2023 USOC: CITY hosts Union Omaha

Right after work last night (25 April), I drove from Ballwin to St. Louis' Downtown West. St. Louis CITY SC was hosting USL League One side Union Omaha in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

After parking in a paid lot some three blocks west of the stadium, I walked to CITYPARK to watch the match. (I was to have attended IPMS/Gateway's business meeting that night, but the host was sick, and the meeting was rescheduled for next week.) After getting a pretzel and beer from a food stand, I found a place in the Supporter Section to watch the match.

Despite this being a Tuesday night, the match was a sellout. The 22,423 fans attending set a US Open Cup Third Round attendance record. The St. Louligans and the other supporter groups were there in force to make noise and wave flags throughout the match.

CITY SC rested many of their regulars, but those in the Starting XI put in a superb effort from the start. Aziel Jackson opened the scoring in the 3rd Minute, and CITY kept Union Omaha at arm's length throughout the half.

The home side kept up the pressure in the Second Half, getting an own goal in the 48th Minute. Akil Watts and Jackson scored four minutes apart to increase the lead to 4-0 before the visitors got on the board in the 79th minute.  Eduard Loewen added an insurance goal four minutes from time.

It was a most happy night for us CITY SC supporters. The players and coaches stayed on the pitch to acknowledge their supporters, with especially great greetings for the supporter groups.

CITY SC advances to the Fourth Round, to be played 9-10 May against an opponent to be determined tomorrow (27 April). The club is aiming to be the 8th St. Louis team to win the Open Cup, last won locally by St. Louis Busch Seniors in 1988.

In the meantime, the club hosts Portland Timbers in MLS action this Saturday.

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in this Post:

CITYPARK: CITYPARK | St. Louis CITY SC (stlcitysc.com)

St. Louis CITY SC: St. Louis CITY SC (stlcitysc.com)

USL League One: USL League One

Union Omaha: Homepage - Union Omaha

Lamar Hunt US Open Cup: U.S. Open Cup 2023 | U.S. Soccer Official Website (ussoccer.com) 

St. Louligans: Saint Louligans – Supporting Soccer in the St. Louis Area – St. Louligans – Supporting St. Louis Soccer (stlouligans.com)

MLS: MLSsoccer.com - The Official Site of Major League Soccer

Portland Timbers: Portland Timbers

  

Saturday in Monticello for Fleacon 19

Just after 3:00 am Saturday morning (15 April), yours truly pulled out of my driveway and headed for Monticello, Iowa. I was driving there for Fleacon 19, the annual model contest and swap meet presented by IPMS/Alexander Lippisch at Monticello Berndes Center.

After over 5.5 hours on the road (including stops for fuel, food, and restroom break), I arrived at the show site. A slight rain fell as I carried my gear inside from the parking lot. After exchanging pleasantries with some of the Alexander Lippisch members--including Bill Kreuger, the chapter contact--I paid my contest registration fee and entered my two models in the contest. I brought in a 1:72 PT109 to enter in Ships (and also in the Movie Madness theme category, recalling the 1963 film "PT109"), and a 1:48 A6M2 Zero in Aircraft. The latter was also entered in consideration for the Best Japanese Subject special award.

This contest has two judging looking over each entry and evaluating it against norms for fit and finish, rather than against the field as in most contests. This year, the entries were judging at the contest tables, rather than in a judging table as in previous shows, to aid in reducing lines at contest judging.

I bought some raffle tickets and began walking around the show area, chatting with others I know, like Doug Kolkman with Blackhawk Model Builders Society, Mark Johnson with Glue Brothers, and Joachim Lotz and Chris Riner with Plastic Surgeons. I was the only one from IPMS/Gateway to come, but I brought some flyers promoting Gateway's Invitational this September. I also attended this show in my capacity as IPMS/USA Region 14 Coordinator.

I shopped among the vendors there, chatting with a few and buying one aircraft kit I had an eye on. Luck sure shined on me in the raffle, as I won three kits from it.

Several members from Mad City Modelers came to the show, bringing brochures promoting the 2024 IPMS/USA National Convention they will be hosting in Madison, Wisconsin. I chatted with two of their members.

Late that afternoon, the contest results were announced. My PT109 took a Silver award, while my A6M2 received a Bronze Award. I was happy to talk up Gateway's Invitational when invited by the show organizers to speak. After that, I packed up my models and began the long trip home.

  

It was warm and sunny when I left Monticello, but the skies soon got darker, and rain started to fall. The rain picked up in intensity as I drove further south. I stopped in Mount Pleasant, Iowa to get dinner and ride out the storm. After getting south of Hannibal, Missouri, I checked on the car's radio for the Y98 broadcast of St. Louis CITY SC's match against Cincinnati FC at CITYPARK. Due to lightning and a tornado warning, that match began over two hours later. I was so happy to hear CITY taking the lead in the third minute. I arrived home around halftime with CITY up 3-0, around 10:36 pm, after a 654.4-mile (1053.2 km) round trip. I listened to the rest of the match on my phone's Audacy app, as CITY defeated Cincinnati 5-1. I was one tired, but happy man when I fell asleep.

