After months of building a franchise from scratch, now comes the best part – Las Vegas Lights Football Club officially embarks on its inaugural United Soccer League regular season Saturday night at 7 p.m.
With a challenging and beneficial preseason schedule now in the rear-view mirror, Lights FC heads to Fresno, Calif., to take on USL Western Conference foe and fellow expansion side Fresno FC in the first of two regular season meetings.
In just a matter of 10 weeks, Lights FC’s coaching staff and 23-man roster has formed a tight bond both on and off of the pitch, and the expectation now is that it will translate positively right off of the bat in the USL regular season.
“The whole team has in their heads that there is a responsibility that comes with the opportunity the owner and the city has given to them,” Lights FC Technical Director Chelís said Wednesday evening as the club hosted its official Season Kickoff Party.
The preseason saw the club make a major impression within in a short period of time in the Las Vegas community, as nearly 24,000 soccer fans visited Cashman Field combined over the course of three consecutive Saturdays in February for Soccer Spring Training matches vs. visiting Major League Soccer competition. On the scoreboard, Lights FC fell in the matches vs. Montreal Impact, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and D.C. United, but improved over the course of the month in several areas.
Many of those learned lessons were applied positively last Friday, when the preseason closed against another USL Western Conference opponent – Orange County SC.
The two dueled to a 1-1 draw in Southern California, with Lights FC coming from behind to equalize the score in the 77th minute thanks to forward Anuar Kanan, and created plenty of offensive pressure late and several chances to take home a win.
“It was a very good (experience) for us, because this is going to be our league, the kind of (opposition) we’re going to have the whole season,” defender Miguel Angel Garduño said following the match in Orange County. “We know that we’re ready for the league.”
HERE IS EVERYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF SATURDAY’S MATCH VS. FRESNO FC:
- Saturday’s match kicks off at 7 p.m. at Chukchansi Field in Fresno, Calif.
- TO WATCH: Lights FC at Fresno FC will stream worldwide on YouTube.
- TO LISTEN: Lights FC’s Spanish-language broadcast will air on ESPN Deportes 1460AM locally, and can be streamed live at LVSportsNetwork.com.
WHO TO KNOW FOR LIGHTS FC
- Technical Director Jose Luis Sánchez Solá – “Chelís” is now the first man to hold his position with first- and second-division clubs in both the United States and Mexico. Known as a “players’ coach,” he’s already established a close-knit culture in his locker room in Las Vegas.
- Defender Joel Huiqui (#3), who brings a wealth of LigaMX experience and 14 career caps with the Mexican National Team to the fold, will help anchor a talented back line for Lights FC.
- Midfielder Carlos Alvarez (#7) will be expected to make an impact this season as an attacking mid. Alvarez, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, has thrived in the preseason. He’s also reunited now with Chelís, who drafted Alvarez in 2013 while head coach of Chivas USA.
- Midfielder Daigo Kobayashi (#44) brings a wealth of experience to Las Vegas, and will control plenty of the game action in the middle of the field. Kobayashi spent the past five seasons playing in MLS, including the last four with the New England Revolution.
- Forward Sammy Ochoa (#9) will be looked at to provide some pop to Lights FC’s offensive attack. He scored eight goals in 25 appearances last season while playing for USL Western Conference rival Sacramento Republic.
WHO TO KNOW FOR FRESNO FC
- Midfielder Juan Pablo Caffa (#10), a 33-year-old Argentinian, is a key addition for Fresno FC, having been a 2017 All-League Second Team selection while playing for Tulsa Roughnecks FC.
- Midfielder Jose Cuevas (#12) is a key local product for Fresno FC and is a former USL Rookie of the Year (2012).
- Midfielder Ronny Argueta (#6) adds even another layer to the Fresno midfield attack after playing for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC last season.
