FC FREDERICK RALLIES TO WIN NPSL SEASON OPENER
Second-half substitutes made an immediate impact as FC Frederick rallied for a 3-1 victory over Legacy 76 on Sunday at Thomas Athletic Field at Hood College.
Benjamin Dao set up Jacob Gosselin for the first goal and Gosselin assisted on the next two as FC Frederick won its NPSL season opener. Legacy falls to 0-2-1.
Dao and Gosselin, who both recently finished their freshmen college seasons, are newcomers to FC Frederick’s NPSL roster this season and both entered the game at halftime, with FC Frederick trailing 1-0.
“I wasn’t worried at halftime,” FC Frederick coach Chris Spinks said. “I felt we had the better team, we had the better chances. (Legacy) scored against the run of play. We made little changes in the formation and put in the two guys who just played their freshman years in college. They are hungry, they play with energy.”
FC Frederick held a 5-0 shots advantage and controlled much of the early match. However, Legacy’s James Lee, who came on an a substitute for an injured teammate, struck first when his shot beat FC Frederick keeper Phil Breno in the 37th minute. The goal was assisted by Marcel Berry. Legacy carried the lead into halftime.
Almost immediately, Dao (James Madison University) and Gosselin (Millersville University) got involved in the attack early in the second half, and in the 55th minute they teamed up for FC Frederick’s first goal. Dao slid a pass to Gosselin, who beat the Legacy keeper in the 55th minute to take it 1-1.
In the 67th minute, the Legacy keeper misplayed a bouncing ball and Gosselin snuck in for the steal and his touch ended up on the foot of Graham Guidry, another FC Frederick newcomer, who finished into the open net for a 2-1 lead. In the 84th minute, William Eskay scored after a Gosselin flick to make it 3-1.
FC Frederick outshot Legacy 11-9.
Breno ended with five saves for FC Frederick, which won its NPSL season opener for the first time in the program’s three-year history. Legacy keeper Davd Phillips had four saves.
FC Frederick (1-0) moves into a tie for second-place with Fredericksburg FC (1-1) with three points. Virginia Beach City FC (1-0-1) leads the league with four points.
FC Frederick returns to action Saturday, June 3, at home against Fredericksburg FC at 6 pm.
