Birmingham Legion travel to Loudoun United this weekend with a clear goal.

With no wins from their first three games, the Three Sparks need a result to get on track. Their opposition, Loudoun, are in the exact same position.

“It’s a big opportunity,” Gevork Diarbian said. “If we beat them, we’ll jump over them. Once we get that first win, it’s just a mentality thing where confidence comes up with the team. We feel good, but it’s a massive, massive game.”

Diarbian has, to some extent, epitomised his new team this early season. One of nine new signings made in the offseason, the winger has shown plenty to be excited about in his first three appearances. However, he has yet to record a goal or assist to his name.

Similarly, Birmingham Legion have shown promise but struggled in the final third. Their two goals last time out against Charleston were their first of the season at the third attempt. Despite positive outings, including going 2-0 up after 30 minutes in South Carolina and dominating Hartford Athletic the week before, the Black and Gold have struggled to turn performances into results.

A Loudoun team with a matching 0-1-2 record seem an ideal candidate to break that duck, though the Virginia side will come into the game sharper than their visitors. Loudoun played midweek in the US Open Cup, losing 1-0 to USL League One’s Richmond Kickers, while Legion haven’t played since March 21.

This comes in the wake of an odd start to the Three Sparks’ schedule, who’s first two games came five days apart, only to be followed by two bye weeks either side of that Charleston matchup.

“It hasn’t been ideal in keeping the momentum going,” Jay Heaps said. “You’re continuing to build on some of it, but it feels a little bit like preseason in a way. You’re training a little bit harder and you’re training a little bit longer because you don’t have the game. But that also gives us time to work on things.”

While the second bye week did halt any potential momentum from forming, it also had the positive side effect of helping the team cope with absentees. With AJ Paterson injured, Bryce Washington undergoing concussion protocols and both Phanuel Kavita and Ramiz Hamouda away on international duty, Legion avoided a sticky situation at the centerback spot. Hamouda and Kavita have since returned from their travels, while Washington has been cleared to play.

Paterson is the only player still out, with Ronaldo Damus set to make his first appearance of the season following a preseason injury. The Haitian forward, who led the team with 14 goals last season, will provide a welcome boost to a roster Heaps believes is stronger than the Magic City has seen in a long time.

“That [strength in depth] has been a good thing,” Heaps said. “This year, there’s more competition at each position. That is something that as a coach is always hard, because you’re telling players [they’re] out.

“It’s tough, but as a coach you want to have those decisions,” he continued. “You want to be able to have tough conversations, because that means your team is getting back [fit].”

That ability to rotate has notably been visible in the backline, which has lined up with three vastly different quartets in the first three games, in part due to injuries and suspensions. It’s also reflected in the fact that only three of the team’s 20 outfield players have played less than 45 minutes so far, with one of them being the injured Damus.

Serge Ngoma was a later addition to the side and made his first start for the team at Charleston, coming off at the half with the team leading 2-0. The young winger, on loan from the New York Red Bulls, now wants to push on for a regular starting spot and is fully focused on helping his current team thrive.

“We all have that mentality where we want to win,” Ngoma said. “Whether I’m here on loan or whether I’m here long-term, it doesn’t matter. I want to do everything that I can to help this team win.

“The team hasn’t had a win just yet, but the performances have been good,” he added.

After 14 days without a game, Legion are finally set for a consistent run of games. Their trip to Virginia tomorrow will be the first of five consecutive weekend games.

That makes it the perfect opportunity to set the tone for that stretch.

“We can’t wait to get these games going, and hopefully get our first win,” Diarbian said. “We have a really close team, we’re all close. … I just think once we get that result we’ll continuously jump forward.

“I just gotta keep doing my thing, hopefully get that first goal and get that first assist, and then things will start to flow from there,” he added.

Birmingham Legion face Loudoun United at 4 p.m. tomorrow at Segra Field. The game will be televised live on ESPN+ and My68 WABM, with the club hosting an official watch party and Easter event at Valley Post.

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