2019 Las Vegas Lights FC season

The 2019 Las Vegas Lights FC season was the club's second season, and their second season in the United Soccer League Championship, the second division of American soccer.

Las Vegas Lights FC
2019 season
General managerBrett Lashbrook
Head coachEric Wynalda
StadiumCashman Field
USLConference: 13th
Overall: 25th
USL Cup PlayoffsDid not qualify
U.S. Open CupSecond Round
Silver State CupRunner-Up
Top goalscorerLeague: Irvin Parra (10)
All: Irvin Parra (10)
Highest home attendanceLeague/All: 10,117
(October 12 vs. Reno
Lowest home attendanceLeague: 6,123
(May 11 vs. Col. Springs)
All: 2,536
(May 14 vs. Cal FC)
Average home league attendance7,711
Biggest win5–0
(April 13 vs. Tacoma)
Biggest defeat0–4
(May 18 vs. Phoenix)
← 2018
2020 →

Background

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Lights FC finished its inaugural season third-bottom of the Western Conference table, with the fifth worst record in the United Soccer League. Lights FC were able to score 50 goals during the 2018 season, however the defensive record was poor – conceding 74 goals during the game, third most in the league. Lights FC were led by Raúl Mendiola and Sammy Ochoa, whom each scored 10 goals for Lights FC over all competitions. Despite a poor winning record, Lights FC proved to be highly successful off of the field, recording the fifth highest average attendance in the league and the second highest in the Western Conference.

Following the completion of the Light's 2018 campaign, CEO/Owner/General Manager informed manager Isidro Sánchez Macip that he would not be retained for the 2019 season, following his father, Chelís who had resigned less than a month prior.[1] Three days after announcing Sánchez' sacking, Lights FC introduced former United States national team player Eric Wynalda as Head Coach and Technical Director. Prior to accepting Lights FC's offer, Wynalda had been an analyst and color commentator for Fox Sports 1 and had previous coaching stints with L.A. Wolves FC, Atlanta Silverbacks, and Cal FC whom he led to a U.S. Open Cup upset of Major League Soccer side Portland Timbers in 2012.[2]

With the Las Vegas's minor league baseball franchise moving to a new ballpark in Summerlin, Light FC became the primary tenant at Cashman Field.

Summary

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Preseason

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On December 12, 2018, Lights FC announced two preseason friendlies against MLS sides at Cashman Field in preparations for the 2019 season. The matches were to be on February 2 against Toronto FC and February 12 against Colorado Rapids.[3] A final preseason friendly was added to the schedule for March 2 against USL side Orange County SC for March 2.[4]

Lights FC would begin their preseason with a dominating 5–1 victory over Toronto FC, being led by a brace from former Toronto FC draft pick Edwin Rivas and additional goals from Alex Harlley, Irvin Parra, and Bryan Arguez.[5] In the second preseason friendly, Lights FC and Colorado traded goals through the first and second half, leading to a 2–2 draw between the two clubs. Lights FC would get goals from Cristhian Hernández and Christian Torres, while the Rapids would receive goals from Dillon Serna and Nicolás Mezquida.[6] In Lights FC's final preseason friendly, Irvin Parra netted a brace for the club in a 2–1 victory over Orange County.

Club

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As of February 23, 2019[7]
No. Position Player Nation
1 GK Thomas Olsen   United States
3 DF Kevin Garcia-Lopez   United States
4 DF Gabe Robinson   United States
5 DF Javan Torre   United States
6 DF Mobi Fehr   United States
7 MF Pablo Cruz   United States
8 FW Edwin Rivas   United States
9 FW Sammy Ochoa   United States
11 MF Irvin Parra   United States
13 MF Jesus Gonzalez   United States
15 DF Bryan de la Fuente   United States
16 MF Lucas Scaglia   Argentina
18 MF Víctor Rojas   Venezuela
19 FW Tabort Etaka Preston (on loan from MFK Vyškov)   Cameroon
22 GK Angel Alvarez   United States
23 DF Christian Torres   Mexico
24 FW Jose Villarreal   United States
25 DF Panzani Sousa   DR Congo
29 FW Santiago Echavarría   Colombia
32 DF Jonathan Levin   Mexico
88 FW Junior Sandoval   Honduras
MF Vinnie Vermeer (on loan from Nashville SC)   Netherlands

