Las Vegas had a championship soccer team in 1994

John Kennedy sits at a corner table inside Crown & Anchor and starts reminiscing about a soccer team he says many locals have forgotten. His thick Scottish accent and attention to detail make him a keen storyteller, as does his passion for the defunct indoor Las Vegas Dustdevils soccer team.

The Dustdevils’ former assistant coach describes the overtime goal Daniel Barber scored in a home playoff game against the Dallas Sidekicks to extend the season — and how Doug Borgel and Benny Erickson were two of the league’s top rookies — and does so with such passion you’d think the season just concluded. It was more than 20 years ago.

Everyone had a nickname, whether itwas “DB” for Barber or “Borgie” for Borgel.

The Las Vegas Lights host Reno 1868 at 8 p.m. today in Las Vegas’ United Soccer League home opener at Cashman Field to formally usher in a new era of professional sports in Southern Nevada.

Single-game tickets start at $15 at lightsfc.com or by calling 702-728GOAL.

“We are family,” Kennedy said. “Still to this day.”

The Dustdevils won the Continental Indoor Soccer League championship in their maiden season in 1994 by using a bunch of first-year players from UNLV plus Branko Šegota, one of the indoor game’s legendary players.

There were more than 16,000 fans at Reunion Arena to cheer on host Dallas that day for the decisive third game of the finals. So many fans showed up, the match was delayed to allow them to get into the arena. Yet, it was the no-name, underdog Dustdevils who won, 9-8.

They’ve been drinking to the championship ever since — mostly at Crown & Anchor, which they also frequented after home games at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and Thomas & Mack Center.

“When you go win a championship, there’s a special bond,” said Erickson, one of those rookies from UNLV. “You never forget.”

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The Dustdevils are being overlooked.