ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Mo.-St. Louis (2-2-4) secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Christian Brothers (5-2-1) in a tightly contested match on Friday evening at the UMSL Soccer Stadium. The win extended Mo.-St. Louis's unbeaten streak to two matches while ending Christian Brothers' three-game unbeaten run.
The first half saw both teams trading opportunities, with Lauri Orava testing the Mo.-St. Louis defense with a shot in the 9th minute that sailed wide. Melo Mensah responded for the hosts in the 11th minute with a close attempt, while Colton Milosch forced a save in the 17th minute with a shot toward the top left corner.
The opening period featured intense midfield battles, with Mario Garcia and Michael Quinn earning yellow cards for Mo.-St. Louis in the 6th and 10th minutes respectively. Christian Brothers' Alessio Anichini and Roberto Lagoa were particularly active in the middle, helping their team maintain possession despite the hosts' aggressive pressing.
The second half intensity increased as both teams sought the breakthrough. Kyler Sorber threatened with a shot in the 30th minute that went high, while Olivier van der Tuin responded for Christian Brothers with a blocked attempt in the 66th minute. The match saw several tactical substitutions, with both coaches utilizing their benches extensively - Mo.-St. Louis made key changes including the removal of Connor Lynd, Michael Quinn, and Max Matarelli in the 69th minute.
Final statistics reflected the match's competitive nature, with Christian Brothers recording 8 shot attempts to Mo.-St. Louis's 6. The visitors held a slight edge in corner kicks (4-2), though Mo.-St. Louis managed more saves (2-1). The disciplinary count favored Christian Brothers, who received 3 yellow cards compared to Mo.-St. Louis's 6, plus a late red card to Connor Lynd in the 86th minute.
Individual performances stood out on both sides. Melo Mensah was particularly dangerous for Mo.-St. Louis, creating several chances including a 70th-minute effort that struck the woodwork. For Christian Brothers, Ziad Esquivel showed excellent control in the 78th minute with a low shot that tested the goalkeeper.
Tactically, Mo.-St. Louis's approach focused on quick transitions through the midfield, with Mario Garcia and Pablo Nodar orchestrating the play. Christian Brothers countered with a possession-based strategy, utilizing the technical skills of Juan Minguez Malonda and Will Allen before both were substituted in the 74th minute.
The result marked a significant momentum shift for Mo.-St. Louis, who had struggled to find consistency earlier in the season. For Christian Brothers, the loss represented their first defeat after a strong run that included a draw against Mississippi College and a win over Delta State.
Both teams showed their depth throughout the match, with a combined 32 substitutions demonstrating the physical demands of the contest. The game's intensity peaked in the final minutes, culminating in Connor Lynd's dismissal and Ethan Shanahan's yellow card at the final whistle.
Looking ahead, Mo.-St. Louis will aim to build on this victory when they travel to face Maryville (MO) on October 5th, while Christian Brothers will have time to regroup before hosting West Alabama on October 10th in their next conference matchup.