NSC Stars Win Scrimmage 3-0 Over Marquette University: IMS Game Notes
Brian Kallman wins a header with Vorgen Less in support. Photo by Jeremy Olson - www.digitalgopher.com
11 players clad in their blue training uniforms took to the Parade Stadium multi-use fill turf field on Saturday afternoon for the NSC Minnesota Stars. Rain had been predicted but the weather more than held with the sun showing through occasionally and the temps in the mid 50′s. Because of the nice conditions a crowd of up to 200 people showed up for the game and more seemed to filter in and out during the match. Many also commented about the central and very picturesque location of Parade Stadium. To the south the homes of the Kenwood neighborhood look down from their bluff on the modern buildings of the Walker and several chique condominiums. Next to it and due south sets the ivy league looking Breck School and to the East and slightly north was the skyline of downtown Minneapolis. The location, weather and curiosity about the new pro team seemed to put a very positive vibe in the air.
The Stars opponent for the day was Marquette University men’s soccer team. A Division I college team that plays in the Big East and finished 6th of 8 teams last fall in the Blue Division, Marquette went 3-5-3 last season and 4-11-3 overall.
Minnesota had one familiar face on the Marquette team in Calum Mallace, younger brother to Craig Mallace who was a former Minnesota Thunder player. Both brothers are from Torphichen, Scotland originally and attended Henry Sibley high school in Mendota, MN.
Leilei Gao is proving to be an impact player for the Stars. Photo by Jeremy Olson - www.digitalgopher.com
Calum, who scored 3 goals for Marquette last season, wore the #10 for the Golden Eagles and was clearly a point man for his team. However, except for the first several minutes of the game, this match would be dominated by the NSC Stars.
Minnesota lined up with Louis Crayton in goal and a back line of Brian Kallman (RB), Andres Arango (CB), Vorgen Less (CB) and Daniel Wasson (LB).
At midfield were Kyle Altman (D-Mid) and ahead of him and 4-across, Melvin Tarley (LM), Neil Hlavaty (RCM), Devin Del Do, (LCM) and Leilei Gao (LM).
Warren Ukah played as the lone target man.
Minnesota scored just 8 minutes in and set the stage for some nice team build ups and an aggressive nose for goal. Hlavaty scored on a hard shot to the upper right corner of goal from 20 yards out. He had received his pass from a play that came down the left side of the field and was started by a run from left back Wasson. Wasson was tireless down the left flank all game, often overloading the left side of the field with Minnesota players. He also teamed well with Leilei who is showing to not only be an impact player for the Stars but a very mobile player as well. Leilei often shifted into center midfield and sometimes would even be found on the right side. However, the team seemed to adjust and slip in nicely filling in the spaces and covering back when needed.
Leilei had several nice shots and excellent low driving crosses and corner kicks on Saturday, but none better than a free-kick taken ten minutes into the second half that was all class. The Chinese midfielder struck the ball with power and precision, wrapping it around the Golden Eagles wall and into the upper left corner of the net. Leilei’s kick left this former Thunder supporter asking “Ricardo who?” Leilei has been a key player in all three scrimmages he has played in this spring. He is mobile, has a great first step and outstanding ball control as demonstrated numerous times on Saturday keeping defenders on edge. He can shoot with either foot as was demonstrated in last Wednesday’s scrimmage and can also beat players with pace.
As mentioned, Daniel Wasson, who has been with the team all week after being released from DC United’s training camp, is tough, defensive-minded and from the back, ready to jump in to support the offense. Wasson, a midfielder by trade, looked good defending as well. He was able to get some time in midfield towards the end of the game.
Marquette goalkeeper David Check dives but can do nothing about Leilei's free-kick that curled over the wall and into the upper left corner. Photo by Jeremy Olson - www.digitalgopher.com
Again, the paring of Arango and Less seemed good although early there were a few slips. But the tandem seemed to be getting used to each other. Rumors are that Less will be announced on Monday as a new signing for the Stars. Vorgen Less is a tough as nails defender. According to his friend Godfrey Tenoff, who was at the scrimmage for a while himself on Saturday, says Less “hates to lose and has a winner’s mentality.”
Brian Kallman also looked solid in the back and was not quite as adventurous as Wasson was on his side.
Kyle Altman did a fine job as defensive mid and definitely stepped up his pace and decision making from last Saturday’s scrimmage at Shattuck. He also is showing a nice touch on the ball on his passes and seems to see the field well. He laid one throughball over the top for Melvin Tarley early in the game. A nice diagonal ball that found Tarley at full pace. Tarley tried to chip the bouncing ball over the keeper but the ball went wide right.
Tarley had a quiet game and seemed to be trying to adjust to the outside midfield position. He wasn’t getting a lot of touches on the ball, possibly because the left side of the field was so active and the ball saw more time in the center and left side of the pitch.
