IMS Weekend Update 6-01-10

Well, I tried to take most of the weekend off and figured it would be good to take a break and not write for a few days. Actually, that’s not true. I had lots of articles I had planned on getting to but every time I sat down to write I lost my motivation. So the truth is, I really needed a few days off. However, Garrison Keillor has nothing over me. I can tell you first-hand that Lutheran guilt is just as bad as Catholic guilt. And if you combine that with what us writers call blogger guilt… Well, that is what I felt most this weekend.

So here it is, 9:00 on Tuesday evening and it’s time to kick it into high gear. I have lots of stories to post and as usual, not enough time to get them written. So for tonight, I thought I would do a quick weekend soccer update.

Neil Hlavity celebrates his game winning goal by punching the corner flag. Photo by Jeremy Olson - Digitalgopher.net

NSC Stars 3-2 AC St. Louis
The NSC Stars game was a tale of two halves. This was by far the most entertaining Stars game of the year. It was a fairly even game going into the second half. The Stars really turned it on and put a ton of pressure on AC St. Louis. Eventually the pressure paid off with Neil Hlavaty scoring his third goal of the season in the 88th minute of play.

Luke Kreamalmeyer opened the scoring for AC St. Louis after Minnesota had shown some good passing and had some decent looks at goal. The Stars answered that with one of their own late in the 2nd half. Daniel Wasson headed in from a flick-on from Brian Cvilikas.

But St. Louis jumped out in the lead again shortly after the half. Gauchinho was credited with the goal from 25 yards out, but from my perspective it appeared to be an own goal. In fact the ball looked like it was heading wide left and Joe Warren had it covered only to see a Stars player swipe at the airborne ball and redirect it to the right side of goal leaving Warren helpless.

Minnesota fought back hard and tied it up again in 73rd minute with a Kyle Altman goal.

The Stars kept up the pressure and eventually it paid off with Hlavaty’s 88th minute goal after the Stars had numerous opportunities including an open net chance for Cvilikas which he hit over the goal.

The win brought the Stars to 3-7-1. It was a good win for the Stars but they still conceded 2 goals to the “other” worst team in the league. Minnesota has now leaked 19 goals in 11 games and has the second worst goals-deferential (GD) in the league behind St. Louis (-11) with -9. The team closest to Minnesota in GD is Crystal Palace who sit at -4. The Stars have got to tighten things up in the back. You don’t need to score many goals if you can hold a team close. It is true, defenses win Championships. They also allow teams to make it into the playoffs. If the Stars are to have any playoff hopes, the rest of the season, they have to show marked improvement on the back line and that goes from midfield cover to the goalkeepers.

Rochester Thunder 0-0 Kansas City Brass
It was up to the Rochester Thunder to write their own destiny on Sunday afternoon in Rochester, Minnesota. The Thunder took on the KC Brass and from all accounts dominated the game but were not able to tuck the ball into the net. The Thunder needed a win and they would have been on their way to their first US Open Cup appearance. But with the draw, the Des Moines Menace will take the coveted USL-PDL Heartland USOC berth and be placed into the first round of the tournament.

The Thunder are now 2-1-2 in league play and sit 3rd in the Heartland Conference.

My friend Jeremy Olson was in Rochester this Sunday for the game and he sends IMS some of his always great soccer photos. Jeremy’s work can be found at Digital Gopher.net.

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