When Reno 1868 FC went to Kansas City more than two weeks ago and smacked Swope Park 4-1, it was the best win in franchise history.
It was Reno’s first win over a team in one of the Western Conference’s top three spots and bolstered the expansion club’s hopes of a top four spot and a home playoff game.
But that’s not the most club’s most impressive victory anymore. That accomplishment was bested on Saturday night when Reno blanked the best defensive team in the USL, San Antonio, 2-0 at Greater Nevada Field. San Antonio had only dropped one match previously this season and only surrendered 11 goals.
Reno (10-5-6) is now just five points back of second place (San Antonio) and four back of third (Swope Park) with 11 games left in the regular season.
There is no question Reno has eclipsed whatever expectations were set heading into the inaugural season. Now, it’s clear this team will be a contender once the regular season ends. That’s assuming the roster remains intact.
Reno has the highest-scoring offense in the entire USL and has resounding victories over two of the three teams ahead of it in the standings. Salt Lake is the one team ahead of Reno yet to lose to 1868 FC.
The first-place team in the Western Conference beat Reno 5-3 back in April and comes to Greater Nevada Field on Sept. 30 for the third-to-last game of the year. It’s unlikely Reno will have the opportunity to surpass Salt Lake in that game (Salt Lake is 15 points ahead of Reno). Instead, the contest will provide the opportunity to further prove what the club already has.
Reno 1868 FC belongs.
Prep football just over a week away
Remember last week when I wrote about this being my column and I can write about whatever I please?
The prep football countdown has dwindled down to less than two weeks and while you have to wait until next Friday for games, you won’t have to wait that long for the season to ‘start.’ Our prep football preview comes out next week and is the best it’s ever been (that’s not hyperbole). We break down Reed, Spanish Springs, Sparks, Excel Christian, as well as the entire 4A North. There will be predictions, coaches polls, power rankings, schedules and whatever else imperative information we can squeeze in.
It took almost three weeks, over 30 notebook pages, more than 40 phone calls, countless texts and a whole lot of copy editing to put the 14,000-word beast together.
And it’s all yours next Wednesday.
Reed girls soccer celebrating 25 years
Local prep football programs hit the practice field for the first time last Monday. The other fall sports (soccer, volleyball, cross country, girls golf) held tryouts/first day of workouts on Saturday.
The Reed girls soccer team will open the season in two weeks with a 4A North game at Damonte Ranch. They’ll play a meaningful contest that won’t show up on their record three days prior, next Saturday on their home field.
The Raiders will play their 25th anniversary alumni game featuring girls who played at Reed in the 1990’s, 2000s, and 2010s.
First touch is at 6 p.m. and spectators are encouraged to show up.
Nathan can be reached via email at nshoup@sparkstrib.com or nathan@lotusradio.com. His weekly column, ‘Shoup Shots,’ was named the best column in the state of Nevada (community division) by the Nevada Press Association. It runs in the hard copy of the Sparks Tribune every Tuesday morning. Nathan’s weekly radio show airs Fridays at noon on ESPN Radio 94.5 FM.
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