The glorious new SOB website

“It is, in many ways, bittersweet” said Chairman Dan Hoedeman “but a big club deserves a bad ass website, and that is what we’ve got with our newly launched sweet web thing.”

“Please check it out” the Chairman continued “not just because we’re not updating this site anymore but because, like I said, it’s totally bad ass.”

Stegman's Old Boys pose with the silverware after a famous victory

“We’re over the moon about this” said the Manager Jon Bisswurm “not too long ago the SOBs were just an idea, so just over a year later to be drinking shots off of a trophy that the team won, well, it’s more of a rush than being at a techno party with the Laker girls at David Hasselhoff’s house.”

The tournament opened inauspiciously, with an out-of-season storm through the night leaving the playing surface covered in snow. Though the ground crew worked tirelessly, only the combined efforts of them and the Warlocks players who were warming up for their first match were able to clear the surface enough for play to begin.

The warm-up seemed to work for Warlocks, who opened the tournament with an assured 2 – 1 victory over a feisty and dangerous-looking Dynamo Eden Prairie to set the tone in Group A.

The second match was Stegman’s Other Boys’ competitive debut, against First Division champions Blast. The Other Boys gave a good account of themselves, hitting the bar early in the first half and going into halftime level. Blast piled on the pressure in the second half and were able to breach the Other Boys’ defense, eventually winning 2 – 0.

Stegman’s Old Boys, resplendent in their all-black away kit, made their tournament bow against Warlocks. The two rivals were evenly matched and played an open, end-to-end game. The Old Boys were able to take the lead through Sean Webb, who buried a long-range shot into the bottom corner of the next. It was a lead that they would not relinquish.

Valencia, First Division stalwarts, started the tournament strongly, laying down a clear marker with their 4 – 0 win over Stegman’s Other Boys. It was an accomplished performance, the Other Boys having no answer to the Valencia forwards.

Dynamo almost did enough to cause an upset. Starting short-handed, they were able to grab a quick lead on the Old Boys. Quickly up to full strength, a stung but still methodical Blues attack carved chance after chance. Sean Webb was able to bury one to level scores. Midfielder Daniel Warner grabbed a second and the SOBs were flying. A few missed chances later and all it took was for a mis-hit cross to find the corner of the net for the match to end 2 – 2. Still, it was enough to see the Old Boys into the final.

The top two teams in Group B met in what was effectively a semi-final, with Valencia squaring off against Blast. It was a tactical struggle from the beginning, both teams getting the ball down and playing but neither willing to commit the players forward to really open things up. As the match wore on into the final minutes, Blast were able to get the ball in the back of the net – a critical goal considering their goal difference – but it was controversially called back and Valencia, with the 0 – 0 draw, were headed to the final.

The fifth place game was a high-octane affair, Dynamo and Stegman’s Other Boys trading goals from start to finish. Dynamo drew first blood only for Lance Farrell to score the first Other Boys goal and level the scores. Dynamo again put the ball in the back of the net, and then bagged another in fluky circumstances, the ball deflecting off of an Other Boys defender and again off of the goalkeeper and into the net. Al Vo was able to bring the score to 3 – 2, but the Other Boys were unable to find the equalizer.

Blast and Warlocks faced off for third place on an increasingly frigid Rice/Arlington pitch. Both teams played positively, but Blast carving the better chances and scoring early. The maroon-clad team continued to have the better openings, but were continually stymied by a fantastic performance from the Warlocks goalkeeper. He couldn’t keep them at bay forever, and Blast scored a second late in the game to seal third place.

All eyes were on the final, with Valencia and Stegman’s Old Boys squaring off for the silver plate.

The Old Boys were off the mark quickly, using their wingers to good advantage and pinning Valencia into their own half. Pete Manning bagged his first for the club after good work by Bisswurm and Webb in the middle. And then Jon Scott made it two. The Old Boys won the ball at the back and found Webb in space. The forward spotted Scott’s run and sent an inch-perfect pass into the winger’s stride for Scott to fire on goal. A deflection helped, but it was the speed of the counter-attack that devastated Valencia. The second half saw the Old Boys take a more defensive stance, with Valencia gaining a strong hold on the game. A goal with 20 minutes left made it an exciting finish, but a strong defensive effort led by Dan Hedstrom and Jake Keeler quelled the threat, making Stegman’s Old Boys the inaugural SOB Cup champions.

