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USSF D-2 Minnesota United FC

Stars Make Second Trip To Florida To Face Rowdies

May 25, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Minnesota United FC News Release


BLAINE, Minn. (May 25, 2010) - After an unsuccessful evening in Miami on Saturday night, the NSC Minnesota Stars head south to Tampa Bay for aThursday night match up against the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies. The two teams played a chippy match in Blaine on April 24, a game the Stars won 1-0 in their first-ever appearance at NSC Stadium.

NSC Minnesota hasn't won since then, managing only one tie in its last five outings. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, hasn't lost since that game, putting together a run of two wins and three draws in a five-game stretch that included four road games.

"It'll be a challenge to play against a team on a hot streak while trying to break out of a slump of our own," Stars head coach Manny Lagos said.

In the teams' first meeting, the Stars scored the game's only goal in the first half, but were forced to defend for long periods of the second as Tampa looked for an equalizing goal that never came. Both teams lost a player in the first half due to red cards for violent conduct, but Lagos doesn't expect any bad blood from the incident to spill over into Thursday night's game. Instead, he wants his team to focus on containing the Rowdies'potent attack for the second time this season. The Stars are the only team to keep Tampa Bay off the scoreboard this season.

"The game and the tussle were a while ago, and we have bigger things to focus on," he said. "Tampa Bay is very physical, we know that, and they have some speedy guys we have to deal with."

Thursday's match kicks off at 6:30 p.m. CDT. Like all USSF D-2 Pro League matches this season, it is available to watch for free online at www.nscminnesota.org.

Stars roster

Goalkeepers (2): Joe Warren, Matt Van Oekel Defenders (5): Ely Allen, Andres Arango, Chris Clements, Kevin Friedland,Brian Kallman Midfielders (8): Kyle Altman, Leilei Gao, Two-Boys Gumede, Neil Hlavaty,Johnny Menyongar, Geison Moura, Daniel Wasson, Leland Wright Forwards (2): Simone Bracalello, Warren Ukah

Match notes: *The Stars enter the match with a 2-6-1 record and in fifth place in the USL Conference of the USSF D-2 Pro League. In the overall league table,the Stars are in ninth, one place out of the final playoff spot. The top eight teams make the playoffs. FC Tampa Bay is 3-1-3 and in second place in the USL Conference.

*The Stars are 1-4-0 on the road this season and have lost three straight games in Blaine. Tampa Bay has played only once at home this season, tying Austin 2-2 on May 8.

*This is the second meeting in franchise history between NSC Minnesota and FC Tampa Bay. The Stars won the first meeting 1-0 in Blaine on A Midfielder Kyle Altman leads the USSF D-2 Pro League in minutes played with 810. He has played every minute of the Stars' nine games this season.

*The Stars will be without three players due to injury. Devin Del Do has returned to training after a knee injury suffered in April against Vancouver, but he has not yet been declared fit. With a ruptured Achilles'tendon, defender Vorgen Less is out for the season, as is goalkeeper Louis Crayton, who tore his ACL in the Stars' season-opening loss at Vancouver.

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from May 25, 2010


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