Category Archives: SA Scorpions FC

NASL Announces 2013 Spring Schedule

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The NASL announced the 2013 Spring schedule earlier today to kick off the new year of soccer.  The NASL will be following the new format which splits the year into two separate seasons, very similar to many South American leagues.  For more about the format read up on the article posted to Inside Minnesota Soccer, which is no longer in operation.  (but thankfully the archive is still accessible)

NASL Changes to Split Season Format in 2013, Traditional Playoff System Eliminated, September 5-2012

The official schedule for the SA Scorpions FC is pasted below but can be found on their website via the following link:

2013 Spring Schedule

(All Times CST; Local Games in Red)

Home Visitor DAte / Time Venue
Minnesota                                         Stars FC vs Scorpions 4/6/13 Away
Scorpions vs Tampa Bay Rowdies 4/13/13 Toyota Field
FC Edmonton vs Scorpions 4/28/13 Away
Scorpions vs Atlanta Silverbacks 5/4/13 Toyota Field
Carolina RailHawks vs Scorpions 5/11/13 Away
Scorpions vs Ft. Lauderdale Strikers 5/18/13 Toyota Field
Atlanta Silverbacks vs Scorpions 5/25/13 Away
Scorpions vs Minnesota Stars 6/1/13 Toyota Field
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Scorpions 6/15/13 Away
Scorpions vs FC Edmonton 6/22/13 Toyota Field
Ft. Lauderdale Strikers vs Scorpions 6/29/13 Away
Scorpions vs Carolina RailHawks 7/4/13 Toyota Field

Scorpions Re-Sign Ryan Cochrane, Add Two New Players – Ryan Cochrane Announces Retirement

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SA_Scorpions_300XThe San Antonio Scorpions FC continue to hold on to key players during the off season with the recent signature of Central Defender Ryan Cochrane.  Cochrane, who is still only 29, will retain his spot in the top defense from the 2012 NASL season.

Cochrane was a significant contributor in the Center position often partnering with Greg Janicki and even Fabian Kling at times.

Cochrane will continue to act as the calming experienced leader in the defense, now having lived through a full NASL season.  Although he never looked uncomfortable with the pace of play, a 4 goal drumming from the Puerto Rico Islanders to open the season was a great way to be introduced to second division soccer.  Needless to say, if the Scorpions want to remain competitive locking in a dependable back line is imperative.

Still, on a business level, it shows the sporting environment for top level soccer in San Antonio is worthy enough for a player of his caliber to agree another deal.

I think maybe the San Antonio experience all-round might be enticing enough to secure the signature of future talent.  The opportunities in San Antonio are enough to attract talent from around the world.

Such is the case with the two new additions in Lyle Martin and Edin Husic.

Both players are coming from foreign leagues but while Martin is American, the opportunity to play in second division soccer in San Antonio was enough to lure the ex-MLS player.  Hopefully Edin Husic will find our southern comfort enough for his liking and will hopefully provide some strength at the defensive midfield position.

Here’s the press release:

Scorpions Re-Sign Ryan Cochrane, Sign Two More

Scorpions solidify backline and midfield for 2013 season
SAN ANTONIO, TX (Dec. 19, 2012) - The San Antonio Scorpions have re-signed defender Ryan Cochrane and added two new players, defender Lyle Martin and midfielder Edin Husic, to their roster for the 2013 season.Cochrane, 29, will return for his second season with the Scorpions after starting in all 25 games he appeared in last season, scoring one goal and tallying three assists as a key member of a backline that allowed the fewest goals in the NASL in 2012.“Having Ryan back, who was one of the NASL’s Best XI players last season, will solidify the defensive line for next season,” Head Coach Tim Hankinson said of Cochrane. “We are very glad to have him back.”

Martin will join Cochrane on the backline after a stint with the Bejing Baxy of China Division One. The American defender was drafted by Chivas USA of Major League Soccer in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft and played with the Vancouver Whitecaps of the USL First Division from 2007 to 2009.

With the Whitecaps, Martin, 27, was awarded the team’s Newcomer of the Year Award in 2007 and helped the Whitecaps win their second league championship in 2008.

“Lyle has versatility at the right back and right midfield position,” Hankinson said. “He has tremendous athleticism and we will be looking at him to hold down the right side of the backfield.”

Husic, 27, comes to the United States from Bosnia, where he played with FK Sarajevo. The 6-foot-1 midfielder has also made three appearances for the Bosnian national team in his career.  

“Edin brings top level eastern European professional experience and though he is by position a defensive midfielder, he has great quality coming forward in the attack,” Hankinson said.

