Bavarians led 1-0 midway through the first half, but the game turned right before halftime when Milwaukee received its first of two red cards. The second game in the 68th minute, and the Menace tied the match two minutes later. Des Moines lost a player to a red card in the 90th minute, but its man advantage paid off in the 30 extra minutes, as two goals provided the final margin.

“Des Moines showed some good resiliency battling back from down a goal,” said Stars assistant coach Kevin Friedland, who traveled to Milwaukee to scout the teams. “They have some good college players, some with Minnesota connections, and a good coach with  professional experience who keeps them organized. They’ll definitely be up for the battle next week playing at home.”

The Stars, like all US-based North American Soccer League teams, sat out the 2011 US Open Cup. The Stars last appeared in the competition in 2010, when they reached the second round before losing 1-0 at home against AC St. Louis.

With a win, the Stars would book a home game in the third round on May 29 against Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake. RSL was the 2009 MLS Cup champion and reached the final of the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League final. With 26 points from its first 13 games, RSL is currently in first place overall in the MLS standings.

The game will certainly prove a challenge for the Stars. The team plays this Saturday at Fort Lauderdale, returns to Minnesota on Sunday, then travels to Des Moines for a Tuesday night game. In addition to the hectic travel schedule, the team will face a crowd that consistently ranks among the PDL’s best and would fit right in in the North American Soccer League. To ease that home field advantage, the Dark Clouds are putting together a traveling supporters’ section. If you’re interested in going to Des Moines to cheer the Stars, contact Bruce McGuire at bruce@dunordfutbol.com to find out about trip details, including ride-share opportunities. To purchase tickets, visit menacesoccer.com or call the Menace ticket line at (515) 457-6163.

Match stats

The game nearly started with a bang for Minnesota as defender Justin Davis overlapped Miguel Ibarra and sent a bouncing cross across the face of goal, but rookie Venegas could only lunge at it to stab it high and wide. In the 14th minute, Amani Walker headed a Neil Hlavaty corner kick right at Carolina goalkeeper Ray Burse, the NASL’s saves leader.

Burse could do nothing to prevent the Stars going ahead two minutes later. Kentaro Takada played Walker through, and the forward beat Burse to the ball, touched it around him and coolly finished from a tight angle, celebrating his second goal of the season with a double backflip in front of the NSC Stadium grandstand.

Stars goalkeeper Matt VanOekel was immediately called into action after the goal, making two saves in the 18th minute to keep Carolina from a quick equalizer. He also made a key save in the 23rd minute after a pour clearance gave Zach Schilawski a golden opportunity from about 10 yards.

The RailHawks started the second half with vigor, but Kevin Venegas’ goal out of nothing in the 52nd minute gave the Stars a two-goal cushion. Venegas took a pass from Martin Nunez on the left wing and hit a right footed shot that changed directions mid-flight and left Burse stranded helplessly on his line.

The RailHawks had bad luck to blame in the 71st minute, when Nick Zimmerman beat the offside trap and nearly got around VanOekel, but the Minnesota keeper made a leg save on Zimmerman’s tight-angle shot before the rebound was deflected clear for a corner. It was the first of four great chances for the RailHawks, but VanOekel was up to the task on Brian Ackley’s sliding shot in the 84th minute and Austin Da Luz’s shot following a cut-back a minute later. The RailHawks finally got the better of VanOekel with a minute remaining in stoppage time, but weren’t able to carve another late opportunity to equalize.

The Stars now embark on a four-game roadtrip that takes them to Fort Lauderdale, Tampa Bay, San Antonio and Carolina before playing at home again on June 16 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. That Saturday night game will mark the opening of the NSC Stadium beer garden. Tickets for the June 16 match are available at mnstarsfctickets.com or by calling (763) 792-7355.

After two injury-free seasons leading to consistency along the backline, Stars head coach Manny Lagos has struggled to field the same backline as early season injuries and suspensions have tested his defensive depth, particularly in the middle. Saturday night things got worse, as Connor Tobin-on for injured team captain Kyle Altman-limped off with a hamstring injury after only 20 minutes, leaving Dias to play with his fourth central defensive partner of the season. Ultimately, Dias and Ernest Tchoupe teamed up to keep the Silverbacks at bay as the visiting team could manage only two shots on goal.

“I’m really proud of my team and our effort Saturday, and this individual award really recognizes a team effort,” Dias said. “In our past games our defenders have been injured and we have to embrace that challenge, and whoever is in there, I’m confident playing with.”

