By Tyler Strauss

On Saturday the Cosmos took on the defending NASL postseason champions, the San Antonio Scorpions, at Shuart Stadium. New York entered the game having not lost in seven games.  The Scorpions came into the match with just seven points in six games, but having won their previous two fixtures.

During the previous week’s match in Carolina star Cosmos midfielder Marcos Senna was subbed off early as a precautionary measure for a tweaked hamstring. Adam Moffat came on and replaced the Spaniard, playing exceptionally well in his absence. Coach Gio Savarese elected to give Moffat his first start of the season in Saturday’s match against the Scorpions.

“It was good to get my first start,” Moffat told NYCosmos.com following a 3-0 home triumph. “Marcos came off last week, so I played a long time then, but it was good to get a start. Even better to get a win.”

Moffat fit in nicely next to Danny Szetela, helping to hold down the Scorpions attack and shielding the Cosmos back line.

Standing in for Senna is not an easy task. The Spaniard has established himself as an integral part of the Cosmos lineup week in and week out.

“Senna is a tough player to replace,” said Moffat. “He is a stellar player on the ball. Marcos is world class while I am a little different. I try to hold things down, and cover a little more ground.”

Moffat played the same position but a relatively different role than Senna, who helps to dictate the flow of the game and gets forward in the Cosmos attack. Moffat’s defensive persistence allowed for Szetela to push forward instead.

This is a season of firsts for Moffat. While his first start came this weekend, Moffat actually moved to the Cosmos this offseason from Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas. He is an eight-year MLS veteran, making 136 appearances with 12 goals and 6 assists during his time in the league.

“The experience with New York has been great so far,” Moffat said. “It is an awesome group of guys and the organization is really focused on doing things the right way. They really want to be successful and they show this in how things are run, and the performances on the pitch. We’re in a good spot right now and just want to keep it going.”

As Moffat continues to grow into his Cosmos role, his value to the team becomes more and more apparent. His leadership on the pitch, coupled with his physicality and defensive instinct make him an integral part of the roster. As the season goes on, and the Cosmos are faced with adversity, being able to count on players like Moffat could prove vital to success.