Scorpions End Spring Season on Fifth Straight Win

Published on July 4, 2013 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


Hans Denissen continued his scoring streak in the Scorpions' 2-0 victory over the Carolina RailHawks on the Fourth of July at Toyota Field. Denissen scored his seventh and eighth goals of the season to secure the victory for San Antonio. But the victory was not enough to secure the Spring Season Championship for the Scorpions.

The Scorpions were in contention to win the championship, but they had to beat the RailHawks by a three-goal margin and have the Atlanta Silverbacks lose or draw their match against the Minnesota United FC. Neither of these scenarios occurred, as San Antonio only won by two goals and Atlanta beat Minnesota 3-0. Therefore, Atlanta can be proclaimed the Spring Season champion, because both of the scenarios that had to happen for them to win, which were a Carolina loss and a victory for them, did occur.

The Scorpions had an early opportunity to score in the 10th minute when forward Eriq Zavaleta stole the ball from the Carolina backline, only to have his shot blocked by a RailHawk defender.

Just two minutes later, Zavaleta had another chance when Denissen created space and tapped the ball to Javier Saavedra, who crossed it into the middle of the field. Zaveleta then headed Saavedra's cross over the cross bar.

The Scorpions finally broke through in the 45th minute when Denissen scored off of a rebound that was created from a shot by Blake Wagner from about 20 yards out.

Carolina began the second half with an aggressive offensive attack and almost sent in the equalizer just two minutes after the start of the half when the ball somehow got through the Scorpions backline and trailed past San Antonio's goalie Jeremy Vuolo, but went just wide.

The Scorpions could not capitalize on a number of chances to score in the 62nd minute when RailHawks goalie Akira Fitzgerald came off his line to block a Denissen shot.

Just three minutes later, the ball deflected off of a Carolina defender and went right to Denissen, who headed the ball just wide of the net.

In the 66th minute, Carolina had thought they put in the equalizer and the possible championship-winning goal, but were called offside when the ball was tapped in the net off a rebound.

The RailHawks kept attacking though, and just two minutes later Shriver rocketed a shot that hit the post, giving Carolina hope that they could get that championship-winning goal.

But this is the closest the RailHawks would get to scoring, as the Scorpions turned up their offensive pressure after Esteban Bayona entered the game.

In the 71st minute, the Scorpions had a certain goal when Denissen found space and dribbled to the top of the box and passed it to Bayona, who had the goalie one-on-one. Bayona could not finish though, putting the ball wide of the goal.

The Scorpions' offensive pressure finally broke the Railhawks' defense in the 86th minute, when Denissen put in his eighth goal of the season, tying him for the league with Shriver. Denissen received a beautiful pass from Walter Ramirez and then slid the ball in the corner past Fitzgerald.

Denissen's goal put the championship out of reach for Carolina and secured the Scorpions' fifth-straight win and sixth of their last seven.

The Scorpions victory solidified their third place finish in the NASL Spring Season, only trailing Carolina on goals scored and the first-place and champion Silverbacks by one point. The Scorpions spent most of the first month of the season in last place, and it took them three matches just to score a goal. But once they got rolling, they created momentum that led them to five-straight wins, momentum that should carry into the Fall Season.

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North American Soccer League Stories from July 4, 2013


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