Vlora’s men’s premier and women’s teams both played last Sunday in another eventful double header.
Premier team
Starting XI: Sohail Ebrahimi, Deq Jama, Rodolfo Batisti, Oscar Alvarez, Ciro Ottado, Austin Gunkel, Miguel Leon, Jeronimo Zelaya Diaz, Easton Hoch, Ignacio Gonzalez, Luis Mencia
The Vlora men’s premier team hosted Union de Bateaux on Sunday, June 8 in a crucial 3-0 win to stay very-much in the mix for the top four in the Midwest-West, which are this season’s playoff spots. The win over Bateaux followed a three-game string of losses for Vlora against St. Croix Legends, St. Paul Blackhawks, and Joy Athletic.
Argentine defender Jerónimo Zelaya Diaz, who recently signed to play college soccer with Bellevue University men’s soccer, told team media that the win was important for both Vlora’s intent to meet competitive expectations and also to prepare for the playoffs.
“We were good today. Actually, I think we stepped up after the three losses. It’s always difficult to respond to something like that. The team was good today and the goals didn’t come easily, we had to stay focused and stay on the ball and we got the reward we wanted for it. … We have to get better and keep training. This win is key because for a few games we couldn’t find points and this will help us stay in the top four.”
The evening started with Vlora dominating possession from kick off, but Union de Bateaux defended hard and kept the game level, all the while finding a few dangerous chances to score a goal of their own. Chances for the likes of Easton Hoch and Sohail Ebrahimi saw Vlora threaten, but the hosts did not break the deadlock until the 46th minute of play when Miguel Leon was able to pick up a pass from Deq Jama and find space at the top of the box. Leon launched a shot across the face of goal and found the far corner to make it 1-0 with style. That scoreline remained at halftime.
Only down one goal, Bateaux remained very much in the mix coming out of halftime. Vlora had a lead to defend, but had to be wary with the visitors’ very much in need of a win on the day. Vlora put an end to any questions in the 54th minute through a familiar face. Hoch hit a sideways shot on the volley from the edge of the 18-yard box to rocket in a second goal for Vlora.
Two more goals, a great shot with the keeper closing in from Ebrahimi and a calm finish following a skillful run from substitute forward Joseph Giron, helped Vlora create some serious distance and ensure they would reach 16 points on the season. Zelaya and his fellow defenders, marshaled by goalkeeper Austin Gunkel, secured a clean sheet for Vlora to complete the performance.
Vlora’s next home game will be a USASA Amateur Cup game against the Milwaukee Torrent on June 12. They will play their final regular season league game on June 15, traveling to play Granite City in St. Cloud.
Women’s team
Starting XI: Hamilia Bigirindavyi, Andrea Delius, Gracie Freyberg, Lexi Johnson, Julia Lindow, Keira Olabode, Emma Olson, Olivia Peal, Abigail Strasser, Sisley Wessel, Maggie McAlister
The Vlora women’s team hosted top-of-the-table NOSC Blast on Sunday, June 8, eventually concluding in a 4-0 loss. The game followed Vlora’s first win of the season, a 5-1 win over KFA, the week prior, and did reflect some of the growth that has followed. Freyberg, despite the scoreline, made a number of great and acrobatic saves, while Peal, Wessel, and Olson all had moments of dangerous connection in the attack that were eventually dealt with by the Blast, who led 2-0 at halftime.
The opening goal came shortly after an un-called foul caused an injury to defender Lexi Johnson. She was subbed off for Lee Yang, with the Blast striking quickly off a throw in to punish the Vlora defense before it had time to adjust to the change. Vlora continued to make adjustments in search of a goal to reignite the game, bringing on Olivia Ziemann and Alyssa Freeman, but the Blast defended well and secured the clean sheet in the end.
Vlora’s next league game will be in Superior, WI, on June 14 when they travel to play Superior City FC. They will play their next home game against the Tonka Fusion on June 18.
