Club News

June 2, 2024

Early goals, strong defense propel FC Frederick past Virginia Beach City

BUCKEYSTOWN, Md. — FC Frederick coupled three first-half goals with the team’s first shutout since 2022 for a 3-0 victory over Virginia Beach City FC on Friday night at Warner Stadium.

FC Frederick improved to 3-1, matching the program’s best four-game start (2017) and moving into second place in the NPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference. Virginia Beach City fell to 0-3.

FC Frederick fielded a lineup minus three usual starters, including the program’s all-time leader in appearances who received a last-second invite to The Soccer Tournament. Despite the change in lineup, those who played delivered.

Tyler Harry, Jonathan Yowell and Joni Ndrenika scored their first goals of the season, while Michael Dempsey, Kyle Waggoner and Sean Weiland delivered their first assists of the campaign.

“Tonight was a great team effort by many young players who were given the opportunity to play in the match,” FC Frederick coach Rob Ryerson said.

FC Frederick completely dominated possession in the first half and was rewarded in the 20th minute when Harry one-timed a pass from Dempsey past the Virginia Beach City keeper.

Only nine minutes later, Yowell slid a left-footed shot into the lower right corner for a 2-0 lead. Yowell started the play this a pass into the box Waggoner. As Waggoner turned, a Virginia Beach City defender poked the ball away, but his clearance attempt went back to Waggoner who played the ball into space and Yowell, continuing his run, found himself behind the defense and calmly finished.

FC Frederick’s first-half domination continued and in the 42nd, Ndrenika rose above the defense and headed home a corner kick from Weiland for a commanding 3-0 lead.

“Even though I felt we didn’t have the energy in the first half as I would have liked, it was good to finish our chances, which was one of our keys to the game,” Ryerson said.

FC Frederick outshot Virginia Beach FC 11-3 in the first half.

After that, it was up FC Frederick’s defense to finish out the match. Ndrenika, Weiland and Erick Villatoro, three of the team’s starting defenders, played all 90 minutes as the Blue secured its first shutout since beating Grove United on July 9, 2022.

FC Frederick's starting goalkeeper Noah Kump had six saves in 83 minutes played. Lucas Ryerson played the final seven minutes in goal without a save for FC Frederick.

FC Frederick returns to action Tuesday against Grove United at Warner Stadium for a 7 p.m. start.

NOTES: Despite the one-sided affair on Friday, Virginia Beach City holds a commanding 12-3-1 lead in the all-time series that dates back to 2015. … Ndrenika’s goal marked his first NPSL while Yowell and Harry each had one previous career goal. … Villatoro moved into eighth place all-time in minutes played by field players for FC Frederick. He has started all 19 matches in which he has appeared for the Blue. … Kump has moved up to sixth in all-time goalkeeper saves with 21.


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