NEWS

AUSTIN, TX – Lights FC fought a hard battle in the first half, but a costly defensive error early in the second half provided too much obstacle for Las Vegas to overcome in a 4-1 loss at Austin against Bold FC.

Bold FC opened the score with Brazilian striker Kléber, who took the ball from the center circle all the way to the top of the box, from where he hit a high shot with his right foot that was out of reach for Thomas Olsen.

Lights FC was able to have a quick response. Less than two minutes later a long pass from Junior Sandoval found an unmarked Panzani Sousa who put his strike past Diego Restrepo to level the score.

But Austin was able to finish the first half with the lead. After a throw-in, Xavier Baez served a high cross that was controlled in the box by Kléber, with the Brazilian striker getting his second score of the game in the play. He took a left-footed shot that was deflected by Javan Torre, changing the direction of the ball and making it impossible for Olsen to get the stop in the 31st minute.

But the Brazilian duo of Kléber and André Lima made Lights FC fight an even steeper uphill battle shortly after kicking off the second half, with Austin extending their lead by taking advantage of a mistake by Las Vegas. Bryan De La Fuente tried playing out from inside his own box, but Sean McFarlene was aggressive to the ball and intercepted it, with the ball rebounding off his leg and falling in front of André Lima who found the back of the net for the 3-1.

Lights FC brought onto the field Irvin Raul Parra, Vinnie Vermeer, and Jose Villarreal onto the pitch as second-half substitutions, but to no avail, as the team was only able to register one shot on target with a multiple-goal deficit.

Bold FC put the icing on the cake in added time. Sean McFarlane served a perfect cross to Kléber, who didn’t have a defender anywhere near him and he connected the ball with a header to score once again to complete his ‘perfect hat-trick’ (scoring goals with both feet and his head).

Austin snapped a two-game losing streak at home by defeating Lights FC 4-1, for Las Vegas this was their first road defeat since August 17 when they lost 3-0 at Orange County.

With only four games left to play in the 2019 regular season, Las Vegas currently sits in 14th place and four points out of the last playoff spot, with Lights FC needing to add each point available in those matches and requiring a combination of results to find their way into the “play-in” round of the postseason.

Lights FC follows up their game in Austin with another road match, having a date against Colorado Springs Switchbacks on Saturday, September 28 at 5:00 p.m. Las Vegas will then return home for their final two games at Cashman Field of the regular season by facing San Antonio FC on October 5 and Reno 1868 FC on October 12. Tickets are available at LightsFC.com/Tix or by calling 702-728-GOAL. The best ticket prices in town for Lights FC games can be found at every La Bonita Supermarket in the Valley.

Austin, TX — Lights FC looks to close the 2019 season strong with their goal set on obtaining positive results in the final five matches to elevate their possibilities to advance to the playoffs. With morale flying high after an impressive 3-1 win over Fresno FC, the second-best team in the Western Conference standings, Las Vegas sets their sights on a road match against Austin Bold FC on Sunday, September 22 with kickoff set for 4:00 p.m.

“The focus is certainly right now on getting points in Austin,” said Lights FC manager Eric Wynalda. “After the win against Fresno, there’s every reason for us to have a lot of confidence right now. I feel we can play at an optimal level. That’s always good for a coach, if they were uptight and tense that wouldn’t be a good thing. We need a winning mentality every time we take the field. It doesn’t matter where we play right now, every game needs to be three points”.

Both teams kicked off their 2019 USL Championship season on March 9 with a scoreless draw at Cashman Field. The 198 days that separate the matchups between Lights FC and Bold FCis the longest wait in a series this season for each club.

“There’s a lot of familiar faces with the same numbers on their backs that we’ll be facing from the first game of the season,” stated Wynalda. “We’re coming in healthy, everybody is hitting full stride. Any team that goes hot right now usually does well in the playoffs, so that is our objective. Accumulate points, get in the playoffs, go into the playoffs hot and see how far we go.”

In the 3-1 Las Vegas victory over Fresno, striker Irvin Raul Parra became the franchise leading scorer with his eleventh goal of the season, snapping a streak of seven games without finding the back of the net. Now, the Inglewood native is part of the Lights FC history books and hopes to continue to leave his mark by helping the team advance to the playoffs for the first time.

“It means quite a lot. I know I took a year off, but I wanted to let people know that I could still play and especially in a city like this,” said Parra. “I put a goal for myself before the season started that I wanted to make noise here in Las Vegas. It means a lot that I’m a part of history now.”

LIGHTS FC NOTES HEADING INTO SUNDAY’S MATCH:

IMPROVEMENT FROM YEAR ONE

In the team’s inaugural season, Lights FC ended in 15th place product of 31 points in 34 games. With five games left in their 2019 campaign, Las Vegas already has 4 more points than last year’s squad, including one more overall victory and two more home wins, plus the defensive improvement is evident with 29 goals less allowed than in 2018.

IRVIN RAUL PARRA

Irvin Parra snapped a seven-game scoreless streak by knocking in a penalty kick against Fresno FC in Lights FC’s 3-1 win against Fresno, becoming the franchise leading scorer with eleven goals. Surpassing the 10 that both Sammy Ochoa and Raul Mendiola registered with Las Vegas.

Parra currently leads Las Vegas not only in goals but also in assists with six. His 17 combined goals + assists are the most in a season by any Lights FC player. He is one of only seven players in USL Championship with 11 or more goals and 6 or more assists in 2019.