I’ve included the press release of the announcement which informed us of Ryan Cochrane’s retirement below.  The news came abruptly after the announcement of his signing which seemed to signal the solidifying of the Scorpions defense, but as Football goes, it’s never a done deal.

Ryan Cochrane Announces Retirement

Scorpions star accepts coaching job at Alma Mater

 SAN ANTONIO, TX (Dec. 28, 2012) - San Antonio Scorpions star Ryan Cochrane has announced his retirement from professional soccer.  After nine years of playing professionally for six different clubs, Cochrane, 29, has accepted an offer to coach at his alma mater, Santa Clara University, for whom he played for in 2001-2003.

 Cochrane’s professional debut as a defender was with the MLS San Jose Earthquakes in 2004. From there he went on to play for the Houston Dynamo, the New England Revolution and most recently with the San Antonio Scorpions.  During his career he played in 173 matches scoring 6 goals. Cochrane also played in 2 MLS Cups, won 2 MLS Western Conference Championships, was awarded 1 MLS Supporters Shield and was named one of NASL Best XI Players in 2012.

 ”Working with Ryan was a great experience; he was an important factor in our success for last season and always was a pleasure to coach,” said Scorpions Head Coach Tim Hankinson. “We wish him the best of luck in his transition with the next stage of his life.”

 Coaching following his playing career has always been a goal for Cochrane.  During his season with the Scorpions, Cochrane was asked what he would be doing if he was not a professional athlete and he replied, “I would be coaching soccer and playing a lot of golf.”

 ”I’m truly honored to have spent my final season with the San Antonio Scorpions,” said Cochrane.   “From top to bottom the organization is first class and I wanted to thank everyone involved for welcoming me into their family.”

 Although Cochrane may be moving on to a new career, he will take his experience with the Scorpions along with him.  

 ”What the club stands for goes far beyond competition and athletics and it’s a fantastic example for athletes, fans and all those in the community,” said Cochrane. “It is a club to be proud of and I was certainly proud to wear the colors. I will always be grateful for my time spent in San Antonio and I will be a lifelong fan of the Scorpions and the cause the organization represents.”

 With the signing process well under way, Coach Hankinson will continue to build the Scorpions roster.  

 ”We will work hard to fill the hole that Ryan’s departure leaves.  We have plenty of time to find a talented replacement and there has already been significant interest from premier players around the world who want to come to San Antonio, play in a magnificent new stadium and win a NASL championship.”

Scorpions Re-Sign Blake Wagner, Pat Hannigan

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Two players re-sign for the Bexar County club after an impressive season for the organization, wing back Blake Wagner and keeper Pat Hannigan.

The Scorpions pushed the limits for what is to be expected of an expansion club and secured a spot in the second round of the playoffs only to loose to last years cup holders, Minnesota Stars FC.

Minnesota went on to loose in the final to eventual cup winners Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Although their season ended in bitter disappointment, the Scorpions did earn the title of regular season champions and that was because of a deep squad who always performed at a consistent level.

While Darryl Sattler enjoyed an award winning season, earning the 2012 NASL Golden Glove Award, back-up and one-time starter, Pat Hannigan dutifully acted as support throughout the season.

Hannigan had won the job from Sattler and right from the start you could see it was deserved as the former professional indoor soccer player proved his worth in the early stages.  But his starting position was threatened when he went down to a rather serious injury and Sattler was asked to step in as the full-time starter.

Sattler went on to prove himself worthy of the Golden Glove, but it was clear that either player would have been successful behind the accomplished Scorpions back line.  They allowed the fewest goals in the 2012 NASL season.

Blake Wagner, on the other hand, was a big reason for the Scorpions’ strong defensive play.  Blake continually threatened opposing defenses breaking down the left side and often initiating offense where the normal attacking options seemed to falter.  Although he isn’t the speediest of players his skill compensates for his lack of pace against faster midfielders who are often forced to defend his marauding runs down the line.

Blake was one of the more consistent defenders in the league and provided a steady touch at both ends of the pitch.

Although Wagner and Hannigan are not new signings, based on their solid and consistent play at this level, it appears to be a good bit of business for the Scorps.

Here’s the press release below:

Scorpions Re-Sign Blake Wagner, Pat Hannigan

Scorpions retain goalkeeper and key defender for 2013 season
SAN ANTONIO, TX (Dec. 7, 2012) - The San Antonio Scorpions continued to make progress this week in building their roster for the upcoming season, re-signing defender Blake Wagner and goalkeeper Pat Hannigan for the 2013 season.

