(PEORIA, Ill.) — A Sunday Semifinal showdown awaited the Flying Carp after a 1-0 victory over Flint City Friday night.
Turned out to be a hot, sunny afternoon at Shea Stadium, yet 1,337 fans filled the stands to cheer the players on.
It was a slow start for both Peoria City and FC Tucson, with the score at half-time sitting at 0-0.
But a passionate halftime speech from Head Coach Mike Paye would get the Playoff Carp back on track, and it wouldn’t take long.
In what may have been the goal of the year, Luke Persenico (Clarke University) knocked in his first of the day off the Josh Reddy (Clarke University) cross in the 48th minute.
Four minutes later, it’d be Persenico again! This time assisted by Jose Gomez (Northern Illinois University, formally Clarke University). Carp go up 2-0.
Soon after, FC Tucson would get their first and only goal of the afternoon.
Securing the hat trick, Persenico would score his third and final goal of the day, off an assist by Jonas Lyshoj (Bryant University).
The fourth goal would come in the form of an own goal, but we’ll take it!
Persenico had to share the goal scoring a little bit on Sunday! But it’d be an impressive triple header by Joe McInnes to score the fifth and final goal of the National Semifinal match. McInnes headed the ball to himself twice in the air before finishing on the third header, sending it to the back of the net.
Now, Peoria City awaits a National Championship matchup against Seacoast United from New Hampshire.
USL League Two, along with the hosting organization, will make the hosting announcement Monday morning, July 29th.
#UpTheCarp