TKO

The Las Vegas-born & raised goalkeeper is tied for fourth-best in USL Championship with nine clean sheets, which is triple the times (3) Lights FC shutout their opponents in a total of 38 games in 2018. Olsen became the eighth goalkeeper in USL Championship’s Western Conference to have at least 9 clean sheets in a season since 2017 (regular season only).

“TKO” is fourth-best in USL Championship with 77 saves, with his performances earning him a pair of USL Championship Team of the Week selections.

“THE FRESH PRINCE” STRIKES

After going eight matches without finding the back of the net, Tabort Etaka Preston scored twice in Lights FC’s last four matches.

The “Fresh Prince of Cameroon” is the second-best goalscorer this season for Las Vegas. His speed has been a key component to his game, with two of his goals being created with him taking the ball over 40-yards from the center of the pitch into the opponent’s box.

C-MART SCORES

Against Fresno FC, Cristian Martinez scored his first goal for Lights FC since joining the team on loan from MLS side Chicago Fire on August 23rd. In his first home start with Las Vegas, Martinez took advantage of a heads up play by Irvin Raul Parra in the 21st minute, finishing the play past a scrambling defense.

Martinez became the sixth player with National Team experience to be signed by Lights FC, as he made his Panamanian National Team debut in February 2016 against El Salvador in a friendly match. He played in a total of five games for his country in 2018, where he was named as part of Panama’s preliminary 35 man roster squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, his country’s first appearance in the most important soccer tournament in the world.

GABE ROBINSON

On his rookie season as a professional soccer player, Lights FC defender Gabe Robinson leads USL Championship with a total of 154 clearances.

Robinson’s performances have earned him a spot in USL’s Team of the Week twice this season. First in Week 4 after Las Vegas defeated Real Monarchs 1-0, where he recorded 10 clearances and won the 7 duels he was involved in. Then in Week 23 for his performance in a scoreless draw Las Vegas had in Sacramento, adding 12 clearances, winning 3 of 4 aerial challenges, and completing 14 of 19 passes.

“FERRETY” SOUSA

After seeing action in only a total of 82 minutes through Lights FC’s first 24 matches, Panzani Sousa has been a starter for Las Vegas in four out of their last five games. Against Fresno, he served Tabort Etaka Preston a stellar assist to Tabort Etaka Preston, who scored the game-winning goal against the Foxes.

“To be as patient as he’s been and never give up, to always work and out-work everybody at practice, and when his number got called, he was ready”, said Lights FC manager Eric Wynalda about Sousa. “The way he played against Fresno and the way he’s been with us, has been terrific … so hats off to him.”

CASHMAN FIELD RECORD

In its inaugural season, Lights FC had an impressive 110,031 fans in the stands for regular-season matches played in downtown Las Vegas. With two home games left in its 2019 regular season, Las Vegas surpassed that number on September 14 against Fresno, increasing their total this year to 112,474 attendees at Cashman Field.

INJURY REPORT

OUT – Santiago Echavarría – Lower Body

SUNDAY’S OPPONENT: AUSTIN BOLD FC

Austin is one of seven USL Championship expansion franchises that made their debut in 2019, with Bold FC being one of only three who are in a playoff spot. Austin is currently seventh place in the Western Conference.

Marcelo Serrano was introduced as Bold FC’s inaugural head coach in August 2018. Prior to his arrival to the Texas capital, Serrano was the head coach and general manager of the U.S. Virgin Islands Men’s National Team ahead of World Cup qualifiers, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the CONCACAF Nations Cup.

Brazilian forward André Lima leads Austin with 10 goals, followed closely by Kléber with 8 scores and Kris Tyrpak with 7.

Goalkeeper Diego Restrepo has been the top goalkeeper for Bold FC, starting in 25 of the team’s 29 matches this season. The Venezuela native has 80 saves and 8 clean sheets, which are ranked third and ninth in the league, respectively.

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN TO LAS VEGAS LIGHTS FC @ AUSTIN BOLD:

Las Vegas Lights FC fans will be able to follow-up along with every match of the 2019 USL Championship season via national & local media outlets.

Sunday’s game (4:00 p.m. kickoff) will be streamed on ESPN+ with broadcasters Lincoln Rose, Kit McConnico, and Aly Trost announcing the action.

The Spanish-language radio broadcast with Alvaro Puentes & Alejandro Romo on the call can be listened at ESPN Deportes 1460 AM & online on LVSportsNetwork.com.

LAS VEGAS, NV – A much-needed win against a top opponent has Las Vegas only two points out of the playoff picture in USL Championship’s Western Conference. A  3-1 victory over Fresno FC is a big breath of fresh air.

“We were well prepared and we had a very good plan defensively, but the true test of our character,” said Luces FC manager Eric Wynalda. “In the last couple of weeks, we’ve had so many bad things, so much bad luck, late goals, and penalty kicks. There were a lot of reasons to quit, but there is no quit on this side. It’s the best performance from everybody that we’ve had all year.  I’m ecstatic!”

The visiting Foxes drew first blood in the 17th minute. A bad clearance by Luces FC’s defense allowed Alex Cooper to deliver a stunning left-footed strike that curled past Thomas Olsen.

But Fresno didn’t hold on to the lead for long. Only 4 minutes later a heads up play by Irvin Parra gave Las Vegas the tie. A long ball by Panzani Sousa could’ve gone past the end-line to give the Zorros a goal kick, but goalkeeper C.J. Cochran tried to play it.  After saving it from leaving the field of play, Parra raced from more than 18 yards away and stole the ball from him. The ensuing footrace had Parra avoiding a defender, which allowed him to set up Cristian Martinez who then leveled the score with his first goal as a member of Luces FC.