Later.

Links to Entities Mentioned in this Post:

IPMS Alexander Lippisch: Lippisch Model Club

Monticello Parks and Recreation:  Parks and Recreation (monticello.ia.us)

Blackhawk Model Builders Society: Home | Blackhawk Model Buil (blackhawkmodelers.com)

IPMS/Glue Brothers: (1) IPMS Glue Brothers - Des Moines, Iowa | Facebook

IPMS Plastic Surgeons: IPMS Plastic Surgeons (ipms-plasticsurgeons.com)

IPMS Mad City Modelers: MadCityModelers

IPMS/Gateway: IPMS Gateway Chapter (google.com)

IPMS/USA: IPMS/USA Home Page | By Modelers... For Modelers (ipmsusa.org)

St. Louis CITY SC: St. Louis CITY SC (stlcitysc.com)

Y98/Audacy: St Louis Pop Music Station - KYKY-FM | Y98.1 FM (audacy.com)

USA and Republic of Ireland Women at CITYPARK

Last Tuesday night (11 April), I got off early from work to get to Downtown West St. Louis for a women's soccer friendly. The defending FIFA Women's World Cup Champion USA was hosting the Republic of Ireland at CITYPARK in the second of two matches. Both teams played the previous Saturday, with the Americans winning 2-0.

After finding a street parking area about four blocks from the stadium, I raced to get to CITYPARK. As I entered the stadium, both teams came out for the match. USA honored defender and captain Becky Sauerbrunn, a native of Ladue, Missouri, for her recent 200th international appearance. I saw much of this ceremony on the video monitors along the corridors. The national anthems of Ireland and USA followed this ceremony.

I found my seat in the south end of CITYPARK, a change of pace from the usual north end standing location for St. Louis CITY SC matches. The American Outlaws were in force in the supporter section.

The match began and the Americans asserted themselves early with some good possession and scoring chances. Sauerbrunn nearly scored in the 3rd minute from a header just inside the penalty area, but it hit the crossbar. It would have been quite a goal, especially as she hadn't scored in any international appearances. Sauerbrunn was substituted in the 29th minute to a standing ovation from the 22,294 fans in attendance.

The Irish responded well and asserted themselves more as the match went on. In the 43rd minute, USA defender Alana Cook--who turned 26 that day--scored her first international goal with a long ball some 40 yards (36.6 m) out that sailed over the Irish goalkeeper and into the net.

USA made several substitutions at halftime and their defense held the Irish back. At full time it was 1-0 to the hosts, with Casey Murphy earning the shutout in goal. The teams acknowledged their supporters right after the match. Both USA and Republic of Ireland will be at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this June and July.

I walked out of CITYPARK happy after seeing this match--the first international match and first women's match played at that venue.

Later.

Links to Entities Mentioned in this Post:

CITYPARK: CITYPARK | St. Louis CITY SC (stlcitysc.com)

US Women's National Team: USWNT | World Cup Champions | U.S. Soccer Official Site (ussoccer.com)

Republic of Ireland Women's National Team: Football Association of Ireland (fai.ie)

American Outlaws: American Outlaws (theamericanoutlaws.com)

FIFA Women's World Cup: FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™

Julie and I and St. Louis CITY SC and Minnesota United

I came to Julie's house yesterday in the middle afternoon (1 April). She had just completed some work in the house. I then drove us to Downtown West St. Louis where I found a parking place before we walked to the Pre-Match Party by the Schlafly Tap Room. The St. Louligans and other supporter groups were there. Julie and I each bought some tickets to the St. Louligans' "Schlaffle" raffle. Proceeds went to 3 Little Birds 4Life, a group granting wishes to young adult cancer patients.

Julie and I each got a beer from one of the Schlafly beer tents and got dinner from one of three food trucks in the area. We also walked over to Lou Fusz Plaza by CITYPARK to see the activities there. They included some dog tricks done by dogs from Purina.

After the raffle drawing (Julie and I didn't win), we marched with other supporters around CITYPARK and into the stadium for the match between St. Louis CITY SC and Minnesota United FC. Julie and I found places high up in the supporter section to cheer on the home side.

Unfortunately, a 78th minute penalty kick was the difference as Minnesota United ran out 1-0 winners. It was CITY's first loss this season, but not for lack of trying. The players saluted their supporters after the match.

Julie and I then walked to my car, then I drove her home. She had work around the house to do this weekend, so I kissed her good night and then drove home.

