USL Game Report

Saturday, April 25, 2015

OKLAHOMA CITY – Saint Louis FC handed OKC Energy FC its first defeat of the season as it took a 2-1 victory on Saturday night at Taft Stadium. Jamiel Hardware and Mike Ambersley both scored for Saint Louis to earn the first road victory in club history.

Energy FC (2-1-1) outshot Saint Louis (2-2-1) by an 11-10 margin but Saint Louis scored two goals on three shots on target, while Mark Pais had a strong display in goal as he recorded five saves to deny Energy FC an equalizer in the second half. 

Chuy Sanchez put Energy FC on the board first as he scored his second goal of the season in the 13th minute. Casey Townsend sent the ball in the penalty area, and Sanchez was there to finish the cross at the top of the six-yard area.

Hardware pulled Saint Louis even in the 32nd minute as he cut in from the right side and danced around the Energy FC defenders before he sent a low shot to the left of goalkeeper Evan Newton to tie the match.

Saint Louis took the lead just before the halftime break as Ambersley scored in the 42nd minute off a rebound to propel Saint Louis to its eventual winning score of 2-1. Oskar Gasecki had the initial shot, which caromed off the left post and rebounded to Ambersely, who finished cooly into the net.

Energy FC returns to action next Friday night, May 1, as it visits the Austin Aztex in an 8 p.m. CT start. Saint Louis FC returns home to face Wilmington Hammerheads FC at World Wide Technology Soccer Park on May 9 at 7:30 p.m. CT.