NPSL North Playoffs Review
Wednesday
The games were both punctuated by hydration breaks, with the temperatures in the 80s.
#2 Siouxland United FC 2-0 #4 Sioux Falls Thunder FC
The two sides split the regular season series with a win each, however the wins were not equal – a last kick win for Thunder having trailed in the 80th minute versus a 7-2 hammering by the Outlaws.
The home side broke through in the 10th minute as Dariel Contreras squared it for João Rocha to add to his healthy tally for the season. Thunder finished the half on the front foot, high pressure forcing a corner and a shot on goal, just wide but it remained 1-0 to the Outlaws at halftime.
It only took the hosts five minutes after the break to widen their lead, Contreras finishing off a box-to-box break with a 30 yard sprint to connect to a pass from Keitatsu Yoshida.
As the #2 seed in the North, Siouxland would need a Joy Athletic win to set up another home game. 430 miles Northeast, the Goats were threatening an upset.
#1 Duluth FC 2-3 #3 Joy AC
Duluth won one (rallying from 1-0 down to win 4-1) and drew one (which Joy should have won) in the regular season series. The home standing BlueGreens started the match on fire and were 2-0 up within 5 minutes with goals from Alex Ruiz and Liam Pritchard, but Griffin Price got one back for the visiting Goats in the 20th minute and it was there it stayed at half time.
In the 52nd minute, Goalie Alexandre Paredes and defender Juande mixed up for Duluth and a Phil Caputo cross found its way through to Christopher Plaza Alvarado for the equalizer. In the 66th minute, Joy broke free down the left and Carver Tierney dribbled deep into the box before slotting the ball into the far side netting for the go-ahead goal. Constant pressure from the home team founded on the shores of the Goat defense.
Saturday
NPSL North Conference Final – #2 Siouxland United FC 3-0 #3 Joy AC
As last year, it is only the winner of this match who can claim the title of Conference Champions. Duluth FC won last year and made it to the National Semifinals but this year saw a first time champion crowned.
Joy AC had the only real chance of the opening half an hour , but Siouxland keeper Will Devine smothered it. The Goats arguably had the better of the opening half but neither team had broken through at half time and the home side recovered their composure at half time and João Rocha added to his goal scoring streak with barely two minutes played in the second half, connecting to a breakaway pass to put the Outlaws ahead.
Outlaws head coach Alex Trent said the team “just needed a reminder to relax”. The second half saw the home side gaining more control but still not able to completely put away the Goats until the 67th minute when Hayato Takayama latched on to a ball over the top of the Goat defense. Substitute Christian Piewe made it 3-0 after capitalising on a turnover by Joy in their own penalty area.
Reflecting on the season so far, Coach Trent said:
Happy for the club and everyone who has been part of it. Looking forward to a big challenge on Wednesday and more memories with this group.
Coming Up
Midwest Regional Playoffs
We look at the mini-tournament here