When City of Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris spoke as one of the guests at the official reopening of Lancaster Municipal Stadium – now home to USL League One expansion club AV ALTA FC – in early March, the sense of excitement around the venue was evident.

“When a pro team is here, it brings us closer to that goal of being a place where ideas are exchanged, where fun things are happening, where it’s exciting,” Parris told local media. “I just have a feeling that this thing is going to take off.”

Just over a month later, as a sellout crowd of 5,433 fans packed into the venue for AV ALTA’s inaugural home regular season contest – and the club’s first league win, a 2-0 result against fellow League One expansion side Westchester SC – Parris’ words seemed prescient.

There’s something great brewing in Antelope Valley.

• BUILDING BLOCKS: While Saturday night marked AV ALTA’s first home league game, the first two rounds of the U.S. Open Cup had given a preview of what was to come. The side’s victories against USL League Two side Ventura County Fusion before a crowd of 2,453 fans on March 18 and last Tuesday night against LAFC2 of MLS NEXT Pro before 2,735 each delivered a vibrant atmosphere as pro soccer arrived in the city.

• GET AROUND THEM: The supporters and the environment were rewarded with a dramatic victory against LAFC2 as Jimmie Villalobos’ 120th minute winner in extra time brought the drama in a result the hosts thoroughly deserved. Villalobos was on the scoresheet again on Saturday night, sending home a half-volleyed finish after Emmanuel Alaribe had scored a ninth-minute opener to send the side on its way to a historic three points.

• HE SAID IT: “It feels incredible to start this chapter with a win,” said Villalobos, a California native and League One veteran over the past four seasons. “We’ve been grinding as a group, and tonight it all came together. We’re building something special here, and this is just the first step.”

AV ALTA’s home opener has continued a positive trend for the expansion clubs in League One this season.

FC Naples was the first to make its presence felt with sellouts in its opening two league games of the season. The club is currently averaging more than 4,500 fans across its three home league contests, and has used that backing to surge to the top of the standings with an undefeated record five games in.

Texoma FC, meanwhile, welcomed a sellout crowd to Bearcat Stadium in its inaugural home opener, while between its passionate support and success on the field in the opening two rounds Portland Hearts of Pine has quickly added to its following, becoming a darling of this year’s U.S. Open Cup.

More than 3,000 fans were on hand for Hearts of Pine’s dramatic penalty shootout win at its home away from home last week in Lewiston, Maine against the USL Championship’s Hartford Athletic while preparations continue at Fitzpatrick Stadium for its official League One home opener in May.

At AV ALTA, meanwhile, the club’s first win in league play sets up a fascinating upcoming month. The side will host nearby USL Championship club Orange County SC in the next round of the U.S. Open Cup on April 15 and makes its debut in the USL Jägermeister Cup when it visits perennial Championship power Sacramento Republic FC on April 27.

For Lancaster native and the first signing in club history Miguel Ibarra, however, this opening night is one that will resonate for a very long time.

“To put on this jersey and win our first match – right here, representing my hometown – it’s a dream come true,” said Ibarra. “The energy from the fans was unreal. I’ve played in a lot of places, but this one hits different. This is for the AV.”