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in This Post:

Schlafly Tap Room: Tap Room Brewpub - Schlafly Beer

St. Louligans: Saint Louligans – Supporting Soccer in the St. Louis Area – St. Louligans – Supporting St. Louis Soccer (stlouligans.com)

3 Little Birds 4Life: 3 Little Birds 4 Life

CITYPARK: CITYPARK | St. Louis CITY SC (stlcitysc.com)

Purina: Purina: Nutritious Dog and Cat Food for Your Pet

St. Louis CITY SC: St. Louis CITY SC (stlcitysc.com)

Minnesota United FC: Minnesota United FC (mnufc.com)

Trip to KC CON 2023 and Julie's Birthday

Early yesterday morning (11 March), I drove to Marion Morris' house in Maplewood. Morris would drive me and Dave Thomas--all of us members of IPMS/Gateway--to Kansas City, Missouri for KC CON, a model contest hosted by IPMS/Great Plains and IPMS/KC AMPS. Along the way, Tom Aldred joined us, while Jim Victor and Jim Triola rode together in a second vehicle. We arrived at the First Church of the Nazarene, the show venue, just before 9:00 am.

I had my two models registered in the contest, placing a MiG-15bis in one of the Aircraft categories in the contest room, and leaving a 155mm M1 Gun in the Armor judging room. This contest has Armor entries judging using Armor Modeling and Preservation Society (AMPS) rules, while the rest of the entries were judging using International Plastic Modelers' Society/USA (IPMS/USA) rules. I also bought some raffle tickets and walked among the vendors gathered at the show. Morris was one of those vendors.

During the morning, I admired the models on the contest tables. Several tables had to be added to accommodate the large number of contest models brought to this show. I did win a few prizes in the raffle and bought a few items from the vendors.

I volunteered to be a contest judge and helped to judge entries in the three Mecha categories. There were some superb models to choose from for the three places in each category, but my partner and I got it done. The rest of the categories took more time, and it was after 3:00 pm when the awards began to be announced.

My M1 Gun took a Gold in Basic level Armor--Ordnance. This was better than I expected. Thomas took two Bronze awards in Advanced Armor for his two tank models. Going to the rest of the contest, my MiG-15 placed Third in Aircraft--1:72, Single Engine, Post-1947. Triola's battleship Bismarck got Second in Ships--All types, 1:400 and larger. (Many of us thought it would get First.)

We packed up and headed home. Marion, Dave, and I arrived in Maplewood just before 8:00 pm. (Aldred went with Victor and Triola.) After getting my things put into my car and saying goodbye, I got dinner at Penn Station East Coast Subs before getting a Macy's gift card at CVS and then going home.

The next morning, I drove to Julie's house, where I gave her a birthday card with the gift card. Yesterday was her birthday, but we celebrated it together today. Julie and I went to Machinists Hall in Bridgeton to visit the ToyMan Show of collectable toys and memorabilia. We then traveled to West County Center to browse among the stores. Julie and I shopped at Barnes & Noble (I bought two books, while she bought a board game).

After lunch at her home, we went to the Irish Festival in Florissant for a while. Then, we went to Mystic Valley in Maplewood, where Julie bought something for her home. Then, we returned to her home where we watched Juventus and Sampdoria play a Serie A match on her TV. After that, we parted but will be back together next weekend.

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in This Post: 

IPMS/Gateway: IPMS Gateway Chapter (google.com)

IPMS/Great Plains: Untitled Page (ipmsgreatplains.org)

IPMS/KC AMPS: KCAMPS

AMPS: Home - Armor Modeling & Preservation Society (amps-armor.org)

IPMS/USA: IPMS/USA Home Page | By Modelers... For Modelers (ipmsusa.org)

ToyMan Show: ToyMan Show – "Where BIG kids go to play"

Barnes & Noble: Online Bookstore: Books, NOOK ebooks, Music, Movies & Toys | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Mystic Valley: Mystic Valley - Mystic Valley (mysticvalleystl.com)

St. Louis CITY SC Home Opener

Midday last Saturday (4 March), I drove to Julie's house. After lunch and some wonderful conversation, we made our way to Downtown West in St. Louis. This was the long-awaited day of St. Louis CITY SC's home opener at CITYPARK.

Before arriving at the pre-match party at Schlafly Tap Room, I had to park my car on Locust two blocks from the party site. Julie and I then walked to the street in front of the Tap Room where the party took place. Our mates from the St. Louligans were there, along with The Thieves, Fleur de Noise, St. Louis City Punks, and the Riot Grrrls. Julie and I contributed to the St. Louligans' Charity du Jour, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in St. Louis. I also bought a St. Louligans' scarf and a button from Fleur de Noise, the latter of which I added to my cap.

Julie and I enjoyed beer from Schlafly, and later ate an early dinner from Locoz Tacoz's food truck set up by the Tap Room. We also chatted with others in the crowd and took in the scene. Hundreds of CITY SC supporters thronged the party area, plus a few supporters of the match's opponent, Charlotte FC, were there.

