(PEORIA, ILLINOIS) — Dory from Finding Nemo would be proud of the Flying Carp’s performance Tuesday night.
“Just keeping swimming” seemed to be the motto, as dozens of lightning delays and pouring rain couldn’t stop Peoria City from scoring goals. And lots of them.
In typical Midwest fashion, pre-game it felt like a warm, late-spring day. As the match versus Springfield FC started, the temperature began to drop and the ominous clouds moved in.
In the 14th minute, Peoria’s Luke Persenico (Clarke University) would knock in the go-ahead goal, assisted by Kevin Mejias (Bradley University). The play would actually start off a Springfield FC corner kick. Defender Quinten Blair (Loyola Chicago) would interrupt the cross in, clearing it out of the attacking zone. Springfield’s midfielder would attempt to head the ball, and would completely miss, leading to Luke Persenico starting a break away heading the other way with a pass to Tommy Coughlin (Green Bay).
Coughlin finds Mejias on the outside wing, pushing ahead. Mejias’ cross to the middle would find Persenico once again, who would knock in the Carp’s first goal of the night.
They don’t call Samy Slimi “Super Samy” for no reason. Slimi, who recently signed with Tulsa University, used his superhuman talents to keep the game even in the 30th minute. A rocket outside of the box by Springfield would be stopped by a diving Slimi, pushing the ball over the net and out of play. Carp keep the 1-0 lead in the 30th minute.
Peoria City staff monitored the weather radar as the first half continued on, but the clouds grew closer and the wind started to strengthen.
That wind might’ve given Slimi’s goal kick blast a little extra love as it reached Mejias just in front of the Springfield goalie box. Mejias would drive in and dish it off for DJ Koulai (Bradley University), whose precise shot would soar past two Springfield defenders and over the goalie’s head, tapping the crossbar and falling into the net.
That 2-0 lead would last until half time, when the ref’s whistle blew. Simultaneously, lightning entered the area putting the match in a minimum 30-minute weather delay.
The rain came down and the clock kept going back up, as lightning persisted from roughly 8:15 to 9:20 p.m. While the rain continued, the lightning stayed away, allowing the clock to reach zero, which prompted a 10-minute warm ups clock to start.
The second half would start just after 9:30 p.m. and the Peoria City scoring did as well.
Luke Persenico would find his second goal of the night, splitting four Springfield defenders and reaching the bottom left corner of the goal. Carp go up 3-0 and Persenico, in “Flying Carp” fashion, celebrates with a dive on the wet Shea Stadium grass. Persenico’s goal was assisted by Tommy Coughlin.
Hometown hero Wesley Gibson (Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville) proved to the world that scoring isn’t just for forwards.
The defender and fourth year Peoria City player from Morton, Illinois would chest the ball to himself before slicing his shot into the opposite side of the net. The play started off a Tommy Coughlin corner kick, headed by Nadji Rebai (Clarke University), and finding Gibson for the score. 4-0 Carp!
Roughly ten minutes later Peoria would make a couple of substitutions, bringing in forward Hector Medrano (Clarke University) as one of the subs.
Medrano would immediately make an impact, rocketing in his first goal of the season unassisted. Just six minutes later Medrano would score again, this time assisted by Coughlin. Medrano’s two goals in six minutes would put the Carp up 6-0 over Springfield.
That would do it for scoring on the night. Peoria City players celebrated with The 309 and family members after the game, enjoying the dominant win over Springfield.
Peoria City’s USL League Two side is on the road this Saturday, June 3, against Sunflower State FC in Kansas City, MO.
You can catch the match at 4:00 p.m. here on Sports Engine Play.
Meanwhile, Peoria City’s WPSL side is at home this Saturday against Missouri Reign!
Get your tickets now at peoriacitysoccer.com/tickets/
#UpTheCarp
