2013–14 Hidalgo La Fiera season

Hidalgo La Fiera

2013–14 PASL season
President Joaquín García Fernández
Head Coach Mariano Bollella
Arena State Farm Arena
Hidalgo, Texas
Ron Newman Cup 2nd place
US Open Cup 2nd place
Highest home attendance 2,568 (November 17 vs Saltillo Rancho Seco)
Lowest home attendance 135 (February 6 vs Texas Strikers)
Average home league attendance 1,036 (8 games)[1]

The 2013–14 Hidalgo La Fiera season was the second season for the professional indoor soccer club but first under the Hidalgo La Fiera branding. (The team is also known as La Fiera FC.) The franchise was founded in 2012 as the Rio Grande Valley Flash. La Fiera, a Central Division team in the Professional Arena Soccer League, played their home games in the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas.

The team was led by president Joaquín García Fernández and head coach Mariano Bollella. La Fiera completed the regular season with a 14–2 record and the Central Division Championship. In the post-season, they won their way into the PASL Championship match but lost to the Chicago Mustangs 15–4.

Season summary

The season started with an overtime loss on the road versus the expansion Monterrey Flash[2] but La Fiera won their next nine games, including the third shootout in PASL history and two more overtime games. Another road loss (6–11) to Monterrey snapped that streak[3] but a 7–1 win at home over the Flash the next week gave La Fiera a split in the season series and a one-goal lead head-to-head, a critical advantage in determining postseason seeding.[4] The team finished January with two more wins and finished the regular season with a 14–2 record and the top spot in the Central Division.[5]

In the post-season, Hidalgo defeated the Monterrey Flash 9–8 in the Central Division Final at the State Farm Arena. They advanced to the PASL Final Four at the Sears Centre in Chicago where they defeated the Las Vegas Legends 6–5 in the Semi-final match. They faced the Chicago Mustangs on March 16 in the Championship match but lost 15–4.

La Fiera also participated in the 2013–14 United States Open Cup for Arena Soccer, starting with a bye in the Round of 32. Hidalgo's December 29, 2013, regular season 12–9 win over the Dallas Sidekicks also counted as both teams' Round of 16 match, advancing La Fiera to a February 1 Quarter-finals match. Hidalgo defeated Austin FC of the Premier Arena Soccer League 13–2 to advance to the Semi-finals. They defeated Las Vegas Legends 6–5 in a game that doubled as the PASL Semi-final match. They faced the Chicago Mustangs on March 16 in an Open Cup Final that doubled as the PASL championship match and lost 15–4.

History

The team was originally organized in 2011 as the "Monterrey Flash" in the Liga Mexicana de Futbol Rápido Profesional (LMFR).[6] Although successful, the team moved across the border to Texas and joined the PASL as the "Rio Grande Valley Flash" in September 2012.[7][8] In mid-October 2012, the Flash announced that they had rejoined the LMFR and would participate in both leagues.[9] This move prove short-lived and the team fell into disarray after the 2012–13 PASL season. In July 2013, Victor Fernandez assumed ownership of the team and reorganized it as "La Fiera FC" with a new logo and colors.[10][11] In late July, Joaquín García Fernández was announced as team president.[12]

Off-field moves

Legendary Mexican soccer player Cuauhtémoc Blanco was honored by the team on November 17, during the match against Saltillo Rancho Seco.[13][14]

Awards and honors

On February 26, 2014, the PASL announced its "All-League" honors. Goalkeeper Juan Gamboa was one of six players named to the All-League First Team.[15][16]

