EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley FC bounced back from a big midweek defeat to take a 3-0 victory against OKC Energy FC on Saturday night at the UT RGV Soccer Complex. The Toros (6-3-4, 22pts) took the lead in the 14th minute as a shot by Jose Escalante from 25 yards took a wicked deflection and looped high and dropped into the net. RGVFC doubled its lead in more conventional fashion four minutes before halftime as a good turn by Kyle Murphy off Memo Rodriguez’s pass opened up a low shot into the left corner of the net. Escalante was sent off just past the hour mark as the Toros were reduced to 10 men, and Energy FC (4-2-4, 16pts) almost too advantage immediately as RGVFC goalkeeper Callum Irving was called on to make a pair of big saves soon after. The Toros wrapped up victory in stoppage time, as Eric Bird scored with a good left-footed shot as OKC chased the game.

Scoring:
14’ – RGV – Jose Escalante
41’ – RGV – Kyle Murphy (Memo Rodriguez)
90+’ – RGV – Eric Bird (Charlie Ward)

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. Were the Toros looking ahead to this contest on Wednesday night when they fell to the Swope Park Rangers? It’s a possibility, because this was a far different RGVFC side than the one that showed up in Missouri. The hosts got back to their aggressive, attacking selves on Saturday night, and while their opening goal came through a slice of luck, the second by Kyle Murphy was thanks to a strong build-up and finish that gave them a vital second goal just before the break.

• 2. With the way the side had been playing, Energy FC was probably due for a letdown game on Saturday night. The side didn’t play poorly, but with RGVFC goalkeeper Callum Irving in solid form throughout the night, the breaks just didn’t seem to go OKC’s way. With a visit of their own to Swope Park up next, you’d expect Energy FC to bounce back solidly a week from now.

• 3. Devin Perales and Calle Brown have split the majority of the starts in goal for the Toros this season, but Callum Irving’s second appearance of the season was an impressive one for the side. The former PDL standout showed excellent consistency in goal as the Toros claimed their fourth shutout of the season, both in his shot-stopping and communicating with his back line as RGVFC took a solid victory.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Callum Irving, Rio Grande Valley FC – Irving put in a stellar performance, particularly after the Toros were reduced to 10 men, to guide his team to a big victory that kept them solidly in the Western Conference playoff positions.

Upcoming Games:

Rio Grande Valley FC at Sacramento Republic FC – June 18, 11 p.m. ET, Bonney Field

OKC Energy FC at Swope Park Rangers – June 18, 8:30 p.m. ET, Children’s Mercy Victory Field at Swope Soccer Village