“That’s a huge virtue as players, always paying attention because you never know what can happen at any given moment,” stated midfielder Cristian Martinez. “Fortunately Irvin was able to take advantage of the opponent’s mistake and we were able to score. I’m very happy that we got this goal as a team.”

After going into the halftime break with the score tied up 1-1, the first offensive play for Las Vegas in the second half proved to be the game-winning effort. In the 58th minute Panzani “Ferrety” Sousa served a high cross into the box, that a streaking Tabort Etaka Preston knocked in with a powerful header to give Luces FC the lead 2-1.

“We’ve been trying plays like this one at practice. Every practice session, we try to improve the playing style that we have, said Luces FC striker Tabort Etaka Preston. “I have to understand my teammates, and they have to understand me as well. Today we delivered results from all of our hard work .”

Tabort Etaka Preston was tackled down in the box by Emir Alihozic, with referee Malik Badawi calling a foul that awarded Las Vegas a penalty kick. Irvin Raul Parra was the man in charge to execute it.  With a successful attempt, he not only put Luces FC ahead by 2, but he also became the top goalscorer in franchise history with 11 goals.

With tonight’s goal and assist, Irvin has been involved in a total of 17 Luces FC scores (11 goals + 6 assists), which surpass the 15 combined goals and assists that Sammy Ochoa led Las Vegas with during the team’s inaugural season.

The victory elevates Luces FC to 35 points in the season, only 2 points away from San Antonio FC who at the moment is the owner of the final playoffs spot in the Western Conference. Las Vegas has 5 games remaining in the regular season, and one of them being a home match against San Antonio.

“We know where we are in the standings, but there’s just no quit in this team. We still got five games and the points are out there,” stated Wynalda. “We have to go for three points in each of the next two road games, we have no choice. Just take the gloves off and swing, we’re ready.”

After playing four games in an eleven-day span, Las Vegas will now have a full week to prepare for their next match. Luces FC’s next two games will be on the road, first off against Austin Bold FC on Sunday, September 22 at 4:00 p.m., followed up on Saturday, September 28 versus Colorado Springs at 5:00 p.m.

The Lights will then take on their final two home games of the regular season by facing San Antonio FC on October 5 and Reno 1868 FC on October 12. Tickets are available at LightsFC.com/Tix or by calling 702-728-GOAL. The best ticket prices in town for Lights FC games can be found at every La Bonita Supermarket in the Valley.

Las Vegas, NV — Luces FC will step on the pitch of Cashman Field for the third time in eight days this Saturday, as they’ll face Fresno FC at 7:30 p.m. The Foxes arrive in Las Vegas as the second-best squad in USL Championship’s Western Conference with 50 points in 26 games. In the last matchup between both sides, Las Vegas suffered a 2-1 defeat while playing a man-down during the second half after Jonathan Levin received a direct red card that had him sent off.

“We have to be at our best to get points out of this match,” said Luces FC manager Eric Wynalda. “It’s our chance to beat one of the top teams in the conference, to prove to ourselves and our fans that we can compete at this level. Beating them would be a confidence boost for the group, not just because we’re at home, but the fact that we’re able to get a good result against a team that’s clearly going to be in the playoffs and clearly take this farther than most”.

Wynalda has a special link to Fresno’s leading scorer Jaime Chavez, who he discovered in a Sunday league game several years ago. In 2014 he signed him to his first professional contract with the Atlanta Silverbacks of the NASL. After scoring three goals in his first 15 games this season, Chavez has found the back of the net six times in his last 6 games, including scoring both goals in Fresno’s 2-1 win against Lights FC on August 3rd.

“Chavez has been terrific since we last played against him”, stated Wynalda. “We know what he’s all about, he has proven to be one of the best forwards in this league. He had a slow start, he had an injury that he was dealing with, but he has been impressive since he caught fire.”

With five weeks left in USL Championship’s regular season, Luces FC has to make the most of each of their remaining matches to have a shot at jumping up to at least tenth place in the Western Conference. Teams placed seventh through tenth will play in the ‘play-in’ round of this year’s playoffs.

“It’s not over until it’s over and we still have six games left”, said Luces FC goalkeeper Thomas Olsen. “We just need to string some results together. Keep pushing and we can find the back of the net. Fresno is a good team, but we’ll have a good shot at them if we put a performance together like the one we had against Phoenix. Everything from now is a must-win and we got to give the fans something to cheer for.”

SATURDAY’S OPPONENT: FRESNO FC FOXES

Fresno FC has been one of the most solid teams on the road in the 2019 season. The Foxes won their sixth game away from home this past Saturday, defeating 1868 FC by a score of 3-2 in Reno. With ten wins in their last twelve matches, Fresno has rised all the way to second place in the Western Conference standings.

Adam Smith was announced as the inaugural coach for the Foxes on November 9, 2017, after having a successful three-year stint as a top assistant with Sacramento Republic FC. He led Fresno FC to a 12th place finish with 39 points in the 2018 season.

Jaime Chavez is Fresno’s top goalscorer with 9 goals. Six more Foxes players have scored at least 3 goals in 2019: Jemal Johnson and Qudus Lawal with 7, Arun Basuljevic with 4, plus Jackson, Ramón Del Campo and Christian Chaney with 3 each.

