DC Power FC was a bit unlucky in a 1-1 draw against Dallas Trinity on Thursday night in their spring home opener at Audi Field. Loza Abera got the goal in the 17th minute, while Bethany Bos leveled things in the 44th minute for Dallas.

DC started out aggressively early, with their first chance coming in the third minute. Alyssa Walker sent a cross into the top of the penalty area, where Alexis Theoret ran up on the ball. Theoret had a shot that had to be saved by Dallas goalkeeper Tyler McCamey for the corner kick.

In the 17th minute, DC Power’s aggressive push paid off. On the break, Lexi Fraley did well to push the ball into the box and feed Gianna Gourley. Gourley got a shot off that was saved by McCamey. The ball bounced high, but it was collected by Loza Abera, who finished the play with a shot into the goal. The goal was Loza’s fourth of the season and made it 1-0 to DC.

 “I’m so happy to score consecutive goals, and I always prepare myself for every match with focus, with determination and resilience,” Abera said after the match. “So, that gives me confidence and that’s why I keep scoring.”

DC Power continued to push, but against the run of play, Dallas eventually equalized. In the 44th minute, after a foul by Alyssa Walker deep in their defensive third, Lexi Missimo served up a ball for Bethany Bos. Bos got the free header and popped it over DC Power goalkeeper Makenna Gottschalk to make it 1-1.

The teams took the 1-1 score into halftime.

The second half felt even better for DC Power, and it felt like the goal would eventually come. In the 64th minute, they had an excellent chance after a defensive stand allowed them to get the ball and push forward. Alyssa Walker sent a cross into the box that was headed down by Lexi Fraley to Gianna Gourley. Gourley got a toe poke on goal that was stopped point blank by Tyler McCamey.

DC Power continued to push, and they received even more energy when Valentina Perrotta and Dasia Torbert checked into the game. In the 89th minute, the hard work almost paid off. Gianna Gourley got a great pass from Emily Colton at the edge of the six yard box and put a shot on goal. McCamey made a point blank save, and the ball fell to Perrotta. Perrotta put another shot on that McCamey kept out of the net as well. That was the last good chance of the night, and both teams had to share the points.

 “I thought we certainly deserved more than one point,” DC Power head coach Omid Namazi said after the match. “In the second half, I felt we had some clear chance that we should just bury…and put teams away, and we didn’t tonight.”

Makenna Gottschalk got the start in goal for DC Power and was the only goalkeeper listed for the team. Sara Wojdelko was kept off the team sheet due to a “last minute change in status,” and Morgan Aquino is still with the Australian national team at the Women’s Asian Cup. Jason Anderson later reported that Sara Wojdelko, on loan from the Washington Spirit with with an arrangement where she continues to train with the NWSL club, picked up an injury in Spirit training.

After the match, Gottschalk mentioned that she found out earlier in the afternoon that she was getting the start. “It was pretty, pretty last minute, but we’re always prepared,” she chuckled. She ended up with six saves on the evening, including many outstretched, fingertip saves that kept DC in it.

“Makenna stepped up and it’s getting to the point where our roster is strong enough, whenever we have somebody go down with an injury or they’re not available, it’s the next man up,” Namazi said. “She was aggressive, she was confident, and it showed in her play coming out for crosses a few times and really commanding the box. She did an outstanding job.”

With the draw, DC Power are now unbeaten in their last six matches and move to 5W-5L-8D and are now above the playoff line, sitting fourth in the Gainbridge Super League standings by goal differential. They will host Carolina Ascent, the team that is level with them on points in the standings in a midday match on Tuesday.