2012–13 Rio Grande Valley Flash season

The 2012–13 Rio Grande Valley Flash season was the first season of the Rio Grande Valley Flash indoor soccer club. The Flash, 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 owner Gerardo Guerra Lozano and head coach Mariano Bollella.[2]

Rio Grande Valley Flash

2012–13 PASL season
OwnerGerardo Guerra Lozano
Head CoachMariano Bollella
ArenaState Farm Arena
Hidalgo, Texas
PASL2nd, Central
Ron Newman CupLost in semi-final
US Open CupDNP
Highest home attendance2,035
(December 7, 2012)
vs Arizona Storm
Lowest home attendance966
(November 25, 2012)
vs Dallas Sidekicks
Average home league attendance1,549 (over 8 home games)[1]
← N/A

Season summary edit

The Flash were successful in the regular season, compiling a 12–4 record and placing second in the competitive Central Division. The team split the first half of the season with four wins and four losses before winning the final regular season matches. The team also fared well at the box office, drawing the fourth-highest average attendance for home games this season.[1] The Flash qualified for the postseason and earned the right to play for the Ron Newman Cup in the PASL National Championship. They defeated Central Division regular season champion Dallas Sidekicks in consecutive games and advanced to the PASL Semi-finals in San Diego where they fell to the Detroit Waza in overtime.

The Flash did not participate in the 2012–13 United States Open Cup for Arena Soccer.

Off-field moves edit

 
The original logo, echoing the Monterrey Flash logo, used until January 9, 2013

The team was originally organized in 2011 as the Monterrey Flash in the Liga Mexicana de Futbol Rápido Profesional (LMFR).[3] Although successful (they won the league championship and finished second in the 2012 FIFRA Club Championship) owner Gerardo Guerra Lozano moved the team across the border to Texas and joined the PASL in September 2012.[4][5] In mid-October 2012, the Flash announced that they had rejoined the LMFR and would participate in both leagues.[6]

 
The Flash at the Dallas Sidekicks, November 30, 2012.

The team's initial logo matched the one used in Monterrey, with only the location named updated. On January 9, 2013, the Flash unveiled a new, sleeker logo during a press conference at Ford Arena.[7]

 
The Flash warming up before a February 28, 2013, match against the Dallas Sidekicks in Allen, Texas.

The Flash held several pre-season promotion events including a friendly match against local media on November 14 and a "Student's Day" for local area schools during their November 15 match against the Texas South Devils of the National Premier Soccer League.[8]

Roster moves edit

On January 9, 2013, the team announced that it had signed a number of "soccer stars from Mexico" to play for the Flash during home games. The first such announced signing was Claudio "Diablo" Nuñez, formerly of the Tigres UANL.[7] At the same press conference, the Flash announced the signing of goalkeeper Juan Gamboa, a Brownsville, Texas, native who played for The University of Texas at Brownsville.[9][10]

On January 31, 2013, the team announced the signing of Hector Nicanor. The veteran defender played for C.F. Monterrey and Monarcas Morelia in the Mexican Primera División of Liga MX in the mid-1990s.[11]

Awards and honors edit

In postseason honors, defender Damian Garcia was named to the 2012-13 PASL All-League Second Team.[12][13]

Schedule edit

  Win   Tie   Loss

Pre-season edit

Game Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location[14] Attendance
Final Score Team Record
1 Thursday November 15 10:00am Texas South Devils (NPSL) W 6–5[15] 1–0 State Farm Arena[8]

Regular season edit

Game Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location[16] Attendance
Final Score Record
1 Saturday November 17 7:30pm Texas Strikers W 13–1[17] 1–0 State Farm Arena 1,758[18]
2 Sunday November 25 5:00pm Dallas Sidekicks L 3–7[19] 1–1 State Farm Arena[20] 966[21]
3 Friday November 30 7:30pm at Dallas Sidekicks L 3–7[22] 1–2 Allen Event Center[23] 5,606[24]
4 Friday December 7 7:30pm Arizona Storm W 16–2[25] 2–2 State Farm Arena 2,035[26]
5 Sunday December 16 6:00pm Rockford Rampage W 7–1[27] 3–2 State Farm Arena 1,357[28]
6 Friday December 28 8:00pm at Chicago Mustangs L 9–10[29] 3–3 Grand Sports Arena[30] 299[31]
7 Saturday December 29 7:05pm at Rockford Rampage W 3–2[32] 4–3 Victory Sports Complex[33] 322[34]
8 Thursday January 3 7:30pm at Dallas Sidekicks L 2–5[35] 4–4 Allen Event Center[36] 4,978[37]
9 Friday January 4 7:05pm at Texas Strikers W 10–1[38][39] 5–4 Ford Arena[40] 496[41]
10 Sunday January 20 5:00pm Dallas Sidekicks W 8–6[42][43][44] 6–4 State Farm Arena[45][46] 1,463[47]
11 Sunday January 27 5:00pm Texas Strikers W 12–3[48][49] 7–4 State Farm Arena[9] 1,549[50]
12 Friday February 1 7:30pm Real Phoenix W 21–3[51][52] 8–4 State Farm Arena[11] 1,521[53]
13 Saturday February 9 7:00pm
(9:00pm Central)
at Anaheim Bolts W 18–4[54][55] 9–4 Anaheim Convention Center[56] 689[57]
14 Sunday February 10 1:00pm
(3:00pm Central)
at Toros Mexico W 6–2[58] 10–4 UniSantos Park[59] 300[60]
15 Friday February 15 7:30pm Chicago Mustangs W 8–5[61] 11–4 State Farm Arena[62] 1,749[63]
16 Saturday February 16 7:05pm at Texas Strikers W 11–10 (OT)[64][65] 12–4 Ford Arena 620[66]

