Lights Fans Enjoy Closeup View of Team’s Scrimmage With Orange County, Wolf Down Free Pizza at Final Exhibition Game
By ALAN SNEL
LVSportsBiz.com
What’s not to like? Las Vegas Lights FC invited season ticket holders to eat free pizza and relax on the grass to watch a Lights-Orange County SC exhibition game scrimmage at Cashman Field Saturday afternoon.
About 700 season out of nearly 3,000 season ticket holders signed up to come, with about 500 or so showing up for the 1 p.m. start after morning rains and gray clouds blanketed the Las Vegas Valley.
Season ticket holder Carmen Garcia of the Luz y Fuerza supporter group was sitting on the grass outside the white sideline when the Lights nearly scored. She was so disappointed that she let herself tumble backwards and kicked her legs into the air.
The Lights appear to be an improved squad over the inaugural season team, which struggled mightily on the pitch and won only eight of 34 games, good for 15th out o 17 teams in the Western Conference of the United Soccer League.
While the team appears quicker, more disciplined and and less mistake-prone under new manager Eric Wynalda, owner Brett Lashbrook and his staff have a lineup of promotions for season two, including the popular helicopter cash drop set for September.
The Lights defeated Toronto FC of MLS and tied the Colorado Rapids of MLS in two preseason games at Cashman Field. And Saturday’s scrimmage with Orange County was a good test because the team from Southern California was the Western Conference champion.
The Lights scored first with a header off a corner kick, but Orange County SC tied it later in the first half. But the Lights scored in the second half and came away with a 2-1 victory over Orange County.
The Lights open Year 2 next Saturday when the Austin Bold club visits Cashman Field.
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