(Editorial) – When Saint Louis FC entered the off-season, they knew that striker was by far their weakest position and it needed to be improved upon. Bryan Gaul hadn’t really worked out as a forward. Jermie Lynch had injury problems all year. Jamiel Hardware was streaky. The team needed to make a splash signing in the winter and that player needed to find his groove early on in the season.
Irvin Herrera’s Four Goal Game Sees Him Heating Up At The Right Time
@enriquherrera17 steals the show as @SaintLouisFC light up the @RoughnecksFC #TULvSTL #USLhttps://t.co/Oh0vu03FNU pic.twitter.com/2iA22ZLrZd
— USL (@USL) May 22, 2016
Enter Irvin Herrera. The 24-year-old forward hails from El Salvador. In the previous two seasons, he scored 23 goals in 42 games with Santa Tecla. Several of them were great finishes. Herrera’s even got called into the El Salvador National Team, scoring his first international goal last June.
Herrera’s start in USL wasn’t as spectacular as expected considering his reputation. Saint Louis FC started off losing their first two games, both on the road. When they picked up their first win, Vince Cicciarelli was the hero, not Herrera. Saint Louis FC finally had their home opener, but it ended in a 0-0 draw.
The forward was getting looks and the team was trying to get him service, but it was inconsistent. Head coach Dale Schilly was still tinkering with the lineup and the chemistry of the offense had not set in yet. Herrera appeared snake bitten: He hadn’t gotten a chance to make a great finish. He just needed a bounce to go his way.
Hererra got that in a goal at home against Swope Park Rangers. He then exploded for four goals against a 10 man Tulsa Roughnecks side over the weekend. Irvin Herrera’s four goal game may have opened up the flood gates for him and his teammates.
The Salvadorian scored a perfect hat trick with a header, a right foot finish, and a left foot finish. Three different players got assists on his goals, including Hardware who came off the bench in this game.
Three of these goals were against a team down a man, but they were prototypical goals for Herrera. He made lots of movement in and around the box. He found space between defenders to get open and his finishes were text book.
This was absolutely the result Saint Louis FC needed on the road and it was definitely what Herrera needed as they hit the one third mark of the season. As the attacking pieces come together over the next month, they’ll have a striker they have confidence in. Get him the ball and he’ll find a way to score. They’ll need it with the upcoming U.S. Open Cup match(es). That was something this club didn’t have in 2015 during the heat of the USL summer schedule.
It could be just what Saint Louis FC need to make the playoffs.