♥ Replacement squad after Phoenix franchise revoked by league.

Postseason edit

Round Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance
Final Score Record
Division Finals Game 1 Sunday February 24 3:05pm Dallas Sidekicks[67] W 5–4 (OT) 1–0 State Farm Arena[64][68] 1,600[69]
Division Finals Game 2 Thursday February 28 7:30pm at Dallas Sidekicks W 8–5[70][71][72] 2–0 Allen Event Center[73][74][75] 3,274[76]
Semi-Finals Sunday March 10 4:00pm
(6:00pm Central)
Detroit Waza L 5–6 (OT)[77][78] 2–1 Valley View Casino Center ?[79]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "League Attendance". Professional Arena Soccer League. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  2. ^ Sandalow, Brian (September 28, 2012). "RGV Flash looking to make it work". The Monitor. McAllen, TX. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  3. ^ Rivas, Claudia Perez (September 28, 2012). "Pro indoor soccer coming to Rio Grande Valley". Rio Grande Guardian. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  4. ^ Krieger, Dan (October 2, 2012). "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Our Sports Central. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  5. ^ Williams, Clay (September 28, 2012). "Indoor Soccer Franchise Moves Into Hidalgo's Arena In A 'Flash'". Harlingen, TX: KGBT-TV. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  6. ^ Krieger, Dan (October 22, 2012). "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Our Sports Central. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  7. ^ a b "RGV Flash Makes Changes". Our Sports Central. January 9, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Perez, Pedro (November 6, 2012). "RGV Flash to hold events before inaugural season". The Valley Town Crier. Weslaco, TX. Archived from the original on February 10, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "RGV Capsules: Gamboa among Flash additions". The Brownsville Herald. Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media. January 9, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  10. ^ "Dedicated Gamboa finds place with Flash". The Brownsville Herald. Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media. January 18, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  11. ^ a b "Flash Welcome Real Phoenix with New Signing". Our Sports Central. January 31, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  12. ^ "Professional Arena Soccer League Update". Our Sports Central. March 4, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  13. ^ "Garcia Earns Second Team Nod". Our Sports Central. March 5, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  14. ^ "RGV Flash Announce Friendly before Season Opener". Our Sports Central. November 14, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  15. ^ "RGV Flash Win Exhibition Match". Our Sports Central. November 15, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  16. ^ "Rio Grande Valley Schedule". Our Sports Central. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  17. ^ Monitor staff (November 17, 2012). "Flash win big in first home opener". The Monitor. McAllen, TX. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  18. ^ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Sat, Nov 17, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. November 17, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  19. ^ Welch, Matt (December 5, 2012). "Flash mobbed: Sidekicks throttle RGV for second time in five days". Allen American-Star. Allen, TX. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  20. ^ Hinojosa, David (November 24, 2012). "Tatu, Sidekicks made indoor soccer worth watching". The Monitor. McAllen, TX. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  21. ^ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Sun, Nov 25, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. November 25, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  22. ^ "Flash lose again to Sidekicks". The Monitor. McAllen, TX. November 30, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  23. ^ Padilla, Jesús (November 30, 2012). "Los Sidekicks, retorno fuerte". Diario La Estrella (in Spanish). Fort Worth, TX. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  24. ^ "Box Score: Allen Event Center - Fri, Nov 30, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. November 30, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  25. ^ "Flash bounce back, beat Storm". The Brownsville Herald. Brownsville, TX. December 7, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  26. ^ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Fri, Dec 07, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. December 7, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  27. ^ "Flash Win Second Straight". Our Sports Central. December 16, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  28. ^ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Sun, Dec 16, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. December 16, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  29. ^ "Flash fall to the Mustangs". Our Sports Central. December 28, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  30. ^ "Chicago Mustangs beat Rio Grande Valley Flash". Our Sports Central. December 31, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  31. ^ "Box Score: Grand Sports Arena - Fri, Dec 28, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. December 28, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  32. ^ "Flash earn first Road Win". Our Sports Central. December 30, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  33. ^ "Rampage Loses at Home vs Flash 3-2". Our Sports Central. January 1, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  34. ^ "Box Score: Victory Sports Complex - Sat, Dec 29, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. December 29, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  35. ^ "Flash lose to Sidekicks, fall to 4-4 on season". The Monitor. McAllen, TX. January 4, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  36. ^ "Sidekicks look to improve winning ways tonight". Allen American-Star. Allen, TX. January 3, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  37. ^ "Box Score: Allen Event Center - Thu, Jan 03, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 3, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  38. ^ "Flores scores 3 goals as Flash rout Strikers". The Monitor. McAllen, TX: AIM Media Texas. January 4, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  39. ^ "Flores scores Hat-trick as Flash blast Strikers". Our Sports Central. January 4, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  40. ^ Rankin, Beth (January 4, 2013). "Hot Pick: Texas Strikers vs. Rio Grande Valley Flash". Beaumont Enterprise. Beaumont, TX. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  41. ^ "Box Score: Ford Arena - Fri, Jan 04, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 4, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  42. ^ "Flash Win Thriller Over Sidekicks". Our Sports Central. January 20, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  43. ^ "RGV Flash down Dallas Sidekicks, 8-6". The Monitor. McAllen, TX: AIM Media Texas. January 21, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  44. ^ "Flash use balanced attack to beat Sidekicks". The Brownsville Herald. Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media. January 20, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  45. ^ "Flash set for rematch against Sidekicks". Our Sports Central. January 17, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  46. ^ "Dallas Sidekicks Fall 8-6 to Rio Grande Valley". Our Sports Central. January 20, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  47. ^ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Sun, Jan 20, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 20, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
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  49. ^ "Flash race past Strikers". The Brownsville Herald. Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media. January 27, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  50. ^ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Sun, Jan 27, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 27, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  51. ^ "Multiple Hat Tricks with Diamond Performance". Our Sports Central. February 1, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  52. ^ "RGV Capsules: Flash dominate against Real Phoenix". The Brownsville Herald. Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media. February 1, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  53. ^ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Fri, Feb 01, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 1, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  54. ^ "Bolts Fall 18-4 to Fired up Rio Grande Valley". Our Sports Central. February 10, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  55. ^ "Flash Inch Closer to Second". Our Sports Central. February 10, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  56. ^ "Clash with Rio Grande Valley All About Future for Bolts". Our Sports Central. February 9, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  57. ^ "Box Score: Anaheim Convention - Sat, Feb 09, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 9, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  58. ^ "Flash Grind Out Road Sweep". Our Sports Central. February 10, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  59. ^ "RGV Capsules: Flash grind out road sweep". The Brownsville Herald. Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media. February 10, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  60. ^ "Box Score: Unisantos Sports Park - Sun, Feb 10, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 10, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  61. ^ "Flash Win Rough Affair". Our Sports Central. February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  62. ^ "Playoff Time Looms for Flash". Our Sports Central. February 13, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  63. ^ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Fri, Feb 15, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 15, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  64. ^ a b "RGV Capsules: Flores, Flash reach playoffs". The Brownsville Herald. Brownsville, TX: American Consolidated Media. February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  65. ^ "Flores inspires Flash to the playoffs". Our Sports Central. February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  66. ^ "Box Score: Ford Arena - Sat, Feb 16, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  67. ^ Richardson, Brandon (February 26, 2013). "Sidekicks continue perfect record at home as focus shifts to playoffs". Allen American-Star. Allen, TX: Star Local News. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  68. ^ "Playoffs Here for the Flash". Our Sports Central. February 22, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  69. ^ "Box Score: State Farm Arena - Sun, Feb 24, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 24, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  70. ^ "5 Star Flores as Flash Advance to Semifinal". Our Sports Central. February 28, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  71. ^ "Sidekicks Overcome Four-Goal Deficit, Still Fall to Rio Grande Valley to End Playoff Run". Our Sports Central. February 28, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  72. ^ Barron, J. David (February 28, 2013). "Flash douse Sidekicks thunder, capture playoff series". Allen American-Star. Allen, TX: Star Local News. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  73. ^ "Dallas Sidekicks to Face Rio Grande Valley in Opening Round of Playoffs". Our Sports Central. February 18, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  74. ^ "Flash Take Slim Lead In OT". Our Sports Central. February 24, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  75. ^ "Sidekicks to Host Must-Win Playoff Match Thursday against Rio Grande Valley". Our Sports Central. February 25, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  76. ^ "Box Score: Allen Event Center - Thu, Feb 28, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 28, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  77. ^ "Detroit Waza Flo Earns Trip To The Finals". Our Sports Central. March 11, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  78. ^ "Flash Lose in Thriller". Our Sports Central. March 10, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  79. ^ "Box Score: Valley View Casino Arena - Sun, Mar 10, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. March 10, 2013. Retrieved March 11, 2013.

External links edit

  • rgvflash.com Rio Grande Valley Flash official website