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San Antonio FC Returns Home Looking for Third Straight Win at Toyota Field

After an impressive three-game road trip, San Antonio FC will finally return home for their first match at Toyota Field since July 25, and their third match there in 2020 overall. SAFC recently took seven of a maximum nine points on their three-game road stretch, defeating the Austin Bold and OKC Energy FC before tying the second-place FC Tulsa.

With the two wins and a draw, SAFC has opened up a five-point lead in Group D, sitting atop with 14 points overall. The club now welcomes three straight matches at Toyota Field, starting with the Bold this Saturday at 8 p.m.

SAFC arguably faced their toughest test last Wednesday at FC Tulsa with both sides sharing the spoils after a 0-0 final score. The slugfest was typical of a midweek match as now the Alamo City club with attempt to recover quickly for their game against Austin this weekend. Despite not coming away with all three points, the SAFC coaches and players were pleased with how the team performed over the three-game road stretch. San Antonio is now just a handful of unbeaten teams in the league, and the club is off to its best start to a season since 2017.

“It’s been three away games, three very good opponents and seven points for us,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina after Wednesday’s draw. “Also, another clean sheet tonight, and any time you get a clean sheet you put yourself in a position to win games. All in all, I am really proud of the guys.”

The Bold are coming off their best win of the season, defeating Group rivals RGV FC 4-1 last Saturday. Two goals from attack-minded defender Ish Jome along with a goal from former SAFC midfielder Billy Forbes helped earn a big three points for Austin. The Bold currently sit in third place in the Group D standings on six points.

In their first meeting this season on Aug. 1, SAFC defeated the Bold 4-2 thanks to a brace from forward Luis Solignac. Despite taking an early 2-0 lead, SAFC saw the Bold equalize early in the second half before the Alamo City club was able to grab the winner courtesy of Cristian Parano, and the cushion thanks to Solignac.

Following their match with the Bold, SAFC will face OKC Energy FC at Toyota Field on Wednesday before another quick turnaround to face FC Tulsa at home on Aug. 22.

Thunder Past – Part 7

When Ward Lay and the San Antonio Thunder were awarded a North American Soccer League franchise in 1974, they found a local youth soccer community that barely existed.

A handful of neighborhoods had organized youth soccer programs, most notably the Prospect Hill Athletic Club, which had thriving adult and youth leagues since the 1960's. Due to the lack of local competition, the Yellow Jackets organized matches against border community and Monterrey teams. YMCA also held summer leagues and local private and parochial High Schools played in statewide competitions. In 1974, San Antonio Parks and Recreation took steps to organize a soccer league. Alex Perolli, the first coach for the Thunder, assisted in opening their program in a ceremony at Normoyle Field on November 23rd.

It was apparent to Lay and Head Coach Don Batie that the barren youth soccer landscape needed to change. They believed that a well organized, city-wide youth program would be a plus for the long-range prospects of their club. Lay felt strongly enough about the importance of this program that he funded a Youth Commissioner on the Thunder staff to lead the efforts.

San Antonio Youth Soccer Takes First Steps

When Ward Lay and the San Antonio Thunder were awarded a North American Soccer League franchise in 1974, they found a local youth soccer community that barely existed.

A handful of neighborhoods had organized youth soccer programs, most notably the Prospect Hill Athletic Club, which had thriving adult and youth leagues since the 1960’s. Due to the lack of local competition, the Yellow Jackets organized matches against border community and Monterrey teams. YMCA also held summer leagues and local private and parochial High Schools played in statewide competitions. In 1974, San Antonio Parks and Recreation took steps to organize a soccer league. Alex Perolli, the first coach for the Thunder, assisted in opening their program in a ceremony at Normoyle Field on November 23rd.

San Antonio Youth Soccer Takes First Steps

Batie, while Head Coach at Chico State University in California, had formed a successful youth soccer organization in a community a fraction of the size of San Antonio a few years earlier. When he arrived in Texas, he found it difficult to believe that a city with 850,000 residents had such a limited youth soccer world. Batie approached Thunder owner Ward Lay and received his approval to move forward. Batie approached the youth soccer community as an interested resident until the level of interest supported club involvement.

His first step was to meet with a senior San Antonio ISD (SAISD) administrator. Batie found a receptive audience for soccer at the District on an unofficial level. In a June interview, Batie told me, "They didn't see it as a goldmine for them, they saw it an opportunity for a lot of kids to get involved in sports that were not involved in sports." Batie's next stop was with San Antonio Parks and Recreation, who expressed interest in an integrated and expanded soccer system. "They very much wanted the program; they wanted the numbers in their program and said they would provide all the field space needed."

SAYSO Organizational Efforts Begin

Batie's efforts led Parks and Recreation to set up an organizational meeting at Trinity University on September 30th. A small number of interested parents and representatives from existing leagues attended. The name of the emerging soccer organization was San Antonio Youth Soccer Organization (SAYSO). The league also had a new slogan, "If You Want to Play Soccer…All You Have to Do is Say So." Batie spoke at the meeting and told the small group assembled that 5,000 kids were a reasonable target to shoot for in the first year of the program, noting that the DFW Metroplex had over 20,000 registered players already.

In the San Antonio Light, Batie commented on the limited number of youth soccer players in the community at the time. "I do think there is something wrong when a city that is 11th in population in the country has somewhere between 600 and 1,600 kids playing soccer." A seven-person steering committee was formed, tasked with identifying a coordinator and recommending a geographical organizational breakdown. SAYSO was structured as an umbrella organization, coordinating local leagues and playoffs, in conjunction with SA Parks and Recreation.

SAYSO was Part of a Broader Outreach Program

As part of their community outreach programs, the Thunder were already visiting local schools to conduct mini-clinics for kids and physical education teachers. Batie, assistant Jim Forrest and players like Jose Berico would make a short Thunder presentation, screen an NASL promotional film featuring Pele and then adjourn to the field where players would demonstrate soccer skills in small group settings. Flyers were distributed at these clinics for kids to express their interest in playing in an organized league. The Thunder had a goal to visit every school in San Antonio by the end of the 1976 season. By the time they began their 1976 season, the club had estimated they reached 25,000 kids through school outreach efforts.

Continuing their 1975 efforts, GM Jim Smith would also send American players like Mark Stahl, Dan Counce and Peter Mannos to local malls to drum up interest in the club and SAYSO. Stahl remembers these visits to malls. "They were radically different than going to schools. The schools were more enthusiastic, in some ways, a captured audience. In the malls, you were trying to catch the interest of people passing by. We would go out and do some juggling, mostly getting traction from kids who were more open and amazed at different things than adults. It was more fun for the professional players to interact with the kids than it was an adult passing by in a mall."

