Kingston Stockade FC climbed back to the top of the National Premier Soccer League’s North Atlantic Conference Division on Saturday, cruising to a 5-1 road win against Greater Lowell Rough Diamonds. Kingston remains the sole undefeated team in the division.
That Stockade FC would come away with three points was all but assured against a club that’s coughed up an average of over five goals per game in 2021. Set up by Hugo Guerra, Vinny Colantuono opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a laser that arced inside the far post ahead of the Rough Diamonds’ beleaguered keeper.
Though Greater Lowell would equalize in the 25th minute, Colantuono secured his brace ahead of halftime off a pass into the box from Sam LaTorre. After intermission, Kingston ramped up its offensive aggression, with the ball spending much of its time deep in the Rough Diamonds’ side of the pitch. They were rewarded with a left-footed rocket by Scott Zobre in the 48th minute off a Colantuono pass.
Richard Morris made his presence felt a few minutes after coming in off the bench, giving Stockade a 4-1 lead with an assist by Colantuono. Christian Geddes capped the scoring in the 87th minute with his first ever goal for Kingston.
The Tyngsboro Sports Center was a comparatively quiet place for a game after Stockade FC played three of their first four games in the electric atmosphere of Dietz Stadium. The livestream, where the sounds of the game on the pitch didn’t drown out muted conversations near the camera, was occasionally filled out by the traveling Dutch Guard Supporters Group, who brought some of the Dietz energy to suburban Massachusetts.
Stockade FC travels to Oakwood Soccer Park in Portland, Connecticut on Saturday, June 12 when they take on Hartford City FC. They’ll return to Dietz one week later when Boston City FC comes to Kingston.
Stockade FC are now 3-0-2 on the season, their 11 points enough to move them back to the top of the division. Also on Saturday, the New York Shockers (9 points) fell to Boston City (7 points) 3-0, while Hartford City (9 points) beat Valeo FC (7 points) 2-1. With their loss to Kingston, Greater Lowell has zero points on the season.
Just four points separate the top five teams in the division, and with only four North Atlantic Conference teams eligible for the postseason almost anything is possible over the second half of the season. The playoffs are set to open on Wednesday, July 14, with the #1 seed hosting the #4 seed and the #2 seed hosting #3. The divisional title game will be played on Saturday, July 17, with the highest remaining seed hosting.
Stockade FC plays two of their five remaining regular season games at Dietz Stadium, with their home finale a rematch with Greater Lowell on Saturday, July 3. The regular season ends on Saturday, July 10, when Kingston heads up the Thruway to take on the New York Shockers at Afrim’s Sports Park in Schenectady.
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