Scorpions Begin Home-And-Home Set with FC Edmonton

Published on May 18, 2012 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


SAN ANTONIO, Tx (May 18, 2012) - The San Antonio Scorpions return home to take on FC Edmonton in the first of a home-and-home set against the Eddies on Saturday, May 19. Saturday's match will be the first meeting between the two teams and they will meet three more times this season. It will also be San Antonio's first match against a Canadian team.

The Scorpions are hoping to extend their win streak to four games and potentially inch closer to the top of the NASL table.

The Scorpions will be having Free Soccer Ball Night with the first 2,500 children 16 and under to enter the stadium receiving a free soccer ball provided by McDonald's. Tickets are available for the FC Edmonton match at SanAntoniosScorpions.com.

SCOUTING FC EDMONTON

FC Edmonton is coming off a 2-0 shutout victory on the road against the winless Atlanta Silverbacks, giving the Eddies their second victory of the season. The win was also their second straight after starting the season winless through four games.

Michael Cox received a through ball in the 14th minute and put a shot past Atlanta keeper Daniel Ilyes to give FC Edmonton an early 1-0 lead in the match.

Ilja van Leerdam made it 2-0 in the 87th minute when he cut through the defense and fired a shot that beat Ilyes to seal the win for the Eddies.

For Eddies goalkeeper John Smits, it was his first professional start and win. After a slow start to the season in which the Eddies failed to record a goal in their first three games, the offense has come alive as of late, scoring eight goals in their last three matches of NASL play.

Midfielder Shaun Saiko, an Edmonton native, has been instrumental in the team's recent upswing, scoring four of the team's eight goals this season. Three of them came in FC Edmonton's 3-0 shutout win against Carolina on May 6 that earned him NASL Offensive Player of the Week honors.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Eddies have been one of the more solid teams in the NASL this season, allowing just six goals this season. FC Edmonton has also recorded three shutouts this season from three different goalkeepers (David Monsalve, Michal Misiewicz and John Smits).

LAST TIME OUT

The San Antonio Scorpions extended their winning streak to three games with a thrilling 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies on May 12.

Pablo Campos scored both goals for the Scorpions, including the game-winner in stoppage time, to keep San Antonio unbeaten on the road for the 2012 season. Campos now has team-highs in goals (3) and points (7).

Campos earned NASL Offensive Player of the Week honors for his two-goal performance in San Antonio's win over Tampa Bay on May 12.

Pablo Campos scored the game's first goal in the 52nd minute, receiving a pass from Hans Denissen and putting a shot past Rowdies keeper Jeff Attinella to give the Scorpions a 1-0 lead.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Daniel Antoniuk scored the equalizer for the Rowdies in the 55th minute of the game.

The Scorpions picked up the game winner when Esteban Bayona fired a shot on goal in stoppage time that Jeff Attinella initially saved, but Campos put the rebound into the back of the net to give San Antonio the lead and the win.

ON THE RISE

The Scorpions have not lost a game since losing their home opener against Puerto Rico and their three-game winning streak is the longest in the league at the moment. Since April 15, the Scorpions have steadily risen in the NASL standings, currently sitting in third place and five points behind first-place Puerto Rico.

The Scorpions have been one of the stronger defensive teams in the past month, outscoring opponents 7-3 in their last four games, including two shutouts at Carolina and vs. Tampa Bay.

SATTLER UNBEATEN

Daryl Sattler has posted back-to-back shutouts and has recorded three wins in all three of his starts this season. He currently leads all regular NASL starting goalkeepers with a 0.33 goals against average.

EDMONTON CONNECTION

FC Edmonton coach Harry Sinkgraven coached Scorpions F Hans Denissen while they were at FC Emmen, a Dutch soccer club, from 2009-2010.

COMING UP

The Scorpions will play the Laredo Heat in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Blossom Athletic Center. A win on Tuesday would set up a meeting with the Houston Dynamo of MLS in the third round at Heroes Stadium on May 29.

Tickets for the game are available at https://www.sanantonioscorpionstickets.com/vsHoustonDynamo.

San Antonio returns to NASL play at FC Edmonton on May 27 at 3:05 p.m. CT.

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