Las Vegas Lights FC returns home to Cashman Field Saturday night for its first Match Day in Downtown Las Vegas since July 7.
The 28-day layoff between home matches is the club’s longest such stretch on its 2018 schedule. Now, as Lights FC returns home for Saturday’s 8 p.m. rematch with Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, there are several key things to know in order to be up to speed ahead of Saturday’s match.
Tickets are available at LightsFC.com for Saturday’s match, starting at just $15. Saturday will also be “Backpack Night” at Cashman Field, with the first 2,000 kids 12-and-under through the gates receiving a free Lights FC backpack, presented by Boston Dental Group. For more information, plus the full rundown of August’s “Saturday Night Lights” promotions and ticket specials, visit LightsFC.com/August.
Here are the top Three Things To Know ahead of Lights FC vs. RGVFC and a busy home slate in August:
1) Looking to make it FOUR IN A ROW at home
With the long break between home matches at Cashman Field, it could be easy to forget just how hot Lights FC was on its home turf before the lengthy road trip began.
Capped by a 1-0 victory over Saint Louis FC on July 7, Lights FC has won three straight in Downtown Las Vegas, winning the three matches by a combined total tally of 9-2.
The last of those nine home scores during the winning streak was Raul Mendiola’s first Lights FC goal, coming as the difference-maker in that victory over Saint Louis FC. The goal began a personal streak for Mendiola, who went on to score five in total over the course of three games.
2) Where Lights FC fits in when looking at the USL Western Conference playoff picture …
Following a 4-game road trip that saw some ups and downs, Lights FC’s busy 6-match month of August kicks off with the team still having its eyes set on a Western Conference playoff berth in its inaugural season.
Currently, Lights FC sits at 6-9-5, with 23 points on the Western Conference table. The Top 8 in the 17-team conference make the playoffs in October.
At the moment, Lights FC is in the 13th spot, and is eight points outside of the No. 8 spot, currently occupied by San Antonio FC, who they still have one remaining meeting with. Lights FC also has one match left with three of the four clubs currently sitting in the spots between itself and the No. 8 spot – Fresno FC (home on Aug. 25), Saint Louis FC (away on Aug. 11) and OKC Energy FC (home on Sept. 29).
It will all start with protecting home turf, collecting as many points as possible in DTLV. Of Lights FC’s 14 remaining USL regular season matches, eight will be played at Cashman Field.
3) New faces abound
Saturday night will mark the first time suiting up at Cashman Field for a handful of new faces on the Lights FC roster.
Making multiple appearances during the road trip were defenders Rodrigo Iñigo and Joseph Patrick Perez, plus forwards Omar Salgado and Daniel Guzmán Jr.
Salgado created the biggest moment of the four, with a booming free kick goal late in the second half to secure a 2-1 victory over Portland Timbers 2 on July 22.
Iñigo – A LigaMX veteran who was with Club America from 2006-14 – has the versatility to play both on the Lights FC back line and in the midfielder.
Perez, who spent the last three seasons with the U-20 side of LigaMX club Puebla FC, has already flashed his speed and aggressive mindset on the back line.
On the attack, Salgado and Guzmán have added youth, size and speed up front.
Lights FC’s newest face just arrived this week – Defender Carter Manley, who comes to Las Vegas on loan from Major League Soccer club Minnesota United FC. A 2018 first round MLS SuperDraft pick, Manley made seven appearances and four starts for Minnesota United before heading west.
Overall, the influx of new faces during the midseason stretch not only helped increase competition on the training pitch, but also assisted the club while dealing with a wave of injuries throughout the roster.
As a whole, the team is getting healthier, and it’s happening just in time for the big push ahead to close out the 2018 regular season.