Despite the shuffling lineup, Saturday was the Stars’ third shutout in five games this season and marked a return to form for the defense after allowing six goals in the previous two games. Lagos echoed Dias’ sentiments heralding the team’s defensive effort, but he commended Dias for his leadership.

“Cristiano had a solid workmanlike performance. We had a short back four going into the game, then an injury 20 minutes in, and he kept us together and organized in the back, and I thought he got forward effectively as well,” Lagos said.

This is Dias’ first time winning the award, and he becomes the fifth Stars player to earn either Offensive or Defensive Player of the Week honors. The Stars had six Player of the Week awards in 2011 as Devin Del Do won offensive honors in Week 9, Brian Kallman won defensive honors in Week 25, Kyle Altman won defensive honors in Week 9, and retired goalkeeper Joe Warren won defensive honors in Weeks 1, 14 and 24.

“It’s a big game for us before we head back out on the road,” Stars head coach Manny Lagos said. “I look at this as our last home game against Carolina this year, and we’re playing a good team that hasn’t gotten the results it’s looking for this year.”

The Stars opened their more familiar digs at NSC Stadium last Saturday in a 2-0 win against the Atlanta Silverbacks. Despite an injury bug biting the team’s backline, the Stars held the Silverbacks and league-leading scorer Reinaldo Navia in check in posting their third shutout in five games this season. Not only did the backline, which was forced into a change after just 21 minutes, put up the shutout, it contributed to the offense, with Ernest Tchoupe nodding home a corner kick in the 24th minute right after coming into the game. Midfielder Miguel Ibarra would later add an insurance goal in the 77th minute.

The Stars will look for another stingy performance Saturday night. Carolina forwards Nick Zimmerman and Brian Shriver have combined for seven goals this season as Carolina looks to replace last season’s one-two punch of Etienne Barbara and Pablo Campos. While Shriver and Zimmerman aren’t on pace to match the combined 35 goals Barbara and Campos scored a year ago, a good performance from either-or both-could put pressure on the Stars to maintain their recent attacking form.

After failing to score in their first two games, including one against Carolina, the Stars’ attack has put up nine goals in its past three games, leading to two wins and a draw. Eight different players have scored this season for Minnesota with only Devin Del Do tallying more than once.

“We’re still navigating how we’re going to attack, and spreading the goals out is a good reminder for the guys that goals don’t all have to come from the same place,” Lagos said.

Tickets for Saturday night’s game start at just $6 for youth age 17 and younger, and $12 for adults. Reserved and pitch-side seating are also available, as is a $10 student ticket for high school and college students older than 18 who show their school IDs. It’s also not too late to order a Stars FC season ticket package, which includes 14 flexible tickets, which can be used in any combination at the Stars’ remaining home games. To order tickets, visit mnstarsfc.com or call (763) 792-7355.

“Tonight was just a positive result, and it took a lot of guys to get that positive result,” said Stars head coach Manny Lagos. “We had guys step up big-guys like Matty [VanOekel]. Matty was outstanding tonight at key moments of the game to make sure we pushed them and really dictated the game.”

The Stars started quickly and with a lot of energy, but head coach Manny Lagos was forced into an early substitution when center back Connor Tobin-himself starting in place of injured team captain Kyle Altman-was forced off after 21 minutes with a hamstring injury. Lagos substituted Tchoupe, who was rostered for the first time this season. The substitution changed the game.

Just two minutes later, Tchoupe dove low at the back post to head home Neil Hlavaty’s 23rd minute corner and give Minnesota a deserved 1-0 lead after their fast-paced start. The team had a chance to double the lead in the 27th minute when Devin Del Do tried to slip a shot under Atlanta goalkeeper Daniel Illyes, but the keeper partially blocked the shot before Martyn Lancaster cleared it to safety.

Atlanta responded well and turned up the pressure in the final 15 minutes of the half. Lancaster flicked a header goalward that VanOekel did well to punch clear, but the Stars were let off the hook as Ciaran O’Brien drove the rebound wide through a crowd with the Stars goalkeeper out of position. O’Brien then curled a free kick just wide of VanOekel’s post as the Silverbacks looked close to an equalizer as the first half wound down.

Instead, it was almost the Stars who scored again. Justin Davis slid in front of an Atlanta defender’s clearance, deflecting the ball up in the air and onto the foot of Amani Walker, who controlled well and finished but was undone by a late offside flag.