Wagner, who was a member of the Scorpions backline that allowed the fewest goals during the 2012 NASL season, will return for a second season in San Antonio after starting in all 23 matches he appeared in and logging 2025 minutes on the year. Wagner also tallied a goal and assist.

Hannigan started the first three matches of the 2012 season for the Scorpions before suffering a leg injury that sidelined him for several months. He finished the season with a 2.05 goals against average and nine saves in three matches played.”Having Blake back is great for our team moving forward. Not many wing defenders have the ability under pressure to retain possession and also press the attack forward like he can,” Head Coach Tim Hankinson said. “Pat began last season as our starter and was unfortunate to fall to injury, but he has made a great comeback and I’m sure he will be our hungriest player, looking to make a mark this upcoming season.

Before signing with the Scorpions last March, Wagner was a member of FC Dallas from 2006 to 2009 before signing with the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2010 and stayed with the team when they transitioned to Major League Soccer in 2011. The American defender finished the 2011 MLS season with Real Salt Lake.

Prior to joining the Scorpions, Hannigan was playing professional indoor soccer with the Rochester Lancers in 2011 and played with Miami FC, currently the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, in 2007 and 2009.

Scorpions vs Rowdies Slideshow – 08/19/2012

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Photos by Eric Patrick

Scorpions sign Ruben Luna on loan from FC Dallas

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Courtesy SA Scorpions FC & FC Dallas

Courtesy FC Dallas @ http://www.fcdallas.com

The SA Scorpions FC announce the addition of forward Ruben Luna on loan from FC Dallas of Major League Soccer.  The player will be on loan for the remainder of the NASL season.

FC Dallas can recall Luna at any time during the last six games of the season.  The player will most likely be included in any playoff games once the regular season commences.

Luna was born in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico and grew up in Garland, Texas.  In 2009, Luna was named the US Development Academy Player of the Year for the U-16 age group and lead the league in scoring with 38 goals in 27 games.

He would flourish as a member of the U-18 FC Dallas Academy in 2010 with a team-high 26 goals in 29 appearances. As a result, he was named to the U.S. U-18 Development Academy Starting XI.

Luna, 20, signed with FC Dallas as a homegrown player in July 2010 and made his first MLS appearance on Sept. 4th, 2010 against Toronto.  In 2011, Luna appeared in 15 MLS matches and led FC Dallas with two goals scored in CONCACAF Champions League play.

“Ruben brings experience from MLS and gives us a player that adds depth to a vital position,” Scorpions Head Coach Tim Hankinson said. “Having him should allow us to deal with different challenges and situations and help us get in a good position for the playoffs.”

“Just as we did with Moises Hernandez, we thought this was a good opportunity for a young player to get the games he needs to continue his development,” said FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman. “It’s nice having a team like San Antonio so geographically close. It gives Ruben the chance to really speed up the growth process, without us having to send him too far away.”

The Scorpions, who currently sit in first place in the NASL with 42 points and lead the league in goals scored, are hoping to become the first expansion team in the NASL to finish the regular season in first place. San Antonio clinched a playoff spot for the 2012 NASL playoffs with a win over the Tampa Rowdies on Aug. 19.

San Antonio Scorpions Blank Tampa Bay Rowdies 4-0

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First published on IMSoccer News

San Antonio Scorpions FC took on the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Heroes Stadium still holding on to the top spot in the NASL with 39 points before Sunday’s match against the Rowdies.  The Scorpions came in to the contest four points ahead of the Rowdies who were tied on points with Puerto Rico. In their last meeting, the Rowdies came back to defeat the Scorpions 3-2 in June with two goals in the final minutes of the match.

Tampa Bay were without their game winner from their last meeting, Tsuyoshi Yoshitake, who made the move to Hong Kong club Yokohama FC.  San Antonio Scorpions on the other hand were without Blake Wagner due to a one game suspension for card accumulation but Jonathan Greenfield would step in to replace him.

Coach Ricky Hill elected to come out with a 4-3-3 formation and pressed San Antonio early and enjoyed a great portion of the possession.  The play was scrappy but Tampa Bay kept the ball in San Antonio’s half for the most part and did a good job managing the counterattack but the calmness would only last so long.

In the 7th minute, Walter Ramirez broke free on the left flank and Josue Soto slotted the ball through the defense to Ramirez.  Ramirez gathered the ball just outside of the box and rifled a shot past Rowdies keeper Jeff Attinella for the game’s first of the night.

As the Rowdies attempted to recover from going down a goal early it proved to be more difficult to get anywhere near Daryl Sattler’s goal.

Soon after the first strike, Kevin Harmse collected the ball in transition and played a through ball for Pablo Campos in the 16th minute. Campos gained his composure and skillfully navigated his way around Attinella to finish off a fine run for the second goal, and his 17th of the season.

