Chattanooga Red Wolves keeper Alex Mangels sends a goal kick away during Saturday’s USL League One match against North Texas SC. The Red Wolves won 1-0.While the Chattanooga Red Wolves fell one shy of double digits in their recent unbeaten streak, the USL League One soccer club has not lost in 10 home matches this season.
The magic at David Stanton Field continued as the season-long league leader, North Texas SC, fell 1-0 to an inspired bunch who improved to 6-0-4 on their home turf in a “Paws on the Pitch” match delayed by lightning for over an hour in the first half.
“Every team preaches to their players about making the home field their fortress,” Red Wolves coach Tim Hankinson said. “Our players have taken that to heart and want to make it as difficult as possible for visitors. They love the fans and the dogs tonight in the crowd. They really play well on this surface.”
It was the first victory for the Red Wolves (7-5-7) since June 29 as they bounced back from a midweek poor performance in a road loss to Lansing Ignite FC.
Home goalkeeper Alex Mangels controlled the pitch the entire match and did not fall out of position as he claimed countless crosses and dived on a dangerous chance for North Texas (10-4-4) to cue the final whistle. Hankinson declared after the signature victory that Mangels’ hands are as good any keeper he has ever coached.
The return of Leo Folla on the back line meshed well with Nicholas Amponsah, while Jonathan Caparelli also blocked a chance late.
“This win took all of us to defend, especially late,” Mangels said. “This shows we can compete with the top teams and are a top team. When it comes down to the four playoff spots later this seaosn, it’s wins like this which can help us be in the top four and have a chance to host.”
Tony Walls helped provide the difference as the right back won a possession on the sideline and tapped the ball to Sito Seoane, who sent a spot-on pass to forward Juan Mare just inside the box in the 53rd minute. Mare was fouled, and Steven Beattie calmly converted the penalty kick.
Beattie stepped to the PK spot centered 12 yards away from the goal and sent a low, powerful shot past the outstretched arms of the diving North Texas keeper for a 1-0 lead. It was Beattie’s eighth goal of the season, which put him one score back of North Texas’ Ronaldo Damus, who did not play.
The score came just four minutes after Vangjel Zguro’s free kick soared to Sito Seoane, who just missed the net wide left.
Chattanooga held 16-year-old sensation Ricardo Pepi scoreless. He was called over from the MLS FC Dallas team in hopes to pick up three standings points.
Pepi has scored seven goals in 10 matches and netted a hat trick in a season-opening 3-2 win over the Red Wolves. His open shot in the 13th minute Saturday went wide left from in the box.
North Texas played down a man after a red card handed in the 70th minute to Bico Bassainthe. Despite the loss the visitors cling to first place with 34 points; Lansing Ignite has 33.
Chattanooga remains in fifth place with 28 points along with Forward Madison FC, which won 1-0 over FC Tucson and holds a plus-5 to minus-1 goal differential.
The Red Wolves will visit third-place South Georgia Tormenta next Saturday and host North Texas again a week later.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.