctaw Stadium has become a fortress for NTSC, featuring an impressive record of 14 unbeaten home games, including nine wins and five draws.
Out of the five home games that went to a shootout, North Texas SC secured victories in four of them.
What's more? They boast a +20 goal difference advantage when playing in Arlington and have spent less than 200 minutes trailing at Choctaw all season.
Are you hungry?
With a six-game unbeaten streak and only one regulation loss in their last 11 matches, North Texas SC enter the playoffs in top form. Keeping the fire burning after their last performance, a commanding 8-2 win over MNUFC2, will be a challenge.
Garbini has a signature approach, providing a quote of the year candidate when sizing up the task.
"My question for the boys: Are you hungry or do you just want something to eat?” he posed after Sunday’s win. “If you're hungry, you’ve got to keep pushing every day. You’ve got to keep doing whatever you need to do to achieve your goal...Our goal is to be champions.”
NTSC’s postseason menu begins with Whitecaps FC 2, whom they selected during the Western Conference MLS NEXT Pro Pick-Your-Opponent Playoff show.
"We want to try ourselves," Garbini said of the selection. "We want to go out and ensure we're ready for the playoffs and Vancouver is going to be a tough opponent for us."
It all makes for a confident squad looking to add something to the trophy cabinet for the first time since 2019.
"I told the boys guys this is we've been fighting the whole season," said winger Enes Sali. "We didn't come this far just to come this far. So, when we go in the playoffs, we're going to give one hundred percent of all our powers and do whatever it takes to win everything."
Safe to say their Oct. 20 match with Whitecaps FC 2 (8:30 PM ET | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) will be a marquee matchup in the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs Quarterfinal.