The pacy Martin Nunez replaced Devin Del Do at forward at halftime as another injury bit the Stars, this time forcing the team’s leading scorer from the game with a quad injury. Nunez nearly made an immediate impact, getting behind the Atlanta defense and sending a shot wide just minutes after coming on. He would later draw a save out of Illyes as the speedy combination of Nunez and Ibarra looked a constant threat to stretch Atlanta’s defense.

At the other end, VanOekel produced the best save of the night to deny the NASL leading scorer Reinaldo Navia to keep Atlanta off the board. Navia combined well with Danilo Turcios, but VanOekel reacted quickly to dive to his left to rob Navia from 14 yards out.

As the teams jockeyed, the Stars gained a massive upper hand in the 70th minute as Already playing with a yellow card for dissent from the 62nd minute, McManus fouled one too many times for the referee’s liking, earning a second yellow card for persistent infringement after tripping up Nunez on the edge of the penalty box.

It wasn’t long before the Stars added insurance, and did so with style, as Ibarra and Kentaro Takada combined in the penalty area to make it 2-0 in the 77th minute. After receiving a return pass from a throw in, Ibarra cut inside to the top corner of the penalty area before splitting two Silverbacks defenders with a pass to Takada, whose cheeky backheel put the ball right in Ibarra’s path for a right-footed finish into the side netting from about 15 yards out.

“One of the great things about Miguel is that he brings so much energy to the game, and even though he’d missed a chance earlier, he bounced back and had a great combination play with Takada for the goal.”

The Stars continued to attack, and frustration got the better of Atlanta’s Borfor Carr in the 88th minute. Having tussled with Stars left back Justin Davis earlier in the match, Carr flew in with two feet on Davis along the left wing, earning a straight red card and leaving Atlanta down to nine men.

The Stars improve to a record of two wins, three draws and no losses with the win and moved into second place in the NASL. They trail early leaders Puerto Rico by one point and are ahead of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on goal differential. The Stars also hold a game in hand on Fort Lauderdale. The team returns to action next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at NSC Stadium, facing the Carolina RailHawks in a rematch of their April 7 Dome Opener, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Tickets for next Saturday’s game are available at mnstarsfc.com or by calling (763) 792-7355.

Download: Match Notes and Stats (PDF)

The Stars took five of a possible nine points from that road trip, posting a record of one win and two draws. The team’s offense also got firing, scoring seven goals, including two in stoppage time to change the outcome of games. The Stars and FC Edmonton were tied 3-3 deep into stoppage time on April 22 when Devin Del Do headed home Brian Kallman’s header for a late winner, and Justin Davis scored with a 35-yard blast in the dying seconds last Saturday to rescue a point in Atlanta as the Stars failed to beat the Silverbacks for the first time in five meetings between the clubs.

After starting the season with two straight scoreless draws, the Stars exploded for four goals against Edmonton, followed by the three in Atlanta, and now find their forwards in fine form. Devin Del Do leads the team with two goals in back-to-back games, and strike partner Amani Walker has a goal and two assists to his name in his first year as a starter, having assumed the target forward role vacated by Brian Cvilikas’ retirement. Simone Bracalello, who started the team’s first three games before coming off the bench against Atlanta, is still looking for his first goal of the season but came close with a dipping half volley off the crossbar against Atlanta.

The flipside to the offensive explosion has been the defense’s struggles over the past two games. The Stars allowed three goals in back-to-back games for the first time in their history. Were it not for several fine saves by goalkeeper Matt VanOekel, particularly in Atlanta last weekend, the damage could have been worse. So far this season, the Stars have yet to play a game with the same backline as the game before, a trend that looks set to continue Saturday night with centerback and team captain Kyle Altman doubtful with an injury. On the way to the championship last season, the Stars had first-choice centerbacks Altman and Cristiano Dias to choose from almost every game over the last half of the season.

Off the field, Saturday looks to be an enjoyable one for Stars fans. The Dark Clouds supporters’ group welcomes fans of all ages to its pre-game tailgate to the northwest of the stadium, and Bricks Pub will once again be the place to be following Stars games for the postgame party. While the permanent NSC Stadium beer garden at the north end of the stadium won’t be completed in time for the team’s next two home games the Stars have made temporary arrangements for a beer truck and plenty of seating next to the scoreboard in the southeast corner of the field. To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, club sponsor Budweiser will be selling $2 Lime-a-Ritas. The Stars will also be offering $2 Bud Light and Michelob Golden Light draws during games all season long.