His first step was to meet with a senior San Antonio ISD (SAISD) administrator. Batie found a receptive audience for soccer at the District on an unofficial level. In a June interview, Batie told me, “They didn’t see it as a goldmine for them, they saw it an opportunity for a lot of kids to get involved in sports that were not involved in sports.” Batie’s next stop was with San Antonio Parks and Recreation, who expressed interest in an integrated and expanded soccer system. “They very much wanted the program; they wanted the numbers in their program and said they would provide all the field space needed.”

SAYSO Organizational Efforts Begin

Batie’s efforts led Parks and Recreation to set up an organizational meeting at Trinity University on September 30th. A small number of interested parents and representatives from existing leagues attended. The name of the emerging soccer organization was San Antonio Youth Soccer Organization (SAYSO). The league also had a new slogan, “If You Want to Play Soccer…All You Have to Do is Say So.” Batie spoke at the meeting and told the small group assembled that 5,000 kids were a reasonable target to shoot for in the first year of the program, noting that the DFW Metroplex had over 20,000 registered players already.

In the San Antonio Light, Batie commented on the limited number of youth soccer players in the community at the time. “I do think there is something wrong when a city that is 11th in population in the country has somewhere between 600 and 1,600 kids playing soccer.” A seven-person steering committee was formed, tasked with identifying a coordinator and recommending a geographical organizational breakdown. SAYSO was structured as an umbrella organization, coordinating local leagues and playoffs, in conjunction with SA Parks and Recreation.

SAYSO was Part of a Broader Outreach Program

Continuing their 1975 efforts, GM Jim Smith would also send American players like Mark Stahl, Dan Counce and Peter Mannos to local malls to drum up interest in the club and SAYSO. Stahl remembers these visits to malls. “They were radically different than going to schools. The schools were more enthusiastic, in some ways, a captured audience. In the malls, you were trying to catch the interest of people passing by. We would go out and do some juggling, mostly getting traction from kids who were more open and amazed at different things than adults. It was more fun for the professional players to interact with the kids than it was an adult passing by in a mall.“

Larry Nees Hired to Coordinate First San Antonio Youth Soccer Program

Though he would have preferred the program coordinator role remain in the local community, Batie convinced Lay that initial assistance from the Thunder would be necessary to expand the youth program rapidly. Batie would soon leave for a lengthy scouting trip, so the club hired Larry Nees to coordinate youth soccer efforts. Nees had spent the previous years starting a youth soccer program from scratch in Santa Rosa, California. Batie said he rapidly turned the school and clinic programs over to Nees and focused on the 1976 season.

Nees arrived in San Antonio on October 6th and immediately began work as Director/Chairman of SAYSO. By that time, many kids reached in Thunder outreach programs had contacted the Thunder office to express interest. It became evident that the word was out as Nees presented to an overflow crowd at Trinity the next night. He told me in a recent interview how taken aback he was at the size of the crowd. Nees commented on how taken aback he was at the size of the crowd—positioned as a small group before the meeting. After seeing the event size, he created a town-hall allowing for group participation. He remembered the meeting ended after midnight.

San Antonio Community Ready for Youth Soccer

Nees, now 93-years old, lives in Northern California. He shared with me his good fortune in finding the kind of open and supportive community he encountered in San Antonio. "From the beginning, when I think back over it, I am blown away by the people, by the hundreds, and the schools who responded in San Antonio. I have the fondest memories of all of those people."

Nees commented that many of the questions he received that night, and in other speaking engagements, involved the ability for girls to play in SAYSO, specifically whether there would be non-coed teams. There were few Girls programs of any type in the City at the time. As a result, Nees said mothers of interested girls became a driving force in the formation of SAYSO. He related an amusing story about Parks and Recreation and how "Girl Power" helped overcome field issues the league encountered.

Initial Enthusiasm Encounters Roadblocks

Nees heard from District Commissioners that Parks and Rec's promised fields were not available, so he arranged a meeting. He found that Parks and Rec had not accurately anticipated the level of interest in soccer. "I went to Parks and Recreation [to seek help] and they stiffed me and gave me nothing but excuses." Nees continued, "My next meeting with them I brought five volunteer women with me. They were right up-front with [Parks and Rec.] 'You said before all those people that night at Trinity that we would have soccer fields. Where are they?' Boy, they rolled right over after that, and we had fields starting the next day. Girl Power!"

An ambitious target was set for the SAYSO to begin play in the middle of January 1976. It soon became apparent that a lack of coaches who knew anything about soccer was the main barrier to team formation. Batie, Nees, and players conducted several coaching clinics to help. Batie was impressed with how quickly the local soccer community took charge of these programs. "I did the curriculum for the clinics and set them up. I usually did the introductions and some early work in each clinic, and I was trying to get the local coaches and clubs involved. More and more, I turned the sessions over to the local and school coaches. I could see growth and development. It didn't take very long in San Antonio to develop a really solid coaching structure."

Larry Nees Hired to Coordinate First San Antonio Youth Soccer Program

San Antonio Community Ready for Youth Soccer

Nees, now 93-years old, lives in Northern California. He shared with me his good fortune in finding the kind of open and supportive community he encountered in San Antonio. “From the beginning, when I think back over it, I am blown away by the people, by the hundreds, and the schools who responded in San Antonio. I have the fondest memories of all of those people.”

Nees commented that many of the questions he received that night, and in other speaking engagements, involved the ability for girls to play in SAYSO, specifically whether there would be non-coed teams. There were few Girls programs of any type in the City at the time. As a result, Nees said mothers of interested girls became a driving force in the formation of SAYSO. He related an amusing story about Parks and Recreation and how “Girl Power” helped overcome field issues the league encountered.

Initial Enthusiasm Encounters Roadblocks

Nees heard from District Commissioners that Parks and Rec’s promised fields were not available, so he arranged a meeting. He found that Parks and Rec had not accurately anticipated the level of interest in soccer. “I went to Parks and Recreation [to seek help] and they stiffed me and gave me nothing but excuses.” Nees continued, “My next meeting with them I brought five volunteer women with me. They were right up-front with [Parks and Rec.] ‘You said before all those people that night at Trinity that we would have soccer fields. Where are they?’ Boy, they rolled right over after that, and we had fields starting the next day. Girl Power!”

An ambitious target was set for the SAYSO to begin play in the middle of January 1976. It soon became apparent that a lack of coaches who knew anything about soccer was the main barrier to team formation. Batie, Nees, and players conducted several coaching clinics to help. Batie was impressed with how quickly the local soccer community took charge of these programs. “I did the curriculum for the clinics and set them up. I usually did the introductions and some early work in each clinic, and I was trying to get the local coaches and clubs involved. More and more, I turned the sessions over to the local and school coaches. I could see growth and development. It didn’t take very long in San Antonio to develop a really solid coaching structure.”

