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Scorpions Look to Clinch Regular Season Title vs. Minnesota

September 21, 2012 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


SAN ANTONIO, TX (September 21, 2012) - The first-place San Antonio Scorpions (13W-7T-6L) close out the regular season with a home match against the defending NASL-champion Minnesota Stars FC (8W-10T-9L) on Sunday, Sept. 23.

The Scorpions, as of Sept. 21, have a two-point advantage over the Tampa Bay Rowdies with one match remaining for each team as the fight for the NASL regular season championship comes down to the final weekend of play.

A Rowdies loss or draw to the Carolina RailHawks on Saturday, Sept. 22 would ensure the Scorpions the NASL regular season championship. If the Rowdies win, the Scorpions would need a win or draw to clinch the NASL's top seed.

Saturday's match, which is Fan Appreciation Night presented by Walmart, will be the fourth and final meeting between the two teams this season. The Scorpions and Stars fought to a scoreless draw in San Antonio on June 2 before the Scorpions picked up a 1-0 victory against the Stars in Minnesota on Aug. 11. In their last meeting on Sept. 1, the two teams settled for a 1-1 draw in Minnesota.

Both the NASL regular season championship trophy and the NASL Soccer Bowl Trophy will be at Heroes Stadium on gameday.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA

The Stars are in sixth-place in the NASL standings and are fighting for positioning in the NASL playoffs. Just a point behind the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, the Stars could finish either fifth or sixth in the league standings.

On the road, the Stars have struggled to come away with victories. Minnesota only has two wins away from home this year in 13 road matches. The Stars also have a league-best six draws on the road this season.

The Stars have allowed 32 goals this season and have not won a match on the road since defeating the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on May 19.

On the other side of the ball, the Stars have scored 33 goals with an offense led by Amani Walker, who has a team-high seven goals this season and five assists. Martin Nunez and Simone Bracalello add five goals each, respectively.

Matt Van Oekel has been the Stars goalkeeper for most of the season, recording 77 saves while maintaining a 1.20 goals against average.

LAST TIME OUT

The San Antonio Scorpions were unable to overcome a two-goal halftime deficit on Sept. 19, falling to the Atlanta Silverbacks in a 3-1 loss in their final road match of the regular season.

The Silverbacks took the early lead when a cross by midfielder Danny Barrera found defender Willie Hunt, who knocked in a header past Scorpions goalkeeper Daryl Sattler to put Atlanta ahead 1-0.

A free kick by Danny Barrera in the 39th minute went a Scorpions defender and into the net for an own goal, digging the Scorpions into a 2-0 hole late in the first half.

The Scorpions struck back in the second hald when midfielder Josue Soto struck a ball from 30 yards out into the back of the net in the 68th minute to cut into the Atlanta lead

But the Silverbacks struck back in the 75th minute, with forward Pablo Mendez receiving a pass in the left side of the box and firing a shot past Sattler to put the Atlanta ahead 3-1.

HUNT FOR THE GOLDEN GLOVE

Scorpions goalkeeper Daryl Sattler leads the league with a 0.78 goals against average and could wind up winning the NASL Golden Glove, which is awarded to the goalkeeper with the lowest GAA in the regular season.

FINISHING AT HOME

The Scorpions have been one of the most difficult teams to defeat at home this season, picking up points in 10 of 13 home matches so far this season. San Antonio is tied with Fort Lauderdale and Puerto Rico for the most wins at home this season with eight.

San Antonio has shut out visiting opponents nine times this season, allowing just 10 total goals at Heroes Stadium this year in NASL competition.

PABLO ON THE BRINK

Scorpions forward Pablo Campos leads the race for the NASL Golden Boot with a league-high 19 goals awarded to the league's leading goal scorer at the end of the regular season. Carolina's Nick Zimmerman is second in the league in goals with 15.

The Brazilian striker needs one goals to match former Carolina Railhawks teammate Etienne Barbara's total from last year. Barbara won the NASL Golden Boot in 2011 with 20 goals.

COMING UP

The Scorpions have a bye in the first round of the playoffs and will return to action in the NASL semifinals, which begin on Oct. 6 or 7.

San Antonio's first ever home playoff match will be played on Sunday, Oct. 14 at Heroes Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.



North American Soccer League Stories from September 21, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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