In the 19th minute Tampa Bay broke on a counter attack and forward Mike Ambersley worked his way free on the right flank to get a shot off but the attempt was never troubling for Sattler.  The Rowdies managed only three shots in the first half and Sattler only had to make one save and has yet to concede a goal at Heroes Stadium in NASL competition.

“We have a solid foundation back there and it’s really nice because we are starting to defend a little more from the top and through the midfield.  That’s what we need to do and there’s a reason we give up the fewest amount of goals in the league and that’s what we need to continue doing,” said Sattler.

In the 28th minute Pablo Campos slalomed his way through the Tampa Bay defense and as he made his way into the box, his touch was heavy and looked as if it was heading out of bounds. But the tall Brazilian’s presence was enough to force Attinella from his line to challenge.  The resulting play ended up in a foul against Pablo Campos and a penalty was awarded to the Scorpions.

Luckily for Tampa Bay, Attinella was not the last defender, which saved him from being ejected, but his luck didn’t prevent Campos from finishing in the upper left corner to bring the score to three goals and securing his 18th of the season.

The attack would continue for the Scorpions a few minutes later when Hans Denissen was released on the right flank from a Josue Soto pass and crossed the ball into an open Kevin Harmse.  Harmse was fouled in the process of redirecting the ball toward the goal and the Scorpions were awarded their second penalty.  Campos stepped up to take the penalty but would prove to be unsuccessful as the shot was saved by Attinella for a small amount of redemption.

The first half ended with another Campos breakaway but the tricky forward was stopped before causing anymore damage. Just afterwards Campos was fouled again but just outside of the box for a free kick which was sent over the bar by Denissen.

The second half started with some changes to the Scorpions lineup with Pablo Campos subbed for new man Jeff Cunningham. Cunningham was making his second appearance since recently signing with the Scorpions, and assumed the loan target man role played so well in the first half by Campos.

The Scorpions pressed early in the second half but the game quickly turned into a testy situation with a rough foul to Wes Knight early in the half followed by a couple of cautions to Tampa Bay which ultimately led to a stand-off between the two teams. Tampa Bay forward Mike Ambersley and Scorpions keeper Daryl Sattler received cautions for their part respectively.

After the hour mark the game was growing more difficult for Tampa Bay but they were defending as much as they were attacking with five shots in the second half.  Certainly they were working harder on the offensive end after making a few changes.  Fafa Picault and Evans Frimpong came on for Tampa and injected some dangerous attacking presence causing the Scorpions defense to reorganize a few times. Tampa Bay’s back line were also putting in a solid defensive performance in the second half and was in large part responsible for keeping the scoreline from growing.

However, with the introduction of Esteban Bayona in the latter stages of the second half San Antonio’s attack came alive once again. Bayona and Cunningham seemed to work well with each other and the rookie, Bayona, tirelessly ran down every ball which relieved some of the pressure off of Cunningham who began taking his chances when they came.

But it would prove to be Bayona’s night when in stoppage time the Colombian gathered a pass from Denissen and sprinted toward goal, firing a shot past Attinella to score his sixth of the season. Bayona’s strike places him as the club’s second leading goal scorer.

The SA Scorpions FC end the night with 42 points and remain top of the league with a 12-6-4 record. More importantly, it clinches a playoff spot for the first year club.

The Scorpions will now play three straight matches on the road, beginning with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.  The road stretch should prove to be great preparation to finish out the season for the Bexar County club.

San Antonio Scorpions Fall to Battle-Tested Puerto Rico Islanders

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First published on IMSoccer News

Courtesy San Antonio Scorpions

The Puerto Rico Islanders defeated the San Antonio Scorpions 2-1 with a brace from Nicholas Addlery. The spirited match was played at Heroes Stadium on Sunday evening in front of 10,183 fans.

This match was highly touted in San Antonio as a rivalry in the making with both teams at the top of the table and each claiming wins on each other’s home field. The Islanders embarrassed the Scorpions 4-0 in San Antonio’s home debut. The Scorpions returned the favor with a 2-0 win over the Islanders in mid June at Bayamon Soccer Complex. Puerto Rico won the third match 1-0 at home on July 11th, in a heated affair that caused post-match suspensions that impacted Sunday’s match.

Starting Scorpions goalkeeper Daryl Sattler, and Islanders midfielder Osei Telesford, were both suspended by the league due to an incident which occurred in the mid-July game. The importance of the match to Scorpions coach Tim Hankinson was obvious as he arranged for Houston Dynamo back up goalkeeper, Tyler Deric, to be loaned to his club for just this one match. Back up ‘keeper Pat Hannigan had only recently returned to the squad after a long absence due to injury.

