Led by Blue Streaks, Cleveland Crunch Wins MASL2 Championship

7/19/2021 3:17:00 PM | By: Joe Ginley '16, SID

McIntosh, Kastelic, and Cancar pose with the MASL 2 trophy.

WICHITA, Kan. -- The Cleveland Crunch are champions once again.

An indoor soccer powerhouse in the 1990s and 2000s, the Crunch returned this spring, joining the Major Arena Soccer League 2, a developmental league of the Major Arena Soccer League. Led by Louis Kastelic '09, the Crunch enjoyed a heck of a season.

The Crunch's first season back concluded in triumphant fashion on Sunday. Facing the Wichita Wings on the road in the MASL 2 Championship game, the Crunch emerged victorious, locking down an 11-6 win.

The visitors held a 5-2 lead after the opening two quarters and possessed a 9-5 margin after three. The Crunch finished off the conquest with a pair of goals in the fourth.

Even beyond Crunch coach Kastelic, John Carroll University Men's Soccer and the Cleveland Crunch have deep ties. Defender Boban Cancar '14 and goalkeeper Liam McIntosh '19 also helped to bring the title home to Cleveland this season. JCU Head Coach Dejan Mladenovic '06 has also assisted along the way, helping to coach Crunch practices.

And loyal Cleveland soccer fans will of course remember Hector Marinaro, a legend in the local soccer scene for the old Crunch. Marinaro became a very successful coach for the Blue Streaks after his pro soccer career, recently retiring after an incredible 15-year run. Kastelic spent a lengthy stint on Marinaro's coaching staff as an assistant and the reserve team coach, learning his craft from Marinaro.

"We are extremely proud of Louis, Bobi, Liam and the entire Cleveland Crunch organization for bringing another trophy home to Cleveland," said Mladenovic. "As a young player growing up in the 90's, I can vividly remember going down to the Cleveland State Convocation Center on Friday and Saturday nights to watch the Crunch play and was lucky enough to be in the building when Hector scored the game winning goal in overtime of the NPSL Final in 1994. The arena was absolutely electric when the ball hit the back of the net and is a huge reason why so many individuals in the Cleveland area fell in love with the game of soccer prior to the arrival of the MLS. I am excited to follow the franchise moving forward as they continue to chase more success."

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