DC Power FC was able to hold off the reigning USL Super League champions as they won 2-1 against Lexington SC on Friday night at Audi Field. It was their third straight home victory and a crucial one, keeping them in second place in the league table.

“It’s been a good run run of games and wins here at home, which was our problem last year. So, I’m happy about the three points,” head coach Omid Namazi said after the match. “Anytime you get a win against the championship team, obviously it’s a cause for celebration. But if I’m honest, I don’t think we played our best game. I think defensively, we were resilient. We were organized, and we didn’t give them a lot of chances…But in general, we have to be better.”

The first half began with both teams seeking to establish their footing early. In the ninth minute, Loza Abera got the ball and from about 40 yards out tried to catch Lexington goalkeeper Ryan Campbell napping. Abera launched a curler towards goal that Campbell had to save over the bar at the last second. Two minutes later, it was Lexington on the break with an opportunity. Hannah White got out on the break with a great pass from Catherine Barry, bursting past the DC defense and getting a free run on goal. However, Hallie Augustyn was able to hustle back and block White’s shot out of play for a corner.

In the 18th minute, DC Power struck first. Off a through pass from Emma Jaskeniec, Loza Abera got open in the box and slotted the ball past Campbell to give DC Power the 1-0 lead.

“We kept [getting] good results and playing well, getting confidence, and then I have good teammates,” Abera said after the match of her gaining confidence. “So that’s why I’m getting confidence and keep scoring goals. That makes me more confident [to] keep scoring and give 100% for this team.”

DC Power was aggressive on defense, doing what they could to keep the ball out of danger. In the 40th minute, the club thought they had a penalty when Tatum Thomason was taken down in the box. But the referee did not signal for a penalty, much to the chagrin of the team and the fans in attendance. The teams went to halftime with DC Power hanging onto the 1-0 lead.

The second half started with Lexington getting the first opportunity from a set piece by Hannah Johnson. Catherine Barry found the cross into the 6-yard area and had a one-timed shot right in front of goal. Katie Cappelletti had a masterful kick save to stop the shot. Alyssa Bourgeois had the follow up on the rebound, but that shot went over the bar to end the threat.

“We weren’t giving them a lot, but they had a lot of possession,” Namazi said. “What we did well is take away their ability to build through the middle and really strike down the middle, or crosses coming into the box. We couldn’t connect passes tonight. I mean, we really, really struggled…So us not getting the chances or them not giving us anything, it was a little different than us not giving them anything.”

DC Power still tried to preserve the win, and in the first minute of stoppage time, they added some insurance. After winning the ball and pressing through a tackle, Gianna Gourley got the run started. She got the ball to Susanna Fitch, who passed it out wide to Sam Angel after some nifty dribbling. Angel crossed the ball into the box and the ball was bounced to the top of the box. There, Emily Colton unleashed a shot that bounced off Campbell’s hands into the goal to make it 2-0 to DC.

“We were pressing the ball. I know Gianna, she stayed with the play and she came up with the ball. Like, it was so good,” Colton said of the buildup to the goal. “I saw space out on the left, and I kind of saw Sue creeping in, and so I was like, ‘I think I’m gonna try to go back post,’ and it was a great ball. It was a great buildup, just to stay with it. And I saw it bounce out, took a touch. I didn’t really see pressure. So, it’s like, ‘I’m gonna hit it.'”

DC Power didn’t have a lot of time to celebrate, as a quick mistake turned into Lexington getting a goal back almost immediately. Off a Regan Steigleder pass, Catherine Barry shot a low curler that found the left side of the net to pull Lexington within one.

Fortunately for DC Power, that was the last major effort of the night. Lexington tried to get a quick equalizer, but it was too late. The whistle sounded, and DC Power held on for the win.

With the win, DC Power is solidly in second place in the USL Super League standings with three matches to play. A win next week at Sporting Jacksonville coupled with other results could be enough for DC Power to clinch their first playoff berth in club history. But they are not settling for just a trip to the playoffs.

“[Gotta] be happy with three points. I think we’ve got one foot in the door, as far as the playoffs. But we’re not done. We gotta continue to win. We want to sit here at home field [with a] playoff game,” Omid Namazi said with a smile.