The center midfield of Hlavaty and the speedy Del Do would take turns joining in the attack with lone striker and target man Warren Ukah. One observation that was evident was the aggressiveness of the attacking mids and forwards. Last year’s Thunder team were often found lacking in this regard but for a few players. Saturday’s line up followed up with 1, 2 and sometimes 3 players chasing shots to their conclusion and looking to poach anything that might fall loose or rebound.
Warren Ukah does a fine job as a target forward. He worked hard and would be found coming back to get into the play if the Stars found themselves stuck in. His movement was good, making off-the-ball runs and when he did receive the ball under pressure retained possession until playing the ball off.
The Stars scored their third and final goal in the 83rd minute by Lee Kouadio-Tobey, a new trialist with the team. Wasson laid in a nice cross that found Brian Cvilikas’ head and eventually fell to Lee Kouadio-Tobey, who headed the ball in from close range.
Danial Wasson posses with his friend Two-Boys Gumede who got dropped off at the game after flying into the Twin Cities on Saturday morning. Photo by Jeremy Olson - www.digitalgopher.com
Other notes:
–Johnny Menyonger was on the sideline presumably nursing his ankle that took a knock in last Wednesday’s scrimmage.
–Kentaro Takada had an injured left thigh and missed the game.
–Kevin Friedland should be joining the team in training again this week after rolling an ankle prior to the team’s preseason training.
–Andrei Gotsmanov was not suited and is still nursing his bruised leg.
–Simone Bracalello flew into the Twin Cities from Italy on Friday and warmed up with the team on Saturday.
–Two-Boys Gumede flew in to the Twin Cities on Saturday and was driven right to the game to watch. Trialist Daniel Wasson, who also tried out with Gumede at DC United, welcomed each other and were sharing stories on the sidelines.
–Leilei will tell you his English is not good, but he actually speaks pretty well. I found out he actually has a great sense of humor and he’s very ready to move out of the dorms at NSC and into some sort of housing. He says he just can’t get the heater/AC working correctly.
–Both Paul Erickson and Kris Bjerkness were out with their families enjoying the game along with other staff of the NSC. Erickson said on Saturday that he liked the setting of Parade Stadium and if the city of Minneapolis were ever to build a stadium big enough to host a Stars game he would consider bringing the team there to play a number of games per year.
–IMS also observed local club and college coaches at the game checking out the Stars new team.
–Head coach Manny Lagos seems to “be in his element” according to those who were at the game on Saturday and have known Lagos for a while. They are saying Lagos, although very busy, seems quite happy and very much in control of the team and player negotiations.
Stars line-up
GK – Crayton (Warren 46), RB Kallman (Pulido 73), CB Arango (Lipset 73), CB Less (Raybould 73), LB Wasson, RM Tarley (Wright 73), CM Altman (Lorenz 73), CM Hlavaty (Webb 73), CM Del Do (Kouadio-Tobey 73), LM Gao (Sesay 73), ST Ukah (Cvilikas 73)
Scoring summary
Hlavaty 8′ (Wasson, Del Do)
Gao 61′
Lee 83′ (Cvilikas)
Stats
Shots: NSC 13-MU 3
Shots on goal: 8-1
Saves: 1-5
Offsides: 2-3
Fouls: 4-8
Yellow cards: 0-0
Red cards: 0-0
After the exhibition with Marquette, a Stars team of mostly trial players played local club St. Paul Twin Stars. According to Alex Haueter of the NSC: The Stars won a 70-minute game 4-0, with goals from Kouadio-Tobey, Garret Webb, Lucas Rodriguez and Leon Abravanel. Midfielder Leland Wright had two assists.
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Nice to see the Stars drop 3 on lowly Marquette… Any word on how serious Gotsmanov’s injury is? The guy can never seem to stay healthy. I played against him a few times this winter and he has great control on the ball… He is quite slow but his touch, vision, and ball striking abilities seem to make up for his lack of speed.
I predict that Leilei is going to score a lot of goals this year off of set pieces. BTW, great photo!
Yeah, Leilei should do very well this year. Dre is actually extremely fast, but it’s very deceptive and he is very selective in the times that he decides to turn it on. When he decides to go, there are very few players that I know who can stay with him. Also, he only plays at about 50% in the winter leagues as to avoid injury. I know… it’s a bit ironic, but don’t worry about him, he’ll be just fine.
Dre is extremely fast??? Maybe Walksmanov’s lack of effort in the winters cost him injury in the spring when he starts trying agian. Just a thought…
Just talked with a buddy who was at the game. He said the Stars looked pretty good and dominated the game. He also said that the new center back (Less) is very composed and polished and if his pace is sufficient, will keep them in a lot games. The only negatives were lack of a 1-v-1 player up top and that Stars were very sloppy and turned the ball over a lot with no pressure. Obviously, just into training camp, turnovers should improve. Finding goals is a challenge most teams face, time will tell, who knows, maybe Manny comes of the bench!