Despite Historic Occasion and Packed Stands, Stockade Falls to TSF

Stockade's Brandon Curtis goes up for a header against TSF FC. (Photo by Leanne Keator, Ride the Tide Photography)

KINGSTON, N.Y. — On a historic day filled with much to celebrate for Kingston Stockade FC, the only thing missing for the home side was a victory on the pitch.

Getting the bad news out of the way first, Stockade fell to TSF FC on Monday, 4-3, in an entertaining, high-scoring affair.

And while the result might not have been exactly what the hosts wanted, it at least provided great entertainment for the 1,129 fans in attendance at Dietz Stadium, which was the largest home crowd in Stockade history, and also the first time the club has ever broken the one-thousand mark.

Stockade was also able to celebrate the fact that the club had wrapped up the top spot in the Atlantic White Conference, as results elsewhere meant that Kingston had the best record in the conference for the 2017 NPSL season with one match to play. This also meant that Stockade had secured its first-ever playoff spot.

As for the match itself, while it was a very exciting game, the end result wasn't exactly what the hosts were hoping for. (Full match highlights below.)

TSF opened up the scoring in the 37th minute to take a 1-0 lead.

Stockade's Eric Fortier missed a golden opportunity in the 39th minute, as he sent a close-range shot directly into the TSF keeper's chest.

Fortier showed himself to have quite the short memory, however, as he quickly redeemed himself in the 45th minute, with a powerful strike to level things at 1-1.

TSF then scored their second goal in the 52nd minute, only for Fortier to level things yet again with a goal in the 58th minute to put it at 2-2. The goals were Fortier's 3rd and 4th of the season.

Play went back and forth for the next 10 minutes before Matt Koziol scored his 5th goal of the season off of a lovely shot from distance to make it 3-2. TSF then scored in the 81st and 86th minutes, however, to complete the scoring on the day and leave the final tally at 4-3.

Stockade's next match is on Saturday, July 8 at Boston City FC.

Stockade then will host its first ever playoff match on Saturday, July 15 at Dietz Stadium (or Sunday, July 16 in case of a rain delay). Kingston will play the winner of the 2nd vs. 3rd place playoff match earlier in the week.

Man of the Match: Eric Fortier

Stockade Starting XI: Skonieczny; Curtis, Lis-Simmons, Gatti, Zobre; Koziol, Lanzetta, Mitchell; Fortier, Espindola, Jeter
 

Marco Kloster, Stockade Storm to Home Win Over Seacoast United

KINGSTON, N.Y. — The saying, "When it rains, it pours" applied in more ways than one on Saturday at Dietz Stadium.

On a day filled with thunderstorms and heavy rain, Kingston Stockade FC rode a downpour of late goals to an impressive 4-2 home win over Seacoast United Mariners.

The first half was a hard-fought, scoreless affair, with both sides trying to assert dominance in the match. Overall, Seacoast proved itself to be a well-organized, hard-pressing team that made life very difficult for Stockade FC in the first stanza.

At halftime, the skies opened up, and the refs had to delay the match by nearly an hour, which saw some, but definitely not all, of the 737 fans in attendance take leave for the day.

But those that stuck around for the full match got quite a show indeed.

Seacoast scored the first goal of the day in the 63rd minute, only for Stockade to answer quickly with a goal in the 65th minute, courtesy of midfielder Marco Kloster.

The Siena product then followed that shortly thereafter in the 71st minute with a wildly impressive low, diving header that put Stockade up 2-1.

Seacoast showed they were up for the fight by scoring again in the 74th minute.

Kloster, however, completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute to put Stockade up 3-2.

Then fellow Brazilian Pedro Espindola scored a lovely, low driven shot against the grain in the 84th minute to seal things up and give Stockade the 4-2 win.

For Kloster, the hat-trick made up his first three goals of the season. Espindola's strike, meanwhile, raised the University of Albany forward's tally to an impressive eight goals on the season.

The victory wound up giving Stockade the top spot in the Atlantic White Conference.

