The El Paso Patriots shut out the Dallas-Fort Worth Tornados 1-0 on a windy Thursday night at Patriot Stadium.

The only goal of the game came in the 21st minute by El Paso’s Edgar Mendoza.

"I was very happy," Mendoza said.

Before the game, Patriots coach Hugo Samano made sure that his team did not take its opponent lightly.

"We had to be alert, because the other team would come out strong," he said.

Afterward, he said he was happy his team came away with a win.

"We knew this game would be difficult, but our team stood strong," Samano said.

The Patriots’ next home game is a first-round match in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against the Arizona Sahuaros. That match is scheduled for June 9 at Patriot Stadium, where the Patriots have been tough. They’re 3-1-0 at home so far this season.

Asked how he felt about the matchup with Arizona in the Open Cup, Samano said it didn’t matter to him who

the Patriots are scheduled to play.

"We’re happy for qualifying, that was our first objective," he said. "The Arizona team is strong and a difficult team. We have to work hard and be ready."