IPL Soccer: Fredericksburg surrenders leads, settles for tie with Richmond

By Tom Leiss

The Fredericksburg Generals held a 6-2 lead at the half and led 9-6 midway through the fourth quarter, but couldn't hold off the visiting Richmond Rowdies in a game that ended in a 10-10 tie at Fredericksburg Field House Saturday night.

It was the first point of the season for the Generals (0-2-1), but was a disappointing result after playing probably their best soccer of the season in the opening half.

"We just had a lack of focus and couldn't hold onto the lead," Generals captain Kevin Edwards said. "We went into the second half too confident."

After playing to a 1-1 tie after on quarter, Fredericksburg exploded in the second. Lucas Hatcher registered two goals 30 seconds apart under two minutes into the period and Ian Kaila added a third about three minutes later to put the home side up 4-1 with 9:50 left in the period.

Luke Vercollone scored the Rowdies' only goal of the frame with 5:40 to play, but Nick Sukamp answered 35 seconds later and added another with two minutes left in the half to make it 6-2 at the break.

Fredericksburg goalie Thomas Hagerty came up with several big saves in the opening half to help his side maintain their advantage.

However, Richmond (1-1-1) came out strong in the third quarter and exploited a weakness it found in the Generals' defense to make a comeback with substitute goalie Kevin Cash in net for Fredericksburg.

Tyler Pardue, Sam Na and Andy McIntosh opened the period with goals and the Rowdies were within a goal (6-5) 6:30 into the frame. Hatcher and Robbie Davis sandwiched goals around a score from Richmond's Nyron Ricketts and the quarter ended with the Generals clinging to an 8-6 advantage.

Neither team could get on the scoreboard to start the final period until Josh West and Hector Camacho connected on a nice play off the wall, with West finishing to stake Fredericksburg to a 9-6 lead with 8:40 left on the clock.

The game then opened up two minutes later, with C.J. Gehinscott, Vercollone and Ross Macaenzie each tallying once for the Rowdies to tie the game 9-9 with 4:40 to play.

Fifteen seconds later, Hatcher netted his fourth of the game to reclaim a one-goal lead for the Generals only to see Gehinscott notch his second 15 seconds later to knot the game at 10-all.

Fredericksburg had one last shot to earn its first win of the season, earning a power-play opportunity with 18 seconds to play. However, the Richmond defense held firm to secure a hard-fought point.

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