Ten teams were in action over six games, including two games in two days to open the season for both Croatian Eagles (Milwaukee) and Minnesota United Reserves, in what was the busiest weekend so far in the young Premier League of America season.
In the course of three days, PLA teams scored a combined total of 24 goals, including five from RWB Adria and six from Milwaukee Bavarians. Things got tighter at the top of the East Division standings with Toledo United’s loss to Oakland County. The top three teams in the East (Adria, Toledo, and Oakland) each have six points to show thus far.
Aurora Borealis SC 2, RWB Adria 5
May 27, 2016
Mooseheart (Aurora, IL)
RWB Adria bounced back from a defeat at the hands of Toledo with a 5-2 drubbing of Aurora Borealis SC on the road. The scoreline was close for much of the first half, with the teams knotted at 1-1 going into halftime. A Derek Huffman goal in the 8th minute put Adria ahead. Colby Newquist pulled the hosts level with a penalty in the 21st minute.
It was all Adria in the second half, however. Semir Mesanovic scored in the 49th minute, followed by Tony Aguilar five minutes later, then a second goal from Huffman in the 63rd, and a volleyed strike from Ermin Gadzo in the 79th minute. The hosts got one back in the waning seconds off the foot of Anthony Parra, but saw their winless start to the season continue.
Up Next:
Toledo United vs. Aurora Borealis SC, June 4
RWB Adria vs. Grand Rapids Ole SC, June 4
Milwaukee Bavarians 6, Madison 56ers 0
May 27, 2016
Bavarian Soccer Park (Glendale, WI)
Madison’s Abdul Kooistra was handed a red card in the 4th minute which opened up the floodgates.
The Bavarians enjoyed a 6-0 thumping of Madison 56ers in the last outing of a three game homestand to open the season, although away to Croatian Eagles next weekend will not be a lengthy trip. Madison’s Abdul Kooistra was handed a red card in the 4th minute which opened up the floodgates. Scott Lorenz assisted on Dan Holowaty goals in the 9th and 13th minutes to put the hosts up 2-0, and Kelmend Islami extended the lead four minutes later.
Madison looked as though they had gotten back into the game with a goal off of a free kick in the 21st minute, but it was called offside. The 55th minute saw Islami bag his second of the night with an assist from Lorenz. Five minutes later, a 30-yard missile from Kyle Zenoni put the hosts up 5-0. The final tally was added by Logan Andryk in the 70th minute, as Bavarians sealed a huge win.
Up next:
Croatian Eagles vs. Milwaukee Bavarians, June 4
Cedar Rapids Rampage United vs. Madison 56ers, June 4
Minneapolis City SC 2, Croatian Eagles 1
May 28, 2016
Les Barnard Field (Minneapolis, MN)
Read more on Minneapolis Cty’s win in our match report by Kyle Eliason.
Minneapolis City made the most of their home debut with a 2-1 win over another Milwaukee team, this time Croatian Eagles. The Crows went up 1-0 in the 11th minute thanks to Matthew Gweh’s headed effort off an AJ Albers flick-on. The visitors pulled level twenty minutes later after Amilcar Harrera’s ball through the Crows’ back line was slotted home by Andrew Wiedabach. The scoreline stayed at 1-1 until late in the game.
There were chances for both teams throughout the second half until City’s Isaac Friendt was brought down by a mistimed tackle in the box. Max Stiegwardt sent the Eagles’ keeper the wrong way for the late winner.
Read more in our match report on Minneapolis City’s win by Kyle Eliason.
Up Next:
Minneapolis City SC vs. Minnesota United Reserves, June 3
Croatian Eagles vs. Milwaukee Bavarians, June 4
Cedar Rapids Rampage United 3, Minnesota United Reserves 1
May 28, 2016
Clark Field (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Cedar Rapids played at home for the first time this season, beating Minnesota United Reserves by a score of 3-1. Gordy Gurson ran in alone on goal and found the back of the net to give Cedar Rapids the lead in the 14th minute. The Reserves mustered four shots on goal throughout the remainder of the first half, but couldn’t get any past keeper Alexis Apodaca.
The visitors evened things up shortly after halftime with a goal from Miles Stockman-Willis. The eventual game-winner was scored in the 68th minute. A shot rebounded and found Cedar Rapids’ Alejandro Pacheco who put it away. The hosts made they would end the day with three points when Sam Guernsey scored in the 90th minute.
Up Next:
Cedar Rapids Rampage United vs. Madison 56ers, June 4
Minneapolis City SC vs. Minnesota United Reserves, June 3
Toledo United 0, Oakland County FC 1
May 28, 2016
Springfield (Holland, OH)
Toledo United was handed its first loss while Oakland County continued its undefeated start to the season. The first half was a defensive struggle with most of the attacking being done by Oakland County. Chance after chance by the visitors from Michigan was seen away by the Toledo defense.
The lone goal of the game came in the 59th minute when Shawn Sloan’s left-footed strike from distance found its way to the back of the net.
The lone goal of the game came in the 59th minute when Shawn Sloan’s left-footed strike from distance found its way to the back of the net. County held possession and kept the pressure on for the rest of the match, continuing to launch attacks, but nothing came of them. Toledo dropped points and was held scoreless for the first time this season.
Up Next:
Carpathia FC vs. Oakland County FC, June 3
Toledo United vs. Aurora Borealis SC, June 4
Minnesota United Reserves 3, Croatian Eagles 0
May 29, 2016
East Ridge High School (Woodbury, MN)
Bouncing back from a loss less than 24 hours earlier, the Reserves controlled possession for the early stretch of the match leading up to a Whitney Browne goal in the 25th minute.
Minnesota United Reserves came out on top in a matchup between two teams playing games on consecutive days. Bouncing back from a loss less than 24 hours earlier, the Reserves controlled possession for the early stretch of the match leading up to a Whitney Browne goal in the 25th minute. The hosts doubled their lead just before halftime when Rodrigo Galvez scored off a set piece.
United continued to dominate time on the ball throughout the second half, allowing few chances for Croatian Eagles to get back into the game. Browne’s second goal put the game out of reach for the visitors in the 62nd minute, and the Reserves saw out the remaining time for their first win of the season.
East Standings
| Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GD | Points |
| RWB Adria | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Toledo United | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Oakland County | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Carpathia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 3 |
| Aurora Borealis | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 0 |
| Grand Rapids Ole | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -5 | 0 |
West Standings
| Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GD | Points |
| Milwaukee Bavarians | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Cedar Rapids Rampage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Minneapolis City | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| MNUFC Reserves | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Madison 56ers | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -6 | 1 |
| Croatian Eagles | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 0 |
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