Alexandria Reds Use PKs to Rally Past FC Frederick

By FC Frederick

A pair of FC Frederick goalkeeper fouls led to converted penalty kicks, and Alexandria Reds escaped with a 2-1 victory on Thursday night at St. John’s Catholic Prep.

Christopher Barnard scored on both of Alexandria Reds’ penalty kicks.

Barnard’s second-half tallies came after a first half that was largely in control of FC Frederick. The home team outshot the third-place Reds 7-4 in the first half.  This included a goal by John A. Eskay, assisted by Torren Aikens, as FC Frederick carried a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.

Early in the second half, Barnard was taken down during a goalkeeper challenge on a breakaway, and the official ruled a foul and penalty kick.  Barnard then caught FC Frederick goalkeeper Billy Wood lunging to his left and easily scored in the opposite corner to tie the match at 1-1 in the 49th minute.

Fifteen minutes later, Wood again was called for a foul in the penalty box during a scramble in front of the net.  Barnard stepped to the line again and scored to the same side for the deciding goal.

It proved a heart-breaking loss for FC Frederick, which had a shot cleared off the goal line, another shot hit the post, and a follow-up attempt on an open goal sail wide.  FC Frederick has lost five matches in a row, and either led or were tied in the second half in four of them.

Jonah Valmonte played the first half in goal for FC Frederick and had two saves.  Wood played the second half and also produced a pair of saves.  Nick Conklu played the entire match in goal for Alexandria and had three saves.

Alexandria Reds improved to 4-2-2 and remained in third place.  FC Frederick, meanwhile, falls to 1-7-1.  FC Frederick’s final match of the season will be July 8 at Grove United in Richmond, VA.

Photo Credit: FC Frederick