The Scorpions started the match with some patient possession, pinning the Islanders back and stifling any attack through the center of the park.  Puerto Rico didn’t seem threatening to start the game but did manage to penetrate with an early chance on goal.

In the thirteenth minute Josue Soto drifted inward from the right side and let loose a solid shot at Islander ‘keeper Richard Martin forcing an early save. This seemed to awaken the home team and a few attacks led to some serious pressure on Puerto Rico’s defense.

Pablo Campos was taken down around the 28th minute and Walter Ramirez stepped up and blasted a free kick wide and to the left.

Almost immediately the Islanders answered with a through ball right above the eighteen yard box, unleashing top scorer Nick Addlery who finished with confidence to the bottom left of Deric. The goal was scored in the 31st minute.

Just before halftime, the Islanders’ Hector Ramos, who had a great performance on the night, gathered the ball and ran at the Scorpions’ defense and was fouled, setting up a free kick. Noah Delgado sent a shot to the top left corner that Deric saved nicely. Puerto Rico finished the half on the attack with a few solid offensive opportunities and winning the midfield battles.

Puerto Rico started the second half as they ended the first half with some dangerous offensive opportunities in front of San Antonio’s goal.  Things developed nicely for the Islanders when in the 50th minute Addlery was set free due to some sloppy defensive play from the Scorpions and Deric was forced to come out early but was beaten to the ball by Addlery, who slotted it past the ‘keeper making the score 2-0.

Almost immediately afterward a long ball from deep in San Antonio’s half went over the top to a racing Esteban Bayona who collected himself under pressure and got the shot past Martin but the ball rolled into the bar denying the Colombian and the Scorpions an opening goal.

Bayona put in a solid performance but made way for new signing Jeff Cunningham to make his San Antonio debut. Hans Denissen also received his first playing time after coming back from injury and both players began contributing immediately.

On the 70th minute Campos broke free from a back pass and capitalized on a sloppy play from the Islanders’ defense. He headed the ball over advancing Islanders goalkeeper Richard Martin and followed the ball into the net for the goal. Although San Antonio was never truly out of the game they were certainly not playing their finest match at Heroes Stadium.

After the goal, the Scorpions pressed the Puerto Rico Islanders’ defense with some strong attacks from both flanks but Denissen was clearly the linchpin on the left flank. Cunningham also contributed but looked distracted by coming into the midfield looking to get involved in the attack on several occasions and never gathered any momentum going forward in order to make a significant impact.

The Puerto Rico Islanders ended the game on top and leave San Antonio victorious in the season series. The two clubs share a commonality on the field in style of play and grittiness but their competitiveness is making the clubs hate playing each other and has turned the competition into something beyond a regular match, regardless of the context.

“The first half, we were outplayed in the midfield. We were trying too hard to defend their quickness and speed. In the second half we did better and started to create chances but overall they had the upper hand on us tonight. It’s unfortunate we didn’t come with our best tonight because you need your best in order to beat that team,” said Hankinson.

“They have two chances, they score two goals. They were definitely ready to play, credit to them they did really well,” said Scorpions captain Kevin Harmse.

More on the suspensions to Sattler and Telesford.

The NASL was contacted during the match to get more information on the suspensions to Sattler and Telesford. According to the league, Sattler and Telesford were not disciplined by officials but were caught in the video of the July 11th match getting into a confrontation that saw “a  melee involving all 22 players.” NASL Commissioner David Downs told IMS that it was their decision to suspend the two players for one game and to apply that suspension to the last meeting between the two teams in hopes of  ”reducing tensions between the two teams.”

Speaking about the decision to suspend Sattler, Coach Hankinson said after the match, “The league decided they needed to sit it out against each other. I look at the confrontation against Puerto Rico, the two players kind of went head-to-head over a foul to another player and there was no yellow card or verbal warning.  To me it was not the right decision to suspend, but it was a league decision and they will do what they feel is best for the league.”

Link

NASL Podcast Episode #40; Scorpions 8-0 Blowout, Week 17 Recap

Podcast courtesy of IMSoccer News

Description: NASL Podcast #40, with Jay Long, Brian Quarstad and Gerry Wittmann as we talk about the past weeks games in the NASL. We focus in on the 8-0 drubbing of the Carolina RailHawks by the San Antonio Scorpions by speaking to IMS correspondent, Andrew Arellano who reports from San Antonio. We also recap week #18 of the NASL season and look at the Puerto Rico Islanders as they head into CONCACAF Champions League play.