Scorpions Kick off Second Half of Season at Puerto Rico

Published on July 10, 2012 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


San Antonio, TX (July 10, 2012) - The first-place San Antonio Scorpions (8W-4T-2L, 28 points) will kick off the second half of their inaugural season with an important road match against the second-place Puerto Rico Islanders (7W-4T-4L, 25 points) on Wednesday, July 11.

This will be the third meeting between the two sides so far this season. The Scorpions lost 4-0 to the Puerto Rico Islanders in their April 15 home opener, but defeated the Islanders 2-0 on the road on June 16 to even the series. For the Islanders, it was their first regular season home loss since September 2010.

The Scorpions currently sit three points ahead of the Islanders while playing one less game.

San Antonio will host Puerto Rico one more time this season at Heroes Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 5.

SCOUTING PUERTO RICO

The Islanders, who sat in first place for much of the season before the Scorpions jumped ahead of them last month, have won just one of their last four matches since losing to the Scorpions on June 16.

Puerto Rico came away with a point at home in a 1-1 draw against FC Edmonton on July 7. Jonathan Fana found the back of the net in the 31st minute for the Islanders to give them the lead, but the Eddies drew even later in the match with Kyle Porter's scoring strike in the 51st minute.

Fana has become one of the best facilitators on offense this season for the Islanders, ranking second overall in the NASL in assists (5). As a result of his play, the Islanders are fourth in the NASL in goals scored this season. Puerto Rico has scored 22 goals in 15 matches this season.

The Islanders have keeper Richard Martin in the net, and his 1.00 goals against average mark is second best in the NASL this season, only behind Scorpions keeper Daryl Sattler (0.54).

LAST TIME OUT

The San Antonio Scorpions defeated FC Edmonton and extended their first place lead with a 1-0 shutout victory on the 4th of July at Heroes Stadium. A crowd of 9,115 was on hand for the match as the Scorpions, as the Scorpions extended their unbeaten streak at home to seven matches.

Forward Esteban Bayona picked up the lone goal for the Scorpions in the second half, which proved to be enough to give San Antonio its fourth win in five matches.

The Scorpions broke through in the 66th minute when Bayona knocked a header from a perfectly-placed cross by midfielder Jonathan Greenfield past goalkeeper Lance Parker. The goal was the fourth of the season for Bayona, who has scored a goal for San Antonio in each of their past four matches.

DYNAMIC DUO

San Antonio's offensive momentum is at a fever pitch going into the second half of the season.

The Scorpions have the always dangerous forward Pablo Campos, the current second overall scorer in the NASL with eight goals. Five of Campos' goals were in the month of June.

Esteban Bayona has become another offensive threat for San Antonio, scoring a goal in each of the last four matches. He is also third in the NASL in assists with four this season.

The Scorpions are third in the NASL in goals scored with 23 scores in 14 matches this season.

DOMINANT DEFENSE

The Scorpions' defense has developed into a solid roadblock that constantly troubles all of their opponents.

Keeper Daryl Sattler's goals against average of 0.54 is the best in the NASL this season and has a league-high eight shutouts in 2012.

Sattler registered another clean sheet against FC Edmonton, and has not allowed a goal at home since April 21.

The defenders in front of Sattler have effectively limited the opposition's quality looks at the goal, allowing the fewest shots on goal in the league (46).

COMING UP

The Scorpions will complete their brief two-game road trip when they travel to Fort Lauderdale to face off against the Strikers Saturday, July 14. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT.

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