Competitions

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Exhibitions

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All times in Pacific Time

February 2 Preseason Las Vegas Lights FC 5–1 Toronto FC Las Vegas, Nevada
Hernández   29'
Harlley   38'
Parra   42'
Rivas   67', 90+1'
Arguez   86'
Report Telfer   64' Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 5,232
February 16 Preseason Las Vegas Lights FC 0–3 Colorado Rapids Las Vegas, Nevada
Report Gashi   23', 25'
Hundley   24'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: Closed
February 16 Preseason Las Vegas Lights FC 2–2 Colorado Rapids Las Vegas, Nevada
Hernández   44'
Torres   63'
Report Serna   45+1'
Mezquida   60'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 5,619

USL Championship

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Standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
11 San Antonio FC 34 12 9 13 62 57 +5 45
12 Rio Grande Valley Toros 34 11 8 15 50 58 −8 41
13 Las Vegas Lights FC 34 11 8 15 46 56 −10 41
14 Portland Timbers 2 34 10 8 16 65 71 −6 38
15 OKC Energy FC 34 9 11 14 45 58 −13 38
Source: USL Championship Standings
Rules for classification: 1) total wins; 2) total goal differential; 3) total goals scored; 4) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 5) disciplinary points; 6) coin toss or drawing of lots
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
StadiumHAAHAHAAHHAHAHHAHHAHAAAHAAHHHAAHHA
ResultDLLWLWLDWW
Updated to match(es) played on April 20, 2019. Source: Match reports
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Match results

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On December 19, 2018, the USL announced their 2019 season schedule.[8]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed   Upcoming fixture

