FC Frederick Rallies to Draw Virginia Dream FC

By FC Frederick

A pair of second-year NPSL players netted their first league goals as FC Frederick twice rallied for a 2-2 draw with Virginia Dream FC.

A mere five minutes after a defensive miscue allowed Virginia Dream to take a 2-1 lead, FC Frederick’s Ben Weller received a long ball from Erick Villatoro, held off a defensive challenge, and slotted a low near-post shot for the 2-2 equalizer in the 78th minute.

Both teams had scoring chances in extra time but could not convert as the highly offensive match finished in a draw in the first-ever meeting of the programs.  Virginia Dream is 1-1-2, while FC Frederick’s record stands at 0-1-1.

FC Frederick was coming off a 5-0 loss to Annapolis Blues FC, matching the worst-ever loss in the program’s eight years.  Five minutes into the match, it wasn’t looking good again.

Virginia Dream’s Sam Mejia ripped shot into the upper left side of the goal, giving Virginia Dream a quick 1-0 lead on its first shot of the match.  FC Frederick responded in the 23rd minute when Jonathan Yowell ran onto a through ball by Gelber Lemus and netted the game-tying goal.

Virginia Dream re-established a one-goal lead in the 73rd minute on a moment of confusion by FC Frederick’s defense.  FC Frederick’s keeper came out of the box to play a long ball but a teammate was trying to defend on the play.  The players made contact with each other and the ball ended up on the foot of Terell Washington, who went around the fallen keeper and rolled a shot into the open goal.

Virginia Dream held an 18-14 advantage in shots and 11-3 in corner kicks.  FC Frederick’s first-half keeper Billy Wood had three saves while Jonah Valmonte, making his FC Frederick debut, made six saves in the second half.  Virginia Dream keeper Carlos Caro finished with five saves.

Wood and Valmonte’s combined nine saves tied a club single-game record.

FC Frederick returns to action June 3 at the home opener for Annapolis Blues FC.  Virginia Dream’s next NPSL match will be its home opener on June 17 against FC Frederick.

Photo Credit: FC Frederick