C.J. Cochran has started at goal every regular season match for the Foxes this year, where he’s the leader of the second-best defense in the West by allowing only 25 goals in 27 games. He has shutout his opponents in six matches this season, surpassing the 5 regular season clean sheets he had as a backup goalkeeper between his 2018 and 2017 seasons with Fresno and OKC, respectively.

LUCES FC NOTES HEADING INTO SATURDAY’S MATCH:

GABE ROBINSON

On his rookie season as a professional soccer player, Luces FC defender Gabe Robinson is tied for the lead in USL Championship with a total of 142 clearances, same amount that Tulsa’s Cyprian Hedrick has.

Robinson’s performances have earned him a spot in USL’s Team of the Week twice this season. First in Week 4 after Las Vegas defeated Real Monarchs 1-0, where he recorded 10 clearances and won the 7 duels he was involved in. Then in Week 23 for his performance in a scoreless draw Las Vegas had in Sacramento, adding 12 clearances, winning 3 of 4 aerial challenges, and completing 14 of 19 passes.

THE CAPTAIN RETURNS

Slated to be a key component in Eric Wynalda’s Starting XI with Las Vegas, Bryan De La Fuente suffered an ACL tear in Lights FC’s final MLS Soccer Spring Training match back in February.

After working hard on his recovery for six months, De La Fuente made his 2019 USL Championship debut by being subbed in the 71st minute against Portland Timbers 2 on August 24. He has now played in five games in a row, including the last three as a starter. His minutes increased throughout his first three games all the way to the full 90 versus El Paso on Saturday, September 7.

PRESTON STRIKES

For a forward, getting out of a slump is very important. After 8 matches without finding the back of the net, Tabort Etaka Preston was able to get his fifth goal of the season against Real Monarchs SLC on September 4th.

The “Fresh Prince of Cameroon” is Luces FC’s second-leading goalscorer this season. His speed has been a key component to his game, with two of his goals being created with him taking the ball over 40-yards from the center of the pitch into the opponent’s box.

DEFENSIVE SCORING

Twenty-seven games through the 2019 season, Luces FC hasn’t only relied on their strikers and offensive midfielders to find the back of the net, defenders have also delivered by getting goals for Eric Wynalda’s side.

Against Real Monarchs, Christian Torres scored his second goal of the year. He joined Javan Torre (4) and Gabe Robinson (3) as Luces FC’s defenders with multiple goals this season. The 9 goals Luces FC defenders have so far this year surpass the 6 that Las Vegas had in 2018 (4 by Joel Huiqui and 2 by Miguel Garduño).

IRVIN RAUL PARRA

Parra is currently tied with Sammy Ochoa and Raul Mendiola as the leading scorers in franchise history with 10 each. Irvin Raul Parra currently leads Las Vegas not only in goals (10) but also in assists with five. With his next goal or assist, he’ll surpass Sammy Ochoa’s 15 combined goals + assists from 2018, which led the team in its inaugural season. Parra’s current seven-game streak without scoring is his longest of the season.

THOMAS OLSEN

The Las Vegas-born & raised goalkeeper is tied for fourth-best in USL Championship with nine clean sheets, which is triple the times (3) Luces FC shutout their opponents in a total of 38 games in 2018. Olsen became the eighth goalkeeper in USL Championship’s Western Conference to have at least 9 clean sheets in a season since 2017 (regular season only).

Thomas Olsen tied his season-high with five saves against Portland Timbers 2. His performance earned him his second USL Championship Team of the Week selection. “TKO” is seventh-best in the league with 71 saves.

INJURY REPORT

Edwin Rivas – QUESTIONABLE – Lower Body Injury

HERE IS EVERYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF SATURDAY’S MATCH VS. FRESNO FC FOXES:

** Saturday’s match kicks off at 7:30 p.m., start time for all Luces FC home matches in 2019. For on-site ticket purchase at Cashman Field, both the box office and will call open at 2:00 p.m. on regular-season gameday. Tickets are available at LightsFC.com/Tix and at every La Bonita Supermarket in Las Vegas.

** The Zappos Tailgate Party begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Cashman Field plaza, where fans can enjoy beer specials, tailgate games for adults and kids, music, the Zappos llamas Dottie and Dollie, Lights FC merchandise, and much more.

** As part of the celebration for Hispanic Heritage Night at Cashman Field, Las Vegas Lights FC will change its name to “Luces F.C.” for Saturday’s match, with it being incorporated to a new club logo.

** To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Luces F.C. will be selling a special $20 All-You-Can-Drink/Eat of Estrella Jalisco cerveza and tamales (chicken & beef). Fans can purchase the special in advance of Saturday’s match by visiting LightsFC.com/Tamales or at the Luces FC Customer Service Booth at Cashman Field (located on the main concourse). Sales of the $20 Cerveza & Tamales special will be limited to a select number to ensure a smooth fan experience to all purchasers.

** The Pitchside Pool Party will conclude this Saturday. It features multiple “swimming pools” located pitchside to bring fans as close to the action as possible. Each pool rental is priced at $50 and can be reserved at LightsFC.com/PoolParty, or by calling 702-728-GOAL.

** Media credential on-site pick-up and entry begins at 4:30 p.m. Credentials can be picked up at Media Check-In, located at the Zappos Gate. For all other media-related inquiries, please visit our Media Center.

** The party doesn’t stop at the end of the action on the pitch. After every Luces FC home match, Two Roots Brewing, and Zappos will host the “Happier Hour” post-game party at Cashman Field’s Club Level Restaurant. Team players and manager Eric Wynalda will make an appearance at the party that is open to fans of all ages that are in attendance at Cashman Field.
 

