MATCH NOTES
- Homegrown Slade Starnes scored first pro goal
- Homegrown Daniel Baran scores first game-winning goal
- Da’vian Kimbrough scores first pro goal.
- Attendance: 3,298
- MLS NEXT Pro Box Score
MANSFIELD, Texas (Aug. 8, 2026) – North Texas SC (7-7-6, 29 points) defeated Tacoma Defiance (9-9-4, 33 points) 3-1 on Saturday night at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium. Slade Starnes and Da’vian Kimbrough scored their first professional goals, while Daniel Baran scored his first game-winning goal of his pro career.
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THE CAPTAIN STRIKES*
FC Dallas Homegrown Slade Starnes scored his first professional goal in the 69th minute off an assist from Caleb Swann. Starnes has made 15 appearances for North Texas this season.
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DANIEL “SET PIECE” BARAN*
FC Dallas Homegrown Daniel Baran scored his second goal of the season on a direct free kick in the 72nd minute. Baran has made 48 career appearances for North Texas since joining the club in 2024.
FIRST GOAL FOR DA’VIAN KIMBROUGH
Forward Da’vian Kimbrough scored his first professional goal in second-half stoppage time. Kimbrough joined North Texas SC on loan from USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC. On Oct. 1, 2023, he made his professional debut for Sacramento Republic at 13 years, 7 months and 13 days old, becoming the youngest player to debut in a professional American soccer league.
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SERIES HISTORY*
With tonight's win, North Texas SC improved its all-time record against Tacoma Defiance to 4-1-3.
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UP NEXT
*North Texas continues its homestand at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium against Timbers2 on Saturday, Aug. 15. The match is presented by About Mansfield, with kickoff set for 7:45 p.m. CT. Watch the match on MLSNEXTPro.com and OneFootball.com.
