Changing the Game: Stars of the Cities
A look at the new Minneapolis/Saint Paul all-star game changing the metro scene
The Stars of the Cities All-Star game looked to change the face of soccer when its players took to the pitch at the Conway Field Complex on Saturday, Nov. 11.
Stars of the Cities gathered all-star teams representing the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, made up of players from the two cities’ various public schools. Saint Paul’s teams were led by Tony Sanneh and Andréa Carroll-Franck, while Minneapolis’ were led by Carl Craig and Jena Cogswell. Minneapolis added Mario Wimberly and Amy Cooper as assistant coaches, while Saint Paul added Manny Lagos and Lauryn Smith. Both teams were also supported by their respective mayors, Minneapolis’ Jacob Frey and Saint Paul’s Melvin Carter.
According to Sol of the Cities, scouts from Hamline, Concordia, Bethel, Gustavus, Augsburg, St. Mary’s, St. Kate’s, and St. Thomas were present during the event. The full rosters for the four teams can be found here.
The boys game saw Minneapolis (wearing blue) strike first following positive moments offensively for both teams in the first 10 minutes. Class AAA Mr. Soccer Minnesota winner Emmett Brown (Mpls Washburn) scored the opener, running on to a long ball and flicking it past the keeper with the outside of his right foot.
Tenzing Walker (St. Paul, Highland Park) curled a free kick past the left post soon after as Saint Paul looked for an equalizer, but Minneapolis spoiled that mission with a team goal as Farhan Mohamed (Mpls Roosevelt) and Theo Cornell (Mpls South) combined for a blocked shot which was then turned in by Brown.
Saint Paul answered back with two late goals in the first half. The first came after Chris Palma (St. Paul, Highland Park) tapped in a shot into the empty net after a deflected shot to make it 2-1. Saint Paul then evened the scoreline with another goal for Palma, this time a rocket of an effort that found the roof of the net.
The half concluded 2-2. Minneapolis had started strong and found good pace and work on the wings with Mohamed and Theo Bubser (Mpls Edison), but Saint Paul countered with an improved centerback pairing of Rhys Tidwell (St. Paul Central) and Ayub Suleiman (St. Paul, Highland Park) (plus some superb goalkeeping by St. Paul Harding’s Rahun Her), while also making the most of their own offensive chances after a scrappy start.
Saint Paul’s Abdullahj Geedj (Central) and Caiden Romo (Highland Park) caused real trouble early in the second half, but Minneapolis found the game changer with a hat trick-completing goal by Emmett Brown, slotting home a shot at the far post.
Saint Paul almost got back into it when Walker scored a free kick, but a miscommunication had seen the player score directly from an indirect free kick. The game settled into a trade of hits from there, with Minneapolis defending well against a persistent Saint Paul attack while earning chances and burning time through set pieces. Valiant work on and off the ball saw Minneapolis keep the lead and win 3-2.
The girls game followed suit, with the Minneapolis team getting off to a dominant start with an early goal by Izzy McEwan (Mpls Washburn). Minneapolis had a peppering of early chances, with Saint Paul eventually growing into half with good work offensively by the likes of Ellery Merriam (St. Paul, Highland Park) and Mue Ler Htoo (St. Paul Humboldt). Minneapolis goalkeeper Kiki Behl (Mpls Roosevelt) made a diving save on a shot from Vita Hochuli (St. Paul Central) to keep Minneapolis’ clean sheet alive.
Minneapolis regained control toward the end of the half, earning multiple set pieces as Cady Davis (Mpls Roosevelt) and Megan Schoenke (Mpls Southwest) began to assert themselves more defensively. That work all paid off at the end of the half as Megan Curley (Mpls Southwest) headed in a goal at the far post following a corner kick.
Saint Paul continued to chase a goal in the second half but struggled to find their way past Minneapolis defense, which looked more cohesive with every additional minute it earned together. Minneapolis found their next goal after a steady start to the half, headed in by Addie Smith (Mpls Southwest) at the far post.
McEwan later went one-on-one with the keeper to score the fourth goal of the night. Following the fourth goal, Saint Paul were able to tighten their defensive unit with strong performances from Anja Gundale (Humboldt), Ava Arredondo (Highland Park), Maia Oberg (Central), and Hochuli.
However, the Saint Paul offense continued to be unable to unlock their own scoring potential as they contended with the resolute midfield and defensive work of Yazmin Bello Peralta (Edison-Henry), Anne Layon (Southwest), Rachel Anderson (Roosevelt), and Dinkenesh Kendrick (Mpls South). The game eventually concluded there, with Minneapolis earning a dominant 4-0 to complete the sweep of the first ever Stars of the Cities all-star tournament.