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN TO LAS VEGAS LUCES FC VS. FRESNO FC FOXES:

Las Vegas Luces FC fans will be able to follow-up along with every match of the 2019 USL Championship season via national & local media outlets.

Saturday’s game (7:30 p.m. kickoff) will be aired locally on MyLVTV with broadcasters Jeff Radcliffe and Tom Traxler announcing the action.

The match will also be aired on ESPN+, while the Spanish-language radio broadcast with Alvaro Puentes & Alejandro Romo on the call can be listened at ESPN Deportes 1460 AM & online on LVSportsNetwork.com.

Las Vegas (NV) — In honor of September being Hispanic Heritage Month, Las Vegas Lights FC will change its name to “Luces F.C.” for this Saturday’s match at Cashman Field (vs. Fresno FC; kick-off 7:30 pm).  The Spanish-language word for “Lights FC” will also be incorporated into a new club logo.

To celebrate the occasion, Luces F.C. will be selling a special $20 All-You-Can-Drink/Eat of Estrella Jalisco cerveza and tamales (chicken & beef).  Both will be available as soon as the Cashman Field gates open at 6:30 pm and will continue through the 70th minute of the match. Fans will be limited to two (2) cervezas and two (2) tamales per visit, but can visit as many times as they like.  Special concession stands will be set-up on both ends of the main concourse (i.e., by the grass berms) for exclusive use by only purchasers of the $20 All-You-Can-Eat/Drink Special.

Fans may purchase the special in advance of Saturday’s match by visiting LightsFC.com/Tamales or at the Lights FC Customer Service Booth at Cashman Field (located on the main concourse).  Sales of the $20 Cerveza & Tamales special will be limited to a select number to ensure a smooth fan experience for all purchasers.

“¡Luces FC tiene marca invicta!,” said Luces FC Owner & C.E.O. Brett Lashbrook.  “Cerveza, tamales y fútbol en un sábado por la noche en downtown Las Vegas — ¡no hay una oferta mejor en la ciudad!”

Las Vegas, NV — For the third week in a row, Lights FC will see action on a Wednesday night as the USL Game of the Week pits them against the hottest team in professional soccer: Phoenix Rising FC. For Las Vegas, it’ll be key to take advantage of their home field advantage facing a team that has won 18 consecutive regular-season games.

“Phoenix has proven to be an electric team. They have so many weapons and the physicality of the game always goes through the roof when you play against them,” said Lights FC manager Eric Wynalda. “They’ve figured out a way to get results which is the mark of a very, very good team. We’re going to make them do something that they haven’t been forced to do and that’s mainly out of respect. It’ll be a great game and I think both teams will be stretched to their limit. All credit to them, they’ve done great but we have no intention of losing points here.”

The 0-3 loss against El Paso Locomotive FC was just the third time this season Las Vegas conceded multiple goals at home this season in league play. Lights FC has shut out nearly half of their opponents when they’ve played at Cashman in 2019, and that’s the first step the team needs to take in a potential upset against the squad with the best record in USL Championship.

“In this league, anyone can beat anyone on any given night,” stated goalkeeper Thomas Olsen. ”It starts being strong defensively.  We have to be organized and on the same page all game long. Obviously, a team doesn’t win that many games in a row off a fluke. They’ve got some studs and we learned that when we went there earlier in the season. But now we’re at Cashman, so anything can happen.”

Team captain Bryan De La Fuente saw action with Lights FC for the fourth game in a row after recovering from an ACL tear. For the first time this season he was able to play the full 90 minutes as he was on the pitch for the complete match versus El Paso Locomotive FC.

“I keep getting into rhythm, adding minutes as long as my knee keeps responding in a positive way,” said De La Fuente. “Against Phoenix or against any other team, either at home or away, we need to get positive results to make a playoffs push.”

WEDNESDAY’S OPPONENT: PHOENIX RISING FC

Phoenix Rising FC, defending Western Conference champions, kicked off the 2019 season with 2 wins, 2 losses, and 5 draws. Since then they’ve won 18 games in a row, the longest winning streak in American Pro Soccer history. In fact, they’re now only three points away from breaking the USL Western Conference record for most points in a single season.

Rick Schantz took over as Rising FC’s interim head coach on June 10th last year after the departure of former manager Patrice Carteron. Since then Schantz has led Phoenix to the USL Cup Final, where they lost 1-0 to Louisville City. Due to his success, the club removed the interim tag from his title ahead of the 2019 season.

Phoenix features the top goalscorer in the USL this year in Solomon Asante, who has put the ball in the back of the net 21 times. Rising FC is the only team that features three players in the league’s Top-10 scorers, with Adam Jahn tied for third-best with 14 goals, while Junior Flemmings is tied for ninth with 11 goals.

Goalkeeper Zac Lubin leads USL Championship with 13 clean sheets, including Rising FC’s last two games. Lubin is sixth in the West with 68 saves.

LIGHTS FC NOTES HEADING INTO SATURDAY’S MATCH:

GABE ROBINSON

On his rookie season as a professional soccer player, Lights FC defender Gabe Robinson is second-best in USL Championship with a total of 139 clearances, only three away from Tulsa’s Cyprian Hedrick who leads the league with 142.

Robinson’s performances have earned him a spot in USL’s Team of the Week twice this season. First in Week 4 after Lights FC’s 1-0 win against Real Monarchs, where he recorded 10 clearances and won the 7 duels he was involved in. Then in Week 23 for his performance in a scoreless draw Las Vegas had in Sacramento, adding 12 clearances, winning 3 of 4 aerial challenges, and completing 14 of 19 passes.