Schedule

      Win       Loss

Regular season

Game Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location[17] Attendance
Final Score Record
1 Sunday November 3 5:05pm at Monterrey Flash L 5–6 (OT)[2] 0–1 Arena Monterrey[18] 9,627[19]
2 Sunday November 10 4:35pm Texas Strikers W 13–1[13][20] 1–1 State Farm Arena 1,025[21]
3 Sunday November 17 5:05pm Saltillo Rancho Seco W 16–3[14][22] 2–1 State Farm Arena[23][24] 2,568[25]
4 Friday November 22 7:05pm at Tulsa Revolution W 7–6 (OT)[26][27] 3–1 Cox Business Center[28] 898[29]
5 Saturday November 23 7:05pm at Wichita B-52s W 6–5 (SO)[26][30] 4–1 Hartman Arena[31][32] 1,482[33]
6 Saturday December 7 7:05pm at Texas Strikers W 14–3[34] 5–1 Ford Arena 239[35]
7 Sunday December 15 7:05pm Monterrey Flash W 5–4 (OT)[36][37] 6–1 State Farm Arena[38] 1,242[39]
8 Sunday December 29 5:05pm Dallas Sidekicks† W 12–9[40] 7–1 State Farm Arena[41] 1,062[42]
9 Saturday January 4 7:05pm at Texas Strikers W 15–4[43][44] 8–1 Ford Arena[45] 214[46]
10 Saturday January 11 7:05pm at Saltillo Rancho Seco W 9–1[47][48] 9–1 Deportivo Rancho-Seco Saltillo[49][50][51] 316[52]
11 Sunday January 12 5:05pm at Monterrey Flash L 6–11[3][53] 9–2 Arena Monterrey[54] 7,123[55]
12 Saturday January 18 7:35pm Monterrey Flash W 7–1[4][56] 10–2 State Farm Arena 1,264[57]
13 Sunday January 26 7:35pm Saltillo Rancho Seco W 15–3[58][59] 11–2 State Farm Arena 483[60]
14 Thursday February 6 11:05am Texas Strikers W 26–3[61] 12–2 State Farm Arena 135[62]
15 Thursday February 13 8:05pm at Saltillo Rancho Seco W 6–3[63] 13–2 Deportivo Rancho-Seco Saltillo[64] 127[65]
16 Sunday February 16 5:05pm Tulsa Revolution W 23–2[66] 14–2 State Farm Arena 512[67]

† Game also counts for US Open Cup, as listed in chart below.

Post-season

Round Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance
Score Record
Central Division Final Saturday March 1 7:05pm Monterrey Flash W 9–8[68] 1–0 State Farm Arena 1,322[69]
PASL Semifinal Saturday March 15 5:00pm Las Vegas Legends† W 5–4[70] 2–0 Sears Centre 1,607[71]
PASL Final Sunday March 16 4:30pm at Chicago Mustangs† L 4–15 2–1 Sears Centre 3,969[72]

† Game also counts for US Open Cup, as listed in chart below.

U.S. Open Cup for Arena Soccer

Round Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location[17] Attendance
Score Record
Round of 32 BYE
Round of 16 Sunday December 29 5:05pm Dallas Sidekicks W 12–9 1–0 State Farm Arena 1,062[42]
Quarter-finals Saturday February 1 7:30pm Austin FC
(PASL-Premier)		 W 13–2[73] 2–0 Golazo Soccer
(Pharr, TX)		 125[74]
Semi-finals Saturday March 15 5:00pm Las Vegas Legends W 5–4[70] 3–0 Sears Centre 1,607[71]
Finals Sunday March 16 4:30pm at Chicago Mustangs L 4–15 3–1 Sears Centre 3,969[72]