Final standings:
1. Stegman’s Old Boys; 2. Valencia; 3. Blast FC; 4. Warlocks FC; 5. Dynamo Eden Prairie; 6. Stegman’s Other Boys

A momentous match for the striker, who scored two in his first three games for his new club. His first was an impressive finish, with Webb taking advantage of a hint of space at the top of the area and hitting a firm drive past the goalkeeper into the far corner of the net. The joy was clear for a player who has somewhat become burdened with expectation since joining Stegman’s Old Boys. That he was able to add a second, the crucial opener against Dynamo that drew the Blues level, showed the sharpness and predatory instincts that he is renowned for.

2 New Away Kit

An intimidating all-black. Undefeated after three games against top opposition. A unique look that is not available in the United States. Completely bad ass. All superlatives for the new away kit that the Old Boys debuted at the SOB Cup. The uniforms may not make the team, it is true, so in that case it was the team that made the uniforms come alive with verve, victory and handsomeness.

Jon Bisswurm dominates the midfield in the Cup final. Title belt!

This was an emphatic statement from the Old Boys’ talisman that he bears no ill effects from last season’s injury. Given the quality of opposition that the Blues faced, this was a true test of Bisswurm’s fitness and credentials. There was mesmeric distribution, a willingness to receive the ball in laughably tight spaces and one or two eye-catching tackles. His minutes may have been limited, but after this display there is no doubt that Bisswurm is back.

4 Dan Hedstrom

It would take a monumental effort by any player to dislodge any member of last season’s Old Boys defense. Nevertheless, Hedstrom pushed himself to the front of the line with unflappable performances across all three games. Impressively decisive, strong in the tackle and considered in his organization, the player became increasingly critical as each game wore on. If this was an audition, it is clear that nothing less than a leading role is appropriate for the new signing from North Dakota.

5 Paul Diegnau

The left‑winger delivered three encouraging displays for his side, and was rightly one of the players of the tournament. There was a willingness from Diegnau to drive down the line as well as cut inside on to his left foot and indeed it was after moving centrally off a diagonal run that Deignau created chance after chance for the Old Boys strikers. The player was always dangerous, timed his runs to perfection and forged a strong understanding with Bisswurm and Daniel Warner in the central midfield. A sliding attempt to poke a Jon Scott cross into the new also showed a willingness to sacrifice his body at the altar of astroturf for a chance to score.

Sean Webb hits the winner that wraps up the league title

The Old Boys, who didn’t drop a single point in seven matches, overcame Absolute Drywall in the final league match to clinch the title by a score of 8 – 7 with goal machine Sean Webb bagging the winner.

“It was a bit tempestuous really” said the goalscorer “but all the fouls in the world couldn’t keep my for a second day of Minnesota amateur soccer glory.”

“This really shows how our club has grown” said Old Boys Manager Jon Bisswurm, himself a spectator on Sunday “to have the resources within the club to play seven matches in two days, and to win two titles while doing it.  Well, I don’t want to say that the General Manager, the Chairman and I should be amateur soccer front office of the year…well, actually I do.  It’s blatantly deserved and anything else would be an injustice.”

The dual victories are a great lead-in to the MRSL season, a season that sees both Stegman’s Old Boys and Stegman’s Other Boys start away on Sunday May 1, at 6:30pm.

Lance Farrell on the attack for the Other Boys

Driven by a midfield engine room of Sebastian Castro-Malaspina, Al Vo and Lance Farrell, and supported by defensive lynchpins Gary Erzberger and Derric Johnson, the Other Boys turned expectations on their heads in the opening game, going toe-to-toe with Blast and even carving the first clear opportunity, with Al Vo powering a show off of the crossbar. Blast were increasingly dangerous as the game wore on, and hit the crossbar themselves, but the Other Boys were defiant and the scores were level at the half.

Alex Haueter remained a creative force on the wings, but with 20 minutes gone in the half Blast found their breakthrough with a well-worked goal.

