Saints pick up first NPSL road win

June 12th, 2015

Charlie Hatch

NEW HOPE, Minn.– On their longest road trip in club history, the Cincinnati Saints beat the Minnesota TwinStars 2-1 on Saturday afternoon. It was the club’s first away win in National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) history.

Claiming three points from the first match this weekend keeps the Saints in the playoffs hunt entering the final two league matches.

“Gutsy performance,” assistant coach Jamie Starr said. “Didn’t bring a lot of guys, didn’t bring a lot of subs and the guys found a way to win. It wasn’t pretty at times but they got the result and they did what they had to do. I’m really proud.”

The TwinStars scored first in the 33rd minute, when Chase Carey snuck past the Cincinnati defense and gave the home side the lead.

But the Saints equalized in the 43rd minute, when Phil Hagerty slotted Luke Spencer’s cross to the back post.

Haggerty scored again in the 66th minute, rebounding a shot from Spencer for the game-winning goal. Hagerty said it was the first multi-goal game in his career. His six goals lead the team this season.

“Today was pretty sweet,” Hagerty said. “I wouldn’t say it’s the best we’ve ever played, but it’s getting the job done and getting two goals…it was a big success.”

Despite multiple attacking surges from the TwinStars moving forward, the Saints backline held firm after conceding the early goal.

“We played with a lot of grit,” defender Gary Henderson said. “We got the two goals we needed, held down in defense and played as a team.”

The Saints play again Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. (5 p.m. Eastern) against the Madison 56ers. Kick off will be less than 24 hours after the Saturday’s match ended, leaving little room for recovery.

“That’s the league,” Starr said. “And that’s what we came here to do. That’s why we bring on 40 guys, but it’s a chance to get another win on the road, fight for playoff birth and climb up the table…We’re just taking it one game at a time.

“If we were guaranteed three points I’d make this trip every time.”