DENVER, COLO. – Tacoma Defiance (5-3-5, 23 points) defeated Colorado Rapids 2 (9-1-3, 32 points) 2-1 Sunday evening at University of Denver Soccer Stadium. Stuart Hawkins bagged his first career goal while Gio Miglietti added a great individual effort to send Defiance home with all three points.
Hawkins opened the scoring in the ninth minute. The centerback found himself in space outside the area, sending in a long-range chip shot that found the top-left corner of the net. It was the first career goal for the Sounders FC Academy product, who signed with Defiance on June 23, 2022.
Tacoma doubled its lead not 10 minutes later courtesy of Miglietti. After receiving a long-range goal kick from Defiance goalkeeper Andrew Thomas, the University of Washington product found himself behind the defense, chipping a shot from distance over the hands of Colorado goalkeeper Adam Beaudry in the 17th minute. The goal marked his third of the year, with Thomas recording his first career assist.
Colorado pulled one back in the 78th minute off a set piece. Blake Malone got his head on a corner kick lobbed in by Dillon Serna, sending the ball into the back of the net.
The result marked the first loss of the year for Colorado Rapids 2 and put Tacoma Defiance back into second place in the Pacific Division, three points shy of Whitecaps FC 2 with two games in hand.
Following tonight’s contest, Wade Webber’s side returns home to face Austin FC II on Sunday, June 25 at Starfire Stadium (7:00 p.m. PT / MLSNEXTPro.com).
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 2 – Colorado Rapids 2 1
Sunday, June 18, 2023
Venue: University of Denver Soccer Stadium
Referee: Melvin Rivas
Assistants: James Ewer, Eric Del Rosario
Fourth official: Will Aten
Weather: 82 degrees and mostly sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
TAC – Stuart Hawkins 9’
TAC – Gio Miglietti (Andrew Thomas) 17’
COL – Blake Malone (Dillion Serna) 78’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
COL – Yosuke Hanya (caution) 41’
TAC – Fito Ovalle (caution) 45+1’
TAC – Snyder Brunell (caution) 45+4’
TAC – Paul Rothrock (caution) 90’
COL – Marlon Vargas (caution) 90+3’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Andrew Thomas; Stuart Hawkins, Fito Ovalle – captain, Elias Katsaros; Paul Rothrock, Snyder Brunell (Jack Jeremiah 73’), Frank Daroma (Georgi Minoungou 80’), Travian Sousa; Antonio Herrera (Hal Uderitz 65’), Gio Miglietti (Eythor Bjørgolfsson 80’), Braudilio Rodrigues
Substitutes not used: Wallis Lapsley, Chris Aquino
Total shots: 18
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 8
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 4
Colorado Rapids 2 – Adam Beaudry, Steve Flores, Blake Malone, Aboubacar Keita (Daniel Garcia HT), Jackson Travis, Oliver Larraz – captain (Cain Castellon 75’), Daouda Amadou (Robinson Aguirre 52’), Connor Miller, Yosuke Hanya, Caique de Brito (Dillon Serna 66’), Marlon Vargas
Substitutes not used: Abraham Rodriguez, Logan Batiste, Pariss Mitchell, Joshua Hardin, Keith Chavarria
Total shots: 2
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 7
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 15
Saves: 1
