Aug. 7 (1968)

Casey Frankiewicz leads the St. Louis Stars to an important 3-1 North American Soccer League win over the Kansas City Spurs before 11,721 fans at Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium. Frankiewicz, the Stars’ leading scorer, knocks in the game’s first goal from two yards out in the 37th minute, and later sets up Norb Pogrzeba in the 80th minute to give the Stars a 3-0 lead. Rudi Kolbl nets the Stars’ second goal in the 77th minute. Six-foot-five goalkeeper Barney Vidinic frustrates the Spurs early, punching out six crosses into the goal area in the first 26 minutes. The outcome evens the Stars’ record at 10-10-5 and keeps them alive in the race for a playoff berth. The loss is only the Spurs’ second home defeat of the season in 13 games. The Stars will fade over the rest of the season and miss the playoffs with a 12-14-6 record. Frankiewicz will end the season with a career high of 14 goals and will be named to the all-NASL first team. The native of Pultusk, Poland, will score 47 goals during his seven years in the NASL and its predecessor, the NPSL. All but one of those seasons will be with the Stars. He will serve as player-coach of the Stars from 1971-73 and will be named NASL coach of the year in 1972 when he directs the Stars to the NASL finals.