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Roughnecks Race Past Saint Louis

By USLSoccer.com Staff, 03/18/17, 11:02PM EDT

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Svantesson, Caffa notch goal, assist apiece in 3-0 preseason win


Photo courtesy Lori Scholl / Tulsa Roughnecks FC

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Tulsa Roughnecks FC got a goal and assist apiece by Juan Caffa and Ian Svantesson to take a 3-0 victory against Saint Louis FC in a preseason exhibition on Saturday night at Hermann Stadium on the campus of St. Louis University.

The victory kept the Roughnecks unbeaten in the preseason with a 3-0-1 record.

"The first 20 minutes, we were unable to control the midfield, but we were very dangerous on the counterattack," said Roughnecks Head Coach David Vaudreuil. "The fitness and the mentality to move off the ball and to get forward were great. On the other side, we always have the stated goal of not giving up any goals, and our defense tonight was very good in front of Byars, who deserved the shutout."

Tulsa opened the scoring in in the 21st minute when Svantesson took a feed from Caffa and beat Saint Louis goalkeeper Devala Gorrick to make it 1-0. The Roughnecks doubled their lead in the 33rd minute on an outstanding finish by left back Jorge Corrales. The former Cuban international beat Gorrick on a shot from 40 yards that caromed in off the underside of the crossbar to make it 2-0. 

Tulsa completed a big first half two minutes before the break as Svantesson and Caffa exchanged roles. Svantesson's cross found Caffa in front of goal, and the former La Liga forward slotted home his shot to make it 3-0.

The pace of the second half slowed considerably for the two teams, and neither side produced a dangerous threat on goal until Saint Louis late in the match. A header off a corner went just over the crossbar, while a shot from former OKC Energy midfielder Sebastian Dalgaard went just wide seconds before the final whistle.

Tulsa goalkeeper Bryan Byars recorded his second clean sheet of the preseason. The Oklahoma native has surrendered only two goals in four matches this spring.

For the first time, the Roughnecks featured three players in the match from their new Major League Soccer affiliate, the Chicago Fire. Collin Fernandez and Joey Calistri both started for Tulsa, as Calistri logged 65 minutes of action while Fernandez totaled 75 minutes. A third Fire player, Mataj Dekovic, came on as a late sub for Vaudreuil.

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