After a three-week layoff between league games, the Salt Lake Sting soccer club regrouped for a 1-0 victory over the California Emperors Friday night.
The victory, before 1,200 at Ted Runner Stadium, upped the Sting's record in the WSL North to 3-1, while the Emperors fell to 0-4 on the season."We knew what we had to do tonight and we went in and did it," said Sting Coach Laurie Calloway. "It was a tough game on a slick and narrow field."
The lone goal of the game came just 3:45 into the second half when Dominic Militello scored an unassisted goal. Militello, the team's leading scorer on the year, fired a shot from 15 yards out that was stopped by California goalkeeper Chris Wilson. But the rebound came back to Militello and he knocked it into the corner of the net.
The Emperors actually outshot the Sting 13 to 9, but many of the shots were high or wide as Sting goalkeeper Paul Parkinson only had to make five saves on the night.
Calloway was particularly pleased with the play of his midfield and defense and he singled out midfielder Dzung Tran and defender Paul Tell, who was filling in for the injured Kenny Mays.
The Sting move on down the freeway to play the San Diego Nomads, last year's league champions, tonight. The Nomads, 2-4 on the year, lead the WSL South and will be playing their first home game.
Sting fullback Chris Wentzien was injured late in Friday's game and is questionable for today.
Since a 4-2 overtime loss to San Francisco on April 21, the Sting's only action came a week later, a 1-1 exhibition tie with F.C. Dallas.