Scorpions and Islanders Meet in Battle for First

Published on June 15, 2012 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


SAN ANTONIO, TX (June 15, 2012) - The San Antonio Scorpions will look to extend their unbeaten streak and jump into first place in the NASL standings when they travel to Puerto Rico to take on the league-leading Islanders Saturday, June 16.

The match Saturday will be the second meeting between the Scorpions and Islanders. The Islanders took a 4-0 victory from the Scorpions inaugural home match on April 15, but the Scorpions have not lost a league match since.

The Scorpions enter the match with a 5W-4T-1L record, giving them 19 points in the league standings, one point behind the Islanders, who sit at 20 points with a 6W-2T-2L record.

A victory over the Islanders would once again shuffle the NASL standings and place the San Antonio Scorpions in first place for the first time this season.

SCOUTING PUERTO RICO

The Puerto Rico Islanders have been at the top of the NASL table all season long and have the most wins of any team in the league this season with six.

The Islanders are coming off an important 2-0 home win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies to remain in first place over the surging Scorpions.

A late goal from Jay Needham in the 80th minute of the match helped give the Islanders the lead and an insurance goal from Jarad Van Schaik in stoppage put the game out of reach.

Forward David Foley, who picked up an assist on the Needham goal against Tampa Bay, leads the team with five goals on the season, good enough to be tied for the second-highest total in the league. Puerto Rico has been consistently strong on offense this season, leading the league in goals scored (17).

The Islanders also boast a strong netminder in Richard Martin, who has saved 39 of 46 shots this season. His 0.70 goals-against average is fourth-best in the NASL as the Islanders have allowed the fewest goals in the NASL this season (7) and are tied with the Scorpions for the most shutouts this season (5).

LAST TIME OUT

The Scorpions jumped into second place in the NASL with a 3-0 shutout win against the Atlanta Silverbacks on June 9 at Heroes Stadium.

Forward Pablo Campos scored two goals in the victory, bringing his season total to a team-high five goals and earning him NASL Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Midfielder Walter Ramirez scored the other goal for the Scorpions, his first of the season.

THE SATTLER EFFECT

Since their loss to Puerto Rico the Scorpions have had the most success of any team in the league thanks in large part to the skill of goalkeeper Darryl Sattler.

In his nearly two months in net, Sattler has seen 19 shots, saving 16 of them. His goals-against average stands at an NASL-best 0.42.

As the Scorpions starter, Sattler has a 5W-2T-0L record that includes three shutouts in his last four starts and five overall.

CAMPOS VS. FOLEY

Both the Scorpions and Islanders owe much of their success this season in large part to the play of their respective forwards.

Pablo Campos's two goals this past Saturday puts him at five on the year and also puts him right in the thick of the race for the most goals scored in the league this season. He is now tied with Puerto Rico's Foley and is just one goal behind league-leader Reinaldo Navia in Atlanta.

One of Foley's five goals came against the Scorpions in that April 15 match between the two clubs.

ROAD KILL

A big part of the Scorpions early season success has been a result of solid play away from San Antonio. The Scorpions have not lost in four road matches so far this season (2W-2T-0L) and have posted shutouts twice in those matches.

They are the only team in the NASL to not lose a game on the road this season.

PUERTO RICO CONNECTION

Saturday's match will mark the return of the Scorpions defensive midfielder Aaron Pitchkolan, who played for the Islanders last season.

While with the Islanders, Pitchkolan scored three goals in 27 appearances as the Islanders finished second in the regular season standings with 52 points in 2011.

SCORPIONS INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE

On June 30, the team will host the Scorpions International Challenge, a double header that features their NASL match against the Atlanta Silverbacks and an exhibition match between two prominent club teams from Mexico's first division: Reigning CONCACAF Champions League winner C.F. Monterrey Rayados and San Luis F.C.

The Scorpions International Challenge is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Heroes Stadium on Saturday, June 30.

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