TACOMA, WASH. – Tacoma Defiance (0-1-0, 0 points) on Friday at Cheney Stadium dropped its opening match of the season by a 2-1 score to Reno 1868 FC (1-0-0, 3 points). Sounders FC Academy player Chris Hegardt scored his first professional goal, while Danny Reynolds earned an assist in his first game with Tacoma. Collin Fernandez, Taylor Mueller and Chino Pérez also made their Defiance debuts after being signed in the offseason.
Hegardt scored the first goal of the season for Defiance in the 26th minute. Shandon Hopeau played a ball down the left side to the foot of Danny Reynolds, who sent a pass into the middle of the area. Hegardt finished with one touch to put the home side ahead, 1-0.
Reno’s first goal came in the 56th minute when Eric Calvillo sent a through ball into the area that Jack Skahan finished with one touch past Tacoma goalkeeper Trey Muse. Reno took a 2-1 lead 18 minutes later when Christiano Francois tallied his first marker of the season. He finished a rebound off a diving save by Muse in the 74th minute for the game-winner. Francois later assisted on Gilbert Fuentes’ goal that pushed the visiting side’s lead to 3-1.
Defiance returns to action on Wednesday, March 11 at Cheney Stadium vs. San Diego Loyal (7:00 p.m. PT / ESPN+). The club then hosts OKC Energy FC on Sunday, March 22 (1:30 p.m. / ESPN+).
MEDIA RESOURCES
PHOTOS – IMAGES FOR MEDIA USE: https://sndrs.com/58ps4
VIDEO – HEAD COACH CHRIS LITTLE POST-MATCH MEDIA SCRUM: https://sndrs.com/uzqkh
VIDEO – MIDFIELDER CHRIS HEGARDT POST-MATCH MEDIA SCRUM: https://sndrs.com/8chzr
AUDIO – DOWNLOADABLE POST-MATCH SOUNDBYTES: http://sndrs.com/audio
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance I 1-3 I Reno 1868 FC
Friday, March 6, 2020
Venue: Cheney Stadium I Tacoma, Washington
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
Assistants: Christian Clerc, Seth Martin
Fourth Official: Liam Leonard
Attendance: 2,178
SCORING SUMMARY
TAC – Chris Hegardt (Danny Reynolds) 26’
RENO – Jack Skahan (Eric Calvillo) 56’
RENO – Christiano Francois 74’
RENO – Gilbert Fuentes (Christiano Francois) 87’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
TAC – Jesse Daley (caution) 38’
TAC – Josh Atencio (caution) 86’
LINEUPS & STATS
TAC – Trey Muse; Antonee Burke, Sam Rogers, Taylor Mueller, Danny Reynolds; Chris Hegardt, Josh Atencio; Shandon Hopeau, Jesse Daley (Collin Fernandez 62’), Chino Pérez (Marlon Vargas 85’); Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez (Azriel Gonzalez 67’)
Substitutes not used: Jamie Lowell, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Nick Hinds, Danny Robles
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 13
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 7
Saves: 5
RENO – James Marcinkowski; Thomas Janjigian, Tony Alfaro, Marcos Lopez, Jack Skahan; Kevin Partida (Brent Richards 73’), Siad Haji (Sam Gleadle 66’); Eric Calvillo, Gilbert Fuentes (Foster Langsdorf 90’), Christiano Francois; Corey Hertzog
Substitutes not used: Eric De La Cerda, Aleks Berkolds, Tucker Bone, Aidan Apodaca
Total shots: 16
Shots on goal: 8
Fouls: 13
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 2
