Loudoun United coach Ryan Martin has mentioned consistency when it comes to his players, regardless of context of where they were in the season. And despite a good start, Loudoun found themselves hanging onto the ledge with both thumbs, coming away with a 2-2 draw with Saint Louis FC in front of 4,564 at World Wide Technology Soccer Park.
Martin continued his advocacy in using Academy players in the lineup, with Moses Nyeman starting while Theodore Ku-DiPietro, Jacob Greene and Jeremy Garay were on the bench. Earl Edwards Jr., Donovan Pines, Antonio Bustamante and Akeem Ward were loaned from D.C. United to the Loudoun lineup. The first half was relatively uneventful, until a Saint Louis throw-in allowed Nelson Martinez to step up and force a turnover to Nyeman, who fed Christian Sorto on the left wing. Sorto found Orlando Sinclair in the area, who crossed to Kyle Murphy for the 1-0 lead in the 41st minute, where it would stay into halftime.
Out of the second half, Loudoun weathered an early Saint Louis attack and in the 51st minute, a short corner from Nyeman to Bustamante went to Martinez, who sent a curling shot past Jake Fenlason for a 2-0 Loudoun lead. The lead was short lived, as Kyle Greig received a Russell Cicerone cross and headed it past Edwards in the 57th minute, for his 50th career goal in the USL. Loudoun found themselves short to many actions in the aftermath, culminating in the 73rd minute, when Cicerone powered home a Lewis Hilton cross that Ward met, but could not clear. The teams traded chances, with Saint Louis holding the upper hand in most, as they looked for their first USL Championship win since April 27, ultimately an unsuccessful effort.
Loudoun (4-6-4) is off until Wednesday, July 17, when they will be on the road at North Carolina FC.