(Photo courtesy Brandon Chiarmonte)
Playing their second match in four days, Coach Hector Vasquez’s FC Buffalo Reserves faced a tough woodman’s weatherstick in their BDSL Championship Division opener; Buffalo Celtic lost just twice in the 2012 season and carries a strong roster.
Fortunately, the Reserves (0-0-1) were up to the task as they again responded to going down a goal early, briefly holding the lead before giving up a late equalizer in a 2-2 draw at The Park School.
Buffalo Celtic (0-0-1) struck in the 40th minute to make it 1-0 after a miscommunication in the FCBR box and it was the only time Celtic could best goalkeeper Robert Weigand (St. John Fisher College/Cheektowaga, N.Y.), who split time with AJ Grecco (SUNY Fredonia/Kenmore, N.Y.).
Halftime was the tonic the Reserves needed and they knotted the score at 1 early in the second half when Marikos Habtemichael (Buffalo State/Rochester, N.Y.) worked his way across the top of the 18 before hammering one home.
FCBR would take the lead when back Matt Veronica (D’Youville College/Tonawanda, N.Y.) made a mad run up the field before chipping the keeper from distance.
The 2-1 lead would not hold up as Buffalo Celtic turned Thursday’s Tehel Cup at-the-death equalizer on its ear with an 85th minute equalizer. FCBR earned a corner late and a few dangerous chances but couldn’t find the winner. Points were shared.
“Both keepers played strong and when each got scored on it was just an unlucky break,” said FCBR defender Paul Loweecey. “I was impressed by the effort and knowledge of the game by Theo (Stamatopolous) and Mate (Tarr), but Matt Veronica’s goal was what really brought us home and he played a solid defensive game.”
Our great supporters in The Situation Room attended and live tweeted the game. They’ll be posting match photos later this evening at their Facebook page.
The Reserves train this week before a three-match week May 12-19. On May 12 they have a BDSL Championship Division tie at 6:30 p.m. at Fort Niagara against Queenston.
May 16 is another road contest, a 6:30 p.m. Tehel Cup match at West Seneca Soccer Complex against Elbow Soup SC.
May 19 is back to Park School for a 6 p.m. home BDSL Championship Division match against Wolfpack.
The First Team has begun training ahead of its first game Friday, May 10 at Robert E. Rich Senior All-High Stadium against Zanesville Athletic. Season tickets are still available.
Email: wolf@fcbuffalo.org
