SaturdayWhen: 8 p.m.Where: Cardinale Stadium, Seaside, CaliforniaTV: CBS SportsRecords: New Mexico United (8-4-3), Monterey Bay FC (4-12-3)Series history: United leads 4-2-2.Three matches on the road followed by one at home. So, naturally, that means traveling again for New Mexico United.This time? New Mexico gets the cellar-dweller of the Western Conference: Monterey Bay FC.Here are some things to note:Free kicks1. A NEW LOOK: Some things are new. Some things are not.Lets get the most obvious one out of the way first. Unlike with other Western Conference opponents, this will be Uniteds initial matchup with Monterey Bay this season. Theres nothing wrong with some freshness every now and then. But that also means a lack of familiarity at least on film and paper with some of an opponents players and tendencies. (Although, that certainly hasn't been a problem for most. More on that below.)Monterey Bay has deployed four types of formations this season a 4 (defenders)-2 (midfielders)-3 (forwards)- 1 (striker), a 4-4-2, a 3-4-3 and a 4-3-3. Its used those structures 14, four and four times, and once, respectively.The not-so-new part per se is Monterey Bay coach Alex Covelo, who was installed at the end of April. He replaced former Premier Leaguer Jordan Stewart.Stewart himself was a mid-season hire when he landed the job in August 2024. But in his two-plus years in charge, Monterey Bay went 11-30-15 across all competitions. The club was 0-5-3 before he was dropped.This, meanwhile, is Covelos first first-team job since being named interim coach of San Jose Earthquakes in MLS in 2022. The Spaniard spent nine seasons at San Jose in different staff positions. Its been his longest of his stops that have also included stints in Italian and Spanish soccer, as well as an assistant for the United States in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.Under Cavelos care, Monterey Bay is 4-7-1.2. OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM: United and Monterey Bay are in quite different positions at the moment.For statistical purposes, New Mexico has a 10-match unbeaten streak across all matches, nine of which have come against USL competition. Its 27 points place it fourth on the 12-club Western Conference table, two behind FC Tulsa, four behind San Antonio FC and seven fewer than Orange County SC.Monterey Bay has lost five straight and has picked up two wins over its last 10 matches. The clubs 15 points has it sitting last n the West, 10 points from eighth place, the final playoff spot.It should also be noted that only two clubs have fewer points than Monterey Bay Brooklyn FC (13) and Sporting Jax (8), both of which are from the Eastern Conference. You can probably guess where those two rank in the 13-club East. If the bottom two spots were where you ended up, good job.It hasnt helped Monterey Bay has a negative-12-goal differential 31 against (tied for the third most) to 19 for (tied for 21st most) in the regular season.3. GOLD GLOVE AWARD? Well, its really called the Golden Glove. It goes to the top goalkeeper.Its one of three notable awards the USL Championship gives out at the end of the regular season along with the Golden Boot for top scorer and Golden Playmaker for whoever tallies the most assists.Uniteds Kris Shakes currently finds himself fourth in the Golden Glove race, which is ranked on regular-season goals against average. Shakes GAA is 1. He recorded his fifth regular-season clean sheet and seventh overall in last Saturdays 1-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.Detroit City FCs Carlos Herrera (0.93), Hartford Athletics Antony Siaha (0.94) and Sacramento Republic FCs Danny Vitiello (0.94) are currently ahead of Shakes. San Antonio FCs Joey Batrouni (1.02) sits fifth.Heres how our key award races look after July pic.twitter.com/E889RyYKDd USL Championship (@USLChampionship) August 4, 20264. IF YOU CANT BEAT THEM, BEAT THEM: Monterey Bay certainly hasnt wowed anyone with its defense, scoring ability or results. The place the club has bragging rights if you want to call it that over the league? Fouls conceded.Monterey Bay leads the Championship with 328, seven more than second-place Miami FC and 49 more than third-place Phoenix Rising FC. The club is also fourth in earning yellow cards with 49.United by comparison is 22nd in fouls conceded (208) and tied for second in yellows (44).Key matchupUnited forward Cristian Nava vs. Monterey Bay midfielder Jacob MontesNava has started each of Uniteds last five matches all wins. During that stretch, the Albuquerque native has recorded a goal and an assist, which came in that win over Colorado Springs. Montes is a new addition for Monterey Bay. He made his debut in Wednesdays 1-0 loss to El Paso Locomotive FC. Montes, a member of the Nicaraguan national team, previously played for RWDM Brussels, which was relegated from Belgiums second tier.Player of the matchUnited forward/defender Jake LaCavaLaCava has played in just one match over the last month a 2-0 at El Paso on June 11 dealing with a foot injury. But teammates Ousman Jabang and Niko Hmlinen believe LaCava is a candidate to score on Saturday. It will also be interesting to see if defender Maliek Howell plays after appearing to injure his left hamstring in last Saturdays win.By the numbers1: United retained its top spot in the Championships power rankings again, for whatever thats worth. Monterey Bay rose to 22nd.0-2-2: Unites record in Seaside, California.3: The number of keepers Monterey Bay has deployed this season Jacob Jackson (9 regular-season appearances), Fernando Delgado (9) and Ciaran Dalton (2).1,023: The shortest one-way distance in miles from Albuquerque to Seaside.David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X @DavidGlovach.More New Mexico United reading*Let's try again: NM United has its match at Birmingham Legion FC resetInitial game between the clubs was postponed twice due to weather*Yes, chef: Howell makes sure his NM United teammates get a taste of his native JamaicaOff the pitch, NMU defender cooks and has plans to open future restaurant*After another NM United shutout, Shakes deflects credit to othersGoalkeeper notches 7th clean sheet to help NMU's unbeaten streak continue*Match day: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at New Mexico UnitedNMU faces important matchup amid tight Western Conference*NM United doesn't mind a full week at home after its Alabama experienceThree-match road swing ended with multiple postponements and 17-day layoff between games*Chicharito sees different opportunity in joining Atltico DallasMexico's all-time leading scorer is 1st signee for Championship expansion club*Giddy up: NM United plans to honor jockey Mike SmithNew Mexico native, Triple Crown winner will be at Aug. 26 match against Lexington SC*Weather again leads to postponement of NM United matchMakeup date to play Birmingham Legion FC still to be determined*NM United, Girl Scouts team up for 'girls in the game' eventAn old patch helped serve as the catalyst for the partnership*NM United match in Alabama postponedSquad will play Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday*Match day: New Mexico United at Birmingham Legion FCNMU gets to play at unique site to close road swing*NM United routs Lexington, extends unbeaten streak to nineSimplifying a short week paid off as NMU tied its season high in scoring with a dominant road win*NM United stadium at Balloon Fiesta Park clears another legal hurdleCourt of Appeals rules in soccer club's favor against neighborhood associations*Match day: New Mexico United at Lexington SCNMU is on an 8-game unbeaten streak and doing better in road matches*For NM United, keeping unbeaten streak intact outweighs USL Cup exitNMU out on tournament tiebreaker, but win over El Paso means 8 straight without a loss