SEASIDE — Through Monterey Bay FC's first five games on the field, goals have been hard to come by.
Things changed on Saturday as Union's offense found its rhythm, bursting out with three goals in the second half for a 3-1 victory over Las Vegas in front of 3,524 fans at Cardinale Stadium.
With their first two-game winning streak of the season, the Union improved to 3-1-2 in the Western Conference and moved into third place in the conference with 11 points, one point behind co-leaders Sacramento and Orange County. ing.
After starting the season 0-2-0, Las Vegas (3-3-0) entered the game on a three-game winning streak and briefly moved one point ahead of Monterey Bay FC in the Western Conference.
Monterey Bay FC has scored just six goals in its first five games, including one goal late in a 1-0 win over the Oakland Roots last week.
After a scoreless first half, Union stormed back against the Lights with goals from Hugh Alexander-Dixon, Watsonville's Adrian Leboler and Tristian Traeger within 11 minutes.
Dixon, who broke Union's single-season school goals record last year, scored his first goal, and Traeger took over the team lead with his third goal.
Leboler, who played collegiately at CSU and Monterey Bay, scored Union's second goal in the 67th minute of the game, resulting in the game-winner.
Goalie Anthony Siaha continued to dominate between the pipes with several saves.
The Union has never lost a game against Las Vegas at Cardinale Stadium and has a 3-0-0 record. His career record against them is 4 wins, 1 loss, and 0 draws.
Monterey Bay FC returns to the field Wednesday against Irvine Zeta FC in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Cardinale Stadium starting at 7:30 p.m.
Last year, the Union won the first two games of the U.S. Open Cup tournament, including a decision over the San Jose Earthquakes, but lost to 2023 Major League Soccer champion Los Angeles FC.
