Scrimmage Ends in a 1-1 Draw

RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ – Despite leading in the first half with goal from Ricky Pizarro, UNFC was forced to settle with 1-1 tie after conceding a late goal against Ticos Bloomfield.

The first chance of the game came from Ticos in a play where the ball was mishandled by our defense leaving their forward on a clear break. Goalkeeper, Julian Gaviria, was able to keep our side in the game by stopping the one on one and knocking the ball out for a corner. This would come to be their only clear chance of the half.

Our first opportunity came fifteen minutes into the half, as Robert Ventura crossed the ball from the right flank, which would find the head of Ricky Pizarro for the first goal of the match.

For the rest of the half, our team enjoyed most of the possession but wouldn't be able knock in a second goal. Although a shot from Oswaldo Gallego would later bang off the crossbar, the score remained 1-0 going into half-time.

Major substitutions were made going into the second half leaving only a few starters in the field and forcing the game to take a different pace. Ticos Bloomfield came out with a full-fledged attack that would create a number dangerous chances. A well placed free kick that would be controlled by our goalkeeper and a series of corner kicks on our side of the field set the tone for what was yet to come.

Ticos Bloomfield's persistence paid off with 10 minutes left in the game. Their center forward cleanly struck a ball outside of the 18-yard line, which found its way to the upper right corner of Gaviria's near post.

The Player of the Week Award is shared between Ricky Pizarro, the author of our only goal, and Carlos Rios who showed a solid performance in the back-line.

UNFC has officially completed its third week of preseason, facing off against an experienced and persistent Ticos Bloomfield. Although the game resulted in a tie, the team was able to dust off the cobwebs gathered during the off-season.

UNFC travels on March 25th to Jersey Shore Boca for the first official league game of the Spring. In the Fall UNFC opened the season at home with a 2-0 victory over Boca.