DC Power FC had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Fort Lauderdale United FC on Tuesday night at Audi Field. An 83rd minute goal by Sabrina McNeill offset a 45th minute Loza Abera goal to give each team the point.

Lineups

DC Power (3-5-2): Morgan Aquino; Madison Murnin, Madison Wolfbauer (Myra Konte – 46′), Claire Constant (c); Katie Duong, Carleigh Frilles (Emily Colton – 46′), Grace Yango, Anna Bagley, Susanna Fitch; Yuuka Kurosaki (Charlie Estcourt – 81′), Loza Abera (Gianna Gourley – 63′)
Unused Subs: Adelaide Gay, Amber DiOrio, Jennifer Cudjoe

Fort Lauderdale United (3-4-3): Cosette Morché; Cameron Brook, Laurel Anbrow, Sabrina McNeill; Addison McCain, Darya Rajaee, Felicia Knox (Delaney Lindhal – 64′), Taylor Smith (Anele Komani – 64′); Jasmine Hamid (Sheyenne Allen – 76′), Kiara Locklear (Jorian Baucom – 76′), Sh’Nia Gordon
Unused Subs: Erin McKinney, Celia Gaynor, Tatiana Fung

The first half didn’t have much in the first 30 minutes or so, with both teams doing a good job of keeping each other out of dangerous spots. The first true chance came from Fort Lauderdale’s Jasmine Hamid in the 34th minute. Off a long ball, she beat two DC defenders down the field on the break and was able to get a left footed shot off from 8 yards out. The ball glanced off the outside of the left post and out for a goal kick.

DC Power was able to get a chance as well a couple minutes later, as Yuuka Kurosaki was able to block a clearance shot and that gave her a chance from 15 yards to take a shot. However, she hit the outside netting, but the flurry didn’t end there.

Just a few minutes later, DC Power was once again getting a ton of chances at goal. Finally, one of them broke through in the 45th minute. With DC Power putting several strong chances in the box, Katie Duong was able to collect the ball and fire a shot from the right side of the box. While Fort Lauderdale goalkeeper Cosette Morché made the save, the rebound bounced straight to Loza Abera, who was able to calmly volley the ball back into the net.

That made it 1-0 at the half, and the team had a huge mental boost from getting the goal just before halftime. “It was massive for us,” interim coach Phil Nana said after the match. “We tell our players be optimistic, keep believing, just believe it’s going to come. If we do the right things, we’re in the right positions, it’s going to come. And, we can only keep saying that for so long without it actually coming, so for it to fall for us today…[it] gave us that lift and also helped us believe.”

“When [the ball] came, I was focused and concentrated,” Loza Abera said when recalling the goal. “As a forward or as a striker, I have to stay at the box and so when the shot rebounded, I was at the right time at the right position, so that’s why I scored. It felt like a big boost for the team.”

“I’m very happy to see that goal. Very happy for Loza too as well, she deserves it,” Nana added.

In the second half, DC made some subs both for tactical reasons as well as squad rotations as the twilight of the season draws near. They were still able to keep Fort Lauderdale under wraps for almot the entire match. However, in the 83rd minute, a disastrous mistake would cost them. Off a deep boot by Cosette Morché, DC defender Madison Murnin tried to shield Sabrina McNeill from the ball as it trickled toward a spot where goalkeeper Morgan Aquino could pick it up inside the box. However, Murnin couldn’t do it, and McNeill outmuscled her for the ball. She then quickly fired a shot past Aquino to level the score at 1-1.

“Soccer is a game of mistakes, who will make the least mistakes,” Phil Nana said. “Unfortunately, we made a very costly mistake in the last five minutes or so. It’s tough, but I don’t want to take anything away from how we played from the game. I thought we played very well.”

Fort Lauderdale had another quick flurry right after the goal to try and get the game-winner, but they weren’t able to get anything past Aquino. The match ended 1-1 with both teams settling for a point. After the match, Nana was pleased with the performance of the team in their final home match of the 2024-25 season.

“Of course, a win at home [in] the last home game would have been great for us, you know? It’s disappointing not to have that, but I’m very proud of the players [and] how they performed. I’m very proud of the staff, how we prepared once again…I think we got our tactics right. We got our execution just about right. You limit the mistakes, and maybe we see three points.”

Despite the draw, Loza Abera expressed her thanks to the fans for coming out to show them support in the club’s inaugural season. “I wanted to thank the fans for coming, for the support, for being with us and thanks so much for for everything they gave for us,” Abera proclaimed.

DC Power FC closes out the season with two road matches, the first of which comes this Saturday against Tampa Bay Sun. The club will look to finish out the season on a high note.