GAMEDAY: SAN ANTONIO FC AT NM UNITED
Saturday, 7 p.m., 101.7 FM, ESPN+ (streaming), Estrella
TV PLAYERS TO WATCH
San Antonio (3-2-5): After getting off to a fast start in March, SAFC has just one win to show for April and May. Unlike in recent seasons, the club has not produced a prolific goal scorer. Offseason addition and United killer Luis Solignac has made just one appearance and his teammates have largely shared the wealth in his absence. Five players have two goals apiece, including Juan Agudelo, who has a team-leading 14 shots. One player who has distinguished himself is playmaking midfielder Jorge Hernandez, who leads the USL Championship with 32 chances created and 102 crosses and ranks second with five assists. However, Hernandez picked up a red card in SAFC’s last contest and will miss Saturday’s match. Defender Kevon Lambert also has been a major contributor. On loan from MLS Real Salt Lake, he has played all 900 minutes for SAFC and has two goals, 20 tackles won and 81 duels won. New Mexico (6-2-1): United’s attack continues to be a mix-and-match proposition with different players contributing goals on a weekly basis. It’s a problem for opponents and a plus for coach Eric Quill as only Greg Hurst (4 goals) and Daniel Bruce (2) have multiple goals in USLC play. NMU also has nine assists in league play — one apiece from nine players. Including U.S. Open Cup matches, New Mexico has 23 goals with 13 players chipping in at least one. Among the few to score twice is defender Talen Maples, who continues to be an iron man on NMU’s back line. Maples, who cashed in a goal in Tuesday’s 3-0 Open Cup win at NYCFC II, has played all 810 minutes in USLC competition and ranks fourth with 49 clearances. Only Maples, Marco Micaletto, Zico Bailey and Arturo Astorga have started every USLC match. NOTEWORTHY: Fans can expect a physical contest Saturday as San Antonio FC ranks second in the USLC with 169 fouls conceded. (NMU is 20th with 122). SAFC’s Lambert and New Mexico’s Bailey are tied for third in the league with five yellow cards apiece . ... According to this week’s USL Championship Power Rankings, United is fourth trailing Charleston, Louisville and Sacramento. San Antonio is ranked 12th.