RENO, Nev. – Victory never tasted as sweet as it did on Saturday night at Greater Nevada Field.

Reno 1868 FC delivered New Mexico United’s first loss of the season in a box tied up with ribbon with an 88th minute goal by Duke Lacroix that made the score 2-1.

In addition to New Mexico United’s first loss, many other milestones were met in Saturday’s match-up. Sergio Rivas scored his first professional goal assisted by Corey Hertzog.

"Sergio is a very good player, Head Coach Ian Russell said. “I think you're just starting to see the best of Sergio...he's going to get better and better and got rewarded with a goal." 

In the 34th minute, defender Brent Richards passed 3,000 total minutes played for Reno 1868 FC.

"Brent Richards has been here for 3 years, and I think this is one of his best games he played,” Russell said. “He was going against a player on their team, Santi Moar, who's probably the best player in the USL right now and he didn't really well against him. I'm really happy for Brent, glad he's part of this club, and I hope he keeps playing well."

Reno was the first to score in the 28th minute when Sergio Rivas and Corey Hertzog sent perfectly paced through balls back and forth to each other down the sideline until Rivas was able to find the back of the net in one touch.

New Mexico United put themselves on the board shortly after in the 40th minute with a goal by Suggs. For the rest of the match it seemed as though both teams were going to have to settle for a draw.

Opposite of how a few matches went in the beginning of the season, it was Reno 1868 FC who found the goal late in the match. In the 88th minute, Duke Lacroix had an absolute screamer from the top of the 18 that New Mexico United goalkeeper, Cody Mizell, simply couldn’t save.

“That was fun,” Head Coach Ian Russell said after the match. “I think for us it was the hardest we've ever pressed a team, I think our fitness level is really high, we went at them and I'm just really proud of the team."

Reno hits the road next weekend to travel to El Paso where the team will take on El Paso Locomotive on Saturday, April 27. After the road trip, the team returns home on May 4 to host the Tulsa Roughnecks. For tickets, visit Reno1868FC.com or the Greater Nevada Field ticket office.

Reno 1868 FC Starting XI
GK (18) JT Marcinkowski, D (5) Zach Carroll ©, D (2) Emrah Klimenta, D (16) Brent Richards, D (11) Duke Lacroix, M (84) Seth Casiple, M (8) Will Seymore, M (22) Siad Haji, M (97) Sergio Rivas, F (21) Corey Hertzog, F (99) Brian Brown

Substitutes
GK (25) Damion Lewis, M (23) Sam Gleadle, D (3) Benjamin Galindo Cruz, D (6) Thomas Janjigian M (10) Lindo Mfeka, M (40) Raúl Mendiola, F (17) Adian Apodaca

Substitutions
62’ Mendiola in for Haji
Mfeka in for Rivas

Goals
Sergio Rivas 28’
Duke Lacroix 88’

Assists
Corey Hertzog 28’
Brian Brown 78’

Cards
53’ Yellow for Sergio Rivas