DC Power FC returned home to Audi Field to face Dallas Trinity FC on Wednesday night, and despite elevated play, walked off the field with a 0-0 draw. DC Power move to 1W-4L-4D on the season.

Starting XIs

DC Power FC: 1-Morgan Aquino; 29-Madison Wolfbauer, 12-Claire Constant (c), 3-Susanna Friedrichs; 24-Amber Diorio (45-Maleeya Martin 64′), 9-Katie Duong, 6-Jennifer Cudjoe, 17-Charlie Estcourt (21-Katrina Guillou 64′); 2-Anna Bagley (19-Yuuka Kurosaki 83′), 30-Loza Abera (7-Mariah Lee 64′), 5-Jorian Baucom
Unused Subs: 14-Phoebe Canoles, 20-Madison Murnin, 33-Adelaide Gay

Dallas Trinity FC: 1-Madison White; 3-Gaby Guillen, 6-Waniya Hudson, 2-Hannah Davison, 5-Julia Dorsey; 22-Amber Brooks; 14-Chioma Ubogagu, 8-Jenny Danielsson, 15-Samantha Meza; 9-Lucy Shepherd (12-Sealey Strawn 46′); 20-Allie Thornton (13-Cyera Hintzen 83′)
Unused Subs: 17-Gracie Brian, 19-Jenna Winebrenner, 21-Kamdyn Fuller, 33-Rachel McCarthy, 99-Samantha Estrada

Wearing their new black jerseys, DC Power took the field for the first time this season trying to build upon a win. With the last minute win against Brooklyn FC on Friday night, the team was hoping to keep the momentum going at home against Dallas, who they drew last month at the Cotton Bowl.

DC Power started out with the momentum, with a few good chances on goal through the first 10 minutes of the match. Through 30 minutes, it felt like DC Power was the one in control of the match, but still there was no score on the board. Dallas Trinity had just one main chance around the 20 minute mark that was calmly collected by Morgan Aquino.

In the 25th minute, DC Power was able to find space, and Charlie Escourt was able to send a long cross into the box to be collected by Loza Abera. However, Abera couldn’t control the cross enough to get a decent shot off.

Right at 30 minutes, Madison Wolfbauer collected the ball close to midfield and after some nifty dribbling through the Dallas Trinity defense, she was able to get a shot off. But the left footed effort sailed just high of the goal. Her pairing with fellow centerback Claire Constant proved to be a bright spot for DC Power all evening, with both picking and choosing their opportunities to push forward. Claire Constant after the match said that she “hasn’t trusted a centerback partner more,” and noted the communication between her and Wolfbauer has allowed them to grow and to develop even more cohesion across the entire back line.

In the 38th minute, Dallas Trinity’s Samantha Meza gave DC Power a scare with a wicked shot from distance that sailed millimeters over the bar. A minute later, Dallas’ Chioma Ubogagu collected the ball in the box, and was able to turn around and take a point blank shot that was met with a great Morgan Aquino save.

However, there was still a lot of excitement in the crowd from the first 40 minutes of play from DC Power, including from several Washington Spirit players who were taking in the match.

For the third match in a row, a DC Power match was scoreless at halftime, and the second half started with Dallas pushing forward from the start. Claire Constant picked up a yellow card in the 47th minute for a foul, and a few minutes later, Ubogagu was able to get a shot off on goal. However, the DC defense was able to deflect it well wide of the net for a corner kick.

Dallas was able to keep possession well for the first portion of the second half, with DC Power finding the game to be a bit tougher sledding than it was in the first half.

The turning point of the second half came in the 64th minute, when DC Power coach Fred Brillant chose to bring on three subs – Mariah Lee, Katrina Guillou, and Maleeya Martin – to try and bolster the attack and push for a goal. The team seemed to elevate their intensity in the minutes after those subs came on, aggressively pushing for goal with newfound energy.

In the 70th minute, DC Power had their best chance of the night when Mariah Lee was able to get the ball free on net, but Power FC weren’t able to get a great shot on goal. The ensuing corner kick also had the ball dance in the middle of the penalty area, but after being kicked to the top of the box, Jennifer Cudjoe’s shot went high.

Just a few minutes later, Jorian Baucom was able to pick the ball away deep on a turnover and go the other way. She was able to dribble past a few Dallas Trinity defenders into the box, where she lost her footing before she was able to get a shot on goal. Three minutes later, the team was able to have great buildup which was generated from forcing a Dallas turnover on their defensive end. The ball was passed through several teammates, eventually ending at the feet of Baucom in the box. Baucom made a scintillating turn on her defender and had space, but Dallas luckily got a last minute toe on the ball to ease it out for a corner kick.

Dallas came back just a couple minutes later in some back-and-forth action. It was Dallas Trinity’s turn to make a great shot on goal. Once again it was Ubogagu, who made a turn to her left and ripped a shot that required an incredible save by Aquino, who lept into the air as far as she could to punch the ball out for a corner. DC came right back down seconds later, with Baucom once again getting the ball at the top of the box. She was able to rip a shot, but it hit the outside right side of the net for a goal kick.

DC Power was able to generate some more excitement in the box on an 83rd minute corner kick. After the match, midfielder Katie Duong said that the timing was clearly improving on the corner kicks thanks to some extra practice, and they’re confident that they’re able to get some chances on goal via the corner. Yuuka Kurosaki entered the match in the 83rd minute as a tactical substitute, with Brillant wanting his team to push forward in an effort to try and get the win.

With the draw, DC Power FC moved up to fifth place in the USL Super League table. They hope to continue building on their results and push for yet another win on October 25th when they host Lexington SC at Audi Field.