Pro Soccer: Union escape San Antonio with a draw

SAN ANTONIO — Perhaps it was the week off that created some rust, or a lengthy flight on a holiday weekend. More likely it had to do with the opponent in San Antonio, which just happens to have the third best record in the league.

While Monterey Bay FC didn’t end its now 20-game road winless streak, sneaking out of San Antonio with a tie Saturday will make the flight back to Monterey a little more comfortable after playing to a scoreless draw on a hot muggy night.

Since starting the season 0-7-3, the Union are 4-1-1 in their past six United Soccer League Championship games, with all four wins coming at Cardinale Stadium.

During its last five matches, Monterey Bay FC has the third best record in the Western Conference and fourth best overall, moving out of the cellar for the first time all season.

With 15 matches left in the regular season, the Union have climbed back into the postseason picture, sitting just three points out of a playoff spot. The franchise has never made the playoffs in its five seasons.

Earlier this year, Monterey Bay FC played San Antonio to a scoreless tie on April 4. It won’t return to USL play until July 18 when it will look to snap its 20-game road winless drought at Phoenix.

The Union will return to the Prinx Tires USL Cup next Saturday when they face conference rival Las Vegas, an opponent they fell to 1-0 on March 28 on the road.

For the first time all season, the Union posted back-to-back shutouts, with Jacob Jackson earning 10 saves — seven in the box — while Alisal High graduate Joel Garcia and Nico Gordon rose to the occasion on defense.

Despite controlling the ball 61 percent of the match, the Union managed just nine shots. One came on a header from Ilijah Paul, which was stopped.

Paul came into the game with three goals and a team-high three assists for the Union. Riley Bidois leads the team in goals with four.

San Antonio had a shot to win the game in the 84th minute with a penalty kick, only to see the ball bounce off the crossbar, keeping the game scoreless.

USL Women

Capo FC 2, Monterey Bay 1: The Sirens magical inaugural season came to a close Friday in the playoffs in Seattle, falling in a 16-team single-elimination tournament.

Monterey Bay won the NorCal Division title at 8-1-1, clinching the title last week, using three goals from Jessica Halladay in a 3-2 win over the Pleasanton RAGE.

Halladay — who played last fall for Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, leading the team in goals — produced the Sirens only goal to cut into Capo FC’s 2-1 lead in the second half.

Capo, which is based out of San Juan Capistrano, won the SoCal Division with an 8-0-2 regular season, outscoring opponents 30-8.

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This story was originally published July 4, 2026 at 9:29 PM.