GAME SUMMARY:
Superior City FC hosted last year’s UPSL Midwest-West regular season champions, Vlora FC, on a chilly Sunday night in Superior. The game’s result was crucial to both teams, with either team’s win securing a playoff spot. Those in attendance were in for a treat, with hard tackles, fast soccer and a dramatic finish. Both teams started the game playing possession-style soccer, with weak advances into each other’s territories. Vlora’s Robert Cooper pressed the Navy’s backline relentlessly, while Superior’s front three sat back, letting Vlora try to break down the ranks. Unsurprisingly, the first goal came off of a defensive mistake. In the 31st minute, a poor pass back to Cloquet goalkeeper Walker Marquardt caused him to chase the ball to the end line. Marquardt squared the ball to UM-Duluth centerback Matti Sysimaki in front of the net. Sysimaki did not realize that he had a Vlora midfielder on his back, and his touch looking for the swing found UW-Milwaukee’s Suad Suljic, who passed the ball into a wide-open net to put the visitors on top. The rest of the half was uneventful, with both squads seemingly afraid to make another mistake which might end their season.
The second half saw Vlora start strong, continuing to counterattack and possess with ease against Superior. Marquardt came up with a few strong saves early in the half to keep the game close, but time for the Navy was running out. Superior, needing a goal to avoid missing the postseason, subbed in Mark Fehringer looking for a change in momentum. Switching to a three-back, the squad began to push forward with intent. In the 76th minute, winger Siji Gonzalez gave star forward Mally Lumsden a through-ball, which found Lumsden one on one with a defender on the edge of the left portion of the box. Lumsden waited for his team to catch up, and then put a ball across the box, which found Mark Fehringer open on the back post. Fehringer slammed the ball past former NISA professional Mitch Wolff to tie the game. Less than a minute later, Lumsden again found space on the side of the box and found Jordan Finneran, who’s classic left foot rocket from inside the box hit Wolff directly in the stomach, pausing play for injury and reducing momentum for the Navy. After the restart, a complete comeback looked unlikely, as both teams struggled to break through with strong chances. With a game-changing run in the 89th minute, Jordan Finneran beat his defender with a cheeky touch and raced down the sideline. Finneran, with his non-dominant right foot, crossed the ball past the incoming defender and found Mally Lumsden wide open in the box. Lumsden flicked the ball towards the net, and the ball hit the inside of the post and dribbled in to send Superior to a UPSL Midwest-West playoff berth in their first season as a club. A game for the ages ended with Superior wasting time in their attacking third, and Walker Marquardt finished the game with 3 saves on the day.
BOX SCORE:
6-17/NBC Spartan Sports Complex/UPSL League Game
Superior City FC...........................0 2 - 2
Vlora FC.......................................1 0 - 1
First Half - VLORA - Suad Suljic (Unassisted) 31'
Second Half - SCFC - Mark Fehringer (Mally Lumsden) 76', SCFC - Mally Lumsden (Jordan Finneran) 89'
Saves: SCFC - Walker Marquardt (3 saves); VLORA- Mitch Wolff (4 saves)
Looking Ahead:
Next weekend’s playoff game will be decided by this week’s game between St. Paul Blackhawks and Vlora FC. Here are the scenarios:
IF VLORA OR BLACKHAWKS WIN | (Assuming MPLS City secures the #1 seed)
Sunday, June 25th | Edor Nelson Field (Minneapolis, MN ) | 7:00 PM CT
Tickets online or $7 at the gate | Livestream TBA | 80 degrees and raining
IF TEAMS TIE | (Assuming MPLS City secures the #1 seed)
Date TBA | Stillwater High School (Stillwater, MN ) | TIME TBA
PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PLAYOFFS AND POTENTIAL WATCH PARTIES!
Women's and Wolfpack results can be found below
Shorthanded Superior City Women's squad drops result to Northern Tide FC
GAME SUMMARY:
Superior City FC traveled to St. Paul to take on Northern Tide FC, one of the UPSL’s best women’s squads this year. Superior traveled shorthanded, with only 3 healthy subs. The game overall looked slow for Superior, who struggled to get the ball forward throughout the match. Northern Tide FC scored the first goal in the 35th minute, when Mounds View HS standout Emily Johnson slotted the ball past St. Scholastica keeper Gracie Meagher. The hosts doubled their lead in the 52nd minute, when Bethel University’s Kelsey Bergan took a shot from far out, which caught UW-Superior goalkeeper Quinn Clarke by surprise. The game continued with the Tide finding a lot of space, but not getting past Clarke.
BOX SCORE:
6-17/Conway Park/UPSL Women's League Game
Superior City FC..................................0 0 - 0
Northern Tide FC.................................1 1 - 2
First Half - NTFC - Emily Johnson (Unassisted) 35’
Second Half - NTFC - Kelsey Bergan (Unassisted) 52’
Saves: SCFC - Gracie Meagher (3 saves), Quinn Clark (3 saves); NTFC - April LaShomb (3 saves)
Looking Ahead:
Superior City FC (3-2-1) vs Northern Tide FC (2-0-2) | UPSL Womens Premier League Game
Saturday, June 24th | NBC Spartan Sports Complex (Superior, WI) | 4:00 PM CT
Tickets online or $10 at the gate | Livestream on iFan Sports Network || 65 degrees and cloudy
Superior will play Northern Tide FC for the second week in a row. The squad will be back at full strength for Saturday’s match. Victoria Thorson and Niya Wilson, two of the squad’s top performers, are expected to return from injury after missing the last 3+ weeks. Northern Tide, still currently undefeated in UPSL play, will be looking to keep their record clean.
Wolfpack gain forfeit win, play red-hot Lobos at home next week
GAME SUMMARY:
Superior Wolfpack FC were awarded a 3-0 forfeit win over Dakota Young Stars on Sunday. Dakota were unable to travel due to low player numbers for the 7 hour trip to Duluth.
BOX SCORE:
6-18/Lincoln Park Middle School/WPASL League Game
Superior Wolfpack FC...............................3 0 - 3
Union Eau Claire FC..................................0 0 - 0
First Half - No Scoring
Second Half - No Scoring
Saves: None
LOOKING AHEAD:
Superior Wolfpack FC (2-5-1) vs Lobos FC (3-3-0) | WPASL League Game
Sunday, June 25th | Lincoln Park Middle School (Duluth, MN) | 3:00 PM CT
Tickets $5 suggested donation | Livestream unlikely | 62 degrees and rain
The Wolfpack will be back to full strength for next weekend’s game against Lobos FC, who are riding a two-game winning streak after a shaky start to the season. The Wolfpack, who had 16 players out with injury two weekends ago, will be back to a full roster for Sunday’s game. The squad sit one point above Homeboyz FC, and will need to start winning to secure a playoff berth. Lobos FC are coming off of a win over previously undefeated Bateaux FC. The squad is known for their high-powered offense, led by Abraham Camargo and Alonso Romero.