Scorpions' Season Comes to An End in Carolina

Published on November 2, 2013 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


The Carolina RailHawks used two goals from NASL Golden Boot Winner, Brian Shriver, to win 2-1, and take all three points against the Scorpions at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday night.

San Antonio couldn't get anything out of their final match of the 2013 season, despite creating multiple chances and seeing Sainey Touray score a wonderful goal to give them a first half lead.

The Scorpions took a one-goal lead into the halftime break after Touray's beautiful strike gave San Antonio an advantage. Despite Carolina creating more goal scoring chances in the first half, the Scorpions were able to hang on to their lead to the first half whistle.

The RailHawks came out as the brighter side to start the first 45 minutes, and immediately started to cut through the Scorpions defense. In the 9th minute, some nifty creative work led to a Kenney Walker shot that struck Jeremy Vuolo's post, and nearly gave the RailHawks the lead.

Carolina continued to pressure the Scorpions back line, playing a number of give and go's and creating space to get shots off. In the 21st minute, Carolina's good play almost paid off when a one-time cross across goal was turned towards the back of the net, but a brilliant save by Vuolo kept the game scoreless. Vuolo had to claw back to his far post to reach and keep the ball from crossing the line.

It was the Scorpions however who would sneak in a goal despite the constant RailHawk pressure. Touray picked up the ball on the left wing and cut past a defender to create space along the corner of the 18-yard box. The Gambian then curled a shot into the top corner of the net to give the Scorpions a 1-0 lead. The goal was certainly an early candidate for NASL Play of the Week.

The RailHawks could have equalized just minutes before halftime, but Enzo Martinez drilled a rebound wide of the post when presented with an open goal, and the Scorpions took the lead into the break.

"To get a goal and be a goal up after that half; we are happy but we have to be better defensively," said Scorpions interim head coach Alen Marcina at halftime. "Tactically we made a few adjustments in the game and looked better towards the end of the half."

The Scorpions came out of the gates in the second half much better than they did to open the game, and began to create half chances as they looked to double their lead in Carolina. In the 60th minute, Dennis Chin was released one on one with Fitzgerald, but his shot was saved well by the RailHawks keeper. Blake Wagner was able to get a hold of the rebound and blasted a left-footed shot that careened off the crossbar to keep the Scorpions lead at one.

In the 67th minute, the RailHawks earned a penalty kick when Lyle Martin was judged to have brought down a Carolina attacker in the penalty box. Shriver stepped up and sent Vuolo the wrong way to tie the score at one.

After about 15 minutes worth of half chances and offside calls, the RailHawks were able to score the winner in the 85th minute when Shriver capitalized on a Scorpions failed clearance and drilled his shot into the corner of the goal. The Scorpions fought for an equalizer and received a spark of life from substitute, Ciaran O'Brien, but couldn't find a way to score a second goal.

The Scorpions finished the Fall Season on 10 points and finished the 2013 NASL regular season on 30 points total. Hans Denissen's 12 goals led the team on the year and Javier Saavedra's seven assists was tops in San Antonio.

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North American Soccer League Stories from November 2, 2013


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