RENO, Nev. – Having handed San Antonio FC only its second loss of the 2017 USL regular season on Saturday night, the sense of accomplishment for Reno 1868 FC Head Coach Ian Russell was evident.

“This was a huge win for us against one of the top teams in the USL,” said Head Coach Ian Russell. “It is up there with one of the top wins this season.”

What made the 2-0 victory in front of another strong crowd of 5,847 fans at Greater Nevada all the more satisfying was that it reversed the heaviest loss the side had suffered in its expansion season.

Goals by Luis Felipe and Brian Brown paved the way to victory, but the growth the team as a whole has shown since that four-goal defeat at Toyota Field on April 15 was most pleasing to Russell and the squad.

“We got smoked down in San Antonio before, early on,” said Russell. “These guys have been improving all year, and that was the proof right there.”

In a game that figured to be as tight as it played out, Reno’s pressure was one of the keys to the hosts’ success. Pressing high allowed SAFC to break out on occasion, but it also yielded possession in good positions to take advantage for 1868 FC.

“We knew they were going to be a tough team to break down, so we wanted to try and pick up balls higher up the field and try to create goals that way,” said Reno forward Antoine Hoppenot. “We weren’t able to pick up a goal that way, but we’re good on set pieces, so we knew if we picked up a lot of set pieces we would be able to score on one or two, and we did.”

READ MORE: 1868 FC Gets Past San Antonio

Luis Felipe’s opening goal that followed a mad scramble off a corner was also important, allowing Reno to put pressure on SAFC to respond on the road. 1868 FC’s pressure then led to its second goal, as Brian Brown capitalized on an errant pass by San Antonio goalkeeper Diego Restrepo and finished into an open net.

With the win, Reno not only solidified its top-four position in the West, but is now only five points back of San Antonio as it looks to push higher in the standings with 11 games to go in the regular season.

“They’re going to feel us now,” said Hoppenot. “I think we’re five points back, so every game now they know we’re right there and it puts a little bit of pressure on them. We get to play Swope again here at home, so we’ll be ready to beat them because I think they’re four points ahead of us.”

With two more big games up next, first on the road against Sacramento Republic FC next Saturday night before returning home to face the Swope Park Rangers on August 26, Reno is ready to try and make a run.

“It’s awesome, this is what you train for,” said Hoppenot. “In the preseason, this is what you wait for, these stretches during the season. Especially in the summer months where everyone’s a little tired, this is really where you can make your season, against your rivals, against teams that are in the top four, so we’re very excited, and obviously beating San Antonio is a great start and we just want to keep going.”