The Rio Grande Valley FC Toros captured the first home win in club history with a 4-1 triumph over the Swope Park Rangers Saturday night at the UT Rio Grande Valley Soccer Complex. Memo Rodriguez scored twice, Christian Lucatero provided two assists, Rob Lovejoy added a goal and Emilio Garcia finished the scoring as RGV FC defeated the Rangers in the first-ever encounter.
The Toros (4-2-2, 14 points) are now tied for fourth place in the Western Conference with Saint Louis FC. Swope Park Rangers, which are owned and operated by Sporting Kansas City and also in their debut season in the USL, fell to 3-4-1 on the season (10 points).
“We entered the game with a desire and need to win,” RGV FC head coach Wilmer Cabrera told HoustonDynamo.com by phone. “We worked throughout the week on putting pressure (on the opponent) and the idea to go out and go for opportunities right away in the game. It was positive because we moved the ball well and built good possession and created good options. We were able to break the defense and scored two good goals through Memo.”
Rodriguez, a graduate of the Dynamo Academy, scored his first two goals of the season inside 26 minutes. The El Campo, Texas native opened the scoring following a long buildup from the Toros, collecting a pass from Jose Escalante and driving a low strike inside the bottom left corner from 15 yards for his first goal of the campaign. It was Escalante’s first assist of the season as well.
Watch a full replay of the match.
Rodriguez’ second goal also began with a quality passing exchange as Charlie Ward threaded an incisive pass to Rodriguez, who used a skillful backheel touch to TJ Casner. The Clemson product slid a return ball to Rodriguez, who ran unmarked into the box and finished for a 2-0 lead. It was Casner’s team-leading fourth assist of the season.
Rodriguez is the second Toros player to record a two-goal game, along with Lovejoy.
“It was very good for Memo," Cabrera said. "He hasn’t started lately and he took the opportunity to start very well. He is very talented and when he is tuned in he is very dangerous because he can break down a defense and his shooting range is outstanding. I believe he had worked hard and had a good attitude and he is realizing that he is at the level where he needs to continue growing. He needs to keep improving and it is so rewarding that he can reflect on those two goals.”
The Rangers cut the deficit in the 40th minute as Sporting Kansas City Homegrown Player Daniel Salloi took a pass from Houston Baptist University product Kris Tyrpak out of the air and finished with his laces on his second touch for his third goal of the year.
Lucatero, another Dynamo Academy product, entered the game in the 87th minute and helped seal the win with two assists in the final minutes. Lucatero won the ball in the defensive half and began a counterattack with Ward before another combination play resulted in a third goal. Lovejoy passed to Lucatero near the corner and the 18-year-old slipped a pass between two defenders and Lovejoy finished from a tight angle for his third goal in three appearances for RGV FC.
The fourth goal came in stoppage time as Lucatero, who played for the U.S. Under-20s against France last September, spun around a few defenders inside the box before feeding Garcia, who calmly rounded goalkeeper Zac Lubin and scored his second goal of the season.
“Christian is one of the youngest players on the team and he has a lot of talent and has played in almost every game," Cabrera said. "Some games he has done well and others he has not had an impact, which is normal for a young player. He is learning how to bring his talents to the field when necessary. Fortunately he brought a good mentality and energy and in his five minutes he assisted twice and that’s what he can do. He now has to be thinking more confidently and can understand he can make a difference in five minutes.”
Four Houston Dynamo players featured for the Toros on Saturday, with goalkeeper Calle Brown in the starting lineup and Bradley Bourgeois (64th minute), Zach Steinberger (67th minute) and Lovejoy (61st minute) entering the game in the second half.
“It was a good performance overall by the team. It was refreshing that when we made the subs – Lovejoy, Garcia, Bourgeois, Steinberger and Lucatero – they all brought a spark and fresh legs to make a difference and stretch the team on the other end.”
Next up, the Toros return to the road to face in-state rival San Antonio FC on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. CDT.
Below are details on the involvement of Dynamo Academy Alumni in Saturday’s game:
- Memo Rodriguez scored two goals in the first 26 minutes, his first two goals of the season. The attacker played 72 minutes in his eighth appearance of the season.
- Christian Lucatero entered the match in the 87th minute and tallied two assists in his short time on the field, his first two assists as a professional. It was the seventh appearance of the season for the Pasadena, Texas native.
- Bradley Bourgeois played the final 26 minutes for his fourth appearance of the year.
Rio Grande Valley FC vs. Swope Park Rangers
May 21, 2016 – UT RGV Soccer Complex – Edinburg, Texas
Attendance: 2,065
Weather: Clear and 90 degrees
Scoring Summary:
RGV – Memo Rodriguez 1 (Jose Escalante 1) 13
RGV – Memo Rodriguez 2 (TJ Casner 4) 26
SPR – Daniel Salloi 3 (Kris Tyrpak 1) 40
RGV – Rob Lovejoy 3 (Christian Lucatero 1) 89
RGV – Emilio Garcia 2 (Christian Lucatero 2) 90+
Rio Grande Valley FC: Calle Brown; Kai Greene, Kevin Garcia ©, Ivan Magalhaes, George Malki (Bradley Bourgeois 64’); Jorghino James (Zach Steinberger 67’), Charlie Ward, TJ Casner (Christian Lucatero 87’); Memo Rodriguez (Emilio Garcia 72’), Kyle Murphy, Jose Escalante (Rob Lovejoy 61’).
Substitutes Not Used: Devin Perales, Leo Ayala.
Swope Park Rangers: Zac Lubin; Jimmy Mulligan, Tommy Meyer, Amer Didic, Christian Duke ©; Ualefi, Tomas Granitto (Nansel Selbol 62’), Kevin Oliveira; Kris Typrak (Johnny Grant 70’), Daniel Salloi (Mark Anthony Gonzalez 68’), Tyler Pasher.
Substitutes Not Used: Jon Kempin, Oumar Ballo, Jacob VanCompernolle, Will Little.
Referee: Victor Rivas
Assistant Referees: Billy Hale and Baltazar Peral Hana
Fourth Official: Arturo Ibarra
Attendance: 2,065
Weather: Clear and 90 degrees
*Note: The Dynamo and RGV FC have a hybrid affiliation, with the Dynamo in control of all technical aspects of the soccer operation, including the construction of the roster and the coaching staff. Meanwhile, the McAllen, Texas based Rio Grande Valley Vipers run the business operations, including the current construction of a 9,400 seat soccer stadium that will resemble Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium.
