Photo Credit: The Pro Photo Group

By Noam Gumerman

The 0-3 Carolina Flyers host the 3-1 San Diego Growlers on Friday night in a key early-season South Division matchup. The Flyers are looking to bounce back from last week’s double-header losses to the Atlanta Hustle at home and earn their first win of the 2025 season. The Growlers will be looking to capitalize on the Flyers’ slow start to the season and work to solidify a spot amongst the top three teams in the division early on this year.

The Flyers have their work cut out for them. If they cannot start stringing together wins soon, they will run out of time to hit their stride this year. It’s been a tougher start for the Flyers than most teams though. There are some big pieces from last year that are now gone, a new coaching staff, and a brutal first three games with two against Atlanta and one against DC absolutely was a gauntlet for this group. But this week is a chance to come out the other side of that gauntlet and make a statement against a solid San Diego team. A win would remind the division and league who made it to Championship Weekend last year and that they are still a force to be reckoned with this season. 

The Growlers come into town on a hot start, but their 3-1 record may be a little deceiving. Their only game against a mutual opponent with Carolina (Atlanta) was also a loss, albeit just a one-goal one in a thrilling 20-19 game. All three of their wins come against a Los Angeles Aviators squad that is also still searching for its first win. This game is as much a test for the Growlers to show how legit they are as a squad this year, as it is for the Flyers to prove the same point.