NPSL Season Opener: Minnesota TwinStars v Minnesota Blizzard

May 13, 2024

|In Featured, National Premier Soccer League

Two white soccer players in black kits run either side of a black man in a white kit, who is controlling the football — During the match between Minnesota TwinStars FC and Minnesota Blizzard FC at Pride Stadium in Brooklyn Park, Minn., on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
(Photo by Seth Steffenhagen/Steffenhagen Photography)

Minnesota TwinStars FC 3-2 Minnesota Blizzard FC

NPSL kicked off again with a match up of one of the longest running clubs in this scene, TwinStars {founded in 1997) versus a newcomer in Blizzard. The match took place at Park Center High School, in the northwest of the Twin Cities metro, as the visitors made the 37 mile trip north from Lakeville.

The first half saw TwinStars come close a number of times, without success.

A turquoise-kitted goalkeeper dives upward, the ball just above his reach and next to the near post. A white kitted man wearing 10 watches on, having made the shot. A defender in a black kit looks on. — Minnesota Blizzard FC goalkeeper Shae Wirt (00) and midfielder Max Just (5) watch as a shot by Minnesota TwinStars FC midfielder Miguel Arellano (10) rebounds off the woodwork at the MN TwinStars v MN Blizzard NPSL match on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at Pride Stadium in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)

However, it was the visitors who broke through just before half-time against the run of play, for their first ever goal in NPSL play.

Three soccer players in all black kit celebrate. The central figure is a black man facing the camera with a broad smile. — Minnesota Blizzard FC midfielder Anwar Hamed (10) smiles after scoring a goal against Minnesota TwinStars FC at Pride Stadium in Brooklyn Park, Minn., on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
(Photo by Seth Steffenhagen/Steffenhagen Photography)

Three soccer players in black kit are framed against a goal. The left hand player is roaring in celebration — Minnesota Blizzard FC player Jayden Wefel (3) celebrates Blizzard’s first-ever goal at the MN TwinStars v MN Blizzard NPSL match on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at Pride Stadium in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)

The lead would only last six minutes of game time, as half-time substitute Rolando Barclay drew the hosts level, from an Arellano assist.

A blurred player wearing 15 is back-to-the-camera, hands aloft. A player with the number 2 on his back is partially turned . — Minnesota TwinStars FC forward Fatorma Conneh (15) celebrates while Rolando Barclay (2) watches his shot go into the net at the MN TwinStars v MN Blizzard NPSL match on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at Pride Stadium in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)

Blizzard re-established their lead in the 54th minute, as Ashton Frost scored but TwinStars came back yet again as TwinStars’ David Diawara equalized with barely two minutes elapsed. After that, however, the original pattern reasserted itself.