FC Naples entered Saturday’s home USL League One match against Texoma FC with lots of momentum, both as a team and regarding some key players.

It defeated the Sherman, Texas-based team with its third straight 2-1 win.

The local team had achieved its second consecutive league victory, a home win Aug. 6 over South Georgia Tormenta before a CBS Sports television audience. That win propelled FC Naples into third place in league standings — where it remained Aug. 9 — bolstering its playoff chances in the team’s inaugural year.

Consistent offense

Against Texoma FC, forward Karsen Henderlong and midfielder Luka Prpa looked to score in their third consecutive match.

Henderlong’s ninth league goal Saturday — an expert trap, turn and right-foot blast in the 36th minute — put him in a tie for the league lead among all scorers. He has scored 12 goals overall, including non-league (tournament) matches.

Prpa, who has emerged as another major playmaker, put in a loose ball at close range right before halftime for his third league goal and fourth overall. It followed a well-struck corner kick and follow-up shot by Ian Cerro; defender Brecc Evans’ aggressive play moments earlier earned the corner kick.

Leaping save

South Georgia Tormenta had tied the Aug. 6 match in the 40th minute when Niall Reid-Stephen eluded two FC Naples defenders to hit a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Edward “Lalo” Delgado, who had made a leaping save earlier in the first half.

Early in the second half, FC Naples kept the pressure on, especially with creative ball control and scoring chances created in the opponent’s end by Prpa and midfielder Andrés Ferrin. With 20 minutes remaining, head coach Matt Poland replaced Prpa and Ferrin with defenders to help maintain the lead and give them a little more rest, with the match against Texoma looming. Henderlong also was removed from the pitch, with five minutes left.

Dominating performance

Three nights later, the home team picked up where it left off to the delight of 3,065 fans who braved light rain before and during most of the match. In a dominating performance, the spotlight shifted to two other players.

Ian Garrett — inserted into the starting lineup in place of Ferrin — scored his first goal of the season in the 23rd minute, deftly assisted by Henderlong. The speedy native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, nearly scored again a few minutes later. Then, with the halftime whistle moments away, Julian Cisneros trapped a loose ball and hit a long, high-arcing shot that nestled into the upper left side of the net, his third overall goal of the season. Moments later, a diving save by Delgado preserved the 2-0 lead going into the break.

In the second half, FC Naples defender Jake Dengler headed and knocked several crosses out of danger. In one of many substitutions, Dominick Bachstein, acquired recently from the Des Moines Menace, made his FC Naples debut with five minutes remaining. Texoma injected some tension when Luke McCormick headed in a crossing pass to cut the lead in half during stoppage time. Cisneros then snuffed out a last-second final assault with a well-executed sliding tackle.

“I think we have such a good collective mentality,” Garrett said afterward. “No matter what’s going on in the league or with other teams, we kind of just focus on ourselves. We really have such a close-knit squad that we play for each other, no matter what’s going on.”

What’s next?

Poland was pleased with his team’s overall performance against Texoma.

“In the first half, we did a lot of positive things,” he said. “We defended overall really well and obviously scored two beautiful goals. It’s frustrating that we allowed that goal, but ultimately, seeing out the game and getting three points at home is always a great way to end the week.

“Right now, it’s about rest and recovery. We had three matches in the last eight days, and it’s been really hard on the guys’ bodies physically. So first we’ll rest and recover, and then we’ll start preparing for our next road game.”

The victory kept FC Naples in third place in league standings — at press time — with a 9-5-5 record (wins-losses-ties). Its overall record is 12-8-5, including non-league (tournament) matches. Texoma dropped to a 5-7-6 league record.

FC Naples’ next two games will be on the road against league rivals Forward Madison at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, and One Knoxville 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27. It’ll face league opponent Westchester SC in its next home match on Saturday, Aug. 30. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Paradise Coast Sports Complex.