THE CAPTAIN RETURNS

Slated to be a key component in Eric Wynalda’s Starting XI with Las Vegas, Bryan De La Fuente suffered an ACL tear in Lights FC’s final MLS Soccer Spring Training match back in February.

After working hard on his recovery for six months, De La Fuente made his 2019 USL Championship debut by being subbed in the 71st minute against Portland Timbers 2 on August 24. He has now played in four games in a row, with his minutes increasing with each match all the way to the full 90 versus El Paso on Saturday, September 7.

PRESTON STRIKES

For a forward, getting out of a slump is very important. After going 8 matches without finding the back of the net, Tabort Etaka Preston was able to get his fifth goal of the season against Real Monarchs SLC on September 4th.

The “Fresh Prince of Cameroon” is Lights FC’s second-leading goalscorer this season. His speed has been a key component to his game, with two of his goals being created with him taking the ball over 40-yards from the center of the pitch into the opponent’s box.

DEFENSIVE SCORING

Twenty-seven games through the 2019 season, Lights FC hasn’t only relied on their strikers and offensive midfielders to find the back of the net, defenders have also delivered by getting goals for Eric Wynalda’s side.

Against Real Monarchs, Christian Torres scored his second goal of the year. He joined Javan Torre (4) and Gabe Robinson (3) as Lights FC’s defenders with multiple goals this season. The 9 goals Lights FC defenders have so far this year surpass the 6 that Las Vegas had in 2018 (4 by Joel Huiqui and 2 by Miguel Garduño).

IRVIN RAUL PARRA

He is currently tied with Sammy Ochoa and Raul Mendiola as the leading scorers in franchise history with 10 each. Irvin Raul Parra currently leads Las Vegas not only in goals (10) but also in assists with five. With his next goal or assist, he’ll surpass Sammy Ochoa’s 15 combined goals + assists from 2018, which led the team in its inaugural season.

THOMAS OLSEN

The Las Vegas-born & raised goalkeeper is tied for fourth-best in USL Championship with nine clean sheets, which is triple the times (3) Lights FC shutout their opponents in a total of 38 games in 2018. Olsen became the eighth goalkeeper in USL Championship’s Western Conference to have at least 9 clean sheets in a season since 2017 (regular season only).

Thomas Olsen tied his season-high with five saves against Portland Timbers 2. His performance earned him his second USL Championship Team of the Week selection. “TKO” is seventh-best in the league with 71 saves.

UNAVAILABLE REPORT

Junior Sandoval – SUSPENDED

Wednesday’s game (7:30 p.m. kickoff) is USL Championship’s Game of the Week and will be streamed nationwide on ESPN3 with broadcasters Michael Watts and Devon Kerr announcing the action.

The Spanish-language radio broadcast with Alvaro Puentes & Alejandro Romo on the call can be listened at Deportes Vegas 1460 AM & online on LVSportsNetwork.com. 

Las Vegas, NV — For the third week in a row, Lights FC will see action on a Wednesday night as the USL Game of the Week pits them against the hottest team in professional soccer: Phoenix Rising FC. For Las Vegas, it’ll be key to take advantage of their home field advantage facing a team that has won 18 consecutive regular-season games.

“Phoenix has proven to be an electric team. They have so many weapons and the physicality of the game always goes through the roof when you play against them,” said Lights FC manager Eric Wynalda. “They’ve figured out a way to get results which is the mark of a very, very good team. We’re going to make them do something that they haven’t been forced to do and that’s mainly out of respect. It’ll be a great game and I think both teams will be stretched to their limit. All credit to them, they’ve done great but we have no intention of losing points here.”

The 0-3 loss against El Paso Locomotive FC was just the third time this season Las Vegas conceded multiple goals at home this season in league play. Lights FC has shut out nearly half of their opponents when they’ve played at Cashman in 2019, and that’s the first step the team needs to take in a potential upset against the squad with the best record in USL Championship.

“In this league, anyone can beat anyone on any given night,” stated goalkeeper Thomas Olsen. ”It starts being strong defensively.  We have to be organized and on the same page all game long. Obviously, a team doesn’t win that many games in a row off a fluke. They’ve got some studs and we learned that when we went there earlier in the season. But now we’re at Cashman, so anything can happen.”

Team captain Bryan De La Fuente saw action with Lights FC for the fourth game in a row after recovering from an ACL tear. For the first time this season he was able to play the full 90 minutes as he was on the pitch for the complete match versus El Paso Locomotive FC.

“I keep getting into rhythm, adding minutes as long as my knee keeps responding in a positive way,” said De La Fuente. “Against Phoenix or against any other team, either at home or away, we need to get positive results to make a playoffs push.”

WEDNESDAY’S OPPONENT: PHOENIX RISING FC

Phoenix Rising FC, defending Western Conference champions, kicked off the 2019 season with 2 wins, 2 losses, and 5 draws. Since then they’ve won 18 games in a row, the longest winning streak in American Pro Soccer history. In fact, they’re now only three points away from breaking the USL Western Conference record for most points in a single season.

Rick Schantz took over as Rising FC’s interim head coach on June 10th last year after the departure of former manager Patrice Carteron. Since then Schantz has led Phoenix to the USL Cup Final, where they lost 1-0 to Louisville City. Due to his success, the club removed the interim tag from his title ahead of the 2019 season.