Nearly two hours before kickoff, Julie and I marched with the hundreds of supporters around the block north of CITYPARK, led by the drums of Fleur de Noise. Many of the bystanders along the streets and looking out from the buildings along our route cheered us. After about 20 minutes, our group arrived at CITYPARK and made our way to the Supporter Section in the stadium's north end.

Both of us found our places to stand in the Supporter Section as the teams warmed up on the pitch. The stadium was packed, a sellout of 22,423 spectators. The excitement reached a fever pitch as the starting elevens of both teams walked out the tunnel onto the pitch. Julie and I were ready, along with everyone else.

The St. Louligans unveiled a huge tifo while the rest of the seating areas displayed colored cards to welcome everyone to this first home match. St. Louis CITY SC kicked off the match and the cheering never stopped. Fleur de Noise's drummers set the beat and the capos led the chants throughout the match.

Charlotte FC scored the opening goal 25 minutes in, but CITY SC kept up the pressure. An errant back pass by a Charlotte player became an own goal in the 41st minute. Just into stoppage time, a hand ball in the Charlotte penalty area led to a penalty goal for CITY SC. The home side was up 2-1 at halftime.

CITY SC made a few scoring attempts in the second half, finally connecting in the 71st minute in front of the Supporter Section. We all went into maximum pandemonium at that point.

The final whistle left CITY SC 3-1 winners, and nobody left their seats. The players came over towards the Supporter Section to applaud us before moving around the stadium to give the other spectators their thanks. All of us (except for Charlotte FC and their supporters) left CITYPARK very happy. Julie and I walked to my car and we returned to her home.

The next morning, we had breakfast before watching some Serie A matches on TV. I then had to leave to get ready for refereeing youth soccer later that day, but Julie and I will have some special time next weekend.

Later.

Websites of Entiries Mentioned in This Post:

St. Louis CITY SC: St. Louis CITY SC (stlcitysc.com)

CITYPARK: CITYPARK | St. Louis CITY SC (stlcitysc.com)

Schlafly Tap Room: Tap Room Brewpub - Schlafly Beer

St. Louligans: Saint Louligans – Supporting Soccer in the St. Louis Area – St. Louligans – Supporting St. Louis Soccer (stlouligans.com)

The Thieves: Home | Up the Thieves! (stlouligans.com)

Fleur de Noise: Fleur De Noise

St. Louis City Punks: SLCP Home (slcitypunks.com)

Riot Grrls: SLCP Home - About Riot Grrrls (slcitypunks.com)

Locoz Tacoz: Authentic Mexican Food Truck in St. Louis | Locoz Tacoz

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Lower Plains | Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (lls.org)

 

St. Louis CITY SC Begins MLS Play

Yesterday afternoon (25 February) was a cool, but sunny day. I drove to Julie's house, where we chatted for awhile. Then, after running some errands, we headed for CITYPARK for a "Meet the Seats" event for St. Louis CITY SC season ticket holders. Julie and I entered the stadium and went to the Supporter Section in the North End, where we admired the view.

We hoped the concession stands were open, but they weren't. Julie and I decided to walk to The Fountain on Locust for an early dinner. It was full of people, but we got seats at the bar. We both enjoyed sandwiches and the atmosphere of this place.

After the meal, Julie and I walked back east to the Schlafly Tap Room for a watch party of CITY SC's season opening match at Austin FC. We gathered with others from the St. Louligans to watch the match on TV screens set up in the place. Finally, CITY SC was playing for real in Major League Soccer (MLS), and all of us fans were most excited on this night.

Julie and I went through the ups and downs of the match, with CITY SC scoring first in the First Half, only for Austin FC to level it just before halftime. We did not lose hope, though Austin took the lead in the Second Half. However, CITY SC scored twice late in the match, with Klauss getting the winner four minutes from time. The excitement at the final whistle was incredible. Julie and I, along with other supporters, were most happy with the result. This was a great way to start the season and the existence of St. Louis CITY SC.

After the game, I drove Julie home where we had a light snack before calling it a night. This morning, we had breakfast together before I left for my home.

Looking forward to CITY SC's home opener this Saturday night against Charlotte FC. It should be rocking!

Later.

 Websites of Entities Mentioned in this Post:

CITYPARK: CITYPARK | St. Louis CITY SC (stlcitysc.com)

St. Louis CITY SC: St. Louis CITY SC (stlcitysc.com)

The Fountain on Locust: The Fountain on Locust

Schlafly Tap Room: Tap Room Brewpub - Schlafly Beer

St Louligans: Saint Louligans – Supporting Soccer in the St. Louis Area – St. Louligans – Supporting St. Louis Soccer (stlouligans.com)

Major League Soccer: MLSsoccer.com - The Official Site of Major League Soccer