Man of the Match: Marco Kloster

Stockade Starting XI: Giddings; Anasta, Barrett, Gatti, Zobre; Koziol, Macklin, Kloster; Guirma, Espindola, Fortier

Kingston Stockade FC Get Shutout Road Win at Seacoast United Mariners

Pedro Espindola scored twice in Stockade FC's win on Saturday. (Photo by kennytphoto.com)

PORTLAND, MAINE — The setbacks have been infrequent for this Stockade side, and even when the club does hit a rough spot, the bad times just don't last long for the boys from the Hudson Valley.

A week after falling to Brooklyn Italians in harsh fashion on the road, Kingston Stockade FC bounced back on Saturday with a resounding 3-0 win away against Seacoast United Mariners.

The victory puts Stockade FC on top of the Atlantic White Conference with a 6-1-2 record (wins-draws-losses). It's also the second time this season that Kingston has bounced back from a loss with a resounding shutout win under first-year coach David Lindholm.

The scoring started in the 10th minute, as winger Pedro Espindola scored off of an assist from Mikey Lanzetta.

Espindola then scored again the 31st minute, this time off of an assist from Matel Anasta (his second of the season). The brace means Espindola now has seven goals total on the season.

The Hudson Valley side then wrapped up the day with a goal in the 89th minute, with David Nkansah-Siriboe collecting honors off of an assist from Josh Maley. The goal was Siriboe's second of the season.

The win also came at a very opportune time for Stockade FC, as second-place Boston City FC and third-place Hartford City FC both lost on Saturday. This means that, with 19 points, Kingston now has a five-point lead at the top of the conference with three matches left to play.

Stockade's next match is at home on Saturday, July 1 at 5 p.m. against Seacoast United Mariners. Stockade then has another match at Dietz Stadium on Monday, July 3 against TSF Academy at 6 p.m.

The regular season concludes at Boston City FC on Saturday, July 8 at 7 p.m.

Man of the Match: Pedro Espindola

Starting XI: Skonieczny; Barrett, Gatti, Lis-Simmons, Anasta; Koziol, Kloster, Lanzetta; Espindola, Creswick, Fortier

Kingston Stockade FC Falls on Road, 1-0, to Brooklyn Italians

Stockade's away fans in Brooklyn.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Well, it was fun while it lasted.

After going six matches unbeaten, Kingston Stockade FC fell to Brooklyn Italians on Saturday night, 1-0, in downtown Brooklyn.

The loss was a particularly rough one, as it came at the death when Brooklyn's Jerel Blades put home a cross in extra time for the lone goal of the night.

Prior to the late score, play was quite balanced for the duration, with both sides alternately forcing the action.

The match was also characterized by some spirited, physical play, with eight yellow cards being given out on the night, three to Stockade and five to Brooklyn. The effort shown by both sides shouldn't come as a huge surprise, given the visitors are on top of the Atlantic White Conference, while the hosts are in first place in the Atlantic Blue Conference.

Kingston also showed itself to be a club that travels well, as dozens of Stockade fans gathered in a set of bleachers perched above the pitch. The road fans even had a bit of friendly banter with some members of the Italians' academy players, with both sides going chant-for-chant for long stretches of the match.

Kingston's next match is on Saturday, June 24 at 3 p.m. at Seacoast United Mariners in Portland, Maine.

Stockade Man of the Match: Scott Zobre

Kingston Stockade FC Takes Over First Place in Conference With 2-1 Win Over Boston City FC

Matt Koziol celebrates a successful penalty kick against Boston City FC.

KINGSTON, N.Y. — It was admittedly the most important match in the young club's history. But the upstarts from the Hudson Valley handled the big occasion like a group of seasoned veterans.

In a midseason top-of-the-table clash in NPSL's Atlantic White Conference, Kingston Stockade FC topped Boston City FC, 2-1, at Dietz Stadium on Saturday. The win lifts Stockade FC to the top of the conference with 16 points (5 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss). Boston City sits in second place with 11 points, although they have a match in hand.

The victory means that Stockade has now matched its win total from all of last season, with five. The second-year club has also now won three matches in a row, and have gone six matches undefeated under first-year coach David Lindholm.

The early parts of the match on Saturday were characterized by opportunities for both sides. Stockade FC finally broke through late in the first half when forward Michael Creswick was brought down in the penalty area for a penalty kick. Matt Koziol then converted the spot kick in the 44th minute to put Kingston up 1-0 heading into the half. The goal was Koziol's fifth of the season.

