Photo courtesy San Antonio FC
SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio FC opened its preseason slate with a 3-1 victory against USL League One side North Texas SC 3-1 on Saturday afternoon at Toyota Field. Goals from Marcus Epps, Ollie Wright and Leo Torres sent SAFC to victory as it continued its preparations for the upcoming 2021 USL Championship season.
“I thought it was a good exercise for the guys as we continue to work on our team identity,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “I’m proud of the guys. We have a lot of work ahead, but we are excited about what’s coming. We are also incredibly proud of our academy players. This was the first opportunity for a lot of them against a professional team and they did very well.”
The match – which consisted of three 30-minute periods -- got off to an even start with both sides fighting for a foothold in the opening half-hour. Epps opened the scoring when he capitalized off a deflection from a corner kick, smashing the ball into the roof of the net from close range.
SAFC doubled its lead in the second 30-minute period when Epps played a pass into the box that was flicked on by Justin Dhillon into the path of Wright who slid the ball past the keeper. After North Texas SC pulled one back, SAFC would round out the scoring in the third 30-minute period after a touch from Wright found Torres who fired the shot into the upper corner from 25 yards.
Along with a slew of first-team debuts, SAFC Pro Academy players Abraham Lincon, Rocky Perez, Fabrizio Bernal, Brad Dildy and Roman Holt also appeared in the match.
A couple of goals from today’s match! #Defend210 pic.twitter.com/W5mzvJXZ0S
— San Antonio FC (@SanAntonioFC) March 21, 2021