Tickets for Saturday night’s game start at just $6 for youth age 17 and younger, and $12 for adults. Reserved and pitch-side seating are also available, as is a $10 student ticket for high school and college students older than 18 who show their school IDs. To order tickets, visit mnstarsfc.com or call (763) 792-7355.

The 99th edition of the U.S. Open Cup includes a 64-team field, which represents the largest in the modern era (1995 to present), eclipsing the previous record of 42 teams set in 2005 and 2006.

All Division I, II and III professional clubs are participating in the tournament proper for the first time ever. The Division I field includes all 16 U.S.-based Major League Soccer teams, which is double the representation from the past five years and the first time since 2006 that all Division I teams will take part. Meanwhile, all six U.S.-based North American Soccer League teams (Division II) and all 10 U.S.-based USL PRO teams (Division III) complete the balance of the 32 professional sides competing (also a modern record). This 2012 competition marks the first year that clubs representing the NASL will participate in America’s oldest national soccer tournament.

The amateur entries feature 32 teams from various leagues with the U.S. Adult Soccer Association (including USASA regional qualifiers, the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League and the National Premier Soccer League) and US Club Soccer.

All 2012 U.S. Open Cup matches until the final are scheduled for Tuesdays, with the championship taking place on either Tuesday, Aug. 7, or Wednesday, Aug. 8. In the first round, 32 amateur-level sides are paired geographically, with the restriction that teams from the same qualifying pool (meaning USASA regional qualifiers, PDL and NPSL) cannot be paired. The first-round winners face Division II or Division III clubs in the second round based on geographic proximity. Second-round winners play Division I clubs in the third round, matched on a geographic basis.

The opening portion of the U.S. Open Cup schedule will occur in rapid fashion as the first four rounds take place in back-to-back weeks from May 15 to June 5. The quarterfinals are set for June 26, the semifinals for July 10, and the final for Aug. 7 or 8. The majority of the tournament will have only a minimal overlap with CONCACAF Champions League play.

The Richmond Kickers of the USL PRO have the strongest U.S. Open Cup ties among this early-round field. The Kickers won the 1995 U.S. Open Cup when they were part of the USL’s Premier Development League, defeating the El Paso Patriots in a shootout following a 1-1 draw through regulation and extra time. In this year’s tournament, the Kickers will either face the PDL’s Carolina Dynamo or the USASA’s Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC in the second round on May 22.

2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule

FIRST ROUND – Tuesday, May 15

Jacksonville United (NPSL) at Orlando City U-23s (PDL): Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 7 p.m. ET

Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) at FC Sonic (NPSL): Ulrich Sports Complex, Lehigh University; Bethlehem, Pa.; 7:05 p.m. ET

Carolina Dynamo (PDL) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA): Maryland SoccerPlex Stadium; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Jersey Shore Boca (USASA) at Michigan Bucks (PDL): Ultimate Soccer; Pontiac, Mich.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) at Georgia Revolution (NPSL): RYSA Soccerplex; Conyers, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) at GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL): Memorial Field, Deering High School; Portland, Maine; 8 p.m. ET

N.Y. Greek Americans (USASA) at Reading United AC (PDL): TBD

Croatian Eagles (USASA) at Chicago Fire PDL (PDL): Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill.; 6 p.m. CT

Des Moines Menace (PDL) at Milwaukee Bavarians (NPSL): Bavarian Soccer Park; Glendale, Wis.; 7 p.m. CT

ASC New Stars (USASA) at Laredo Heat (PDL): Texas A&M International University; Laredo, Texas; 8:15 p.m. CT

K.C. Athletics (USASA) at Real Colorado Foxes (PDL): Shea Stadium; Littleton, Colo.; 7 p.m. MT

NTX Rayados (USASA) at El Paso Patriots (PDL): Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas; 8 p.m. MT

Fresno Fuego (PDL) at Stanislaus United Turlock Express (US Club Soccer): Academica Fields; Turlock, Calif.; 7 p.m. PT

USASA Region IV Club (TBD) at Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL): JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.; 7:10 p.m. PT

USASA Region IV Club (TBD) at Kitsap Pumas (PDL): Bremerton Memorial Stadium; Bremerton, Wash.; 7:15 p.m. PT

Ventura County Fusion (PDL) vs. Fullerton Rangers (NPSL): TBD

SECOND ROUND– Tuesday, May 22

Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Des Moines Menace (PDL): Valley Stadium; Des Moines, Iowa; 7:30 p.m. CT
OR
Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Milwaukee Bavarians (NPSL): Bavarian Soccer Park; Glendale, Wis.; 7 p.m. CT

