DC Power overpowered Brooklyn FC on the road, winning their first match of the season by a 4-1 margin at Maimonides Park on Friday night. Loza Abera paced DC with a brace, while Emma Jaskeniec and Tyler Lussi also scored for the club.

DC wanted to be aggressive from the opening whistle, and they were. That aggression on offense and their ability to get the ball and push forward quickly left Brooklyn flat-footed. And in the 6th minute, DC was able to capitalize. On the break, Kayla Colbert had a give-and-go with Emily Colton, who set her up with a pass down the right side of the field that gave Colbert free space on the right side. Colbert found Emma Jaskeniec in the box, who finished the shot in the back of the net to give DC the early lead.

Just two minutes later, DC struck again. Abby Boyan stuck with the defense at midfield to block the ball, with the ball sneaking its way downfield. Abby sprinted past the defender to win the ball and streak down the left side of the field. Approaching the penalty area, she sent a cross in to Loza Abera, who did a spin move and then another shift to her right before firing a shot past Brooklyn goalkeeper Breanna Morris to make it 2-0 to DC.

DC didn’t stop there, and just after the restart, the midfield were able to create a turnover and go the other way. Tatum Thomason got the ball inside the box and tried to sneak a shot past Morris, but it glanced off the post and across goal, but did not go over the line. DC Power really took it to Brooklyn in the first half, dominating possession and moving forward with every chance they could.

Brooklyn’s only real scoring chance came in the 43rd minute. Off a turnover, Brooklyn had a great chance on the break. Tziarra King’s shot from close range was blocked by DC’s Claire Constant and Katie Cappalletti to keep it out of the net. That was the only major effort from Brooklyn in the first half, and a few minutes later, the halftime whistle blew with DC taking the 2-0 lead to the locker room.

Second half started with Tyler Lussi coming on to replace Tatum Thomason, but DC Power continued to be aggressive moving forward. They commanded possession and the number of dominant scoring chances skewed heavily in their favor. The early goals allowed them to play downhill the entire second half and even take some chances.

In the 60th minute, one of those chances paid off. Kayla Colbert intercepted an errant touch by Shin Na-Yeong deep in the attacking third to receive the ball in the box. She was taken down by Shin and the referee signaled for a penalty. Tyler Lussi stepped up to take the penalty and calmly buried it for her first goal with DC Power and giving the club a 3-0 lead.

Alyssa Walker and Gianna Gourley entered the match in the 67th minute, replacing Kayla Colbert and Emma Jaskeniec to receive their first minutes of the season after missing the opener due to injury. Gourley didn’t wait long to insert herself into the action. Receiving the ball at midfield in the 70th minute, she was able to get a great pass to Emily Colton in stride on the break. Colton dribbled all the way into the box and had a shot from the right side, but the ball skidded just wide of the net.

In the 75th minute, Brooklyn got one back when Tziarra King hit a laser that rocketed off the crossbar. DC Power couldn’t clear it, and Catherine Zimmerman’s header glanced to a streaking Jordan Thompson, who put it past Katie Cappalletti to give Brooklyn FC their first goal.

Brooklyn tried to use that momentum to try and creep back in the match, but DC was good at breaking down their efforts. And because DC was still aggressive on offense, they were able to create yet another play. In the 82nd minute, Alyssa Walker received the ball on the break and got into the right side of the box looking to make a cross into the middle. Her cross hit the outstretched arm of Shin Na-Yeong, and the referee pointed to the spot for another penalty. This time, it was Loza Abera who stepped up to take it, and she buried it to make DC’s lead 4-1.

Brooklyn, with just a few minutes left in the match, tried to throw everything at DC Power, but the defense was solid, and at times courageous when they needed to be. They were able to hold off Brooklynn down the stretch, and after four minutes of stoppage time, the referee blew the whistle to end the match and give DC Power their first win of the season.

DC Power hope to keep the good times rolling next weekend when they travel to face reigning Gainbridge Super League champions Lexington SC.