Kingston Stockade FC slipped to second place in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) North Atlantic Conference Division this week following a second straight draw that brought their record on the season to 2-0-2.
Unbeaten Kingston hosted Valeo FC before a capacity crowd at an unseasonably chilly Dietz Stadium on Saturday, May 29, the two teams battling to a scoreless draw in their first ever matchup. Pedro Espindola, Vinny Colantuono and Scott Zobre all made noble efforts but could not convert for the home side. Colantuono, who saw a ricochet hit the back of the net on an offsides call, was taken down in the box in the 68th minute, but the partisan crowd’s pleas for a penalty call went unheeded.
Kingston goalkeeper Dylan McDermott kept his third clean sheet of the season to preserve the tie, with the stingy defense before him led by Joao Avila allowing few opportunities for the visiting side.
One week earlier, Stockade FC traveled to Revere, Massachusetts for a battle with old rival Boston City FC, coming away with a 2-2 draw on a sweltering afternoon. Scott Zobre scored both goals for Kingston, the first coming on a breakaway pass from Colantuono in the 36th minute. Boston City quickly equalized for the first goal scored against Stockade FC this season.
Zobre again put Kingston ahead five minutes after intermission, touching a Hugo Guerra cross to the back post. But Boston City quickly leveled again when an Avila tackle saw the ball bounce off his arm in the box leading to a penalty kick. Pierrick Gould, Richard Morris and Sam LaTorre all had chances to pull Kingston ahead in the waning minutes, but it was not to be.
Kingston has eight points after four games, one off the pace of the division leading New York Shockers, who after falling to Stockade FC in the season opener have gone on a three-game win streak. Stockade FC hits the road for their next two games against the two teams at the bottom of the division. It begins on Saturday, June 5 with a visit to Greater Lowell Rough Diamonds in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts where they hope to come away with three points against a side that’s lost all four of its matches to date by a combined score of 0-21. On Saturday, June 13, Stockade FC visits Hartford City FC in Portland, Connecticut; Kingston hosted Hartford City on Saturday, May 15, winning 3-0.
Stockade FC returns to the friendly confines of Dietz Stadium on Saturday, June 19 when Boston City FC comes to town.