League

Massena Stadium
Spectators: 7728 (Terracing: 5797, Seating: 1777, VIP seats: 154) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Rick Lewis kicked off to start the match. Sylvester Erickson received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 4th minute. Von Jewell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Curt Haas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 8th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Von Jewell having to interfere. Byron Womack kicked well hit freekick during the 13th minute of the match. Kurtis Thomason sent away a hard shot on goal in the 20th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some fancy dribbling in the 23rd minute, Kurtis Thomason managed to get in a good position for a shot. FLORIDA FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Kurtis Thomason was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Daryl Eddy breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 27 minutes into the game, Cliff Schmitz was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Capitol Hill Avalanche's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave FLORIDA FC the free kick. After 27 played minutes Capitol Hill Avalanche got a freekick which was hit by Cliff Schmitz. In the 28th minute, Tom Cornell hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Daryl Eddy was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 29th minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Aldo Mendez. After 30 played minutes Capitol Hill Avalanche got a freekick which was hit by Curt Haas. Rick Lewis received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 31st minute. Daryl Eddy tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Shane Langston fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 33rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Von Jewell having to interfere. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Rick Lewis in the 36th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Daryl Eddy prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Sylvester Erickson received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 41st minute. Von Jewell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to FLORIDA FC getting a freekick after 42 minutes play. Wally Coats hit a great ball. FLORIDA FC's Von Jewell played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Shane Langston in the 44th minute of play. If Shane Langston had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 50th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Sylvester Erickson to make the kick off. The audience thought a goal was coming when Shane Langston got free with Von Jewell in the 57th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After 64th play minutes Rick Lewis shot 1-0, a short shot which went by Daryl Eddy and just under the crossbar into goal. Von Jewell was a little too slow when Sylvester Erickson got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 67th minute. The score was now 1-1. After 72 played minutes FLORIDA FC got a freekick which was hit by Wally Coats. After 73 played minutes FLORIDA FC got a freekick which was hit by Aldo Mendez. When Sylvester Erickson came up free with the goalie in the 76th minute, the Capitol Hill Avalanche fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Sylvester Erickson couldn't finish the play. Shane Langston received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 77th minute. Von Jewell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Daryl Eddy took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kurtis Thomason, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Curt Haas hit a great freekick 84 minutes into the match. 86 minutes into the match, FLORIDA FC's Rick Lewis sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Daryl Eddy narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Daryl Eddy made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Kurtis Thomason in the 93rd minute of play. Shane Langston in the 95thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Von Jewell, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Von Jewell showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Sylvester Erickson, who was totally free with the ball in the 97th minute. The final whistle blew with the score still tied, and both teams left the pitch thinking about the missed chances that could have given their team the win.