Inaugural San Antonio Youth Soccer Season Kicks Off

The season began in mid-January as planned, and the Mayor proclaimed January 10th as "Super Soccer Saturday." The Thunder hosted a Media Invitational Doubles Tournament at a local country club the week during the week leading up to SAYSO's season. Twelve 16-18-year old Boys teams kicked off the SAYSO season on that day. 2,200 Boys and Girls played in eight independent SAYSO Districts around San Antonio in the first season.

Each District organized teams into six Boys and four Girls Divisions (A-F), ranging in age 6-18. Participation was mandated. 11 years old and younger players were guaranteed to play at least 50% of the time and older age groups at least 25%. Coed teams formed for ages 14 and older because few girls signed up. Schools provided most of the teams in SAYSO, some having enough players for multiple squads. Don Batie's two young daughters played for their school teams in SAYSO.

More Players than Coaches

Inaugural San Antonio Youth Soccer Season Kicks Off

The season began in mid-January as planned, and the Mayor proclaimed January 10th as “Super Soccer Saturday.” The Thunder hosted a Media Invitational Doubles Tournament at a local country club the week during the week leading up to SAYSO’s season. Twelve 16-18-year old Boys teams kicked off the SAYSO season on that day. 2,200 Boys and Girls played in eight independent SAYSO Districts around San Antonio in the first season.

Each District organized teams into six Boys and four Girls Divisions (A-F), ranging in age 6-18. Participation was mandated. 11 years old and younger players were guaranteed to play at least 50% of the time and older age groups at least 25%. Coed teams formed for ages 14 and older because few girls signed up. Schools provided most of the teams in SAYSO, some having enough players for multiple squads. Don Batie’s two young daughters played for their school teams in SAYSO.

More Players than Coaches

In a Light interview, Nees said that more players registered, but lack of coach volunteers limited the number of teams. "There isn't that many people who know a great deal about soccer. Nobody wants to come forward and coach knowing they don't have any knowledge of the game."

Roger Rodriguez was an SAISD physical education teacher at the time and became involved in soccer at his elementary schools through a program set up by another teacher who had previously played college soccer. He became involved in SAYSO after seeing Nees at one of his many speaking engagements. "One night, Larry Nees spoke at our Optimist Club. I invited him to speak, and as soon as he finished, he pulled me outside and asked if I would consider working to help develop youth soccer." Rodriguez shortly after joined the SAYSO Board and became Commissioner of District II (primarily Westside elementary schools). He told me PE teachers set up SAYSO teams at elementary schools all over the City, but not all participated.

Short First SAYSO Season Ends with State Playoffs

In a Light interview, Nees said that more players registered, but lack of coach volunteers limited the number of teams. “There isn’t that many people who know a great deal about soccer. Nobody wants to come forward and coach knowing they don’t have any knowledge of the game.”

Roger Rodriguez was an SAISD physical education teacher at the time and became involved in soccer at his elementary schools through a program set up by another teacher who had previously played college soccer. He became involved in SAYSO after seeing Nees at one of his many speaking engagements. “One night, Larry Nees spoke at our Optimist Club. I invited him to speak, and as soon as he finished, he pulled me outside and asked if I would consider working to help develop youth soccer.” Rodriguez shortly after joined the SAYSO Board and became Commissioner of District II (primarily Westside elementary schools). He told me PE teachers set up SAYSO teams at elementary schools all over the City, but not all participated.

Short First SAYSO Season Ends with State Playoffs

The first season was short, wrapping up in April. Playoffs were organized in March by SAYSO at Olmos Basin fields to identify four teams from each Boys Division who would qualify for State South Texas Youth Soccer Association (STYSA) playoffs in Houston. This tournament was a San Antonio vs. Houston region matchup, a small-scale version of State playoffs today. San Antonio hosted the 19-team State Girls playoffs, mostly against teams from the Houston Bay Area region. Rodriguez coached one of the Boys teams that traveled to Houston for these playoffs. I am not entirely sure, but these may have been the first STYSA State Championships. A few weeks after the conclusion of State tournaments, City soccer playoffs brought the inaugural season to a close.

Ed Garza, a former Mayor of San Antonio, played in the first year of SAYSO for the Real Thing (named after a Coca Cola commercial) on the Northwest side of the City. The local Coke bottler also provided the soccer balls used by SAYSO that season. Garza remembers the fun he had in his first season. " My memories were all positive. Our coach was a skilled player, and we had Spanish speakers and English speakers. After that, I joined a team at my elementary school that was also part of SAYSO."

The Thunder hosted a SAYSO night at their match against the Los Angeles Aztecs on May 8th. The eight Championship teams from the just completed season (5 Boys and 3 Girls) received recognition at halftime. The Boys and Girls Under-14 Champions played in separate preliminary games before the start of the NASL match.

After SAYSO was up and running, Larry Nees stepped aside and took an equipment manager role with the Thunder. His final involvement in the organization was to help organize an end of season banquet in April. The 1,000+ volunteers in attendance elected new officers for the 1976-77 season. A tentatively scheduled summer season never was played; therefore, the new season did not begin until October. The number of players grew from 2,200 to 4,000 in the second year. 220 teams played in nine Districts.

San Antonio Youth Soccer's Deep Impact on School Soccer

When SAYSO began play, intermittent attempts to integrate soccer into the San Antonio ISD were already underway. Jan Schoondergang, who had moved to San Antonio from The Netherlands, organized five unofficial teams in local elementary schools in 1974. He later integrated eleven teams into SAYSO for the inaugural season.

Ken Cooper, a local attorney and soccer fan from England, had approached the Northside School District with a plan to include soccer in their athletic programs in 1974. Despite the expression of interest from seventy boys, the school board refused to set this program up. His players ended up in a local recreation league that year. Cooper was not surprised by the decision, commenting in the San Antonio Light that football coaches expressed how they felt about soccer when they would tell their players, "If you don't do well, I'm going to send you down to the soccer team." Cooper also moved his seven teams to SAYSO in 1976.

Could Soccer Have Actually Replaced Football in San Antonio Schools?

In January 1976, the San Antonio News ran a three-part series called the "Soccer Solution," proposing that football be deemphasized in San Antonio high schools, replaced by soccer as the primary sport. They listed many reasons, including competitiveness, cost and safety, as to why this made sense for a predominantly Mexican-American population. The article also pointed out the resistance soccer was receiving from football-oriented Athletic Directors, noting that every AD in the San Antonio School District was Anglo, whereas 68-90% of the students, depending on the District, were Mexican American.

Interviews conducted by these News correspondents with officials from multiple local school districts found little interest in pursuing this path. San Antonio was not alone in resisting soccer. The News also interviewed the Superintendent of the Dallas ISD, where soccer was far more advanced than South Texas at the time. He commented that the most difficult problem he had to deal with in implementing a soccer program in his District was opposition from football coaches. Some were actively opposing soccer programs, keeping them off fields because they would "tear up the field" and refusing access to locker rooms for club soccer teams.

