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NM United's core foursome gears up for final playoff push
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May 15, 2021 went into the books as a day for New Mexico United fans to celebrate.
It also proved to be the start of an era.
United hosted Austin Bold on that day for a long-awaited season home opener. NMU played the entire 2020 on the road due to New Mexico’s COVID-19 restrictions, meaning United fans hadn’t enjoyed a true home match in more than 18 months.
Isotopes Park attendance was limited that day to allow for social distancing and masks were required, but a raucous crowd of 8,647 turned out to cheer United on to a 3-1 victory.
Diehard fans may remember that Albuquerque’s Sergio Rivas scored his first goal for United that day, but it was also the first time Rivas, Daniel Bruce, Kalen Ryden and Alex Tambakis took the field as teammates at Isotopes Park.
It’s since been a remarkable five-year run for New Mexico’s core foursome — one that will end sometime in November. Bruce and Ryden have announced they will retire at season’s end, while next year’s plans are up in the air for Rivas and Tambakis.
United will host San Antonio FC on Saturday for a USL Championship Western Conference quarterfinal that could be NMU’s final home appearance in 2025. Playoff upsets elsewhere could give third-seeded NMU additional home games, but United’s players know they can’t count on those scenarios.
“Yeah, we’ve talked about it,” Rivas said. “We know we need to cherish these moments while we can. You don’t get a core group that stays together like this very often. Brucey, Kalen, Tambi and I are like brothers now, so making this last run together means a lot to us.”
Bruce, who underwent reconstructive knee surgery earlier this month, bid farewell to United fans at last week’s regular-season finale. He is the last remaining member of United’s debut 2019 team.
Ryden, who arrived in 2020, announced his impending retirement several weeks ago. NMU’s co-captain said he will have his own goodbye moment Saturday, though it’s unlikely to be as lengthy as Bruce’s since Ryden also has a significant game to play.
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Rivas, who joined the club with Tambakis in 2021, expressed similar feelings, saying the time for reflection will come after Saturday’s match. But teammates like goalkeeper Kris Shakes say they are extra motivated to extend the core foursome’s playoff run.
“As a club, we cherish these guys,” Shakes said, “especially me. This is my first professional club and they helped me learn the ropes and get established. If this is our last chance to give them some silverware, we want to make the most of it.”
Bruce, Ryden, Rivas and Tambakis own numerous club records and all four rank among the ULS Championship’s career leaders for appearances and minutes played. Bruce is United’s career leader with 170 overall appearances, while Ryden has made 150 of his 250 USLC appearances with NMU. Rivas has made 145 appearances for his hometown club, while Tambakis has made 138 and is the club’s career leader in saves and shutouts.
In a league with near-constant roster turnover, the longevity of United’s four key players is beyond unusual. Bruce, Ryden, Rivas and Tambakis have played for four head coaches in New Mexico, ably adapting to different systems while maintaining continuity in the locker room and earning the appreciation of fans.
New Mexico’s roster has other veterans more than capable of taking over the leadership mantle, including Will Seymore and Greg Hurst, who joined the club in 2022 and ‘23, respectively, and current co-captain Talen Maples. Still, no one seems quite ready to focus life without the core foursome just yet.
“It’s weird to think we won’t all be together next year,” Rivas said. “I haven’t really started thinking about next year yet. Right now we just need to keep this season going as long as we can.”
