USSF D-II: Minnesota steals a point in St. Louis

Posted Aug 2, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Aug 2, 2010 at 11:16 AM

As in their previous meeting just over two weeks ago, St. Louis and Minnesota played to a tie in Sunday’s USSF Division II action.

MINNESOTA 2, ST. LOUIS 2: Brian Cvilikas’ goal in the 90th minute stole a point for the Stars, who rallied from a goal down twice against the Saints at Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park.

Luke Kreamalmeyer scored both of St. Louis’ goals, opening the scoring in the 42nd minute when he was able to turn his defender and fire home from the left side of the penalty area. Minnesota’s Melvin Tarley tied the game in the 83rd minute on a header, but Kreamalmeyer restored the Saints’ lead three minutes later from the penalty spot after Jack Traynor was brought down in the area.

Cvilikas spoiled the ending for the Saints’ fans, though, as he deftly chipped goalkeeper Alec Dufty from the top of the penalty area after running onto a ball from Andrei Gotsmanov.

“It’s frustrating because we need all the three-point games we can get, especially at home,” Kreamalmeyer told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “(Minnesota is) a team with a lot of heart, and tonight I think you have to give them credit.

“We’re a young team that needs to learn how to finish games.”

With the point, Minnesota maintains its position in fifth place in the USSF Division II standings, but with only eight games remaining still sits in a precarious position with the four teams below it – Carolina, Montreal, Tampa Bay and Puerto Rico – all having multiple games in hand to overtake the Stars.