VB City FC Grab Season Sweep Of Richmond Strikers With 2-1 Win

Virginia Beach City FC dominated possession and came out on top with a 2-1 win over the Richmond Strikers on Sunday evening. Johan De Picker scored the opener late in the first half before Chris Albiston netted the match-winner after the break.

VB City put together a dominating first half and Brandon Purdue was wreaking havoc on the Strikers' backline. The Chesapeake native forced the away goalkeeper into multiple saves in the early going, though he nearly had the opening goal in the 28th minute.

Even with the control of possession, Brian Hinkey's side couldn't find the back of the net until stoppage time of the first half. Ivan Militar steered his corner near the far post, finding De Picker's head for a 1-0 lead.

“Scoring before half time was huge for us. We just needed that goal to give us the confidence for the second half. I take pride in scoring as a defender, but it doesn't matter to me if I score or not. A goal is a goal and we needed one. I was at the right place at the right time and it made everybody's job a little bit easier for most of the second half." - Virginia Beach City FC Defender, Johan De Picker

The momentum showed after halftime and Albiston quickly added to the lead in the 49th minute. After settling the ball from Travis Cooke's cross, the William & Mary alumni sent it flying past the Strikers' keeper for VB City's second of the night.

The crowd was in full force, giving Ryan Condotta an ovation for his performance after being subbed off late in the match. The Strikers struggled to create any real chances until the final 10 minutes of play, but they weren't done just yet. In the 89th minute, Richmond cut into the lead off a deflection past Sean Stowe.

It wouldn't be enough as the Neptunes' defense remained strong and held off the Strikers for the 2-1 win. The three points secures a season sweep over the Strikers after the 7-2 road win early in the season.

“Our defense has been doing extremely well, but it has been frustrating these past few games as most teams have had limited opportunities and always find a crazy way to score. Sean Stowe has made some amazing saves and the three other guys in the back are the reason why I am playing well. Nick and myself play center back at ODU, so this VB City experience is helping us a lot and our relationship on the field is getting better and better everyday." - Virginia Beach City FC Defender, Johan De Picker

The VB City FC Ladies earned one point after a scoreless draw against the Richmond Strikers Women earlier in the night. Sheyenne Stretz found the net with a deflection in the 20th minute, but it was called offside. Neither club threatened throughout the remainder of the match for a well-fought point.

Both teams will return to the Sportsplex next Sunday, June 26th, to face FC Frederick and the Washington Spirit Academy respectively. The boys came away with a 1-0 victory over Frederick in early June, while the ladies' side fell 4-0 to the strong Spirit Academy team.

“Everybody in the league can still win it and I find that very exciting. It will be a great game to watch and I hope that the VB City fans will come out in numbers. It helps us a lot mentally when the stands are packed, so fans please come out Sunday and help us get another win and an important three points." - Virginia Beach City FC Defender, Johan De Picker