Conference Final | July 13, 2024
NPSL | Moorhead, MN
Starting XI: Liam Pritchard, Tyler Limmer, Edu Nys, Andres Solares, Dylan Sumner, Paul Bobai, Jecsi Orellana, Jake Starling, Josh Bellamy, Myles Edmondson, Jamie Colvill
Substitutions: Jireh Oyebamiji for Limmer (‘54), Rory Doyle for Pritchard (‘73), Felipe Santos for Nys (‘88)
Duluth FC made club history with a 1-0 win over the Dakota Fusion to win the 2024 NPSL North Conference Championship on July 13, the club’s first conference title since 2017 and third major NPSL trophy.
The night began with a back and forth battle between the two clubs that tested both goalkeepers. Duluth finally broke open the game with a 36th minute goal from Edu Nys, who contended for the golden boot this season, to make it 1-0. The BlueGreens pressed for more but led 1-0 at halftime. A prolonged weather delay followed at halftime.
When play resumed, Duluth and the Fusion returned to a deadlock with one another. Neither team could find the next goal, despite both’s extensive list of talented forwards. A big game from goalkeeper Jamie Colvill helped guide Duluth to fulltime, winning 1-0 to clinch the conference championship. Colvill, formerly of Northland College, played with UWS’ Josh Bellamy infront of him in a game full of northland connections.
The win marked history for the club and several individuals. For club veterans like Jake Starling, Andres Solares, and Dylan Sumner, it was a trophy that was a long time coming after several seasons of high-level performances for Duluth FC. Starling is the club’s all-time appearance leader and now can add NPSL honors to his personal honors with the team.
Sean Morgan and his staff of Greg Gilmore and Corey Bulheller also clinched their first title as coaches for Duluth FC. Morgan won the conference as a player in 2017 and became the first NPSL North (modern era) player to win the title as a head coach.
Duluth will now face Des Moines United in the first round of the Midwest regional tournament, hosted by Des Moines on July 17.
