Lights’ top scorer out against New Mexico
The Lights FC will be without its top scorer when it faces New Mexico United, the United Soccer League Western Conference leader, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Cashman Field.
The Lights (4-6-4) are missing Irvin Raul Parra, who has a team-leading eight goals, along with strong forward Sammy Ochoa. Parra is serving a suspension, and Ochoa has an excused absence.
Major League Soccer veteran
Jose Villareal and Columbia native Santiago Echavarria are expected to
shoulder the scoring burden. Canadian National Team member Dejan Jakovic, who is on loan from Los Angeles FC, will be added to help protect the back line for the Lights.
New Mexico United (6-2-7) is coming off a 2-2 upset win, 4-2 on penalty kicks, Wednesday over the Colorado Rapids of the MLS in the U.S. Open Cup. Its coach, Troy Lesesne, was recently voted the USL Coach of the Month for a perfect record in May.
United boasts league-leading goal scorer Kevaughn Frater (10 goals) and Santi Moar (nine goals). Goalkeeper Cody Mizell leads the conference in saves with 46.
Jonathan Eskin covers the Lights for the Las Vegas Review-journal. He can be reached at jeskin@ reviewjournal.com a two-game sweep in the College World Series finals.
“Man, I was starting to get real excited, real jumpy,” Martin, now the shortstop, recalled Friday. “Then when it happened, something just kind of dropped.”
Something dropped, all right. In perhaps the most memorable play at TD Ameritrade Park since it opened in 2011, Oregon State’s Cadyn Grenier popped a ball high behind first base and toward the stands. Three fielders converged. No one took charge. The ball hit the ground.
Given another chance, Grenier singled to start a three-run ninth that gave the Beavers a 5-3 win, and the next night OSU wrapped up the national title.
The Razorbacks’ party line: They didn’t allow themselves to stew over their misfortune and let it carry over to this season. Only three everyday players from 2018 returned, none of them principles in the foul ball play.
Now No. 5 national seed Arkansas is back at the CWS, and the Hogs might be better than a year ago with an offense in the top 20 nationally in the major categories and four pitchers drafted in the first nine rounds.
“For me, personally, it was hard to let go,” Martin said of last year. “But what a ride it was. I’m just happy we were able to get back.”
Arkansas (46-18) opens play Saturday against Florida State (41-21).
The CWS opener Saturday afternoon pits Michigan (46-20) against No. 8 Texas Tech (44-18). Sunday’s games match No. 7 Louisville (4916) against No. 2 Vanderbilt (54-11) in the afternoon and Auburn (38-26) against No. 6 Mississippi State (5113) at night.