San Antonio ISD First Local District to Embrace Soccer

Dr. William Elizondo, who had three sons playing in YMCA leagues in the early 1970's, was elected as SAISD Board President in 1976. He told me in June that he began lobbying for soccer as an official sport when he was first elected to the Board two years prior but wasn't able to gain traction. It was after he became President that he was finally able to secure the votes to move soccer forward in the District in 1977. "The reason why I wanted it is that a lot of young men and girls who were not able to play football or basketball can become great in soccer. It helped them develop their minds and also made them stronger and developed educationally and develop a purpose in life." He then went on to name San Antonio community leaders like Ed Garza, who grew up playing the game.

Soccer Programs Face Expected Resistance

At the Board meeting approving soccer as an official sport, Roger Rodriguez was moved from teaching to administration and tasked with setting up the first formal school soccer programs in the District (34 Boys and Girls teams in 17 Middle schools). Rodriguez chuckled when relating how he learned about his new role. "I never asked for the job. Monday night the school board approved [the position]. Tuesday my appointment was in the newspaper. Thursday is when I was asked if I wanted the job." He commented that the organizational tasks he learned through SAYSO set him up for success. "Not many people [in the District] had experience in soccer, and it was all because of Larry Nees when we first started, getting all those youth teams together." Rodriguez was also involved in the start of High School Soccer when introduced into District High Schools in 1980. The State sanctioning body, University Interscholastic League (UIL), finally approved soccer as an official sport in 1981.

Rodriguez related a story about the initial meeting with District Athletic Directors, primarily football coaches, after he was appointed. He remembers the meeting moderator, who wasn't a big fan of soccer, opening the meeting with a mixed message. 'I have good news and bad news. The good news you are going to get paid for ten extra days, the bad news is we are going to start soccer.'

The main objections from the AD's at the meeting were not a hatred (though that did exist in some) of soccer, but more about the extra responsibilities and impact on fields, facilities and diversion of talented athletes. Rodriguez also discussed the challenges in recruiting teachers to serve as coaches but mentioned it wasn't that important because of the SAYSO efforts that started five years prior. "The kids are the ones who really excelled. They had the experience playing soccer and were the experts." He continued, "A lot of them started in elementary school. As in all sports, the sooner you start playing, the better."

The Thunder's Legacy of Youth Soccer Lives On Today

The number of kids playing youth soccer in San Antonio has exploded over the years. SAYSO has been renamed the Alamo Area Youth Soccer Association (AAYSA) and now serves 22 clubs throughout San Antonio and eight surrounding counties. Other organizations host thousands of kids in soccer leagues, with a wide range of objectives and competitive levels. San Antonio FC, a United Soccer League professional team now entering its fifth year, has created a four-team nationally recognized Youth Soccer Academy, which has produced professional players. All Public, Private and Parochial High Schools in and around the region have soccer teams.

The boom expanded soccer all over South Texas. From its early beginnings, STYSA has grown to serve 29 member associations and over 100,000 kids.

Ed Garza's Early Soccer Involvement Pays Off

Ed Garza, a former Mayor of San Antonio, played in the first year of SAYSO for the Real Thing (named after a Coca Cola commercial) on the Northwest side of the City. The local Coke bottler also provided the soccer balls used by SAYSO that season. Garza remembers the fun he had in his first season. ” My memories were all positive. Our coach was a skilled player, and we had Spanish speakers and English speakers. After that, I joined a team at my elementary school that was also part of SAYSO.”

San Antonio Youth Soccer’s Deep Impact on School Soccer

Ken Cooper, a local attorney and soccer fan from England, had approached the Northside School District with a plan to include soccer in their athletic programs in 1974. Despite the expression of interest from seventy boys, the school board refused to set this program up. His players ended up in a local recreation league that year. Cooper was not surprised by the decision, commenting in the San Antonio Light that football coaches expressed how they felt about soccer when they would tell their players, “If you don’t do well, I’m going to send you down to the soccer team.” Cooper also moved his seven teams to SAYSO in 1976.

Could Soccer Have Actually Replaced Football in San Antonio Schools?

In January 1976, the San Antonio News ran a three-part series called the “Soccer Solution,” proposing that football be deemphasized in San Antonio high schools, replaced by soccer as the primary sport. They listed many reasons, including competitiveness, cost and safety, as to why this made sense for a predominantly Mexican-American population. The article also pointed out the resistance soccer was receiving from football-oriented Athletic Directors, noting that every AD in the San Antonio School District was Anglo, whereas 68-90% of the students, depending on the District, were Mexican American.

Interviews conducted by these News correspondents with officials from multiple local school districts found little interest in pursuing this path. San Antonio was not alone in resisting soccer. The News also interviewed the Superintendent of the Dallas ISD, where soccer was far more advanced than South Texas at the time. He commented that the most difficult problem he had to deal with in implementing a soccer program in his District was opposition from football coaches. Some were actively opposing soccer programs, keeping them off fields because they would “tear up the field” and refusing access to locker rooms for club soccer teams.

San Antonio ISD First Local District to Embrace Soccer

Dr. William Elizondo, who had three sons playing in YMCA leagues in the early 1970’s, was elected as SAISD Board President in 1976. He told me in June that he began lobbying for soccer as an official sport when he was first elected to the Board two years prior but wasn’t able to gain traction. It was after he became President that he was finally able to secure the votes to move soccer forward in the District in 1977. “The reason why I wanted it is that a lot of young men and girls who were not able to play football or basketball can become great in soccer. It helped them develop their minds and also made them stronger and developed educationally and develop a purpose in life.” He then went on to name San Antonio community leaders like Ed Garza, who grew up playing the game.

Soccer Programs Face Expected Resistance

At the Board meeting approving soccer as an official sport, Roger Rodriguez was moved from teaching to administration and tasked with setting up the first formal school soccer programs in the District (34 Boys and Girls teams in 17 Middle schools). Rodriguez chuckled when relating how he learned about his new role. “I never asked for the job. Monday night the school board approved [the position]. Tuesday my appointment was in the newspaper. Thursday is when I was asked if I wanted the job.” He commented that the organizational tasks he learned through SAYSO set him up for success. “Not many people [in the District] had experience in soccer, and it was all because of Larry Nees when we first started, getting all those youth teams together.” Rodriguez was also involved in the start of High School Soccer when introduced into District High Schools in 1980. The State sanctioning body, University Interscholastic League (UIL), finally approved soccer as an official sport in 1981.

