Duluth FC opens NPSL season with scoreless draw at home
Duluth FC created the better chances but settled for a 0-0 opener at Walt Hunting Stadium, where William Maanstroem debuted as head coach.
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Duluth FC got the shape, tempo and defensive backbone it wanted in William Maanstroem’s debut, even if the BlueGreens could not find a finish in a 0-0 home draw with Siouxland United FC at Marv Heikkinen Field at Walt Hunting Stadium.
Under cloudy skies on Saturday, the season opener gave St. Louis County fans a sharp read on where Duluth stood after last year’s North Division championship: the chances were there, the defensive structure held, and the final touch lagged behind. Seth Davidson forced the game’s first major moment in the 18th minute when he earned a penalty, but Siouxland United goalkeeper Andre Ferreira saved it. Pol Saiz picked up Duluth’s first yellow card of the season in the 25th minute, a sign that the opener had an edge from the start.
Duluth kept pressing. Davidson later rattled the crossbar off a corner-kick sequence created by Akim Soulemana, and Nathan Porter’s follow-up was blocked. Siouxland United, the defending Midwest North Conference tournament champion, answered with its own chances through Keitumetse Mphomane and Diego Mendez, but the BlueGreens’ defense held firm and the match reached halftime still scoreless. Siouxland defender Diogo Pereira left injured late in the half, adding more tension to a first 45 minutes that never settled into a lull.
The pressure continued after the break. Roy Nzawa had a shot deflected for a corner in the 48th minute, Koki Ogawa headed wide for Siouxland United in the 62nd, and Davidson stayed dangerous before Ferreira made a full-extension save in the 75th minute to preserve the tie. The result left Duluth with one point and fourth place in the early NPSL standings, while Joy Athletic Club sat on 3 points and Siouxland United on 0 after two matches.
The National Premier Soccer League now features more than 90 teams and operates as a level 4 league under the United States Adult Soccer Association. For Duluth, the opening draw suggested a club that can still control a game at home, create enough to win, and frustrate an opponent that came in with championship credentials. The next step is turning that stability at Walt Hunting Stadium into goals before close games begin slipping away.
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