All times in Pacific Time

March 9 1 Las Vegas Lights FC 0–0 Austin Bold FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Parra   45+1'
Thomas   87'
Report Guadarrama   25'
Lima   90+2'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 8,017
Referee: Timothy Ford
March 16 2 OKC Energy 2–1 Las Vegas Lights FC Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
5:30 PM Brown   13'
Harris   49'
Ross   69'
Gordon   78'
Report Scaglia   26'
Torre   58'
Stadium: Taft Stadium
Attendance: 5,544
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
March 23 3 Portland Timbers 2 3–1 Las Vegas Lights FC Portland, Oregon
7:00 PM Langsdorf   10'
Asprilla   44' (pen.),   74'
Report Hernández   22'
Torres   45+1'
Rivas   59'
Robinson   70'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 2,124
Referee: Farhad Dadkho
March 30 4 Las Vegas Lights FC 1–0 Real Monarchs Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Parra   45+3'
Scaglia   45+3'
Harlley   49'
Torre   90+1'
Report Blake   37'
Martínez   56'
Powder   58'
Moberg   74'
Etoundi   90+1'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 9,102
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
April 6 5 San Antonio FC 2–1 Las Vegas Lights FC San Antonio, Texas
7:30 p.m. CDT Jamieson   16'
Barmby   45'
Guzmán   70',   83'
Cardone   89'
Report Torres   44'
Torre   45+1'
Rivas   75'
Parra   90+7' (pen.)
Stadium: Toyota Field
Attendance: 6,067
Referee: Alan Kelly
April 13 6 Las Vegas Lights FC 5–0 Tacoma Defiance Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 pm (PDT) Tabortetaka   11',   50'
Parra   23' (pen.),   32',   60',   61'
Report Daley   28'   63'
Campbell   56'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 7,805
Referee: Elijio Arreguin
April 20 7 Rio Grande Valley FC Toros 5–2 Las Vegas Lights FC Edinburg, Texas
5:30 PM Cabrera   15' (pen.)
Martinez   19'
Robinson   46' (o.g.)
Foster   74',   79'
Small   85'
Adams   90'
Report Sandoval   35'
Etaka   63'
Torres   65'
Cruz   86'
Ochoa   90+1'
Stadium: H-E-B Park
Attendance: 3,483
Referee: Matt Franz
April 29 8 LA Galaxy II 0–0 Las Vegas Lights FC Carson, California
19:30 Cuello   26'
Romney   39'
Tchilao   48'   79'
Report Scaglia   45+2'
Robinson   52'
Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Attendance: 771
Referee: Victor Rivas
May 4 9 Las Vegas Lights FC 4–2 Sacramento Republic FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Parra   67'
Robinson   71'
Echavarria   75'
Sandoval   90'
Report Partain   51'
Blackwood   90+4'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 7,487
Referee: Malik Badawi
May 11 10 Las Vegas Lights FC 3–0 Colorado Springs Switchbacks Las Vegas, Nevada
8:30 PM Parra   34',   76' (pen.)
Fehr   41'
Ochoa   45+1'
Sandoval   65'
Hernandez   90+1'
Report Hitzeman   87' Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 7,023
Referee: Alejandro Aguilera
May 18 11 Phoenix Rising FC 4–0 Las Vegas Lights FC Scottsdale, Arizona
7:30pm Lambert   40'
Asante   51'
Bjornethun   73'
Jahn   77'
Flemmings   90+2'
Report
Report
Fehr   31'   82'
Hernández   79'
Ochoa   80'
Stadium: Casino Arizona Field
Attendance: 6,474
Referee: Mark Allatin
June 1 13 Reno 1868 FC 4–0 Las Vegas Lights FC Reno, Nevada
7:30 PM Partida   23'
Hertzog   41'
Brown   48'
Mendiola   64',   79'
Lacroix   86'
Report Cruz   58'
Tabortetaka   76'
Hernández   90'
Stadium: Greater Nevada Field
Attendance: 4,801
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
June 8 14 Las Vegas Lights FC 1–1 Orange County SC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Parra   39'
Torre   43'
Villareal   76'
Report Amico   45+1'
Seaton   45+4'
Leonardo   70'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 6,801
Referee: Dejan Susak
June 15 15 Las Vegas Lights FC 5–1 New Mexico United Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Torre   32',   33'
Hernández   40'
Garcia-Lopez   45'
Tabortetaka   47'
Robinson   69'
Estrada   90'
Sandoval   90+4'
Report Tetteh   39'
Estrada   88'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 7,882
Referee: Farhad Dadkho
June 22 16 El Paso Locomotive FC 0–1 Las Vegas Lights FC El Paso, Texas
7:30 PM Kiesewetter   66'
Beckie   90+3'
Report Torres   27'
Tabortetaka   42'
Robinson   70'
Sandoval   71'
J. Gonzalez   81'
Olsen   86'
Fehr   90+5'
Stadium: Southwest University Park
Referee: Michael Radchuk
June 29 17 Las Vegas Lights FC 0–1 OKC Energy FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Garcia-Lopez   14'
Robinson   35'
Report J. Brown   66'
Jones   69'
Bosetti   83'
D.Brown   89'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 9,418
Referee: Victor Rivas