Phoenix features the top goalscorer in the USL this year in Solomon Asante, who has put the ball in the back of the net 21 times. Rising FC is the only team that features three players in the league’s Top-10 scorers, with Adam Jahn tied for third-best with 14 goals, while Junior Flemmings is tied for ninth with 11 goals.

Goalkeeper Zac Lubin leads USL Championship with 13 clean sheets, including Rising FC’s last two games. Lubin is sixth in the West with 68 saves.

LIGHTS FC NOTES HEADING INTO SATURDAY’S MATCH:

GABE ROBINSON

On his rookie season as a professional soccer player, Lights FC defender Gabe Robinson is second-best in USL Championship with a total of 139 clearances, only three away from Tulsa’s Cyprian Hedrick who leads the league with 142.

Robinson’s performances have earned him a spot in USL’s Team of the Week twice this season. First in Week 4 after Lights FC’s 1-0 win against Real Monarchs, where he recorded 10 clearances and won the 7 duels he was involved in. Then in Week 23 for his performance in a scoreless draw Las Vegas had in Sacramento, adding 12 clearances, winning 3 of 4 aerial challenges, and completing 14 of 19 passes.

THE CAPTAIN RETURNS

Slated to be a key component in Eric Wynalda’s Starting XI with Las Vegas, Bryan De La Fuente suffered an ACL tear in Lights FC’s final MLS Soccer Spring Training match back in February.

After working hard on his recovery for six months, De La Fuente made his 2019 USL Championship debut by being subbed in the 71st minute against Portland Timbers 2 on August 24. He has now played in four games in a row, with his minutes increasing with each match all the way to the full 90 versus El Paso on Saturday, September 7.

PRESTON STRIKES

For a forward, getting out of a slump is very important. After going 8 matches without finding the back of the net, Tabort Etaka Preston was able to get his fifth goal of the season against Real Monarchs SLC on September 4th.

The “Fresh Prince of Cameroon” is Lights FC’s second-leading goalscorer this season. His speed has been a key component to his game, with two of his goals being created with him taking the ball over 40-yards from the center of the pitch into the opponent’s box.

DEFENSIVE SCORING

Twenty-seven games through the 2019 season, Lights FC hasn’t only relied on their strikers and offensive midfielders to find the back of the net, defenders have also delivered by getting goals for Eric Wynalda’s side.

Against Real Monarchs, Christian Torres scored his second goal of the year. He joined Javan Torre (4) and Gabe Robinson (3) as Lights FC’s defenders with multiple goals this season. The 9 goals Lights FC defenders have so far this year surpass the 6 that Las Vegas had in 2018 (4 by Joel Huiqui and 2 by Miguel Garduño).

IRVIN RAUL PARRA

He is currently tied with Sammy Ochoa and Raul Mendiola as the leading scorers in franchise history with 10 each. Irvin Raul Parra currently leads Las Vegas not only in goals (10) but also in assists with five. With his next goal or assist, he’ll surpass Sammy Ochoa’s 15 combined goals + assists from 2018, which led the team in its inaugural season.

THOMAS OLSEN

The Las Vegas-born & raised goalkeeper is tied for fourth-best in USL Championship with nine clean sheets, which is triple the times (3) Lights FC shutout their opponents in a total of 38 games in 2018. Olsen became the eighth goalkeeper in USL Championship’s Western Conference to have at least 9 clean sheets in a season since 2017 (regular season only).

Thomas Olsen tied his season-high with five saves against Portland Timbers 2. His performance earned him his second USL Championship Team of the Week selection. “TKO” is seventh-best in the league with 71 saves.

UNAVAILABLE REPORT

Junior Sandoval – SUSPENDED

Wednesday’s game (7:30 p.m. kickoff) is USL Championship’s Game of the Week and will be streamed nationwide on ESPN3 with broadcasters Michael Watts and Devon Kerr announcing the action.

The Spanish-language radio broadcast with Alvaro Puentes & Alejandro Romo on the call can be listened at Deportes Vegas 1460 AM & online on LVSportsNetwork.com. 

LAS VEGAS, NV – Lights FC couldn’t follow the momentum of the successful Helicopter Cash Drop 2.0 at halftime, with Locomotive FC scoring all their goals in the second half to defeat Las Vegas 3-0.

“It’s really hard to win a game when we concede two penalty kicks. I feel for the guys because at times we really were the better team,” said Lights FC manager Eric Wynalda. “We’re going to look back at this one, we’ll make excuses, or we’ll blame the refereeing but at the end of the day, we have to look ourselves in the mirror and ask ourselves what we could have done better.”

Las Vegas had the first clear opportunity in the match in the eight-minute, with Tabort Etaka Preston serving the ball to Jose Villarreal, whose shot got deflected and sent out of the field by El Paso goalkeeper Logan Ketterer.

Locomotive FC started taking control of the possession and they received a prime opportunity to strike after a tackle in the box from Javan Torre on Jerome Kiesewetter was whistled a foul by the referee in the 38th minute.  Thomas Olsen’s brilliant diving stop denied Kiesewetter from opening the score.

Early in the second half, El Paso was awarded another penalty kick, this time after Kevin Garcia Lopez challenged James Kiffe for the ball. Sebastian Velasquez was the one who took the shot and this one went in the back of the net for the “Locos” in the 51st minute.

The Lights pushed to try and level the score, but El Paso’s strong defense prevented Las Vegas from achieving a shot on target in the second half, with all attempts going either wide or blocked.

