After scoring just once in the previous four matches at Toyota Stadium, North Texas SC exploded for four goals to defeat South Georgia Tormenta FC, 5-0, Tuesday night. 

Key Events: 

Bryan Reynolds opened the scoring for North Texas in the 29th minute after getting on the end of Arturo Rodriguez’s inch perfect pass that dropped in just over the Tormenta defenders. Reynolds collected the lofted pass with is first touch and scuffed a shot past Pablo Jara with his second to score his first goal of the season, while Rodriguez notched his league-leading eighth assist. 

The hosts doubled the lead minutes later following a Thomas Roberts corner kick. Callum Montgomery nodded the out-swinging service on frame, forcing Jara to tip it onto the crossbar and momentarily keep it out, but Richard Danso was there to volley home the rebound. 

Roberts was involved again as North Texas grabbed a third just before halftime. The FC Dallas loanee skipped past a defender on the endline and drove into the box before being tugged down from behind for a penalty. Ricardo Pepi stepped up and rolled the penalty in to his right, sending Jara the wrong way to score his eighth goal of the season. 

Gibran Rayo capped off a well-executed counterattack to make it 4-0 in the 82nd minute. Tanner Tessmann slipped a pass through the center backs for Reynolds who was making a run into the penalty area from the right flank. Reynolds beat his defender and laid the ball back to Rayo. The 17-year old did well to beat Jara from a tight angle at the near post for his first professional goal.

North Texas earned its second penalty of the match when a low cross struck the hand of a Tormenta defender in the 90th minute. Pepi again chose to finish to his right, but was lucky to beat Jara as the goalkeeper guessed right and should have made the save to deny the striker his ninth goal of the season. 

FC Dallas goalkeeper Kyle Zobeck made three saves to earn his first clean sheet and the NTSC’s tenth, which has the club one behind Greenville Triumph SC for the league lead.  

The win moves North Texas back into first place in the League One standings, with a two-point lead and two games in hand on second place Lansing Ignite FC. NTSC will have an opportunity to extend its lead at the top of the table later this week when it hosts Toronto FC II, while Lansing has a bye. 

Tormenta remains in the fourth and final playoff spot, despite winning just once in the previous ten matches. Head Coach John Miglarese’s side will have to bounce back quickly to prepare for a home match with the Richmond Kickers this Saturday.