Saint Louis FC Opens 2019 With a Win

Last Saturday morning (9 March), after attending this month's Missouri Professional Communicators (https://www.facebook.com/MissouriProfessionalCommunicators/) at the St. Louis Artists' Guild (https://www.stlouisartistsguild.org/) in Clayton, I braved the rain to reach World Wide Technology Soccer Park (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/SOCCERPARK) in Fenton. Saint Louis FC (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) was opening the new season against Indy Eleven (https://www.indyeleven.com/).

I made it to the St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/) tailgate in the parking lot. There was a great crowd there, despite the rain, including some Indy Eleven supporters from the Brickyard Battalion (http://brickyardbattalion.com/). The beer was flowing and there was plenty of food--biscuits and gravy, link sausages, scrambled eggs, and doughnuts. Everyone was in good spirits. Saint Louis FC Chief Executive Officer Jim Kavanaugh and Carolyn Kindle Betz from #MLS4THELOU (https://mls4thelou.com/) both came to speak to the crowd.

After all that, we marched into Toyota Stadium for the match. The rain let up and the sun appeared early in the match. After a scoreless first half, Indy Eleven had an opportunity to score with a penalty kick. Saint Louis' Jake Fenlason made the save, though. On the ensuring corner kick, Indy scored in the 61st minute. Phanuel Kavita equalized for the home side eight minutes later, then Russell Cicerone won it in the 77th minute for Saint Louis. This was the first opening match win for Saint Louis FC in its history.

After the match, the Saint Louis FC players came to our section to accept our congratulations on the win, and they sang to us in celebration. We St. Louligans were in such good spirits during the match, and certainly walked out happy after the win. We headed back to the parking lot to help tear down our tailgate camp.

Glad to get this win under our belts. Saint Louis FC is away to Nashville SC this Saturday night. The St. Louligans will have their first away watch party at Llywelyn's Pub in Webster Groves (https://llywelynspub.com/webster-groves). Looking forward to it.

Later.

Ready for the 2019 Saint Louis FC Season

Last Saturday afternoon (2 March), I braved the winds and chilly temperatures to attend the final 2019 preseason match for Saint Louis FC (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/). Sometime before the match at Toyota Stadium of World Wide Technology Soccer Park (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/soccerpark), I joined the St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/) for their tailgate in the parking lot. There, I received my new St. Louligans scarf for the 2019 season.

(Two days before, I received in my mail my Saint Louis FC season ticket, member card, and scarf. The latter has the names of the season ticket members on it, including yours truly.)

Back to Saturday, we St. Louligans walked into the stadium and cheered on Saint Louis FC as they defeated Forward Madison FC 1-0. This match was only for season ticket members. During the match, I tried the new Ale d'Or, which Schlafly (http://www.schlafly.com/) made for Saint Louis FC. I liked this beer, which is good and hoppy.

After the match, I joined with other season ticket members in a complementary buffet lunch in the Soccer Park's conference center, then witnessed fans meeting the team and getting autographs. It was a nice afternoon.

The St. Louligans were to have held their Annual General Meeting the next day (3 March) at Westport Social (https://westportsocial-stl.com/); however, snow and ice on the roads that morning forced its cancellation. Disappointing, but the right decision.

Last night, I went after work to 2nd Shift Brewing (http://www.2ndshiftbrewing.com/) in south St. Louis' Hill neighborhood for the pre-season social. I had two of 2nd Shift's beers--Brewligans, an India Pale Ale done for the St. Louligans, and Rainbow Kitty, a Berliner Weiss. I also ate chicken adobo from Guerilla Street Food (https://www.guerrillastreetfood.com/) located at 2nd Shift, which I found most tasty.

During this event, the St. Louligans recorded the latest episode of its podcast, This is SiLLy!, which included interviews with Saint Louis FC players Paris Gee and Austin Martz, as well as telling in brief what was to have been covered in the Annual General Meeting regarding the St. Louligans' plans for this season (activities, help needed). The podcast is now up and can be downloaded from the St. Louiligans website.

The season starts at home this Saturday, when Saint Louis FC hosts Indy Eleven in a 1:00 pm match at Toyota Stadium. I can't wait for the season to start. Hope to see you there!

Later.