The Other Boys were stunned, but their spirit was not broken. They went searching for the equalizer, but Blast made it hard going, always looking dangerous when they won back the ball. And it was from a counter-attack that Blast scored again, an own goal dooming the Other Boys to a 2 – 0 loss.

The second game, against a powerful Valencia team showcased the Other Boys’ resilience but perhaps less their defensive solidity.

A 4 – 0 loss was punctuated by a few moments of near misses by the Old Boys attack, not the least when Lance Farrell banged a shot off of the outside of the far post after great work to get past his man and charge into the Valencia area. It just wasn’t their day.

But their offensive duck would not stay unbroken from long. Matching up against Second Division powerhouse Dynamo, the Other Boys went end-to-end in a wild game. A soft goal pegged them back before Vo fed Farrell to score the first ever Other Boys goal and level scores. A second Dynamo goal, quickly followed-up by an own goal that deflected off of Derric Johnson and in off of Ryan Horstman’s hands put the Other Boys down again before Farrell almost scored a second time, his lofted chip somehow kept out of the goal by the Dynamo goalkeeper.

Ryan Horstman was called into action on the other side, pulling off the save of the tournament with a full-stretch dive to his left. It was down to the other end where Al Vo blasted home to narrow the scores. Despite pushing forward in numbers, the Other Boys were not able to level.

Still, it was a promising opening against teams of high quality and the Other Boys are looking good for the season ahead.

“It was a bit tough for us” said team captain Gary Erzberger “the first time playing together and missing some key players like Dave Tesch, last season’s top scorer, and Nathan Crowe, a strong defensive midfielder. Not that it wasn’t promising, especially our match against Blast and the good offensive work against Dynamo. It’s just that we have some more guns than we brought to bear on Saturday and when those are in action we’ll be close to unstoppable. Says this observer.”

There is a philosophical intersection between soccer, beer and doing good.  And at the nexus of that intersection is Stegman’s Old Boys Football Club, and specifically Saturday’s SOB Cup tournament that is taking place this Saturday, April 16 at Rice/Arlington Park in St Paul.

There will be soccer, most likely the attractive passing kind, there will be beer, with Northern Brewer serving samples of finely crafted homebrew, and there will be doing good.  The last is the most important part.

Pints for Prostates will be at the event, raffling off a ten-day trip for two to the “Beer Capitals of Europe”, Prague, Bamberg and Munich, for Oktoberfest 2011.  The package includes round-trip airfare for two, train and private coach transportation brewery tours and more. The drawing will be July 31.

Come out on Saturday and enjoy the sport, the beer and give a little to help eradicate prostate cancer.  If you can’t make it, that’s okay – just find your nearest SOB and ask him how you can help.

The tournament itself promises to be a competitive event, with the action starting at 8:30 with Division Two champions Warlocks taking on 2009 League Cup semi-finalists Dynamo Eden Prairie.  Games go through the day, with the action heating up in the afternoon as thoughts of the final start to bloom.

Full schedule below:

Home		Away
				Kick-off	End
Warlocks FC		Dynamo		8:30 AM	9:40 AM
Other Boys		Blast		9:40 AM	10:50 AM
Old Boys		Warlocks FC		10:50 AM	12:00 PM
Valencia		Other Boys		12:00 PM	1:10 PM
Dynamo		Old Boys		1:10 PM	2:20 PM
Blast		Valencia		2:20 PM	3:30 PM
B#3		A#3		3:30 PM	4:40 PM
A#2		B#2		4:40 PM	5:50 PM
A#1		B#1		5:50 PM	7:00 PM

]]> http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/the-1st-annual-sob-cup/feed/ 1 hoedeman Screen shot 2011-04-14 at 1.59.44 PM http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/other-boys-sob-cup-matchday-preview/ http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/other-boys-sob-cup-matchday-preview/#comments Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:50:16 +0000 hoedeman http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/?p=537 ]]> Other Boys make competitive debut in SOB Cup.

It may only be a friendly pre-season tournament, but it’s the first competitive outing for Stegman’s Other Boys. There is so much anticipation around this team, but it will be a baptism in fire as their first opponent is Division One champions Blast FC.

