TUKWILA, WASH. – Tacoma Defiance (8-3-5, 32 points) defeated North Texas SC (5-7-6, 22 points) 3-0 Sunday evening at Starfire Stadium. Two North Texas own goals and a Paul Rothrock chip shot gave the home side all three points to wrap up its three-match homestand, as goalkeeper Jacob Castro recorded his first professional clean sheet.
Tacoma got off to a fast start via an own goal in the first minute. Rothrock sent in a cross from the right flank that was deflected off North Texas’ Henri Santos and into the back of the net.
Rothrock then doubled Defiance’s lead in the 24th minute, receiving a lobbed pass from Braudilio Rodrigues and chipping it over North Texas goalkeeper Julian Eyestone. The goal was Rothrock’s third of the season, with Rodrigues tallying his second assist on the year.
Defiance scored a third courtesy of another own goal in the 53rd minute. Rodrigues played in a ball to Travian Sousa inside the area, who sent in a cross that was deflected into the goal by North Texas’ Alejandro Urzua.
The result marks Tacoma's fourth straight win and third straight shutout. It also extends Defiance’s unbeaten run to six straight games, not dropping a match since June 5 and outscoring opponents 10-4. Tacoma jumps into first place in the Pacific Division with 32 points, with two games in hand over second-place Whitecaps FC 2.
Following tonight’s contest, Wade Webber’s side hits the road to take on LA Galaxy II on Sunday, July 16 at Dignity Health Sports Park (5:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV).
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 3 – North Texas SC 0
Sunday, July 9, 2023
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Referee: Corbyn May
Assistants: Salvador Reyes, Cephas Quartson
Fourth official: Robert Vincze
Weather: 76 degrees and sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
TAC – Own Goal (Henri Santos) 1’
TAC – Paul Rothrock (Braudilio Rodrigues) 24’
TAC – Own Goal (Alejandro Urzua) 53’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
TAC – Paul Rothrock (caution) 38’
NTX – Theo Henrique (caution) 43’
NTX – Alejandro Urzua (caution) 73’
NTX – Henri Santos (caution) 80’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Jacob Castro; Hal Uderitz, Fito Ovalle – Captain, Stuart Hawkins; Antonio Herrera (Georgi Minoungou 67’), Snyder Brunell (Juan Alvarez 83’), Frank Daroma, Travian Sousa (Pedro Karalkovas 74’); Paul Rothrock, Braudilio Rodrigues (Chris Aquino 74’); Eythor Bjørgolfsson (Gio Miglietti 46’)
Substitutes not used: Wallis Lapsley, Elias Katsaros, Etienne Veillard
Total shots: 6
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 11
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 1
Saves: 1
North Texas SC – Julian Eyestone; Tomas Pondeca, Henri Santos, Manuel Caicedo (Carl Sainté 46’), Tyshawn Rose; Yeicar Perlaza (Nayrobi Vargas 70’), Theo Henrique (André Luque), Alejandro Urzua (Anthony Ramirez 83’); Diego García, Pablo Torre, Hope Avayevu (Alejandro Araneda 58’)
Substitutes not used: Antonio Carrera
Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 1
Fouls: 18
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 0
Saves: 2
