photo by: Ken Schmidt/Oread Studios

Kaw Valley FC forward Pandelis Popgeorgiev scores a goal in the 25th minute during a match against St. Louis Friday night at Rock Chalk Park on May 31, 2019. (Photo by Ken Schmidt of Oread Studios)

It would have been easy for Kaw Valley FC to let a win slip away Friday night at Rock Chalk Park.

After an early score, Kaw Valley FC was in control for much of the night before St. Louis delivered the equalizer in the 74th minute. Rather than falter, though, the Cranes recovered by scoring in the final seconds of an eventual 2-1 win.

Defender Bryce Gibson, who plays for Creighton at the collegiate level, tapped in the game-winning score during bonus time. Less than a minute after his score, the final buzzer sounded to signal the end of tightly-contested match.

“The game was very even,” Kaw Valley FC head coach Istvan Urbanyi said. “This was a completely different lineup than we played with in the first game, so I was confident with it. I think it was just a great effort at the end. They worked hard for that.”

The late-game theatrics came 13 days after the same two squads recorded a 0-0 draw in the season opener. Kaw Valley FC (3-0-1) has now won three matches in a row, leaping ahead of St. Louis (2-1-1) for first place in the Heartland Division through the early part of the season.

“It puts us in a good position,” Gibson said. “But it also puts a target on our back. We are willing to fight for that, so I’m excited.”

photo by: Ken Schmidt/Oread Studios

Kaw Valley FC fans celebrate during a match against St. Louis Friday night at Rock Chalk Park on May 31, 2019. (Photo by Ken Schmidt of Oread Studios)

Gibson happened to be in the right place at the right time, as he was located near the net in the final seconds.

Kristof Urbanyi got possession of the ball on a rebound, and threaded a cross pass to Gibson to the left side of the goal. Gibson quickly tapped the ball backwards, and flexed his arms in celebration as the ball rolled to the back of the net.

Players on the sideline dumped a gatorade cooler and the starters rushed to hug Gibson.

“My teammates did well to keep it in play,” Gibson said. “I just happened to be in the right spot at the right time. Played a wonderful ball on the inside post. Saw the keeper out of position and just was lucky enough to get it in.”

Gibson’s heroics were needed after St. Louis evened the score at 1-1 in the 74th minute of the contest. Prior to that, Kaw Valley FC was in control in time of possession as well as shot attempts.

Kaw Valley FC forwards Pandelis Popgeorgiev and Ignacio Lerech hugged each other near the net after linking up for the game’s first score in the 25th minute.

Lerech stole the ball from the Lions’ goalkeeper and quickly charged toward the net. Once he got to the penalty box, though, Lerech fired a pass to Popgeorgiev a few yards away for a better shot attempt. Popgeorgiev then tapped a one-touch pass to Lerech to the left side. Lerech wasted no time, feeding another quick pass to Popgeorgiev.

photo by: Ken Schmidt/Oread Studios

Kaw Valley FC midfielder Kevin Komodi attempts a shot during a match against St. Louis Friday night at Rock Chalk Park on May 31, 2019. (Photo by Ken Schmidt of Oread Studios)

Popgeorgiev gathered himself and then drilled the back of the net with ease, notching his second score of the season. Popgeorgiev is the first player to have multiple goals for Kaw Valley FC, which has eight scores through the first four matches of the year.

“I’m happy for the boys, because this is a completely new team,” Istvan Urbanyi said. “We had a great crowd. It was really good soccer night.”

When the Lions did advance the ball, though, they were often halted by a stout defensive unit of Gibson, Patrick Wilkinson, Chase Bromstedt and Jordan Salt along with goalkeeper Ethan Bandre.

The only other goal the Cranes have allowed all year occured in a 3-1 win over Thunder Bay Chill in the home opener. Kaw Valley FC followed that up with a 3-0 victory over WSA Winnipeg at Hummer Sports Park on the very same day.

With Friday’s win, Kaw Valley FC has won three matches in a row. To put that in comparison, the Cranes won a total of six matches all last summer during their first year in the Premier Development League.

Kaw Valley FC will travel to St. Louis at 2 p.m. Sunday.