Rodriguez related a story about the initial meeting with District Athletic Directors, primarily football coaches, after he was appointed. He remembers the meeting moderator, who wasn’t a big fan of soccer, opening the meeting with a mixed message. ‘I have good news and bad news. The good news you are going to get paid for ten extra days, the bad news is we are going to start soccer.‘

The main objections from the AD’s at the meeting were not a hatred (though that did exist in some) of soccer, but more about the extra responsibilities and impact on fields, facilities and diversion of talented athletes. Rodriguez also discussed the challenges in recruiting teachers to serve as coaches but mentioned it wasn’t that important because of the SAYSO efforts that started five years prior. “The kids are the ones who really excelled. They had the experience playing soccer and were the experts.” He continued, “A lot of them started in elementary school. As in all sports, the sooner you start playing, the better.”

The Thunder’s Legacy of Youth Soccer Lives On Today

The boom expanded soccer all over South Texas. From its early beginnings, STYSA has grown to serve 29 member associations and over 100,000 kids.

Ed Garza’s Early Soccer Involvement Pays Off

Ed Garza's early involvement in soccer almost paid dividends for San Antonio. He spearheaded an unsuccessful effort to bring MLS to the area in 2005. A $13 million soccer complex at the site of the old Brooks AFB on the city's South Side was also planned to be part of the failed MLS project. Garza is now President of the AAYSA and is also the founder of a novel non-profit soccer organization called the Urban Soccer Leadership Academy in San Antonio.

Today, Roger Rodriguez is happy he was involved in soccer from the beginning. "Because of soccer, it has opened up a lot of avenues for kids…who would have ever thought there would be scholarships for kids who play soccer. Now it is a standard all over the country."

He also fondly remembers the Thunder "It was like a dream come true to see professional soccer players at Alamo Stadium. They were accepted by the community, and if they were there now, I think the stadium would be full." He also gave credit where it was due for the start of youth soccer in the community. "Everything started with Larry Nees. If it hadn't been for him, there would not be any youth soccer here."

The San Antonio Thunder Lasting Legacy

That is unlikely. Youth soccer had too much momentum all over the country for it to remain out of the mainstream in San Antonio forever. The Dallas Tornado proved in North Texas that active support from a professional soccer club could hasten the growth of the game with youth. Despite being in San Antonio for only two years, the efforts of the Thunder, led by Ward Lay, Larry Nees, and Don Batie, gave the sport a kick start in the San Antonio region, one that is now completely integrated into the fabric of the community.

Ed Garza’s early involvement in soccer almost paid dividends for San Antonio. He spearheaded an unsuccessful effort to bring MLS to the area in 2005. A $13 million soccer complex at the site of the old Brooks AFB on the city’s South Side was also planned to be part of the failed MLS project. Garza is now President of the AAYSA and is also the founder of a novel non-profit soccer organization called the Urban Soccer Leadership Academy in San Antonio.

Today, Roger Rodriguez is happy he was involved in soccer from the beginning. “Because of soccer, it has opened up a lot of avenues for kids…who would have ever thought there would be scholarships for kids who play soccer. Now it is a standard all over the country.“

He also fondly remembers the Thunder “It was like a dream come true to see professional soccer players at Alamo Stadium. They were accepted by the community, and if they were there now, I think the stadium would be full.” He also gave credit where it was due for the start of youth soccer in the community. “Everything started with Larry Nees. If it hadn’t been for him, there would not be any youth soccer here.”

The San Antonio Thunder Lasting Legacy

SAN ANTONIO FC MIDFIELDER CRISTIAN PARANO NAMED TO USL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM OF THE WEEK

San Antonio FC midfielder Cristian Parano was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week, the league announced today. Parano scored his third goal of the season and added his second assist in last weekend’s 3-0 win over OKC Energy FC.

Parano started, played 82 minutes and was named the SWBC Man of the Match following the win. Along with his goal and assist, the 20-year-old added four shots, two shots on target, one chance created and a 100.0 percent passing accuracy.

The honor marks the second for Parano this season after he was named to the Team of the Week for the first time in 2020 on July 28.

The full USL Team of the Week:

GK – Eric De La Cerda, Reno 1868 FC

D – Ish Jome, Austin Bold FC

D – Akeem Ward, North Carolina FC

D – Jonathan Dean, Birmingham Legion FC

M – Robbie Mertz, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

M – Cristian Parano, San Antonio FC

M – Jack McGlynn, Philadelphia Union II

M – Chapa Herrera, El Paso Locomotive FC

F – Junior Flemmings, Phoenix Rising FC

F – Neco Brett, Birmingham Legion FC

F – Alec Diaz, Tacoma Defiance

Bench: Alex Tambakis (NC), AJ Cochran (PHX), Hayden Sargis (SAC), Lewis Hilton (TBR) Uvaldo Luna (COS), Solomon Asante (PHX), Ropapa Mensah (PIT)

The honor marks the second for Parano this season after he was named to the Team of the Week for the first time in 2020 on July 28.

The full USL Team of the Week:

GK – Eric De La Cerda, Reno 1868 FC

D – Ish Jome, Austin Bold FC

D – Akeem Ward, North Carolina FC

D – Jonathan Dean, Birmingham Legion FC

M – Robbie Mertz, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

M – Cristian Parano, San Antonio FC

M – Jack McGlynn, Philadelphia Union II

M – Chapa Herrera, El Paso Locomotive FC

F – Junior Flemmings, Phoenix Rising FC

F – Neco Brett, Birmingham Legion FC

F – Alec Diaz, Tacoma Defiance

Bench: Alex Tambakis (NC), AJ Cochran (PHX), Hayden Sargis (SAC), Lewis Hilton (TBR) Uvaldo Luna (COS), Solomon Asante (PHX), Ropapa Mensah (PIT)

San Antonio FC Aiming for Third Straight Win on Wednesday

After starting the season unbeaten through the first five matches, San Antonio FC will face a tough test this Wednesday when they travel to face FC Tulsa. The Oklahoma side is currently 2-0-2 and is coming off a 2-0 win over Eastern Conference foes Saint Louis FC.

SAFC is coming off an impressive 3-0 win over OKC Energy FC on the road. Goals from Cristian Parano, Ignacio Bailone and Callum Montgomery helped lead the way to a victory, as goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and the SAFC defense kept the club’s third clean sheet of the season. The win was the second straight match that SAFC had scored at least three goals, and the 29th such match in regular season history. SAFC has compiled a 27-1-1 record in those games, with the latest coming in part due to a Man of the Match performance from Parano.

“I think it was a very gritty performance,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “I’m proud of the guys, their commitment, their ability to execute on the tasks asked of them and the total vibe overall. It’s a family here, and we preach that from day one. It keeps growing and getting stronger.”

Parano – who was named to the league’s Team of the Week for his performance – has now scored three goals and added two assists in four matches since the club returned to play in July. Parano expressed after the match that he is happy to continue to play well with the support of his teammates and is looking forward to continuing to grow and improve as a team.

"Our team is very committed,” said Parano. “We have to keep working in the same way because we're creating a great group. We can't get complacent and we have to keep striving for more so we can reach our objectives."