Jersey Shore Boca (USASA)/Michigan Bucks (PDL) Winner at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO): Chartiers Valley Stadium; Bridgeville, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET

Long Island Rough Riders (PDL)/FC Sonic (NPSL) Winner at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO): Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET

USASA Region IV Club (TBD)/Kitsap Pumas (PDL) Winner at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO): Legion Sports Complex; Wilmington, N.C.; 7 p.m. ET

USASA Region IV Club (TBD)/Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL) Winner at Carolina RailHawks (NASL): WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET

Fresno Fuego (PDL)/Stanislaus United Turlock Express (US Club Soccer) Winner at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL): Lockhart Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET

K.C. Athletics (USASA)/Real Colorado Foxes (PDL) Winner at Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO): Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET

N.Y. Greek Americans (USASA)/Reading United AC (PDL) Winner at Charleston Battery (USL PRO): Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)/GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL) Winner at Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO): Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.; 7:35 p.m. ET

Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Jacksonville United (NPSL): Patton Park; Jacksonville, Fla.; 7 p.m. ET
OR
Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Orlando City U-23s (PDL): Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 1 p.m. ET

Carolina Dynamo (PDL) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO): Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; 7 p.m. ET
OR
Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA): Maryland SportsPlex Stadium; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Georgia Revolution (NPSL): RYSA Soccerplex; Conyers, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) at Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL): Atlanta Silverbacks Park; Atlanta, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET

ASC New Stars (USASA)/Laredo Heat (PDL) Winner at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL): Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT

Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Chicago Fire PDL (PDL): Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill.; 6 p.m. CT
OR
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) vs. Croatian Eagles (USASA): TBD

Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at NTX Rayados (USASA): Richland College; Dallas, Texas; 8 p.m. CT
OR
Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at El Paso Patriots (PDL): Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas; 8 p.m. MT

Ventura County Fusion (PDL)/Fullerton Rangers (NPSL) Winner at Los Angeles Blues (USL PRO): Titan Stadium, Cal-State Fullerton; Fullerton, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT

2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule (Per Round)
May 15: First Round
May 22: Second Round
May 29: Third Round
June 5: Fourth Round
June 26: Quarterfinals
July 10: Semifinals
Aug. 7 or 8: Final

Click “Read more” to see all five choices.

BOX SCORE AND STATISTICS

The Stars made three changes from the side that beat FC Edmonton 4-3 last Sunday, with Kevin Friedland stepping in at center back in place of the suspended Kyle Altman. Shawn Chin made his Stars debut on the left wing in place of Lucas Rodriguez, and Sunday’s match winner, Devin Del Do, made his first start of the season in place of Simone Bracalello. Once again, the Stars offense rallied to carry the team through another poor defensive showing, as Minnesota conceded three goals for the second straight game after starting the season with back-to-back shutouts.

The first opportunity for either team fell to Atlanta forward Reinaldo Navia, who got behind the defense but saw his shot from the top of the penalty box tipped over the bar by Matt VanOekel in a sign of things to come for the Chilean striker and league leading scorer.

The Stars answered with a chance of their own in the 20th minute. Friedland’s long ball from near midfield found the diagonal run of Amani Walker, but the target forward’s touch over Atlanta goalkeeper Daniel Illyes was too heavy and floated harmlessly over the crossbar.

VanOekel was called into action again in the 29th minute. Stars midfielder Kentaro Takada gave away a free kick in the on the edge of the penalty area, and Ciaran O’Brien’s driven free kick required a diving save at the far post to steer the ball away from goal.

The 41st minute brought a scare for both teams, as Del Do and Atlanta defender Rilla clashed heads challenging for a header. After short treatment, both players were able to continue.

The Stars best spell of the first half came late. Chin found space in the midfield and hit a rising shot from 30 yards out, but it sailed just over the goal. Two minutes later, Del Do put a shot on target from about 20 yards, but Illyes dove well to his right and covered the low shot as the teams went to the half scoreless.

Three minutes into the second half, Atlanta was ahead, kicking off a second half full of fireworks. Danilo Turcios’ through ball found Navia, and the forward chipped the ball over the onrushing VanOekel to make the score 1-0. Navia almost returned the favor to Turcios a minute later, but VanOekel dove well to his lower left to tip the shot away.

