Scorpions Begin Home-And-Home Set with Strikers

Published on July 13, 2012 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


San Antonio, TX (July 13, 2012) - The San Antonio Scorpions will fight to regain sole possession of first place in the NASL when they face the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday, July 14 in the first of two back-to-back meetings between the two sides.

The Scorpions are currently tied with the Puerto Rico Islanders for first place in the NASL standings with 28 points each, but the Scorpions have played one less match than the Islanders.

Saturday's match will be the second meeting the Scorpions and Strikers this season after both teams battled to a 2-2 draw in San Antonio on April 22.

The Strikers and Scorpions will play two more times this season, including Saturday, July 21 at Heroes Stadium for San Antonio Thunder Flashback Night. The final meeting between the two teams will be played in Fort Lauderdale on Aug. 25.

SCOUTING FORT LAUDERDALE

If the season ended today, the Strikers would make the NASL playoffs as the sixth and final seed with a seven-point cushion between them and seventh-place FC Edmonton heading into Saturday's match.

Fort Lauderdale's 2012 season has been filled with ups and downs, starting off the season strong earning at least a point in each of its first four matches, but then going winless in the month of May.

The Strikers have been solid offensively, scoring 23 goals as a squad this year. Rookie sensation Mark Anderson has led the charge for Fort Lauderdale with seven goals (third in the NASL) while veteran Andy Herron and Walter Restrepo each have five goals this season.

Restrepo also has an NASL-best six assists to go along with his goals, making him an important playmaker in the Strikers attack.

But they have struggled defensively, allowing the second-most goals in the league (27). Keeper Matt Gleaser has the second most saves of any NASL goalkeeper this year with 64. Glaeser has started all 16 games for Fort Lauderdale and has a goals against average of 1.69.

LAST TIME OUT

A strong second half effort was not enough for the San Antonio Scorpions in a 1-0 road loss to the Puerto Rico Islanders on July 11.

Islanders forward Addlery put the Islanders ahead with his sixth goal of the season in the 24th minute with a header off a pass from Noah Delgado that beat Scorpions keeper Daryl Sattler.

The Scorpions came out strong in the second half looking for the equalizer. But despite a number of close chances, San Antonio was unable to pull even and suffered its third loss of the season.

PABLO POWER

Scorpions forward Pablo Campos is second in the NASL in goals scored with eight after scoring twice against the Atlanta Silverbacks on June 30 and leads the Scorpions with 18 points. Five of those goals came in the month of June.

DEFENDING THE NET

The Scorpions rise to the top of the league standings has been made possible in large part thanks to the play of goalkeeper Darryl Sattler and the defense in front of him.

Sattler has given up only seven goals on 35 shots faced. His 0.58 goals against average is a league-best and he has secured a league-high eight shutouts this season in net.

As a unit, the Scorpions defense has allowed just 13 goals in 15 games this season, less than any other team in the league.

COMING UP

The Scorpions will play the Strikers again on Saturday, July 21 for San Antonio Thunder Flashback Night. The team will pay tribute to its NASL heritage by offering tickets, parking and merchandise at 1976 pricing.

To purchase tickets, go to https://www.sanantonioscorpionstickets.com/vs-Strikers&Tickets.

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North American Soccer League Stories from July 13, 2012


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