The Scorpions ventured out into the cold and rain on Saturday to claim a 1-0 scrimmage victory over Incarnate World at STAR Soccer Complex.

It wasn’t a particularly overwhelming performance, with Shaun Saiko claiming the lone goal with an impressive individual effort. But manager Alen Marcina was pleased with the performance as the Scorpions at least dominated possession against a UIW squad intent to pack itself behind the ball and defend.

“They moved the ball very, very well,” he said. “It was good that Incarnate did what they did. They bunkered back, congested the line in front of the keeper which makes it difficult to score goals. We found a way to get one, could have had a few more. It’s very positive.”

It marked the Scorpions’ first victory of the preseason, following draws against SMU (3-3) and FC Dallas (1-1) in full-fledged exhibition matches. Marcina said he wasn’t concerned with his team’s inability to convert superior possessions into more goals.

“Not at all,” he said. “We have some excellent attacking players. We’re confident they’re going to bang in a bunch of goals (during the season).”

The Scorpions will play Tulsa and Houston Dynamo in the next two weekends as their NASL season opener against Minnesota looms on April 13. As of Saturday, the contract roster is as follows, with projected starters noted by asterisks —

Keepers: *David Bingham (loan), Jeremy Vuolo

Defenders: *Adrian Cann, *Greg Janicki, *Julius James, *Stephen DeRoux, Jeff Jennings

Midfielders: *Danny Barrera, *Shaun Saiko, *Walter Restrepo, *Richard Menjivar, Julio Garcia, Javier Saavedra

Forwards: *Tomasz Zahorski, *Sam Garza, Jonathan Fana, Sainey Touray

Team president Howard Cornfield said on Saturday that the Scorpions are deep in negotiations with what he terms as a pair of “impact” veteran signings, one striker and one defender.

Marcina said the Scorpions could also have room to sign several trialists, of which midfielder Josue Soto and defender Jonathan Borrajo have been the most impressive.