An even more impressive fact about Tulsa’s unbeaten start through four matches is that the club has yet to play a home game. Wednesday’s tilt against SAFC is Tulsa’s 2020 home opener, giving it even more of an exciting atmosphere. Overall in club history, SAFC has recorded a 5-2-2 record against Tulsa. The five wins are tied for the most against any single opponent of SAFC, however the club is 0-2-2 in the last four games against the Oklahoma side.

Following the match at Tulsa, SAFC will return home for three straight home games, starting against the Austin Bold on Saturday, Aug. 15 at 8 p.m.

“Our team is very committed,” said Parano. “We have to keep working in the same way because we’re creating a great group. We can’t get complacent and we have to keep striving for more so we can reach our objectives.”

Following the match at Tulsa, SAFC will return home for three straight home games, starting against the Austin Bold on Saturday, Aug. 15 at 8 p.m.

SAN ANTONIO FC EARNS EMPHATIC ROAD WIN IN OKC

San Antonio FC (4-0-1) beat OKC Energy FC (1-3-2) 3-0 at Taft Stadium on Saturday night. Goals from Cristian Parano, Callum Montgomery, and Ignacio Bailone earned the Alamo City club three points as it continued its unbeaten start to the 2020 season.

"I think it was a very gritty performace," said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. I'm proud of the guys, their commitment, their ability to execute the tasks asked of them, and the total vibe overall. It's a family here, and we preach that from day one. It keeps growing stronger and stronger."

SAFC opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Parano found the ball at the top of the OKC box following a rebound and half-volleyed it past goalkeeper CJ Cochran to take the 1-0 lead. The goal marked the Argentine’s third goal of the season and 10th overall since joining the Alamo City club ahead of the 2019 campaign.

The Alamo City club doubled its lead in the 70th minute when Parano whipped a ball into the OKC box on a set-piece, which Montgomery headed in to make it 2-0 while scoring his second goal of the season. The assist marked Parano’s second of the season and earned him SWBC Man of the Match honors along with his goal on the night.

SAFC sealed the win in the 77th minute when a counter attack sparked by midfielder and team debutant Santiago Viera found Bailone and forward Luis Solignac in on goal. The Argentinians combined to score, earning Bailone his first goal for the Alamo City.

The win also marked goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair’s second clean sheet of the season. The Canada native recorded three saves and two claims on the night.

Following the win, SAFC will travel to face FC Tulsa in a quick turnaround match on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. The Oklahoma club currently trails SAFC by just five points in the standings and is the only other club in Group D who remains undefeated.

Scoring Summary:

SAFC: 1-0, Cristian Parano 31’

SAFC: 2-0, Callum Montgomery (Cristian Parano assist) 70’

SAFC: 3-0, Ignacio Bailone (Luis Solignac assist) 77’

Disciplinary Summary:

OKC: Yellow Card (Jose Hernandez) 11’

OKC: Yellow Card (Kyle Hyland) 21’

SAFC: Yellow Card (Gonzalo Di Renzo) 29’

OKC: Yellow Card (Frank Lopez) 42’

OKC Yellow Card (Nicolas Taravel) 69’

SAFC: Yellow Card (Ignacio Bailone) 73’

SAFC Starting XI: GK: Dayne St. Clair; D: Connor Maloney, Mitchell Taintor, Hunter Gorskie (c), Callum Montgomery, Blake Smith; M: Zach Herivaux (Santiago Viera 49’), PC, Cristian Parano (Jose Gallegos 82’); F: Gonzalo Di Renzo (Ignacio Bailone 64’), Luis Solignac

Substitutions not used: Matthew Cardone, Kai Greene, Joshua Yaro, Tabort Etaka Preston

Postgame Notes:

San Antonio FC carried their unbeaten streak to five matches with a 3-0 win over OKC Energy FC …SAFC won just their second road match vs. the Energy in team history, taking their record against OKC to 3-1-7…San Antonio’s 4-0-1 record matches their best start to a season (also, 2017)
SAFC scored at least three goals for the second consecutive match with the 3-0 win…in team history, SAFC has scored three goals 29 times and is 27-1-1 in those matches…SAFC is now 2-0-0 when scoring multiple goals in 2020
SAFC midfielder Cristian Parano earned SWBC Man of the Match honors after scoring a goal and recording an assist in the win…Parano has now recorded either a goal or an assist in all four matches since SAFC resumed the season…the Argentinian also added four shots and a 100 percent passing accuracy…marks the second time this season Parano has passed at a perfect clip (also, 7/19 at RGV)
San Antonio FC midfielder PC created one chance and added a 75.0 percent passing accuracy in the game…PC led SAFC with 66 total touches, 30 successful passes, 75.0 percent of duels won, 100 percent aerial duels won, four tackles and 10 possessions gained
SAFC midfielder Santiago Viera made his SAFC debut in the game, coming on as a second-half sub…recorded a 90.5 percent passing accuracy while adding three tackles and eight possessions gained in 40 minutes
SAFC defender Callum Montgomery scored his second goal for the club after heading in Cristian Parano’s cross…Montgomery’s two goals are tied for second-most on the club in 2020
San Antonio FC forward Ignacio Bailone scored his first goal for the club as Solignac added his second assist on the season
SAFC goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair saved 100 percent of shots faced (three saves) and earned his second clean sheet of the season

“I think it was a very gritty performace,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. I’m proud of the guys, their commitment, their ability to execute the tasks asked of them, and the total vibe overall. It’s a family here, and we preach that from day one. It keeps growing stronger and stronger.”

The win also marked goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair’s second clean sheet of the season. The Canada native recorded three saves and two claims on the night.

Scoring Summary:

SAFC: 1-0, Cristian Parano 31’

SAFC: 2-0, Callum Montgomery (Cristian Parano assist) 70’

SAFC: 3-0, Ignacio Bailone (Luis Solignac assist) 77’

Disciplinary Summary:

OKC: Yellow Card (Jose Hernandez) 11’

OKC: Yellow Card (Kyle Hyland) 21’

SAFC: Yellow Card (Gonzalo Di Renzo) 29’

OKC: Yellow Card (Frank Lopez) 42’

OKC Yellow Card (Nicolas Taravel) 69’

SAFC: Yellow Card (Ignacio Bailone) 73’

Substitutions not used: Matthew Cardone, Kai Greene, Joshua Yaro, Tabort Etaka Preston

Postgame Notes:

San Antonio FC carried their unbeaten streak to five matches with a 3-0 win over OKC Energy FC …SAFC won just their second road match vs. the Energy in team history, taking their record against OKC to 3-1-7…San Antonio’s 4-0-1 record matches their best start to a season (also, 2017)
SAFC scored at least three goals for the second consecutive match with the 3-0 win…in team history, SAFC has scored three goals 29 times and is 27-1-1 in those matches…SAFC is now 2-0-0 when scoring multiple goals in 2020
SAFC midfielder Cristian Parano earned SWBC Man of the Match honors after scoring a goal and recording an assist in the win…Parano has now recorded either a goal or an assist in all four matches since SAFC resumed the season…the Argentinian also added four shots and a 100 percent passing accuracy…marks the second time this season Parano has passed at a perfect clip (also, 7/19 at RGV)
San Antonio FC midfielder PC created one chance and added a 75.0 percent passing accuracy in the game…PC led SAFC with 66 total touches, 30 successful passes, 75.0 percent of duels won, 100 percent aerial duels won, four tackles and 10 possessions gained
SAFC midfielder Santiago Viera made his SAFC debut in the game, coming on as a second-half sub…recorded a 90.5 percent passing accuracy while adding three tackles and eight possessions gained in 40 minutes
SAFC defender Callum Montgomery scored his second goal for the club after heading in Cristian Parano’s cross…Montgomery’s two goals are tied for second-most on the club in 2020
San Antonio FC forward Ignacio Bailone scored his first goal for the club as Solignac added his second assist on the season
SAFC goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair saved 100 percent of shots faced (three saves) and earned his second clean sheet of the season

San Antonio FC Travel to OKC to Face Energy FC

San Antonio FC will look to improve on their 3-0-1 record when they visit division rivals OKC Energy FC this Saturday. The match marks the 11th meeting in league play between the two sides since 2016, with seven of the previous 10 finishing in draws.

SAFC is coming off a 4-2 win away to the Austin Bold last weekend. Forward Luis Solignac recorded a brace and Cristian Parano scored his second goal in three games to earn a vital three road points up I-35. With 10 points in the bag through four matches, SAFC has matched their best start to a season along with 2017 when they started the campaign 14 matches unbeaten.

OKC enters the match after a 0-3 loss to New Mexico United last weekend. Despite the defeat, the Energy have recorded a win and two draws in the other three matches since the lift of the season suspension.

The Energy currently sport three former SAFC players on their roster. Omar Gordon spent parts of the 2017-18 seasons with SAFC while Charlie Ward played for the Alamo City club in 2018 as well. Frank Lopez scored eight goals with SAFC last season, and now helps lead the line for OKC. In the last road match for San Antonio against the Energy last season, a late Jack Barmby free-kick earned a road point for the club.

Following the match, SAFC will travel to Tulsa to face FC Tulsa this Wednesday. The match marks the first meeting between the two teams in 2020.

SAN ANTONIO FC FORWARD LUIS SOLIGNAC NAMED TO USL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM OF THE WEEK

San Antonio FC forward Luis Solignac was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week, the league announced today. Solignac scored two goals in the 4-2 win over Austin Bold last Saturday.

Solignac started and played 90 minutes, converting 100% of his two shots on the night. The forward scored one goal in the first half to open the scoring for SAFC and one in the 84th minute to seal the victory for the Alamo City club. Solignac added a 77.8 percent passing accuracy and four aerial duels in the game.

The honor marks the first for Solignac in his first season for SAFC.

The full USL Team of the Week:

GK – Brooks Thompson, Sporting Kansas City II

D – D.J. Taylor, North Carolina FC

D – Karl Ouimette, Indy Eleven

D – Taylor Peay, Real Monarchs SLC

M – Chris Wehan, New Mexico United

M – Danny Barrera, Hartford Athletic

M – Kenardo Forbes, Pittsburgh Riverhounds

M – Christiano Francois, Reno 1868 FC

M – Amadou Macky Diop, Atlanta United 2

F – Rufat Dadashove, Phoenix Rising FC

F – Luis Solignac, San Antonio FC

Bench: Eric Dick (PHX), Harrison Heath (MIA), Jordan Doherty (TBR), Noah Powder (SLC), Keanu Marsh-Brown (MEM), Ariel Martinez (TUL), Sebastian Guenzatti (TBR)

San Antonio FC forward Luis Solignac was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week, the league announced today. Solignac scored two goals in the 4-2 win over Austin Bold last Saturday.

The honor marks the first for Solignac in his first season for SAFC.

The full USL Team of the Week:

GK – Brooks Thompson, Sporting Kansas City II

D – D.J. Taylor, North Carolina FC

D – Karl Ouimette, Indy Eleven

D – Taylor Peay, Real Monarchs SLC

M – Chris Wehan, New Mexico United

M – Danny Barrera, Hartford Athletic

M – Kenardo Forbes, Pittsburgh Riverhounds

M – Christiano Francois, Reno 1868 FC

M – Amadou Macky Diop, Atlanta United 2

F – Rufat Dadashove, Phoenix Rising FC

F – Luis Solignac, San Antonio FC

Bench: Eric Dick (PHX), Harrison Heath (MIA), Jordan Doherty (TBR), Noah Powder (SLC), Keanu Marsh-Brown (MEM), Ariel Martinez (TUL), Sebastian Guenzatti (TBR)

SAN ANTONIO FC STAYS UNBEATEN AFTER 4-2 WIN OVER AUSTIN BOLD FC

San Antonio FC (3-0-1) beat Austin Bold FC (1-2-0) 4-2 at Bold Stadium on Saturday night. A brace from Luis Solignac and goals from Cristian Parano and Blake Smith earned the Alamo City club three points to stay undefeated in the 2020 USL Championship season.

“I think it was a fantastic win,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “Austin is a very good team, very well coached and organized. At the end of the day I’m really proud of my guys. They were committed – 95-plus minutes of intensity – and we got the job done.”

Solignac opened the scoring in the 23rd minute after a deflected pass from forward Gonzalo Di Renzo found him inside the Bold’s box, which the Argentina native settled and buried past goalkeeper Diego Restrepo for the 1-0 lead. SAFC doubled the lead just four minutes later when Smith found himself in on goal with a pass from midfielder Jose Gallegos, turned on his defender and shot far-post to make it 2-0.

The goal marked the Boerne native’s first for the Alamo City club while the assist marked Gallegos’ first of the season. The Bold leveled the score with a goal from former SAFC midfielder Billy Forbes in the 36th minute and an own goal from defender Josh Yaro in the 52nd.

San Antonio FC regained the lead in the 74th minute after midfielder PC found Parano at the top of Austin’s box, from where the midfielder fired towards the top right corner and past Restrepo to make it 3-2. The Alamo City club sealed the win 10 minutes later after Solignac received a pass from forward Ignacio Bailone and slotted it low and into the net to complete his brace, which earned him SWBC Man of the Match honors.

With the win, SAFC is off to its best start to a season since its 2017 campaign. The club will return to action on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. as the team travels to face OKC Energy FC at Taft Stadium.