References

  1. ↑ "2013-14 League Attendance". Professional Arena Soccer League. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Inicia Flash con el pie derecho". Milenio (in Spanish) (Monterrey, Mexico). November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "La Fiera's winning streak ends on road". The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media). January 12, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "La Fiera wins foul-filled game". The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media). January 18, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  5. ↑ Sanchez, Juan Carlos (January 30, 2014). "Tendrá el Valle otro equipo de PASL". El Nuevo Heraldo (in Spanish) (Brownsville, TX: AIM Media Texas). Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  6. ↑ Rivas, Claudia Perez (September 28, 2012). "Pro indoor soccer coming to Rio Grande Valley". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  7. ↑ Krieger, Dan (October 2, 2012). "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Our Sports Central. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  8. ↑ Williams, Clay (September 28, 2012). "Indoor Soccer Franchise Moves Into Hidalgo's Arena In A 'Flash'". Harlingen, TX: KGBT-TV. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  9. ↑ Krieger, Dan (October 22, 2012). "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Our Sports Central. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  10. ↑ Silva, Dennis II (July 2, 2013). "RGV's arena soccer team gets new owner, look". The Monitor (McAllen, TX: AIM Media Texas). p. C1. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  11. ↑ "La Fiera F.C. to Hold Tryouts". Our Sports Central. July 3, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  12. ↑ Romero, Rogelio (July 27, 2013). "Quieren equipo competitivo para el campeonato de PASL". El Mañana (in Spanish) (Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico: Heriberto Deandar Amador). Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Sanchez, Juan Carlos (November 15, 2013). "Alistan homenaje a Cuauhtémoc en el Valle de Texas". El Nuevo Heraldo (in Spanish) (Brownsville, TX: AIM Media Texas). Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Peña, Alex E. (November 17, 2013). "Mexican international star Cuahtemoc Blanco makes appearance with RGV Fiera F.C.". The Monitor (McAllen, TX). Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  15. ↑ "PASL Announces All-League Teams for 2013/14 Season". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Metro-Area Soccer Notes". The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media). February 27, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Hidalgo La Fiera Schedule". Professional Arena Soccer League. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  18. ↑ "La Fiera Drop Season Opener". Our Sports Central. November 4, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Box Score: Arena Monterrey - Sun, Nov 03, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  20. ↑ "De Souza with Four Goals as La Fiera Win Home Opener". Our Sports Central. November 10, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Sun, Nov 10, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  22. ↑ "La Fiera Score Early; Win Big". Our Sports Central. November 17, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  23. ↑ Tovar, Miguel Angel (November 15, 2013). "Hará gira por Texas". El Diario de Coahuila (Coahuila). Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  24. ↑ Morin, Oscar (November 15, 2013). "Rancho Seco sale de gira por Estados Unidos". Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Sun, Nov 17, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. November 17, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "La Fiera F.C. ganó dos partidos fuera de casa". El Periódico USA (in Spanish) (Lion Heart Digital). November 26, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Soccer: Tulsa falls to La Fiera". Tulsa World (Tulsa, OK: World Publishing Company). November 23, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  28. ↑ "La Fiera Grind Overtime Road Win". Our Sports Central. November 22, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Box Score: Cox Business - Fri, Nov 22, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. November 22, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  30. ↑ Brown, Billy (November 23, 2013). "Hidalgo beats B-52s in shootout". The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company). Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  31. ↑ "La Fiera Need Shootout for Road Win". Our Sports Central. November 24, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Wichita B-52s Host Hidalgo La Fiera". Our Sports Central. November 22, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  33. ↑ "Box Score: Hartman Arena - Sat, Nov 23, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. November 23, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  34. ↑ "Alvarez Leads La Fiera to Road Win". Our Sports Central. December 7, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  35. ↑ "Box Score: Ford Arena - Sat, Dec 07, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. December 7, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  36. ↑ Peña, Alex E. (December 15, 2013). "RGV Capsules: La Fiera wins in overtime on breakaway goal". The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media). Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  37. ↑ Hernández, Alma E. (December 16, 2013). "HIDALGO: Vence La Fiera al Flash". El Nuevo Heraldo (in Spanish) (Brownsville, TX: AIM Media Texas). Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  38. ↑ Smither, Madeleine (December 14, 2013). "RGV indoor soccer league will play at State Farm Arena on Sunday". The Monitor (McAllen, TX). Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  39. ↑ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Sun, Dec 15, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. December 15, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  40. ↑ Peña, Alex E. (December 29, 2013). "RGV Capsules: La Fiera F.C. beats Dallas". The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media). Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  41. ↑ Marshall, Raymond (December 26, 2013). "Analysis: Sidekicks’ True Test Coming This Weekend". The Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX). Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Sun, Dec 29, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. December 29, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  43. ↑ Peña, Alex E. (January 4, 2014). "Early goals lead to La Fiera's road win". The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media). Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  44. ↑ "Hidalgo La Fiera beats Strikers for third time this season". Beaumont, TX: KFDM. January 4, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  45. ↑ Rankin, Beth (January 3, 2014). "Hot Pick: Texas Strikers". The Beaumont Enterprise (Beaumont, TX: Hearst Corporation). Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  46. ↑ "Box Score: Ford Arena - Sat, Jan 04, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 4, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  47. ↑ "La Fiera's road winning streak continues". The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media). January 11, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  48. ↑ Ortiz, Gerardo Alejandro Arancivia (January 13, 2014). [http:// "Tropezón de Rancho Seco ante La Fiera de Hidalgo"]. Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  49. ↑ Ortiz, Gerardo Alejandro Arancivia (January 7, 2014). "Tropiezan frente al Flash". Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  50. ↑ Tovar, Miguel Ángel (January 11, 2014). "Enfrentarán a La Fiera; Deportivo Rancho Seco tiene que ir al rescate de puntos". El Diario de Coahuila (in Spanish) (Coahuila). Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  51. ↑ Ortiz, Gerardo Alejandro Arancivia (January 11, 2014). "A domar a La Fiera, hoy en Rancho Seco". Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  52. ↑ "Box Score: UAdeC - Sat, Jan 11, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 11, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  53. ↑ Aguilar, Daniel Zamora (January 13, 2014). "El Flash de Monterrey gana, golea y es líder de la división central". Vavel (in Spanish). Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  54. ↑ Carvajal, Jesus (January 11, 2014). "Quieren encandilar a La Fiera". Periódico AM (in Spanish) (Compañía Periodística Meridiano). Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  55. ↑ "Box Score: Arena Monterrey - Sun, Jan 12, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 12, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  56. ↑ Carvajal, Jesus (January 18, 2014). "Descuenta La Fiera al Flash". Periódico AM (in Spanish) (Descuenta La Fiera al Flash: Compañía Periodística Meridiano). Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  57. ↑ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Sat, Jan 18, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 18, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  58. ↑ Suñer, Luis (January 28, 2014). "Asume La Fiera el liderato". El Mañana (in Spanish) (Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico: Heriberto Deandar Amador). Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  59. ↑ Peña, Alex E. (January 26, 2014). "Early goals pace La Fiera win". The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media). Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  60. ↑ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Sun, Jan 26, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 26, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  61. ↑ "De Souza, La Fiera race past Texas". The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media). February 6, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  62. ↑ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Thu, Feb 06, 2014". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 6, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  63. ↑ Tovar, Miguel Ángel (February 14, 2014). "Se despiden con derrota". El Diario de Coahuila (in Spanish) (Coahuila). Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  64. ↑ Ortiz, Gerardo Alejandro Arancivia (February 13, 2014). "El último en casa de temporada regular". Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  65. ↑ "Box Score: Deportivo Rancho-Seco Saltillo - Thu, Feb 13, 2014". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 13, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  66. ↑ "La Fiera clinches division at home". The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media). February 16, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  67. ↑ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Sun, Feb 16, 2014". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 16, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  68. ↑ "La Fiera wins tight match". The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media). March 1, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  69. ↑ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Sat, Mar 01, 2014". Professional Arena Soccer League. March 1, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  70. ↑ 70.0 70.1 "Gamboa, La Fiera clinch spots in league, cup finals". The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media). March 15, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  71. ↑ 71.0 71.1 "Box Score: Sears Centre - Sat, Mar 15, 2014". Professional Arena Soccer League. March 15, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 "Box Score: Sears Centre - Sun, Mar 16, 2014". Professional Arena Soccer League. March 16, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  73. ↑ "La Fiera survives early shock, wins". The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media). February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  74. ↑ "Box Score: Golazo Soccer - Sat, Feb 01, 2014". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014.

External links