July 4 18 Las Vegas Lights FC 2–2 LA Galaxy II Las Vegas, Nevada
19:30 Gonzalez   18'
Fehr   58'
Parra   85' (pen.),   87'
Report Harvey   30'
López   47'
Tchilao   83'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 8,404
Referee: Elton García
July 24 19 Tacoma Defiance 4–1 Las Vegas Lights FC Tacoma, Washington
7:00 pm (PDT) Dhillon   31'
Ocampo-Chavez   47',   66'
Burke-Gilroy   73'
Hopeau   85'
Report Sandoval   4'
Torre   36',   75'
Parra   45'+2'
Olsen   69'
Gonzalez   70'
Ochoa   86'
Preston   90'+4'
Stadium: Cheney Stadium
Attendance: 2,208
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
July 27 20 Las Vegas Lights FC 2–1 Rio Grande Valley FC Toros Las Vegas, Nevada
9:30 PM Robinson   10'
Parra   31'
Tabortetaka   41'
Rojas   88'
Report Small   26'
Bird   38'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 8,818
Referee: Elijio Arreguin
August 3 21 Fresno FC 2–1 Las Vegas Lights Fresno, California
8:30 PM Chavez   41',   56' Report Levin   45+3'
Cruz   80'
Stadium: Chukchansi Park
Attendance: 3,413
Referee: Turan Ozdemir
August 7 22 Sacramento Republic FC 0–0 Las Vegas Lights FC Sacramento, California
8:00 PM Alemán   32'
Mahoney   46'
Barahona   87'
Report Torres   26'
Parra   31'
Tabortetaka   70'
Stadium: Papa Murphy's Park
Attendance: 10,431
Referee: Mark Allatin
August 17 23 Orange County SC 3–0 Las Vegas Lights FC Irvine, California
7:00 PM Amico   12'
Duke   46'
Forrester   56'
van Ewijk   68'
Quinn   76'
Seaton   86'
Report Sandoval   49'   89' Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 3,287
Referee: Elvis Osmanovic
August 24 24 Las Vegas Lights FC 1–0 Portland Timbers 2 Las Vegas, Nevada
9:30 PM Villareal   45' Report Williamson   52'
Smith   83'
Langsdorf   90+5'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 7,686
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
August 28 25 Tulsa Roughnecks 1–1 Las Vegas Lights FC Tulsa, Oklahoma
6:00 PM Mompremier   33'
Uzo   70'
Report Gonzalez   34'
Martínez   39'
Torre   62'
Sousa   67'
Stadium: ONEOK Field
Attendance: 1,503
Referee: Thomas Snyder
September 4 26 Real Monarchs 2–2 Las Vegas Lights FC Herriman, Utah
8:00 PM Blake   44' (pen.),   90+6'
Holt   52'
Martínez   90+6'
Report Torres   9'
Sousa   15'
Robinson   31'
Tabortetaka   81'
Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium
Attendance: 1,471
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
September 7 27 Las Vegas Lights FC 0–3 El Paso Locomotive FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Torres   20'
Sandoval   29'   85'
Torre   39'
Report Kiffe   46'
Velásquez   52' (pen.),   68'
Gómez   81',   90'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 6,308
Referee: Farhad Dadkho
September 11 28 Las Vegas Lights 0–1 Phoenix Rising FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30pm Tabortetaka   65'
Villarreal   88'
Report Calistri   49'
Jahn   62'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 5,101
Referee: David Barrie
September 14 29 Las Vegas Lights FC 3–1 Fresno FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Martínez   21'
Sousa   54'
Tabortetaka   58'
Parra   71' (pen.)
Report Daly   9'
Cooper   17',   78'
del Campo   52'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 7,228
Referee: Malik Badawi
September 22 30 Austin Bold FC 4–1 Las Vegas Lights FC Austin, Texas
4:00 PM Kléber   21',   31',   90+1'
Lima   51'
Báez   61'
Report Sousa   23',   28'
Sandoval   45+1'
Stadium: Austin Bold Stadium
Attendance: 3,004
Referee: Luis Guardia
September 28 31 Colorado Springs Switchbacks 1–3 Las Vegas Lights FC Colorado Springs, Colorado
7:00 PM Malcolm   25'
Rwatubyaye   90+2'
Report de la Fuente   42'
Parra   55',   75',   84'
Tabortetaka   81'
Stadium: Weidner Field
Attendance: 4,279
Referee: Mark Allatin
October 5 32 Las Vegas Lights FC 4–2 San Antonio FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Parra   8',   19',   45+5'
Etaka   22'
Fehr   34'
Garcia-Lopez   78'
Martínez   90+8'
Report Gómez   10'
López   70' (pen.),   90+6'
Ackon   90'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 7,765
Referee: Greg Dopka
October 12 33 Las Vegas Lights FC 0–2 Reno 1868 FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM Villareal   90' Report Torre   35' (o.g.)
Haji   76'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 10,117
Referee: Michael Radchuk
October 19 34 New Mexico United 2–0 Las Vegas Lights FC Albuquerque, New Mexico
7:00 PM Wehan   37'
Tetteh   75'
Hamilton   77'
Sandoval   87'
Report Torre   58'
Torres   81'
Stadium: Isotopes Park
Attendance: 13,788
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza

U.S. Open Cup

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As a member of the USL Championship, Las Vegas Lights entered the tournament in the Second Round.[9]

May 14 Second Round Las Vegas Lights FC   2–0   Cal FC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 pm Ochoa   13',   60'
Torres   41'
Rojas   50'
Sandoval   62'
Cruz   68'
Levin   90+2'
Report Barrera   82'
Vásquez   87'   90+2'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 2,536
Referee: Alejandro Aguilera
May 29 Third Round Las Vegas Lights FC   3–5   Orange County FC (NPSL) Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 pm PDT Echavarría   23' (pen.)
Sandoval   32',   85'
Rivas   47'
Torres   74'
Report Shelton   6',   74'
Fehr   16' (o.g.)
Holland   23'
Collins   35'
Lombardi   84'
Frischknecht   89'
Flores   90+1'
Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 2,378
Referee: Samantha Martinez

Statistics

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Appearances

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Source:[10]
Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.
Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad, but only as unused substitutes.
Discipline includes league, playoffs, and Open Cup play.
Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
No. Pos. Name League Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals    
1 GK   Thomas Olsen 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
2 DF   Miguel Palafox 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 DF   Kevin Garcia-Lopez 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
4 DF   Gabe Robinson 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
5 DF   Javan Torre 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
7 MF   Pablo Cruz 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
8 FW   Edwin Rivas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 FW   Sammy Ochoa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 MF   Cristhian Hernández 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
11 MF   Irvin Parra 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
14 MF   Alex Harlley 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
15 DF   Bryan de la Fuente 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 MF   Lucas Scaglia 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
17 MF   Bryan Arguez 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19 FW   Tabort Etaka Preston 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0
20 FW   Bin Adolf Enow 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
21 MF   Matt Thomas 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 1 0
22 GK   Angel Alvarez 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 DF   Christian Torres 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
25 MF   Panzani Sousa 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0
28 MF   Eric Gonzalez 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

Last updated: March 10, 2019.
Source: Las Vegas Lights FC


Clean sheets

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The list is sorted by shirt number when total appearances are equal.

Rnk No. Player United Soccer League USL Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Total
1 1   Thomas Olsen 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 1 0 0 1

Last updated: March 10, 2019.
Source: Las Vegas Lights FC

References

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  1. ^ Hill, Adam (October 14, 2018). "Las Vegas Lights FC fire coach Isidro Sanchez". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  2. ^ Kantowski, Ron (October 17, 2018). "Former US soccer great Eric Wynalda named Lights FC Head Coach". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  3. ^ Lights FC Communications (December 12, 2018). "Lights FC Soccer Spring Training Returns To Las Vegas". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  4. ^ Lights FC Communications (February 20, 2019). "Final Pre-Season Match Announced As Part Of Special Season Ticket Members Only Event". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  5. ^ Lights FC Communications (February 2, 2019). "Lights FC Start Wynalda Era With 5–1 Win". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  6. ^ Lights FC Communications (February 16, 2019). "Lights FC & Rapids Entertain Las Vegas". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  7. ^ "Lights FC 2019 Roster". Las Vegas Lights FC. February 23, 2019. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  8. ^ "2019 USL Championship Schedule Unveiled". Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  9. ^ "2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Format and Schedule Finalized". Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  10. ^ "Player Stats". Las Vegas Lights FC. Retrieved May 12, 2018.