But …

During this stretch of unexpected success against teams from the top professional league in America, STLFC has struggled in league action, going just 0-2-3 since winning 3-1 over the visiting Swope Park Rangers on April 27.

STLFC, which has a league record of 5-3-5, returns to USL Championship play Sunday in a 4 p.m. match at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City against Swope Park (1-8-6). The team’s next home match is July 6 against Loudoun United FC.

“It’s been a frustrating run for us in league play, and it’s something we need to correct,” said Hilton, a 25-year-old from Truro, England. “I’m not sure what the problem is — if I did, we’d try to correct it — but we know we have to be better, especially in league play. But I’m confident that we’ll get it figured out and get ourselves back on track.”

Injuries to several key players have limited STLFC at times this season. But that’s no excuse, Hilton stressed.

“You play with the guys who are available, and this is a team with a strong roster,” he said. “We know as a team what we’re capable of — we’ve shown it against the MLS teams — and it’s up to us to get it straightened out and start getting the same kind of results in our league games.