The 2013–14 Monterrey Flash season was the first season of the new Monterrey Flash professional indoor soccer club. The Monterrey Flash, a Central Division team in the Professional Arena Soccer League, played their home games in Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
The team was led by owner Gerardo Guerra Lozano and head coach Genoni Martínez with assistant coach Marco Coria. The team finished the regular season with a 13–3 record, good enough for 3rd in the Central Division and qualified for the post-season. They were eliminated in the Central Division Final by Hidalgo La Fiera.
Season summary The Flash started their debut season strong with an overtime win over Hidalgo La Fiera then six more victories, including only the second shootout in PASL history. Their first loss also came against Hidalgo on December 15. The Flash split the season series with their cross-border rivals, each club winning its two home matches. Their only other loss came against the visiting San Diego Sockers on January 26. Originally scheduled to wrap the regular season on February 2, the game against Saltillo Rancho Seco was rescheduled for February 16 to avoid conflicting with Super Bowl XLVIII. The Flash finished 13–3 and secured the third spot in the Central Division playoffs. They defeated the Dallas Sidekicks in the Division Semifinal then lost to Hidalgo La Fiera in the Division Final.
The Monterrey Flash, along with the other two Mexico-based PASL teams, did not participate in the 2013–14 United States Open Cup for Arena Soccer.
History The previous team to bear the Monterrey Flash name joined the Liga Mexicana de Futbol Rápido Profesional (LMFRPro) in 2011. They won the LMFRPro league championship in that first season then finished second to the San Diego Sockers in the 2012 FIFRA Club Championship. In September 2012, Lozano relocated the team to Texas, renamed them the Rio Grande Valley Flash, and the PASL. In July 2013, the team announced that Victor Fernandez had assumed ownership of the franchise and renamed it "La Fiera FC".
Lozano returned to Monterrey and started a new Monterrey Flash with the intention of playing in both the LMFRPro and the PASL. The new Flash are one of three Mexico-based teams (along with Saltillo Rancho Seco and Toros Mexico) participating in the PASL for the 2013–14 season.
Roster moves Legendary Argentinian midfielder Walter Gaitán joined the Flash roster at the start of the season but announced his intention to return to Argentina after the November 21 match against Saltillo Rancho Seco.
In early December 2013, the Flash acquired forward Victor Martinez Baez from Saltillo Rancho Seco.
Awards and honors On November 19, 2013, the Professional Arena Soccer League named forward Erick Tovar as the PASL Player of the Week. The league cited his outstanding offensive contribution to his team's success, including multiple game-winning goals.
On February 26, 2014, the PASL announced its "All-League" honors. Defender Genoni Martinez was one of six players named to the All-League First Team.
Schedule
Exhibition Game Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance Score Record 1 Friday October 25 4:00pm Universidad de Monterrey W 9–1 1–0 Arena Monterrey 2,500 2 Saturday November 30 7:30pm Austin Capitals(PASL-Premier) W 9–1 2–0 Soccer Zone South Austin 3 Saturday February 8 4:00pm Tigres de la UANL W 6–1 3–0 Ciudad Universitaria
Regular season Game Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance Score Record 1 Sunday November 3 5:05pm Hidalgo La Fiera W 6–5 (OT) 1–0 Arena Monterrey 9,627 2 Saturday November 9 6:35pm at Saltillo Rancho Seco W 9–6 2–0 UAdeC Arena 550 3 Saturday November 16 7:05pm at San Diego Sockers W 6–5 (SO) 3–0 Valley View Casino Center 3,922 4 Sunday November 17 1:05pm at Toros Mexico W 10–6 4–0 UniSantos Park 363 5 Thursday November 21 8:35pm Saltillo Rancho Seco W 9–5 5–0 Arena Monterrey 4,927 6 Saturday November 23 7:05pm at Texas Strikers W 13–4 6–0 Ford Arena 422 7 Friday December 13 7:05pm at Texas Strikers W 7–2 7–0 Ford Arena 377 8 Sunday December 15 7:05pm at Hidalgo La Fiera L 4–5 (OT) 7–1 State Farm Arena 1,242 9 Friday December 20 8:35pm Ontario Fury W 13–6 8–1 Arena Monterrey 5,235 10 Saturday December 21 7:05pm Texas Strikers W 12–1 9–1 Arena Monterrey 4,788 11 Saturday January 4 7:05pm at Saltillo Rancho Seco W 8–3 10–1 Deportivo Rancho-Seco Saltillo 500 12 Sunday January 12 5:05pm Hidalgo La Fiera W 11–6 11–1 Arena Monterrey 7,123 13 Saturday January 18 7:35pm at Hidalgo La Fiera L 1–7 11–2 State Farm Arena 1,264 14 Sunday January 19 5:05pm Texas Strikers W 15–5 12–2 Arena Monterrey 4,789 15 Sunday January 26 5:05pm San Diego Sockers L 6–8 12–3 Arena Monterrey 4,891 16 Saturday February 16 5:05pm Saltillo Rancho Seco♥ W 10–2 13–3 Arena Monterrey 5,482 ♥ Rescheduled from February 2 at league request.
Post-season Round Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance Score Record Central Division Semifinal Saturday February 22 7:05pm at Dallas Sidekicks W 6–4 1–0 Allen Event Center 4,849 Central Division Final Saturday March 1 7:05pm at Hidalgo La Fiera L 8–9 1–1 State Farm Arena 1,322
References
External links Monterrey Flash official website Monterrey Flash at Vavel Professional Arena Soccer League at Vavel