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SEASIDE — Admittedly, the sample size is small. But more than optimism runs through the veins of the Monterey Bay FC players.
With a 1-0 win over defending league champion Phoenix Rising in Saturday's home opener, the Union clinched a share of first place in the United Soccer League's Western Conference.
Union, who is 1-0-1, is one of five teams in the third year of USL with four points through the second week of the season.
Monterey Bay FC, which missed the postseason in each of its first two seasons, has reshuffled its lineup this spring, relying on a tenacious defense that earned its first shutout on Saturday.
The Union rallied late in Wednesday's season opener to tie the score in El Paso, Texas, with 4,867 fans on their feet 22 minutes into the game, and Rafa Baca scored on an assist from CSUMB alum Adrian Rebollar. He scored the only goal of the game.
From that point on, Union went on the defensive and continued to play well between the pipes with several stops from goaltender Anthony Sciaha, earning his first shutout of the young season.
Siaha, who had five clean sheets and 58 saves for the Union last season, is fifth in the Western Conference with seven saves.
Phoenix finished fifth in the Western Conference last year on its way to winning its first USL title and qualified for the postseason, but slumped to 0-2-0 during the season.
Pierce Garraway, a Carmel High School graduate who spent last summer with MBFC2, made his professional debut as a second-half substitute.
Monterey Bay FC will have seven days to prepare before hosting USL newcomer Rhode Island (0-0-1) for the first time Sunday at 3 p.m.
See more in the Monterey Herald
