Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. You know where that is right? Hop on IH-35 and head north. For 37 Hours.

Or United Airlines will kindly fly you there for $574.40. While we’d all love to take one of these routes, (the latter, I’m assuming) we can’t all make it up there to bask in the Canadian air for 90 minutes of glorious football. No worries, I’ll get you there in a 3 minute read. Deal?

FC Edmonton was founded in 2010. Shortly after, 4 kindly gents, members of The Voyageurs (Canadian National Team Supporters) walked into a pub. Oh, you’ve heard that one? Well, what transpired was the ESG, Edmonton Supporter’s Group.
Continue reading…

Tags: ESG, FC Edmonton, NASL, Road Trip

For an expansion team, San Antonio has played above all expectations.

But then again, this isn’t your everyday expansion team is it?

After six games the Scorpions (3-2-1, 11 points) have steadily climbed the ladder of the NASL tables, sitting proudly in third-place after a stunning stoppage time win on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies Saturday night, 2-1.

Tampa Bay GK Jeff Attinella's stunned reaction after Campos' stoppage time goal.

After an unforgettable start, forward Pablo Campos has tallied three goals in his last four matches. Campos was named North American Soccer League’s Offensive Player of the Week for his two-goal outburst against the Rowdies.

San Antonio faced Tampa for the second week in a row in a home-and-home series, and for the second straight week walked off the pitch victorious. (San Antonio dominated Tampa 2-0 nine days ago at Heroes Stadium)

Although the level of consistency still needs work, make no mistake, this club will fight for the full 90 minutes and then some.

Offensively, the only hurdle is the self-inflicted on-field miscommunications that continue to hold the midfielders and strikers at bay. When crunch time surfaces however, Kevin Harmse, Walter Ramirez, Hans Denissen, and Campos seem to find a way to piece everything together when it counts the most.

The back line looked to be the weakest link in the chain after a 4-goal drubbing by Puerto Rico early on. But Scorpion’s defenders have allowed only three goals in their last four games, much to the credit of back-up goalkeeper Daryl Sattler who leads the league in goals against average (.33).

A huge part of the success for the team is the balance President Michael Hitchcock equipped Head Coach Tim Hankinson with. International caps, MLS Cup participants, NASL veterans, and a nice mix of local players round out the Scorpion’s roster.

San Antonio Scorpions have proven early on to the league they are a team to be reckoned with.

Tags: Daryl Sattler, Hans Dennisen, Kevin Harmse, Michael Hitchcock, NASL, Pablo Campos, San Antonio Scorpions FC, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Tim Hankinson, Walter Ramirez

@soccernomic

‘Revenge’ appears to be the rallying cry this week for Tamp Rowdies players and supporters.

Scanning this week’s Twitter feeds revealed that Tampa Bay is having a difficult time coming to grips with the 2-0 thrashing San Antonio gave them last Saturday at Heroes Stadium.

Losing sucks. Good thing we get to play san antonio again this weekend at home. Going to work hard this week w a chip on my shoulder…(@dizzydaniel9  F-Daniel Antoniuk)

Yes, agreed. Losing is no fun at all. But shouldn’t you work hard every week?

Tampa forward Matt Clare @mattclare6 tweeted before the game last week, “I feel like Ballin out tonight…Let’s get these three points!” (Clare also claims ‘Ballin’ is his occupation in an unrelated tweet)

The tweet was followed up by Clare’s 58th minute sub, none other than Antoniuk, with a bold Cinco de Mayo claim of:

Feeling we might score quattro , maybe even cinco …

Uno goal comes before cuatro & cinco Matt (falling forward)

Ralph’s Mob, Tampa Bay’s beloved supporters group, is also having difficulties with the loss. Their response to a prediction to Saturday’s game was simply, ‘Revenge’.

San Antonio caught us with our pants down. We are better than how we played last night. (@RalphsMob)

The one tweet I partially agree with…yes, we did catch you with your pants down.

Message to the Rowdies players and fans: “Don’t put too much hate into the game Saturday as you move to enact revenge upon us.”

Chinese philosopher Confucius once said, “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves”, implying that a desire for revenge may ultimately hurt the seeker as much as the victim.

Good luck with the Revenge thing Tampa.

Come out and support the Scorpions’ Watch Party, sponsored by the Crocketteers and the Lion & Rose (410/Blanco) Saturday night, 6:30-8:30!

Tags: Crocketteers, Heroes, Lion & Rose Pub, NASL, San Antonio Scorpions FC, Tampa Bay Rowdies

Written by Joel Delgado

San Antonio Scorpions Public Relations

U.S. Soccer announced the first- and second-round draws for the 99th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which includes teams from all levels of American Men’s soccer.

The San Antonio Scorpions will host their first ever U.S. Open Cup game on May 22 in the second round of the tournament, which begins later this month. The team will face the winner of the first round matchup between the ASC New Stars and the Laredo Heat at Blossom Athletic Center (BAC). Game time is set for a 7:30 p.m. start time.

The victor of the match will either face the Houston Dynamo or FC Dallas of MLS in the third round on May 29, when MLS teams enter the tournament.

The San Antonio Scorpions front office will mail season ticket holders their bonus game tickets for the game on May 22. Standing room only tickets, starting at $15, are now on sale. For tickets, call the Scorpions office at 210 637 3411 or click on http://www.sanantonioscorpions.com

“We are very excited for the opportunity to host a game in this tournament,” Scorpions coach Tim Hankinson said. “It will be our first time competing so we want to leave a mark that people will notice.”

This year’s edition of the U.S. Open Cup, which features teams from professional and amateur level soccer in the United States, features a modern era record 64 teams that includes all U.S.-based MLS, NASL and USL PRO teams for the first time ever.

This is also the first year that clubs representing the NASL will take part in the oldest national soccer tournament in the United States. For the Scorpions, it will also be the first time they participate in the national tournament.

The first four rounds of the tournament will take place in back-to-back weeks from May 15 all the way through June 5. The quarterfinals will be held on June 26 and the semifinals are set for July 10.

The tournament final will be played on Aug. 7 or 8 and the winner of the tournament earns a CONCACAF Champions League berth.

The Seattle Sounders of MLS have won the tournament each of the past three years, defeating the Chicago Fire in the U.S. Open Cup Final in 2011 by a score of 2-0.

Tags: NASL, San Antonio Scorpions, Tim Hankinson, US Open Cup

Photos taken by the Crocketteers own: Marianna W

From the tailgate to the march into the stadium.

Sit back and feel the passion the Crocketteers brought to the San Antonio Scorpion-Tampa Bay Rowdies match!

Tags: Crocketteer, Heroes Stadium, San Antonio Scorpions, Tampa Bay Rowdies