The Stars responded well following the near miss. Ibarra cut in from the left wing to shoot, but his right-footed effort curled right into Illyes’ arms. A minute later, Neil Hlavaty tested Illyes again with a drive from 30 yards. Illyes couldn’t hold the shot, but the Stars were offside attempting to take advantage of the rebound. Ibarra set up substitute Martin Nunez for a near miss in the 63rd minute, but the winger missed wide, slipping as he shot.

A minute later, Navia grabbed his second and made it 2-0 Atlanta. Turcios picked off a pass in the Stars’ defensive third and fed Navia. The Chilean’s initial shot was deflected by VanOekel and cleared off the line, but he was on hand to tap it in for his fifth goal of the season to go clear at the top of the North American Soccer League scoring charts.

The two-goal advantage didn’t last long, as Walker grabbed his first goal of the season in controversial circumstances in the 66th minute. The Silverbacks failed to completely clear a corner, and Ibarra played the ball back in to an unmarked Walker, who headed home from 10 yards out as Atlanta appealed for offside.

As the game began moving end-to-end, O’Brien nearly restored the two-goal lead off a feed from Navia, but Cristiano Dias slid to disrupt his shot, and VanOekel tipped it away at the near post.

Walker nearly grabbed his second in the 71st minute, after Del Do held up the ball well before looping a no-look cross, which Walker met at the top of the six-yard box, but he was falling backward as he headed it and Illyes was able to prevent his header creeping in as Ibarra crashed the goal looking for a rebound.

David Santamaria’s first goal of the season re-established the two-goal lead in the 79th minute, finishing a quick Atlanta counter. Turcios fed the substitute near the penalty spot, and although VanOekel got a hand on his low shot, he couldn’t steer it around the post as Atlanta went up 3-1.

The game looked beyond the Stars, but Del Do grabbed his second goal of the season in the 88th minute, pouncing on Walker’s ball over the top in the 88th minute to give the Stars hope. Less than a minute later, substitute Bracalello rang the crossbar with a half volley from the top of the penalty area. The Stars continued to push, but as the game moved deeper into stoppage time, an equalizer looked just out of reach.

Then came Davis’ heroics. The Stars left back, pushed forward into the midfield, controlled a half clearance 35 yards from goal, took a touch, and let a shot fly into the upper corner of Illyes’ near post to rescue a point and keep the Stars unbeaten.

The tie leaves the Stars with a record of one win, three draws and no losses. The team’s six points leaves them in fourth place in the eight-team league with a game in hand on all three teams above them in the standings.

With the conclusion of their three-game roadtrip, the Stars return to Minnesota for two home games on May 5 and May 12. The Stars meet the Silverbacks again next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in their first match of the year at NSC Stadium. They meet the Carolina RailHawks for the second time in 2012 on May 12.

Download match notes (PDF)

The Stars are unbeaten through three games in 2012, having posted two shutout draws before last Sunday’s high-scoring comeback in Edmonton. The Stars scored four goals in a league match for the first time in their history Sunday, coming back from 3-2 down to claim their first win of the season. It was a game head coach Manny Lagos said this week he didn’t believe the Stars would have won in the past, and he credited the team’s offense for carrying the load on an unusual day when the defense wasn’t at its best.

While the offense will look to continue its momentum from last weekend, the Stars’ defense will look to regain its form, but it will have to do so without team captain Kyle Altman, who was sent off after 29 minutes against Edmonton after denying a goal scoring opportunity and is serving a one-game suspension. Both Kevin Friedland and Connor Tobin have filled in central defense this season, pairing up April 14 at Fort Lauderdale in a 0-0 draw.

The Stars enjoyed their matches against Atlanta in 2011, winning all four meetings by a combined score of 9-1. Now in their second season after a two-year hiatus, the Silverbacks have shown improvement in their first three games of 2012, posting a season-opening shutout at home against the expansion San Antonio Scorpions FC, a 4-4 draw on the road against the 2011 regular season champion RailHawks and a 1-1 home draw with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Silverbacks’ five goals more than doubles their offensive output through three games in 2011, a season in which it took Atlanta 10 games to find the net five times.

Saturday’s game—and all games in the 2012 North American Soccer League—can be viewed for free via NASLLive on Ustream.tv. The Stars’ next home game is Saturday, May 5, at 7:30 p.m. against the Silverbacks at NSC Stadium. Tickets start at $6 for youth age 17 and younger and $12 for adults and can be purchased by calling (763) 792-7355 or visiting mnstarsfc.com. The Stars are also home May 12 against Carolina before returning to the road for a four-game southern roadtrip.