Superior City Win WI Cup Pool Game, Lose in UPSL Opener
GAME SUMMARY:
Superior City opened the 2024 season with a pool play game in the newly formed Wisconsin Cup, a tournament which pits the top semi-pro and amateur teams in the state against each other to determine a state champion. The Navy traveled to Marshfield, WI to play the Wisconsin Conquerors, a first-year team competing in the NPSL. The game started off dicey for Superior, and saw some grade-A chances missed by the Conquerors, including a point-blank shot that rang off the post. After the first 15, the Navy settled down and started to show chances forward. After some good buildup, Garrett Sutton (Northland College) intercepted a pass and drove through three defenders and somehow found last year's leading scorer Mally Lumsden (St. Scholastica) in a small pocket on top of the box. Lumdsden hit the ball off the bounce over the Conquerors goalkeeper and into the net to put the visitors up. 15 minutes later, a long ball by Finigan Huffington (St. Scholastica) was whiffed on by the Conquerors keeper on top of the box, and Lumsden walked the trickling ball into the net to double the Navy lead. The Superior squad changed formation and sat back to finish out the half.
The Navy continued to park the bus for the entirety of the second half. The Conquerors were still able to find some space and force nice saves from Walker Marquardt (Cloquet High), but could not find the net. Marquardt earned a shutout win and the Navy will need to beat Bateaux FC (Eau Claire, WI) in July to earn a spot in the Wisconsin Cup Championship Game.
Last weekend, the Navy traveled to Stillwater to face St Croix SC in the first UPSL league game of the 2024 season. St Croix came in as heavy favorites, using a predominately USL L2 roster in the match. After losing to St Croix twice last year, the first half was a continuation of the Navy’s struggle against the Legends. St. Croix scored early when Nathan Donovan, the 2023 NCAA DIII #2 leading goal scorer, slotted home a shot from the box. The hosts doubled their lead on a quick break, and added a third on a defensive miscue which left Carter Theisfeld, the 2023 NCAA DIII Assist leader, with space and time to slot the ball home.
The second half, the Navy came out with stronger play, but couldn’t find sustained pressure in the final third initially. Theisfeld earned his brace when he rocketed a shot past Marquardt from the top of the box early in the half. In the 62nd minute, the Navy brought in some energy in the form of Tomsche, Sutton, Boldt and Carvalho. The squad came to life, and the sustained pressure forced cracks in the Legend back line. Superior finally broke through on a beautiful solo goal by Henrico Zena (Lake Superior College). Zena received a 55-yard bomb from Tom Carey (Northland College) on the touchline and, after a few slick moves in the box, finished his rebound to pull one back. Eleven minutes later, super-sub Mark Fehringer (St. Scholastica) got on the board. Raggi Carvalho (UW-Superior) served a curled ball to Zena on the touchline. Zena cut inwards and put in a magnificent ball to a streaking Fehringer, who deked his defender and smashed the ball past the Legends keeper. The Navy continued to create chances, but time dwindled and a very skilled Legends squad came out victorious once again.
BOX SCORES:
4-20/Kenneth Ardyce Stadium/Wisconsin Cup Pool Play
Superior City FC………….….2 0 - 2
Wisconsin Conquerors FC….0 0 - 0
First Half - SCFC - Mally Lumsden (Garrett Sutton) 20’, SCFC - Mally Lumsden (Finigan Huffington) 35’
Second Half - No Scoring
Saves: SCFC - Walker Marquardt (10 saves); CONQ - Seth Jonas (4 saves), Justin Dos Santos (1 save)
4-28/Stillwater High School/UPSL Premier
Superior City FC.............................0 2 - 2
St Croix SC.....................................3 1 - 4
First Half - STCRX - Nathan Donovan (Carter Theisfeld) 10’, STCRX - Augustino Curzio (Luca Contestablie) 32’, ST CRX - Theisfeld 45+1’
Second Half - STCRX - Theisfeld 60’, SCFC - Henrico Zena (Unassisted) 67’, SCFC - Mark Fehringer (Zena) 78’
Saves: SCFC - Walker Marquardt (3 saves); STCRX - Mark Belknap (2 saves)
LOOKING AHEAD:
Superior City FC (1-1-0) vs Austin Villa FC (1-0-0) | UPSL Premier League Game
Sunday, May 5th | NBC Spartan Sports Complex | 6:00 PM CT
Tickets available online or at the gate | iFan Sports Network | 63 degrees and sunny
The Navy will be back in Superior for their Home Opener against a pesky Austin Villa squad. Austin upset Vlora FC to open the season last weekend, and handed the Navy a frustrating tie last year. The Navy will also host FC Minneapolis on Thursday night at 7:30 PM in Superior.
Wolfpack begin season strong with two quality preseason wins
GAME SUMMARY:
Newly branded as Superior City FC II, the Wolfpack have had a stong start to the 2024 season. The Pack traveled down to Eau Claire to face Union Eau Claire FC, a WPASL team that handed the Wolfpack two lopsided losses last year. The Wolfpack dominated the game for the entire 90 minutes, with Vince Trok (Hermantown High) netting a hat trick and Luiz Feitoza (Lake Superior College) earning two assists in the 5-0 shutout win.
The following weekend, the Wolfpack played at Rock City FC. Rock City gave the Pack a good game, scoring first, but the Pack proved to be too much. Two goalkeeper miscuses gifted Rock City two goals, but the Wolfpack played a strong offensive game in chilly weather. Will Francis (Lake Superior College) and Gabriel Oliveira (Lake Superior College) both netted braces and Lucas Lacerda (Lake Superior College) added two assists in a 6-3 win over a strong MRSL squad.
BOX SCORES:
4-21/Eau Claire Soccer Park/Friendly
Superior City FC II.....................2 3 - 5
Union Eau Claire FC..................0 0 - 0
First Half - SWFC - Elijah Aultman (Jordan Aultman) 22', SWFC - Vince Trok (Luiz Feitoza) 40’
Second Half - SWFC - Trok (Feitoza) 53', SWFC - Trok (Unassisted) 60', SWFC - J. Aultman (Unassisted) 71'
Saves: SWFC - Caden Holden (4 saves), Luke Rice (4 saves); UECFC - Charlot Nacius (8 saves)
4-28/CSB Outdoor Athletic Complex/Friendly
Superior City FC II.....................3 3 - 6
Rock City FC.............................1 2 - 3
First Half - RCFC - Unknown #9 10’, SWFC - Jordan Aultman (Lucas Lacerda) 13’, SWFC - Will Francis (Lacerda) 27’, SWFC - Francis (Brandon Wright) 39’
Second Half - RCFC - Unknown #15 48’, SWFC - Gabriel Oliviera (Unasissted) 54', SWFC - Oliviera (Francis) 57', RCFC - Unknown 72’, SWFC - Elijah Aultman (Kaden Bergman) 77'
Saves: SWFC - TJ Wisenhunt (0 saves), Luke Rice (2 saves), Caden Holden (1 save); RCFC - Unknown (6 saves)
LOOKING AHEAD:
Superior Wolfpack FC (2-0-0) vs Island City FC (0-0-1) | Friendly
Saturday, May 4th | Endeavor Stadium (Cumberland, WI) | 6:00 PM CT
Island City are a newcomer to the WPASL, and are stocked full of young talent. Star high school players rostered from Cumberland, Spooner, Washburn, Eau Claire, Chippewa and Barron are rounded out by a couple of good Northland College players. This should be a good match before the Wolfpack begin their UPSL Division One series next week away at Joy Athletic Club.