June 12, 2012
NPSL NOTEBOOK
News and notes from around the league

Rivalry Midwest style
Detroit and Cleveland have had a sporting rivalry going back over 100 years, to the earliest days of the two cities’ American League baseball teams.

The rivalry picked up a new pair of combatants over the weekend when Detroit City FC and AFC Cleveland Royals squared off for the first time, with Cleveland coming out as 3-2 winners and ending Detroit’s six-game unbeaten streak.

Detroit drew first blood in the eighth minute, as City’s backline played a pass up to forward Knox Cameron. Cameron laid the ball off cleanly to Latif Alashe, who found Zeke Harris on the right flank. Harris was able to beat Cleveland's keeper to the ball and touch the ball to forward Stefan St. Louis for an easy tap-in.

The Royals’ dynamic Michael Matlock received the ball in the middle of the field, found some space, and tied up the game in the 10th minute, ending Detroit City FC’s shutout streak at 514 minutes.
City counterpunched quickly. At the 14th minute, St. Louis was able to draw a free kick from 35 yards out. Midfielder Keith Lough crossed in a perfect ball to the back post and found a willing target in 6’7’’ center back Adam Bedell, who was able to head it in to bring the score to 2-1.
Before the half came to a close, a goal from Cleveland's Vinny Bell made it 2-2 going into halftime.

Tyler Johnston was subbed into the game for Cleveland in the 66th and wasted no time, scoring the game-winner just seconds later.

Rivalry, So. Cal Style
One of the National Premier Soccer League’s city derby rivalries renews itself this coming weekend when the undefeated San Diego Flash (8 – 2 – 0) visit San Diego Boca (3 – 3 – 4) at 7pm this Saturday June 16 at Balboa Stadium.

The Flash still remain eight points ahead of their nearest rivals in their National Premier Soccer League West-Southern Conference, after a 1-1 tie against FC Hasental over the weekend.

“I think that in the past the guys have gone into these matches expecting to win and have been surprised by the work rate of their opponents,” said Flash head coach Warren Barton. “On paper we should win this game comfortably, but Boca always rise to the occasion and come away with strong results.

“This time it’s more than just the three points, it’s about bragging rights. We don’t want to go through what has been a successful season, not defeating our local rivals,” Barton said.

Player of the week
Morris County Colonials forward Luke Hugget has been selected as the National Premier Soccer League Player of the Week for the week ending June 10.

Hugget scored both goals for the Colonials in a 2-1 win over Junior Lone Star FC on Wednesday, June 6. It was Hugget’s second two-goal game in a row.

Highlight reel
Madison 56ers forward Carlos McCrary had two goals and one assist in a 8-2 win over the rival Milwaukee Bavarians on Sunday…FC Sonic forward Cody Antonin scored the game-winning goal in the 60th minute of a 2-0 victory over the Pocono Snow on Wednesday, extending his scoring streak to four games… Christian Estrada came off the bench to score NYAC’s winning goal late in the game in a 3-2 win over Mass. United

Alex Harley gave the Santa Clarita Storm a 1-0 advantage in the 23rd minute, but Boca's Jammel Wallace took advantage of a miscue in the 57th minute to tie the game at 1-1. The Storm’s Tyler Coombes hit a bullet from 20 yards out that rocketed past the defense, but it hit the post and bounced out.