photo by: Ken Schmidt/Oread Studios

Kaw Valley FC forward Manel Busquets dribbles the ball up field against St. Louis on June 13, 2019, at Rock Chalk Park.

After a sluggish opening nine minutes, Kaw Valley FC was ready to strike.

In the 10th minute, the Cranes took advantage of a turnover near midfield. Kaw Valley FC didn’t wait for St. Louis to get ready on the free kick, as Kevin Komodi launched the ball up the field. Mason Visconti raced to the ball, getting to it first and booting the ball in the back of the net with his left foot.

The Cranes never looked back from that early score en route to a 2-1 win over the Lions Thursday night at Rock Chalk Park. It was a much-needed victory for Kaw Valley FC after scoring just one point in two home matches last week.

“Winning in soccer is different than other sports,” Kaw Valley FC head coach Istvan Urbanyi said. “It is extremely important to learn how to manage the game, and that is what we did today. I think the boys did a great job today.”

Last weekend, Kaw Valley FC (5-1-2) fell from the top spot of the Heartland Division after losing one match and recording a draw in back-to-back meetings with Green Bay. With Des Moines, the only unbeaten team remaining in the division coming to Lawrence Saturday, Urbanyi understood the importance of Thursday’s match.

So Urbanyi gave Visconti, who had one score in 274 minutes entering the match, the nod during the fourth meeting between Kaw Valley FC and St. Louis (2-5-1) through the first eight games. The Cranes have now won three of their four matches against the Lions, recording a 0-0 draw in the season opener as well.

photo by: Ken Schmidt/Oread Studios

Kaw Valley FC forward Mason Visconti scores the first goal of the match against St. Louis on June 13, 2019, at Rock Chalk Park.

That familiarity was evident early on, and it was exactly why Visconti knew what to do on his breakaway attempt to capitalize on the first shot on goal of the match.

“We discussed in the locker room to come out strong and that is what we did,” Visconti said. “It was huge. It gives you a little buffer to play more relaxed.”

Visconti wore the St. Louis defense out with his speed until Urbanyi subbed him out, placing forward Ignacio Lerech in Visconti’s place during the 60th minute.

Four minutes later, Lerech created some cushion for the Cranes. Roman Knox won a ball near midfield, and Kaw Valley FC worked quickly on the counter. Manel Busquets threaded a pass to Lerech, who fired a cross pass to Komodi on the left side. Komodi finished things off with an easy score near the front of the goal.

“It was huge for us to make sure St. Louis doesn’t come out on top,” Visconti said. “I thought we played great soccer. We forced it a little bit too much, but we played well enough to get the win.”

St. Louis scored the team’s lone goal on a penalty kick in the 88th minute, which was credited to the prolific play by goalkeeper Nicolau Neto along with defenders Jordan Salt and Lucas Bartlett. Neto notched plenty of remarkable saves in the second half.

Midfielders Kristof Urbanyi, Patrick Wilkinson, Chase Bromstedt, Knox and Komodi made a number of plays for Kaw Valley FC as well, even though St. Louis controlled possession for most of the match.

It was an important win for the Cranes, who are back atop the division standings with eight matches remaining. They have postseason aspirations after winning a total of six matches all last summer during their first year in the Premier Development League.

Kaw Valley FC will play host to Des Moines (5-0-0) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Rock Chalk Park.

“Des Moines is on the strong side of our conference, and it is going be good for us to see where we are,” Urbanyi said. “I also will make changes, because it is about getting (players) the opportunity to play.”