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Cianlli's goal and an exhausting defensive effort were what Athletica needed Sunday in a 1-0 victory over Sky Blue FC at the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park. [...] stepping onto the stadium field turf at Soccer Park for the first time was a boost for St. Louis -- especially Chalupny, a native St. Louisan who played many club and high-school soccer games at Soccer Park in her youth.
Jun. 8--ST. LOUIS -- It took St. Louis Athletica three games to score their first goal this season. In her first start of the season Sunday, it took Amanda Cinalli 14 minutes.
Cianlli's goal and an exhausting defensive effort were what Athletica needed Sunday in a 1-0 victory over Sky Blue FC at the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park. St. Louis held off the New Jersey-based team the rest of the way.
"It feels great," said Cinalli, a forward/midfielder from Notre Dame. "We had a great buildup (on the goal) and I was in the right place at the right time."
Cinalli broke free from a defender and took a cross from teammate Eniola Aluko. Shed chested the ball to her feet and was one-on-one with Sky Blue goalie Karen Bardsley. Her low shot slipped between the goalie and the right post from about eight yards.
"It was a beautiful cross from Enie," Cinalli said. "I'm just thankful I was there. I was a littlw surprised I was alone like that. In the box, you'd think I would have gotten a little more attention."
The game was the first for Athletica at their new home. They played their earlier home games at SIUE's Korte Stadium and at Hermann Stadium at St. Louis University.
"It's huge to get a win at our new stadium," Cinalli said. "I really like it -- the field's great."
The victory means Athletica moves out of a last-place tie with Sky Blue in the Women's Professional Soccer standings. Athletica is 3-3-2 for 11 points and a third-place tie with the Boston Breakers. Athletica plays at Boston next Sunday. Sky Blue has eight points and has played one more game than St. Louis.
Cinalli has been working her way back from preseason injuries and was happy to see action Sunday.
"(Cinalli) played great," Barcellos said. "We're still taking her slowly because she is coming back from injury."
Aluko added, "Getting a win at our new stadium is very important. But it's even more important to get the points and move up the table."
Aluko left the game in the 61st minute with a hamstring injury. "I basically couldn't run," Aluko said. "That's not good."
The status of her injury was to be evaluated.
Following Cinalli's goal, Sky Blue picked up its pace and dominated possession time the rest of the match.
"They basically outplayed us most of the game," Athletica captain Lori Chalupny said. "I'm exhausted -- it's tough to play defense the last 60 minutes of the game, which is basically what we did."
Athletica coach Jorge Barcellos agreed that the victory wasn't pretty. "We have had games this season when we played very well, but got no points. The most important thing today is that we got three points out of it.
"There are some things we have to work on and we will get that done."
Athletica was coming off a disappointing 2-0 loss last week at Los Angeles. But stepping onto the stadium field turf at Soccer Park for the first time was a boost for St. Louis -- especially Chalupny, a native St. Louisan who played many club and high-school soccer games at Soccer Park in her youth.
"This was like coming home for me," she said. "I guess I haven't played here since my senior year in (Nerinx Hall) high school. I love the atmosphere here.
"And I can probably make the drive here with my eyes closed."
She and her teammates didn't have their eyes closed against Sky Blue Sunday, however. They couldn't afford that luxury.
Sky Blue moved the ball at will much of the second half and outshot Athletica 14-10.
"I believe the game was defined the first 15 minutes," Barcellos said. "But in the second half, we were waiting for the ball to come to us. When we go up more, we create more. We have to push -- we can't let (opponents) play their game."
ATHLETICA 1, SKY BLUE FC 0
Sky Blue FC 0 0 -- 0
Athletica 1 0 -- 1
SCORING
STL -- Cinalli (Aluko) 14:00
STATS
SHOTS: Athletica 4 on, 6 off; Sky Blue 6 on, 8 off. CORNER KICKS: Athletica 2, Sky Blue 5. FOULS: Athletica 3, Sky Blue 4. SAVES: Athletica (Solo) 6, Sky Blue (Bardsley 3. Attendance: 3,124
Credit: The Telegraph, Alton, Ill.
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