U16s Put Up Tough Fight, U17s Dominate in 6-1 Victory
On Sat., Nov. 13, St. Louis CITY SC’s U16 and U17 Academy Teams played local neighbor club St. Louis Scott Gallagher (SLSG) in an exhilarating doubleheader. STL CITY’s U16 team played an enticing back-and-forth battle, but fell just short for their first loss in MLS NEXT competition, while STL CITY’s U17s had a strong start and carried that momentum on throughout the entirety of the game, bringing home a big win for STL CITY and extending their unbeaten streak to six games.
It was a quick start to the club’s U16 match, with SLSG scoring the first goal of the game in the 2nd minute. While the opponent-maintained control of the game for the first part of the half, STL CITY found their feet and started settling into the game when Jack DiMaria scored STL CITY’s first goal of the night in the 10th minute, tying the game at 1-1. Tyson Pearce kept the momentum alive in the 18th minute when he calmly slotted his shot past the SLSG keeper, giving STL CITY a 2-1 lead. The back-and-forth nature of the game continued into the 23rd minute when SLSG evened the score at 2-2, but only a minute later Jackson Delkus got on the end of a low cross from Zach Van Hee, putting STL CITY up yet again. Nearing the 30th-minute mark, SLSG converted a penalty kick, leveling the score at 3-3.
Both teams came into the second half evenly matched and ready to fight for the win as they continued to trade scoring opportunities for much of the half. STL CITY were able to break the deadlock in the 75th minute when Delkus made a strong run down the flank before finding Edin Prgo, who unleashed a powerful shot into the top left corner of the net, giving STL CITY the 4-3 lead. Much like the first half, scoring came in bunches as SLSG were able to level the score in the 83rd minute and then found the game winner during the 90th minute stoppage time.
“These boys showed up ready to play today,” said Assistant Academy Coach David Critchley. “The first loss of the season is always a tough one, but it was a hard-fought battle and I’m proud of the lads for staying aggressive and determined throughout the match. Now it is important for us to start thinking about ways we can improve for our next game.”
Looking to avenge the U16 team’s defeat, St. Louis CITY’s U17 started their game with a ton of energy as they pressed SLSG and constantly swarmed the ball to create turnovers. While the first few minutes were a defensive chess match between the two clubs, STL CITY found their offensive rhythm in the 10th minute when Nathan Ferguson slotted home a pass from Miguel Perez to open the scoring. Following the goal, STL CITY really began to exert their dominance as they generated waves of attack. Despite creating a plethora of chances, they just couldn’t find the final touch to extend their lead.
However, STL CITY’s continued pressure eventually paid off in the 27th minute when Aaron Heard was able to beat SLSG’s keeper with a clinical finish. Then just two minutes later, Ferguson found the back of the net again to give STL CITY a 3-0 lead. Even with the lopsided score, the boys showed no signs of letting up as their relentless pressing and attacking play kept SLSG pinned back on their side of the pitch. Just before the half time whistle, Anthony Faupel whipped in a pass that found Ferguson, who coolly dispatched the ball past the keeper to secure his first half hat trick and a commanding 4-0 STL CITY lead.
SLSG tried to assert themselves to start the second half, but the STL CITY boys continued to stifle the opponents attacking play. In the 49th minute, STL CITY was awarded a penalty which was smashed home by Perez. In the 53rd minute SLSG capitalized on a rare corner kick to get their first and only goal of the game, but any momentum gained was short lived when they were reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute. STL CITY capped the scoring when Brian Franco put Heard in behind SLSG’s defense, who finished for his 2nd goal of the game, securing an emphatic 6-1 win for St. Louis CITY SC’s U17 team.
“It was a great night for the entire soccer community in St. Louis. Congratulations to Scott Gallagher’s U16s for a deserved win, their team showed a lot of heart and spirit. It’s always disappointing to get beaten for the first time, but if we learn from our mistakes, we will grow as individuals and a unit,” said Lutz Pfannenstiel, St. Louis CITY Sporting Director. “Our U17s impressed during their 6-1 victory with some intense pressing soccer and clinical finishing. You could see a lot of our playing philosophy on a cold night in Fenton (Mo.) and that is our way forward.”
MATCHDAY NOTES – STARTING XI
U16
Tyson Pearce, Thomas Pratl, Zach Stanton, Dustin Randazzo, Gavin Netzel, Eddie Stewart, Jack DiMaria, Zach Van Hee, Jackson Delkus, Omar Cilic, Nick Bishop
U17
Harrison Engel, Joshua Maher, Mikey Lay, Nolan McGuire, Aaron Heard, Miguel Perez, Anthony Faupel, Fritz Volmar, Brian Franco, Nathan Ferguson, Cal L’Hommedieu
To learn more about the academy, find player bios and rosters here. Stay up to date on all things St. Louis CITY SC by downloading the official team app and follow the club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