“After the second penalty, it brought the whole game down.  Our game plan was out of the picture,” stated Lights FC captain Bryan De La Fuente. “Obviously we weren’t expecting to get scored on and the ref gave the other team a penalty and that brought us down. After we tried to push, we tried to attack and they got us on the counter-attack.“

With Lights FC focused on trying to get a goal, it opened spaces in the back that the visiting side capitalized on. Omar Salgado controlled the possession in the box after his shot got blocked by Gabe Robinson, but subsequently, the ball landed at Josue Aaron Gomez’s feet and he put it past Thomas Olsen to extend El Paso’s lead in the 81st minute.

Las Vegas played a man down after the 85th minute when Junior Sandoval punted the ball past Salgado, and referee Farhad Dadkho showed him his second yellow card of the night.

Lights FC went down an additional goal in the 90th minute, Nick Ross controlled a long ball in the box with his strike being denied by Thomas Olsen, but it was followed up by Josue Aaron Gomez who completed his brace just eleven minutes after entering the match as a substitute.

“This one stings the most because we just got the rug pulled out from underneath us”, said Wynalda. “All we can do is regroup and try and get our attitude right when we play against Phoenix, which is clearly the best team in the league.”

Las Vegas continues their three-game homestand by hosting league-leading Phoenix Rising FC on Wednesday, September 11. This match is USL’s “ESPN Game of the Week” to be streamed on ESPN3. This match will be followed when less than 72 hours laters Las Vegas faces Fresno FC on Saturday, September 14. The Foxes are currently second place in USL Championship’s Western Conference.

Tickets for all remaining Lights FC home matches are available at LightsFC.com/Tix or by calling 702-728-GOAL. The best ticket prices in town for Lights FC games can be found at every La Bonita Supermarket in the Valley.

Fans may also purchase the new La Bonita Family 4-Pack for only $44, available for all remaining Lights FC home games this season. It includes 4 midfield reserve tickets, one Lights FC youth jersey, and a La Bonita Gift Card (total value of over $150). The combos are available at LightsFC.com/Family

LAS VEGAS, NV – Lights FC couldn’t follow the momentum of the successful Helicopter Cash Drop 2.0 at halftime, with Locomotive FC scoring all their goals in the second half to defeat Las Vegas 3-0.

“It’s really hard to win a game when we concede two penalty kicks. I feel for the guys because at times we really were the better team,” said Lights FC manager Eric Wynalda. “We’re going to look back at this one, we’ll make excuses, or we’ll blame the refereeing but at the end of the day, we have to look ourselves in the mirror and ask ourselves what we could have done better.”

Las Vegas had the first clear opportunity in the match in the eight-minute, with Tabort Etaka Preston serving the ball to Jose Villarreal, whose shot got deflected and sent out of the field by El Paso goalkeeper Logan Ketterer.

Locomotive FC started taking control of the possession and they received a prime opportunity to strike after a tackle in the box from Javan Torre on Jerome Kiesewetter was whistled a foul by the referee in the 38th minute.  Thomas Olsen’s brilliant diving stop denied Kiesewetter from opening the score.

Early in the second half, El Paso was awarded another penalty kick, this time after Kevin Garcia Lopez challenged James Kiffe for the ball. Sebastian Velasquez was the one who took the shot and this one went in the back of the net for the “Locos” in the 51st minute.

The Lights pushed to try and level the score, but El Paso’s strong defense prevented Las Vegas from achieving a shot on target in the second half, with all attempts going either wide or blocked.

“After the second penalty, it brought the whole game down.  Our game plan was out of the picture,” stated Lights FC captain Bryan De La Fuente. “Obviously we weren’t expecting to get scored on and the ref gave the other team a penalty and that brought us down. After we tried to push, we tried to attack and they got us on the counter-attack.“

With Lights FC focused on trying to get a goal, it opened spaces in the back that the visiting side capitalized on. Omar Salgado controlled the possession in the box after his shot got blocked by Gabe Robinson, but subsequently, the ball landed at Josue Aaron Gomez’s feet and he put it past Thomas Olsen to extend El Paso’s lead in the 81st minute.

Las Vegas played a man down after the 85th minute when Junior Sandoval punted the ball past Salgado, and referee Farhad Dadkho showed him his second yellow card of the night.

Lights FC went down an additional goal in the 90th minute, Nick Ross controlled a long ball in the box with his strike being denied by Thomas Olsen, but it was followed up by Josue Aaron Gomez who completed his brace just eleven minutes after entering the match as a substitute.

“This one stings the most because we just got the rug pulled out from underneath us”, said Wynalda. “All we can do is regroup and try and get our attitude right when we play against Phoenix, which is clearly the best team in the league.”

Las Vegas continues their three-game homestand by hosting league-leading Phoenix Rising FC on Wednesday, September 11. This match is USL’s “ESPN Game of the Week” to be streamed on ESPN3. This match will be followed when less than 72 hours laters Las Vegas faces Fresno FC on Saturday, September 14. The Foxes are currently second place in USL Championship’s Western Conference.

Tickets for all remaining Lights FC home matches are available at LightsFC.com/Tix or by calling 702-728-GOAL. The best ticket prices in town for Lights FC games can be found at every La Bonita Supermarket in the Valley.

Fans may also purchase the new La Bonita Family 4-Pack for only $44, available for all remaining Lights FC home games this season. It includes 4 midfield reserve tickets, one Lights FC youth jersey, and a La Bonita Gift Card (total value of over $150). The combos are available at LightsFC.com/Family