MLS Comes to Toyota Field; Scorpions to Play FC Dallas

February 3, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


San Antonio, TX (February 3, 2014) The San Antonio Scorpions, in conjunction with deeproot Funds (www.deeprootfunds.com), will play FC Dallas at Toyota Field in a match set for March 1st for the deeproot Funds Cup, President Howard Cornfield and Robert Mueller, Vice President of deeproot Funds announced today.

"Thanks to the great support of deeproot Funds and with Coach Alen Marcina's help, we were able to secure this great match," Cornfield said, "People have been clamoring for MLS at Toyota Field so we expect a great turnout. We are very grateful to the FC Dallas organization's support of Soccer for a Cause."

This will be FC Dallas' final friendly prior to their opening game on March 8, so all regulars are expected to play. FCD opened training camp Jan. 25 at the team's Toyota Soccer Center headquarters in Frisco, Texas and departed Jan. 30 for Abu Dhabi to train and play exhibition games through Wednesday, Feb. 12.

The Scorpions, who will begin training camp here in San Antonio on Feb. 10, will look to showcase a wide array of talent, depth, and leadership that has been added to the explosive roster during the off-season break. The Scorpions 2014 line-up reflects a strategy and cohesive vision to compete for NASL championships from both President Howard Cornfield and Head Coach Alen Marcina.

Currently, the Scorpions return six well-performing veterans, Tomasz Zahorski, Stephen DeRoux, Greg Janicki, Javier Saaverda Jeremy Vuolo, and Sainey Touray along with an influx of exciting young talent. The 2014 line-up will further be reinforced by the recent additions of former MLS Toronto FC team captain and Canadian National Team defender, Adrian Cann, and with the signing of 2012 Best XI midfielder, Walter Restrepo, who had a career best season in 2012 with six goals and eight assists.

FC Dallas will bring their first team roster for the March 1 friendly at Toyota Field, including 2013 MLS SuperDraft pick and UCLA stand-out Ryan Hollingshead, former Houston Dynamo midfielder, Adam Moffat of Scotland, and FC Dallas veteran defender, Zach Loyd, who was picked fifth overall by Dallas in the first round of the 2010 SuperDraft.

"We are very excited to travel to San Antonio to play the Scorpions," said FC Dallas President Dan Hunt. "They are a fine organization and San Antonio is a very good soccer market. We look forward to competing against them for the deeproot Funds Cup at Toyota Field. It will be a great test for our players as we prepare for our home opener."

In addition to a solid first team line-up, FC Dallas boasts a new head coach, Oscar Pareja, who was formally introduced as FCD's head coach earlier this month at a Jan. 21 press conference. Pareja has a 14-year history with the club that started in 1998 when the Colombian national was a midfielder. Pareja joins FC Dallas after leaving the club and serving two seasons as head coach of the Colorado Rapids. Pareja promises a team that will work hard, "You know from us you'll get work. That's all we have, nothing else. Now is where we start."

"FC Dallas is a fantastic organization with a tremendously talented squad that just acquired an excellent coach in Pareja," Scorpions Head Coach Alen Marcina stated. "It's a great benefit for us to measure up against an elite opponent as we commence preparations for the start of the 2014 NASL season. We're excited to host this event and thank FC Dallas and deeproot funds for their support of Soccer for a Cause."

"We are very proud to be associated with the San Antonio Scorpions and Soccer for a Cause," said Mueller. "At deeproot Funds, our conviction runs deep in our alternative fund designs. We see the passion for soccer in this community and can think of no better avenue to share our conviction than by aligning with the Scorpions and helping to bring what we hope will be the first of many MLS games to Toyota Field."

The FC Dallas friendly will be "Bonus Game 1" in the 2014 San Antonio Scorpions season ticket package and season ticket holders can purchase additional discounted priority tickets immediately. The group sales and general public on sale date will be Wednesday, February 5th at the Toyota Field Box Office or through Ticketmaster. Call 210.495.8686 for more information on tickets or log onto www.sascorpions.com

The Scorpions will open league play on April 12 against Minnesota United.



North American Soccer League Stories from February 3, 2014


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