Photo courtesy of Annapolis Blues FC
Annapolis Blues FC repeated last year’s success in its home opener on Saturday, June 1st, re-setting the NPSL single match attendance record with 11,171 fans in attendance. The cherry on top was beating DMV Elite by a score of 6-2.
Early in the first half, Rich Monath put the Blues up 1-0. Toshi Davis received a pass and drove down the left-hand side of the box. Once he reached the touchline, Davis crossed the ball on the ground, finding the feet of Monath who had an easy tap in from only a couple yards out. Although the Blues continued to show attacking dominance, the first half would end 1-0.
The second half was packed with action, totaling seven goals in the 45 minutes. The first goal of the half, and second for the Blues, came via Davis. The assist turned goal scorer made a darting run into the box, looking to get on the end of a cross. The DMV Elite defender headed the cross away, however it landed at the feet of Davis who hammered home the half-volley, beating the keeper at his near post. Davis would go on to notch his second goal of the match only a few minutes later. Matias De Jesus took a short corner, passing to Davis who played it back to De Jesus, only to then receive a pass back, just outside the 18-yard box. Taking one touch to dribble and another to prep his shot, Davis unleashed a strike that took a deflection off an Elite defender and made its way over the keeper’s head and into the net.
Matty Helfrich would land on the scoresheet for the second match this season, putting the fourth goal up for the Blues. Another De Jesus corner was taken from the left side of the pitch, however it was cleared by the Elite defense. Helfrich, waiting at the edge of the box, smashed the clearance on a first-time volley, finding the bottom left corner of the net, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. William Hitchcock netted his first goal, making the game a 5-1 scoreline in the latter stages of the second half. Hitchcock, playing as a pure poacher, found himself in a one-on-one breakaway with the Elite goalkeeper off the back of a slipped through ball from the right side of the pitch. Making no mistake, Hitchcock finished his chance with a first-time shot that slide right below the onrushing goalkeeper.
“We spoke about the difference between pressure and opportunity before the game. This was an opportunity to show our quality as a group and I was pretty pleased with large phases of the game,” said Head Coach Colin Herriot. Alex Abril would seal the deal and secure the 6-2 win for the Blues in the dying embers of the match. The Blues attackers held a strong spell of possession that would see several short passes in-between the Elite defenders that eventually found the feet of Abril. Receiving the ball just inside the box, Abril drove inside toward the middle of the goal and beat his defender with pure pace. Abril then unleashed a strike that found the bottom corner of the near post to finish off the match and give the Blues its third win of the season.
Following another NPSL record setting attendance match, the Blues now hold the top four most attended matches in NPSL history. “It’s great to have so much support from the community. There is a real connection between the club and the fans, and you can see that,” Herriot said. “We’re grateful to play in such an environment. We have a responsibility to represent this fanbase the right way and we will continue to do so.”
The Blues remain at home, taking on Alexandria Rough Diamonds in the next match, on Friday, June 7. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
