With two preseason matches remaining before the New York Cosmos open their National Premier Soccer League season later this month, head coach Carlos Mendes realizes his team is far from being in optimum shape.
 
So, there's plenty to work on when the Cosmos play at Fordham University on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
 
"We're starting to understand how we want to play," Mendes said. "We've done some good things, but we haven't been consistent with it. I'm looking for more consistency, more tempo, and more speed of play and transition.

"There's a lot of things to work on. We need to be focused. We're getting down to the last two-three weeks where we have to be ready to go."
 
With the preseason finale looming at St. John's University next week, Mendes likely will give his probable starters some more playing time.
 
"We might have guys play equal minutes or a lot of guys play equal minutes and the last game try to give guys 75 to 90 minutes to some guys that need it in the game against St. John's," he said. "We want to mix one group and get guys minutes in the other game."
 
The Cosmos will return to Jack Coffey Field, a venue that they left with great vibes in one of their greatest triumphs in years when they stunned New York City FC (Major League Soccer), 1-0, in the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
 
"Great memories, good atmosphere," said Mendes, who captained the team as a center back that match. "I remember it being a difficult game. It was a good battle. Those are the games that stick out in your mind. The fans were very passionate. You could feel the energy."
 
Cosmos captain Danny Szetela remembered that confrontation quite well, scoring the game-winning goal in the 88th minute.
 
"It's exciting to go back," he said. "There's always going to be memories there, scoring that game against NYCFC in the Open Cup. The atmosphere was awesome. The 5 Points were great and all of Comsos Country. It's always something that I'm going to remember in my career forever. Looking forward to just getting back there and reliving the last minute of the game, scoring that goal."
 
While they have never coached against one another, Mendes and Fordham head coach Carlo Acquista have been friends for years. Acquista, a member of the St. John's 1996 NCAA Division I championship team, was one of the players who showed Mendes around campus when the future Cosmos head was recruited by the Queens, N.Y., school.
 
"I got to know him that far back," Mendes said. "Just being involved, growing up and the college scene. We're good friends, have a lot of respect for him and he's obviously going to do a great job with the program. Looking forward playing him."
 
Mendes said he expected the Fordham encounter will be "a difficult game."
 
"All the games we've played, it's always a challenge," he said of college teams. "They press, they're organized, they're fit, they're younger. For all the things that we've been working on, the tempo and speed of play has to be there or else it’s a difficult game. So, we expect a good game."
 
After the Fordham game, the Cosmos will complete their preseason at St. John's on Tuesday, April 16, at 8 p.m. They kick off their NPSL season against New York Athletic Club at home at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y., on Saturday, April 27, at 7 p.m.