Weekend Recap

June 22nd, 2015

Charlie Hatch

The Cincinnati Saints began a two-match weekend with a 3-1 loss to a 10-man Detroit City FC on Saturday night at Withrow’s Angus King Stadium.

The loss was the Saints’ first at home this season in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL).

“I’ve got to give credit to Detroit here,” said Cincinnati Saints coach Dave Wall. “They went down to 10 men and kind of stuck at it. They deserved it today.”

Cincinnati took the look in the fourth minute when midfielder Scott Shugh deflected the ball into the goal. It was a touching moment for Shugh, who lost his father earlier in the week. The goal came just minutes after a moment of silence in his honor.

Detroit’s Cyrus Saydee received a red card in the 68th minute for an off-the-ball incident, reducing the visitor’s side to 10 men.

But Detroit responded with a goal in the 75th minute from Matt Ybarra, who smashed the ball in the top corner from 25 yards out.

The visitors took the lead in the 81st minute off a Danny Dragoi header. City’s Dave Edwardson then scored in stoppage time for the third goal.

“Disappointed in 1-0 up with 20 minutes to go and maybe it’s a lesson for us,” Wall said. “It’s a lesson for us to finish games stronger.”

“In one respect we get to play again tomorrow,” Wall said. “It’s a bit of a hard one to swallow, actually. But we’ve obviously got to go to the Indiana Lions tomorrow, pick ourselves up and get a result.”

The Saints hit the road on Sunday afternoon and drew FC Indiana Lions 1-1 in Indianapolis, Ind., wrapping up a two-match weekend.

Forward Craig Heard won and converted a penalty in the 47th minute to equalize the match, after the home side took the lead in the 35th minute. That was Heard’s first goal this season.

Snatching a point from Sunday’s fixture, the Saints have also ended their three-game losing streak.

The Saints play again Friday at Withrow’s Angus King Stadium. They’ll face the Erie Commodores at 7 p.m. On Sunday they play the Minnesota United Reserves at 2 p.m.

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