Dominick LaPlaca was born and raised in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, before he moved to San Antonio. He will tell you that’s he’s a die-hard Yankees fan if you didn’t notice the large Yankees tattoo on his arm.
He got what would have been a dream call from a buddy offering LaPlaca a ticket to Game 7 of Yankees vs. Astros on Saturday night.
LaPlaca already had plans. He was going to the first ever San Antonio FC playoff game.
“The Yankees are my team, but SAFC is family,” LaPlaca said. “I’ve already told (SAFC Managing Director) Tim Holt my next tattoo is going to be the SAFC badge.”
LaPlaca, whose son Andrew is in SAFC’s Pro Academy, was one of the 7,000-plus fans at Toyota Field on a perfect Saturday night in San Antonio. And he joined everyone in going bonkers when Ever Guzman put a penalty kick in the back of the net three minutes into stoppage time, giving SAFC a 2-1 victory.
Dominick LaPlaca was born and raised in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, before he moved to San Antonio. He will tell you that’s he’s a die-hard Yankees fan if you didn’t notice the large Yankees tattoo on his arm.
He got what would have been a dream call from a buddy offering LaPlaca a ticket to Game 7 of Yankees vs. Astros on Saturday night.
LaPlaca already had plans. He was going to the first ever San Antonio FC playoff game.
“The Yankees are my team, but SAFC is family,” LaPlaca said. “I’ve already told (SAFC Managing Director) Tim Holt my next tattoo is going to be the SAFC badge.”
LaPlaca, whose son Andrew is in SAFC’s Pro Academy, was one of the 7,000-plus fans at Toyota Field on a perfect Saturday night in San Antonio. And he joined everyone in going bonkers when Ever Guzman put a penalty kick in the back of the net three minutes into stoppage time, giving SAFC a 2-1 victory.
The stadium erupted at once, the stands representing the fabric of San Antonio as well as possible. There were fans who have called the city home for generations next to men and women in military uniform who have been here for days, all partaking in the unifier of sport to cheer on Our Club.
There is no exclusion when the price of admission is less than a movie ticket.
“Tonight was one of the best nights in this stadium since I’ve been here,” SAFC coach Darren Powell said. “When you get a result like that, you can take in the noise and the joy it brings to a lot of people. For us as a coaching staff, that’s why we do the job.”
The atmosphere has built for the past two seasons, between the hundreds of tailgaters outside the stadium hours before kickoff to the smoke billowing out from Section 118 after a goal.
They witnessed a remarkable second season for San Antonio FC, which finished second in the USL Western Conference after missing the playoffs in 2016. SAFC led the league in defense with 24 goals allowed all season and 15 clean sheets. At home, the club lost one match all season.
Saturday’s game was the 11th time in 17 USL matches this season (regular season and playoffs) that more than 7,000 fans packed Toyota Field.
“The fans are tremendous,” defender Greg Cochrane said. “It makes this an intimidating place for other teams, and we really feed off that. It lifts us.”
The stadium erupted at once, the stands representing the fabric of San Antonio as well as possible. There were fans who have called the city home for generations next to men and women in military uniform who have been here for days, all partaking in the unifier of sport to cheer on Our Club.
There is no exclusion when the price of admission is less than a movie ticket.
“Tonight was one of the best nights in this stadium since I’ve been here,” SAFC coach Darren Powell said. “When you get a result like that, you can take in the noise and the joy it brings to a lot of people. For us as a coaching staff, that’s why we do the job.”
The atmosphere has built for the past two seasons, between the hundreds of tailgaters outside the stadium hours before kickoff to the smoke billowing out from Section 118 after a goal.
They witnessed a remarkable second season for San Antonio FC, which finished second in the USL Western Conference after missing the playoffs in 2016. SAFC led the league in defense with 24 goals allowed all season and 15 clean sheets. At home, the club lost one match all season.
Saturday’s game was the 11th time in 17 USL matches this season (regular season and playoffs) that more than 7,000 fans packed Toyota Field.
“The fans are tremendous,” defender Greg Cochrane said. “It makes this an intimidating place for other teams, and we really feed off that. It lifts us.”
After Tulsa took an early lead on a gorgeous strike from 25 yards out by Paris Gee, SAFC had a string of close calls to end the first half. Billy Forbes hit the crossbar, a goal was called back because of a foul inside the box, and another shot hit the side netting. It was the exhilaration and frustration of the beautiful game captured in a 10-minute sequence.
The fans kept their confidence throughout. They stayed standing.
“San Antonio is a soccer city,” said Guillermo Corona, one of the Section 118 drummers. “We’re here to support our club for every minute, and they’ve responded and thanked us over and over. If you haven’t come to a game before, the love for this team will grow in your heart the minute you walk in.”
After Tulsa took an early lead on a gorgeous strike from 25 yards out by Paris Gee, SAFC had a string of close calls to end the first half. Billy Forbes hit the crossbar, a goal was called back because of a foul inside the box, and another shot hit the side netting. It was the exhilaration and frustration of the beautiful game captured in a 10-minute sequence.
The fans kept their confidence throughout. They stayed standing.
“San Antonio is a soccer city,” said Guillermo Corona, one of the Section 118 drummers. “We’re here to support our club for every minute, and they’ve responded and thanked us over and over. If you haven’t come to a game before, the love for this team will grow in your heart the minute you walk in.”
SAFC kept the pressure on in the second half, and the breakthrough came in the 61st minute, when Omar Gordon shot was redirected in by Cesar Elizondo.
And the atmosphere peaked in stoppage time when Billy Forbes made a run into the box, hitting the ground after a Tulsa tackle. When the referee awarded a penalty kick, Forbes fell to the ground and pumped both fists in the air. The kid who San Antonio has watched grow up was helping take his city to new heights.
While Powell may have called Saturday one of the best nights at Toyota Field, there’s a chance for an even better night coming up.
SAFC moves on to host OKC Energy at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Western Conference Semifinals. Tickets are available at www.sanantoniofc.com.
“We have the best atmosphere in the USL,” Elizondo said. “I’m so proud of our fans. Every year, every game, it gets better, and I know the semifinals is going to be huge here at Toyota Field.”
SAFC kept the pressure on in the second half, and the breakthrough came in the 61st minute, when Omar Gordon shot was redirected in by Cesar Elizondo.
And the atmosphere peaked in stoppage time when Billy Forbes made a run into the box, hitting the ground after a Tulsa tackle. When the referee awarded a penalty kick, Forbes fell to the ground and pumped both fists in the air. The kid who San Antonio has watched grow up was helping take his city to new heights.
While Powell may have called Saturday one of the best nights at Toyota Field, there’s a chance for an even better night coming up.
SAFC moves on to host OKC Energy at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Western Conference Semifinals. Tickets are available at www.sanantoniofc.com.
“We have the best atmosphere in the USL,” Elizondo said. “I’m so proud of our fans. Every year, every game, it gets better, and I know the semifinals is going to be huge here at Toyota Field.”
