Before we recap last week's results and look forward to this weekend's games, we want to announce that Youth Soccer Day will take place on Sunday, June 4th.
All local youth soccer players wearing their jerseys and all YMCA youth wearing their YMCA shirts will get free admission to all three of the organization's home games on Sunday. Kids under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
Wolfpack down the Jets, jump to third in standings
GAME SUMMARY:
Superior Wolfpack FC hosted their first game of the 2023 season against a strong Poskin squad, who were riding a huge win over Lobos FC the previous week. The game kicked off fast, with Poskin pressing immediately and finding the first goal in the 9th minute, when Awalow Bundid walked a couple Wolfpack defenders and slammed the ball past Nate Olson to put the visitors up. The Wolfpack responded well, settling into their game and finding their reward when King Strum's shot bounced around in the box, eventually finding the foot of Fawaz Ajao, who put the ball into the net past Poskin's keeper. The Wolfpack kept the pace and found another when Kaden Bergman found Vince Trok streaking forward. Trok slotted the ball home, and then found his brace six minutes later when Jack Burmood's long ball again found Trok, who smacked the ball into the netting to put Superior up by two going into the half.
The second half saw back and forth action, but the Wolfpack kept possessing and eventually broke the floodgates open. Ajao scored his brace in the 76th minute when Bergman's pass found Ajao open in space, and the ball was put into the net, sending the lawn chair crowd of 67 into cheers of excitement for the young squad. The Wolfpack finished their scoring in the 83rd minute when Poskin cleared the ball from their 6 yard box. Superior-native Landon James volleyed the clearance out of the air and into the bottom-left corner of the net, securing the win for the Wolfpack.
BOX SCORE:
5-26/Priest Field/WPASL League Game
Superior Wolfpack FC.....................3 2 - 5
Poskin Jets FC..................................1 0 - 1
First Half - PJFC - Awalow Bundid (Abdella Chaktouri) 9', SWFC - Fawaz Ajao (Unassisted) 19', SWFC - Vince Trok (Kaden Bergman) 28', SWFC - Vince Trok (Jack Burmood) 34'
Second Half - SWFC - Fawaz Ajao (Kaden Bergman) 76', SWFC - Landon James (Unassisted) 83'
Saves: SWFC - Nate Olson (2 saves); PJFC - Unknown (5 saves)
LOOKING AHEAD:
Superior Wolfpack FC (1-3-1) vs Union Eau Claire FC (4-0-1) | WPASL League Game
Sunday, June 4th | Lincoln Park Middle School (Superior, WI) | 3:00 PM CT
Tickets $5 suggested donation | Livestream TBD | 71 degrees and partly cloudy
The Wolfpack found their first win last week, but again face first-placed Union Eau Claire, who beat the Pack 4-2 earlier this year. The Wolfpack will need to find a way to match Union's speed and physicality, but will be missing 4 starters due to injury this week. Superior will need to play their best game of the year to continue their upward trend, a huge task this week.
Superior City complete season sweep of Vlora FC
GAME SUMMARY:
The Beacons traveled to Burnsville for a rematch against Vlora FC. The match was pretty evenly paced to start, with Vlora clogging up aspects of the midfield and Superior finding space on the wings. The game finally broke open in the 33rd minute when Emilia McGiffert recieved a ball from a throw-in on the left side of the pitch. McGiffert walked her defender and dribbled across the box with light pressure, finding some space and curling a perfect ball into the top corner from the top of the 18 to put Superior up by one. Vlora had a great breakaway chance to tie the game, but the forward was caught in time and the game went into the half with the visitors up by one.
The second half saw Superior find stronger links over the pitch, and a second goal seemed imminent. The Beacons solidified their lead in the 72nd minute, when Gwendolyn Lilly skied a ball into the box. Alyssa Doyle found the ball, beat the defender, and slammed the ball into the net past Matuzak. The game finished with Superior holding possession, and the women came home victorious for a second time against Vlora FC.
BOX SCORE:
5-28/Burnsville High School/UPSL Women's League Game
Superior City FC.............................1 1 - 2
Vlora FC...........................................0 0 - 0
First Half - SCFC- Emilia McGiffert 34'
Second Half - SCFC - Alyssa Doyle (Gwendolyn Lilly) 72'
Saves: SCFC - Quinn Clark (4 saves); VLORA - Kayla Matuzak (3 saves)
Looking Ahead:
Superior City FC (2-1-0) vs St Croix SC (0-1-0) | UPSL Womens Premier League Game
Sunday, June 4th | NBC Spartan Sports Complex (Superior, WI) | 3:00 PM CT
Tickets online or $10 at the gate | Livestream on iFan Sports Network | 72 degrees and partly cloudy
Superior will face St. Croix FC for the first time this season. St. Croix has only played one game this year, which resulted in a 2-1 loss to Vlora FC. Expect a well paced game with strong possesion on both sides. Niya Wilson has yet to find a consistent scoring touch, and this could be a breakout game for the UWS forward. Emilia McGiffert has continued to dominate the midfield, and her performance will be important to the outcome of the game.
Superior City Men lose first game to undefeated St Croix SC
GAME SUMMARY:
The Navy traveled to Stillwater, MN for a high-profile match against St Croix SC. Both teams were undefeated going into the match, an important game for determining postseason seeding. The game started poorly for Superior, who found themselves down early. Brian Brown's shot from the top of the box hit Matti Sysimaki's leg, and catapulted over Walker Marquardt. The game continued with back and forth action, and both teams held possession for periods of the match. Seven minutes towards the end of the half spelled doom for Superior. In the 34th minute, Barry found himself wide open on the back post and put the ball past Marquardt. Tierney scored a brace in the 36th and 41st minutes, with his first goal from the front post after a headed ball from the right side, and his second from inside the box, beating Marquardt's outstretched arms. Superior had a few chances, but were not clinical in the final third, and St. Croix rolled into the half up by four goals.
The second half saw more possesion from Superior, with Lumsden moved into the midfield to match St. Croix's speed. The half saw fewer chances for both teams, but St. Croix managed to find their fifth goal when Will Miers beat a defender on the end line and nutmegged Marquardt to finish the scoring for Legends II. St Croix left the field undefeated and rightfully so, and Superior will need to be stronger in their offensive third to clinch a playoff spot next week.
BOX SCORE:
5-29/Stillwater High School/UPSL League Game
Superior City FC............................0 0 - 0
St Croix SC.....................................4 1 - 5
First Half - STCRX - Brian Brown (Carter Theisfeld) 22', STCRX - Jack Barry (Theisfeld) 22', STCRX - Carver Tierney (Barry) 22', STCRX - Tierney (Theisfeld) 22'
Second Half - STCRX - Will Miers (Will Heinen) 22'
Saves: SCFC - Walker Marquardt (4 saves); STCRX - Tucker Mann (2 saves)
Looking Ahead:
Superior City FC (6-1-1) vs St Paul Blackhawks (3-3-0) | UPSL Premier League Game
Sunday, June 4th | NBC Spartan Sports Complex (Superior, WI ) | 6:00 PM CT
Tickets online or $10 at the gate | Livestream on iFan Sports Network | 69 degrees and partly cloudy
Another huge test looms on Sunday as the boys host St. Paul Blackhawks. On paper, St Paul has one of the strongest, if not the strongest, roster among the UPSL squads, but has yet to find quality results with the plethora of D1 talent. Superior will need to bounce back from an ugly loss last week, and a win on Sunday would clinch a playoff spot for the Navy. This is bound to be a battle worth watching, and Superior need to continue improving if they hope to see postseason play.