USL Cup: AC Boise Rises to the Moment, Earns Shootout Win in Historic Debut
- Staff Writer
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
LAS VEGAS, NV — Athletic Club Boise (USL1) announced its arrival on the national stage with a defiant "cupset" on Saturday night, defeating USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights FC in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation. The match, Boise’s first-ever in the Prinx Tires USL Cup, saw the League One side overcome a higher-division opponent at Cashman Field to secure a vital two points in Group 1 play.
The victory was a testament to the squad’s depth and resilience, punctuated by a professional debut goal and a masterclass in high-pressure goalkeeping.
First Half: A Defensive Stalemate
The opening 45 minutes featured a high-octane trade of chances. Boise nearly silenced the home crowd inside the first 10 minutes when Jonathan Ricketts found space in the box, but he was unable to capitalize.
Las Vegas responded with sustained pressure, peppering the Boise goal with shots from Oalex Anderson and Ben Mines. However, Boise goalkeeper Jonathan Kliewer anchored the defense, recording several high-pressure stops to keep the match scoreless at the interval.
Second Half: Oyler Responds to the Breakthrough
The Lights finally broke the deadlock in the 61st minute. Following a chaotic scramble in the box, forward Nighte Pickering finished from close range to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Rather than folding, Boise responded with immediate urgency. Just three minutes later, in the 64th minute, Keegan Oyler—making his first professional start—found himself at the back post. After his initial attempt was parried, the Meridian native and Rocky Mountain High School alum pounced on the rebound to level the match at 1-1.
"I saw Omar [Yehya] get a through ball and I just wanted to get into the box," Oyler recalled. "The ball came to me and I felt like I had time... I was just happy to get the equalizer for the team."
The Shootout: Garcia the Hero
With regulation ending in a stalemate, the match moved to a penalty shootout. Head Coach Nate Miller turned to goalkeeper Javier Garcia, a known specialist in spot-kicks, to see the game out.
Garcia delivered on his reputation, making two decisive saves to stymie the Lights. Dominic Gasso then stepped up to convert the final penalty, sealing a 4-2 shootout victory and a statement result for the Boise club.
"Everyone believes how good Javier is on penalty kicks," said Coach Miller. "It’s a mental thing, not a technical thing, and I loved seeing my players step up in mental moments and get the job done."
Match Statistics
Category | AC Boise | Las Vegas Lights FC |
Regulation Score | 1 | 1 |
Shootout Score | 4 | 2 |
Shots | 9 | 18 |
Shots on Target | 4 | 5 |
Possession | 57.6% | 42.4% |
Pass Accuracy | 86.6% | 79.4% |
Implications & Up Next
The result provides AC Boise with two points in the USL Cup Group 1 standings, placing them in second place early in the tournament. The performance reinforces the club’s ability to compete with top-tier opposition and serves as a massive confidence boost for the young roster.
Athletic Club Boise now returns home to host Chattanooga Red Wolves SC in league play.
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. MT
Venue: Athletic Club Boise Stadium
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