Scoring Summary:

SAFC: 1-0, Luis Solignac 23’

SAFC: 2-0, Blake Smith (Jose Gallegos assist) 27’

Bold FC: 2-1, Billy Forbes (Xavier Baez assist) 36’

Bold FC: 2-2, Own Goal (Joshua Yaro) 52’

SAFC: 3-2, Cristian Parano (PC assist) 74’

SAFC: 4-2, Luis Solignac (Ignacio Bailone assist) 84’

Disciplinary Summary:

Bold FC: Yellow Card (Omar Ciss) 42’

SAFC: Yellow Card (Callum Montgomery) 68’

Bold FC: Yellow Card (Jermaine Taylor) 72’

Bold FC: Yellow Card (Xavier Baez) 87’

Bold FC: Yellow Card (Amobi Okugo) 90’

SAFC: Yellow Card (PC) 90’

SAFC: Yellow Card (Luis Solignac) 90’

SAFC Starting XI: GK: Dayne St. Clair; D: Connor Maloney, Mitchell Taintor, Joshua Yaro, Callum Montgomery (Hunter Gorskie 90’), Blake Smith; M: Jose Gallegos (Ignacio Bailone 82’), PC, Cristian Parano (Kai Greene 90’); F: Gonzalo Di Renzo (Zach Herivaux 45’), Luis Solignac (c)

Substitutions not used: Matthew Cardone, Jesus Enriquez, Tabort Etaka Preston

Postgame Notes:

San Antonio FC carried their unbeaten streak to four matches with a 4-2 win over the Bold…SAFC improves record against Bold to 2-1-0, outscoring them 7-3 in those matches
SAFC scored more than one goal for the first time in 2020, and scored four goals for the first time since 10/11/19 at Portland Timbers 2…in 2019, SAFC was 11-6-1 when scoring multiple goals in a single match…overall in team history, SAFC has scored at least four goals seven times in league play
SAFC forward Luis Solignac scored his first two goals for the club to earn SWBC Man of the Match honors…Solignac recorded two shots, two shots on target and a 77.8 percent passing accuracy…marks the first SAFC brace since Ever Guzman scored a hattrick on 10/11/19, and the 13th brace overall in club history
San Antonio FC midfielder Cristian Parano recorded his second goal of the season to go along with two shots…in addition, both Jose Gallegos and PC recorded two key passes on the night
SAFC defender Blake Smith scored his first goal of the season…Smith added three interceptions and one tackle on the night
SAFC defender Callum Montgomery made his first start since 3/7 vs. Real Monarchs…the FC Dallas loanee had a team-high four clearances while adding two interceptions and three possessions gained

Scoring Summary:

SAFC: 1-0, Luis Solignac 23’

SAFC: 2-0, Blake Smith (Jose Gallegos assist) 27’

Bold FC: 2-1, Billy Forbes (Xavier Baez assist) 36’

Bold FC: 2-2, Own Goal (Joshua Yaro) 52’

SAFC: 3-2, Cristian Parano (PC assist) 74’

SAFC: 4-2, Luis Solignac (Ignacio Bailone assist) 84’

Disciplinary Summary:

Bold FC: Yellow Card (Omar Ciss) 42’

SAFC: Yellow Card (Callum Montgomery) 68’

Bold FC: Yellow Card (Jermaine Taylor) 72’

Bold FC: Yellow Card (Xavier Baez) 87’

Bold FC: Yellow Card (Amobi Okugo) 90’

SAFC: Yellow Card (PC) 90’

SAFC: Yellow Card (Luis Solignac) 90’

Substitutions not used: Matthew Cardone, Jesus Enriquez, Tabort Etaka Preston

Postgame Notes:

San Antonio FC carried their unbeaten streak to four matches with a 4-2 win over the Bold…SAFC improves record against Bold to 2-1-0, outscoring them 7-3 in those matches
SAFC scored more than one goal for the first time in 2020, and scored four goals for the first time since 10/11/19 at Portland Timbers 2…in 2019, SAFC was 11-6-1 when scoring multiple goals in a single match…overall in team history, SAFC has scored at least four goals seven times in league play
SAFC forward Luis Solignac scored his first two goals for the club to earn SWBC Man of the Match honors…Solignac recorded two shots, two shots on target and a 77.8 percent passing accuracy…marks the first SAFC brace since Ever Guzman scored a hattrick on 10/11/19, and the 13th brace overall in club history
San Antonio FC midfielder Cristian Parano recorded his second goal of the season to go along with two shots…in addition, both Jose Gallegos and PC recorded two key passes on the night
SAFC defender Blake Smith scored his first goal of the season…Smith added three interceptions and one tackle on the night
SAFC defender Callum Montgomery made his first start since 3/7 vs. Real Monarchs…the FC Dallas loanee had a team-high four clearances while adding two interceptions and three possessions gained

San Antonio FC Travels North for I-35 Derby

San Antonio FC will travel to Austin to face the Bold for the first time in the 2020 season on Saturday. That match marks the third for SAFC since returning to play and the second for Austin. The game will be the fourth meeting between the two sides in all competition and the third in league play.

“We now shift our focus to Austin,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “We have to understand their strengths and find areas to exploit. We have a strategy in place and it’s about working on the strategy. Hopefully we can execute come game time.”

SAFC is coming off a 1-0 home win over RGV FC last weekend, marking their second such home win of the season. With the victory, SAFC is 2-0-1 in their first three matches of 2020, tying their best ever start to a season (also, 2017). Gonzalo Di Renzo scored his first goal for SAFC in last week’s win, while reigning USL Championship Young Player of the Year Cristian Parano added an assist and four key passes.

The SAFC defense kept their second clean sheet of the 2020 season, with defender Mitch Taintor standing out statistically. Taintor recorded game-highs in touches (103), successful passes (76) and possessions gained (10). In addition, he also recorded team-highs in clearances (four) and interceptions (four), while adding an 84.4 percent passing accuracy and 90 percent duels won.

The Bold will play their first match since July 17 when they fell at home 1-3 to OKC Energy FC. Austin had two matches postponed, making the Saturday matchup with SAFC just their third match of the 2020 season.

The two sides faced each other twice in league play last season, with the Bold winning s tight 1-0 contest in Austin before SAFC earned a 3-0 win in the reverse fixture at Toyota Field. In addition, the Bold defeated San Antonio in the Open Cup third round 4-2. The Bold currently sport four former SAFC players on their roster including Billy Forbes, Diego Restrepo, Kris Tyrpak and Sonny Guadarrama. Tyrpak is voluntarily sitting out the 2020 season, while the other three players have all made an impact in the first two games for Austin so far this year.

“Austin is a familiar team,” said SAFC defender Joshua Yaro. “We know what they are about. They have a lot of guys that have top skills and have played in high leagues. We approach the game like we always do, with high intensity and with the goal to go get three points. It should be a fun game, but it’s a game we are really prepared for.”

Following their match in Austin, SAFC will hit the road to Oklahoma for a two-game road trip against Energy FC on Aug. 8 and FC Tulsa on Aug. 12.