“We have a good mix of proven players, original SOBs” said the captain Gary Erzberger “guys like Graham Campbell, Alex Haueter, Derric Johnson and others and we have supplemented them with midfield of guile and invention with new signings like Sebastian Castro-Malaspina, Al Vo and Nathan Crowe. We’ll be a tough team to beat.”

It doesn’t get much easier after the first game for the Other Boys, as there second game sees them facing Division One stalwarts Valencia.

“Valencia are a team that has played together for some years” said Chairman Dan Hoedeman, himself a former Valencia player “I know those guys well, know the quality that they have and know that the Other Boys are going to have their hands full. That said, no SOB that I know will be any sort of shirking violet!”

The Other Boys have a major absence due to injury of club top scorer Dave Tesch, who is rehabbing a partial tear of his ACL. Beyond that, the injury list is relatively clear, though there are new signings to be made before the close of the transfer window.

Erzberger continued “we have our eye on a few players, as many as four, that we want to bring into the club. We will have one, Tim Ebertt, on trial with us at the tournament, in fact. So it’s not the full-strength Other Boys side, but we’ll be dangerous.”

Results across the board will determine the third opponent of the day, with Warlocks, Dynamo Eden Prairie and a potential dream match-up against Stegman’s Old Boys all possibilities.

The action commences at 9:30am at Rice/Arlington Park in St Paul.

]]> http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/other-boys-sob-cup-matchday-preview/feed/ 0 hoedeman sobkit2011home http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/old-boys-sob-cup-matchday-preview/ http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/old-boys-sob-cup-matchday-preview/#comments Fri, 15 Apr 2011 16:31:38 +0000 hoedeman http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/?p=531 ]]> Old Boys look to build on last season’s success in SOB Cup.

The pre-season kicks off for Stegman’s Old Boys on Saturday with a re-match against their final regular season opponent, and Division Two champions Warlocks FC. Though it is a friendly match, players and fans alike are surely salivating over the chance to see these two rivals back in action.

The Old Boys lock horns again with Warlocks on Saturday

“The first meeting, that end-to-end 2-2 draw, was a classic; watching it was like being blasted out of a cannon into a mattress full of cocaine” said Supporters Club President Jon Bogaard “and though the sequel wasn’t as good as the original – they never are – I am looking forward to the third installment.”

Warlocks, preparing for their first campaign in the first division, remain a strong side.

“Our primary objective is to integrate our new signings in a competitive situation, to re-gain our fluidity of play and to not get injured” said Manager Jon Bisswurm. “We’ll be taking this seriously as preparation, but the league opener on May 1 is what we have our eyes on.”

The Old Boys will hardly be at close to full strength. Cole Erickson and George Hanscom will not be available and Dan Hoedeman will likely have his minutes limited as he returns from his keen injury, but otherwise the Old Boys start the season in good sess.

They will need to use all of their depth, with Dynamo Eden Prairie the second opponent of the day. Fellow members of Division Two, Dynamo are a strong and physical team with speed upfront and ability on the ball. Though they have never met the Blues in competitive action, their 2009 League Cup semi-final run underlines their position as a top side in the division and a difficult opponent for the Old Boys.

“It will be good for us to face a different sort of team” continued Bisswurm “and we’re excited to put the new FIFA Lab results into effect against Dynamo. I spent all week getting it set-up, and it better pay off!”

Brandon Overlie will make his first appearance between the sticks, and new signings Dan Hedstrom, Sean Webb, Pete Manning, Daniel Warner and Paul Deignau will make their competitive debut in the tournament as well.

“In a lot of ways it’s a new-look team” said General Manager Nick Sindt “and so this tournament is going to be critical for us to get settled before the league begins. That said, look at those names. The Chairman and I, if I may say so, have brought in huge quality. We’ve become almost Manchester City in terms of our nouveau riche approach to new signings, while retaining a Blackpool-like impish lovability and a Mainz-like tactical progressiveness.”

Results across the board will determine the third opponent of the day, with Division One champions Blast, Division One stalwarts Valencia and new-boys Stegman’s Other Boys all lurking in the other bracket.

The action commences at 10:50am at Rice/Arlington Park in St Paul.

