2019 Las Vegas Lights FC season explained

Club:Las Vegas Lights FC
Season:2019
Chrtitle:General manager
Chairman:Brett Lashbrook
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Manager:Eric Wynalda
Stadium:Cashman Field
League:USL
League Result:Conference: 13th
Overall: 25th
Cup1:USL Cup Playoffs
Cup1 Result:Did not qualify
Cup2:U.S. Open Cup
Cup2 Result:Second Round
Cup3:Silver State Cup
Cup3 Result:Runner-Up
League Topscorer:Irvin Parra (10)
Season Topscorer:Irvin Parra (10)
Highest Attendance:League/All: 10,117
(October 12 vs. Reno
Lowest Attendance:League: 6,123
(May 11 vs. Col. Springs)
All: 2,536
(May 14 vs. Cal FC)
Largest Win:5–0
(April 13 vs. Tacoma)
Largest Loss:0–4
(May 18 vs. Phoenix)
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American:true
Prevseason:2018
Nextseason:2020

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.

Background

See main article: 2018 Las Vegas Lights FC season. 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

Preseason

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.

Competitions

Exhibitions

All times in Pacific Time

USL Championship

See main article: 2019 USL Championship season.

Match results

On December 19, 2018, the USL announced their 2019 season schedule.[7]

All times in Pacific Time

U.S. Open Cup

See main article: 2019 U.S. Open Cup. As a member of the USL Championship, Las Vegas Lights entered the tournament in the Second Round.[8]

Statistics

Appearances

Source:[9]

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.NameLeaguePlayoffsU.S. Open CupTotalDiscipline
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1GK Thomas Olsen10000010000
2DF Miguel Palafox00000000000
3DF Kevin Garcia-Lopez10000010000
4DF Gabe Robinson10000010000
5DF Javan Torre10000010000
7MF Pablo Cruz10000010000
8FW Edwin Rivas00000000000
9FW Sammy Ochoa00000000000
10MF Cristhian Hernández10000010000
11MF Irvin Parra1000001010 0
14MF Alex Harlley10000010000
15DF Bryan de la Fuente00000000000
16MF Lucas Scaglia10000010000
17MF Bryan Arguez00000000000
19FW Tabort Etaka Preston0 (1)000000 (1)0000
20FW Bin Adolf Enow00000000000
21MF Matt Thomas0 (1)000000 (1)010 0
22GK Angel Alvarez00000000000
23DF Christian Torres10000010000
25MF Panzani Sousa0 (1)000000 (1)0000
28MF Eric Gonzalez10000010000

Clean sheets

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

width=10width=10width=150Playerwidth=50United Soccer Leaguewidth=50USL Playoffswidth=50U.S. Open Cupwidth=50Total
11 Thomas Olsen1001
TOTALS1001

Notes and References

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