]]> http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/old-boys-sob-cup-matchday-preview/feed/ 0 hoedeman IMG_2279 http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/sob-cup-schedule-announced/ http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/sob-cup-schedule-announced/#comments Wed, 13 Apr 2011 01:21:18 +0000 hoedeman http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/?p=513 ]]> The first inaugural SOB Cup commences this Saturday, April 16th.  MRSL League champions Blast FC join First Division stalwarts Valencia and newly promoted Warlocks, making fully half of the tournament field top tier talent.  Not that the Second Division sides are any slouches, with Stegman’s Old Boys and Dynamo Eden Prairie proven commodities with the ability to trouble the best and a debuting Stegman’s Other Boys with the talent to spring a few surprises, and the tournament is looking to be a competitive affair.

“There is a lot of quality in the field” said Manager Jon Bisswurm “and some clear favorites in the First Division sides.  Still, it’s cup football so surprises are likely, and there isn’t a better way to prepare for the season than to test ourselves in this sort of friendly/competitive atmosphere against the best.”

All games, including the competitive opener for Stegman’s Other Boys, will be played at Rice/Arlington Park in St Paul.

Club sponsor Northern Brewer will be running brewing demonstrations and handling beer tastings throughout the tournament, the Tin Cup Bar will be running drink specials for spectators and players after the final and it’s all for a good cause, with charity Pints for Prostates an at-event presence.

The tournament kicks off at 8:50am on Saturday with Warlocks taking on Dynamo Eden Prairie, all leading up to the cup final that will start at 5:50pm.

Home		Away
				Kick-off	End
Warlocks FC		Dynamo		8:30 AM	9:40 AM
Other Boys		Blast		9:40 AM	10:50 AM
Old Boys		Warlocks FC		10:50 AM	12:00 PM
Valencia		Other Boys		12:00 PM	1:10 PM
Dynamo		Old Boys		1:10 PM	2:20 PM
Blast		Valencia		2:20 PM	3:30 PM
B#3		A#3		3:30 PM	4:40 PM
A#2		B#2		4:40 PM	5:50 PM
A#1		B#1		5:50 PM	7:00 PM

]]> http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/sob-cup-schedule-announced/feed/ 0 hoedeman http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/2011/04/08/new-away-kit-unveiled/ http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/2011/04/08/new-away-kit-unveiled/#comments Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:45:14 +0000 hoedeman http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/?p=506 ]]> Stegman’s Old Boys Football Club officially unveiled the new away kit for the 2011 season today at an official club luncheon in the Pence Building in downtown Minneapolis.

“I hear a lot of words like beauty…and handsomeness…and incredibly chiseled features” said Club Chairman Dan Hoedeman “and though that’s a vanity, a self-absorption that I try to steer clear of, this kit is really quite extraordinary.”

Nike, the official uniform provider for Stegman’s Old Boys FC, manufactured the attractive black with gold pinstripe shirts that are unique for the American market.  Smile Design Dentistry, the premier dental office in the Twin Cities, is featured as the shirt sponsor for the club’s away strip for both teams playing under the SOB banner, Stegman’s Old Boys and Stegman’s Other Boys.

“Smile Design Dentistry has been with us since the beginning and we couldn’t be happier that they will continue to be a partner” said General Manager Nick Sindt.  ”The continuity that we have with them as a sponsor illustrates the value that the partnership brings to both parties, and the logo looks frickin’ sweet on those shirts.”

Replica shirts and SOB merchandise will be available at the Club Shop which is set to open the first week of May.

“Take your tiger blood, take your Adonis DNA, take your whatever” said Stegman’s Other Boys captain Gary Erzberger “I see those and raise you the Mighty SOBs.  With uniforms like these, we’ve won the mental game before the physical game even starts.  And we look irresistible in the bar afterward.”

With the club’s strong following – by some accounts, the strongest in the league – and the financial support of club sponsors Smile Design Dentistry and Northern Brewer, the club is poised to move on to further success in the upcoming season and beyond.

]]> http://stegmansoldboys.wordpress.com/2011/04/08/new-away-kit-unveiled/feed/ 0 2011oldboysaway hoedeman 2011oldboysaway