Stockade continued to threaten when play resumed in the second half, and eventually broke through in the 62nd minute, and in extremely impressive fashion, at that. 

Stockade midfielder Marco Kloster initiated the attack with a very impressive run through the guts of the Boston City defense, beating a number of Boston defenders off the dribble before deftly distributing the ball to his left to fellow Brazilian Pedro Espindola. Espindola then one-timed a side-footer from 35 yards out, successfully chipping the Boston City goalkeeper from a ridiculous distance. It was Espindola's fifth goal of the season as well.

The amazing goal sent the crowd of 992 fans — a Stockade record — into hysterics, and Espindola played to the fans with his goal celebration by running to the stands and embracing one of the young supporters before donning said fan's Stockade ball-cap after it had fallen to the Dietz Stadium track.

Led by a backline of goalkeeper Steven Skonieczny and defenders Matel Anasta, Juan Gatti, Jamal Lis-Simmons and Brandon Curtis, Stockade defended with purpose from there, yet Boston City was able to break through in the 82nd minute, thanks to a goal by defender Leandro Carvalho. Stockade saw the match out, though, thanks in particular to some fine saves by Skonieczny.

Next up for Stockade FC is a trip to the five boroughs to face the Brooklyn Italians on Saturday, June 17 at 7 p.m. Brooklyn is undefeated through four matches, meaning it should be another tough test for the Hudson Valley side.

Stockade Man of the Match: Matt Koziol

Stockade Starting XI: Skonieczny; Curtis, Gatti, Lis-Simmons (C), Anasta; Koziol, Kloster, Maley; Espindola, Creswick, Konicoff

Kingston Stockade FC Speed to 5-0 Win At Rhode Island Reds

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The main sponsor on the front of the Kingston Stockade FC kit is a bus company. And a terrific one at that, in Trailways.

It's at least somewhat fitting for a soccer team to have a bus sponsor, as there's a very famous phrase in world football called "parking the bus," which is when a team decides to play defensively in order to try to limit the opposition's scoring opportunities.

That said, parking the bus certainly isn't the Stockade way of late. In fact, given the way Kingston has been playing lately, it's safe to say that their bus isn't stationary, but rather screaming down the highway as if piloted by Sandra Bullock in "Speed".

On Sunday, Stockade headed north to Providence in their plush Trailways bus for a match with conference rivals Rhode Island Reds. Fresh on the heels of an impressive 4-1 home win over New York Athletic Club at home on Saturday, Stockade set out with aims of nothing less than another vital win on the road.

And the boys delivered, with an impressive 5-0 away victory.

The back-to-back wins means this is the second time this season that first-year Stockade coach David Lindholm has impressively led the team to a maximum point haul of six points in a weekend (three points are awarded for each win) during the most congested parts of the schedule.

This red-hot Stockade side now has a 4-1-1 record on the year (wins-draws-losses). They've also scored 18 goals in six matches.

In short, the club's Trailways bus isn't just in high gear right now. It's darting about with such panache that it's showing itself to be worthy of a bit part in a Vin Diesel movie.

To no one's surprise, the scoring began early on Sunday, as scoresheet regular Michael Creswick scored in the 8th minute. Eric Fortier played Creswick wide into space during a 2-on-1 and the ruthless English forward converted.

Fortier himself then made it 2-0 in the 13th minute with a lovely, powerful volley.

Matt Koziol then gave Stockade a 3-0 lead going into halftime with a successful header in the 45th minute. The holding midfielder has shown an extremely impressive aerial ability all season, so it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that he'd eventually convert in such fashion.

Pedro Espindola then scored in the 54th minute on a 1-on-1 breakaway with the Rhode Island goalkeeper. Espindola was played through via a lovely floated ball by Matel Anasta.

Joe Bogart then completed the scoring in the 88th minute after a give-and-go at the top of the 18 with Scott Zobre.

All told, Stockade netted five goals on the day. And nine goals in two matches. Or nine goals in 180 minutes.

A goal every 20 minutes, roughly.

It's not quite "Gone in 60 Seconds", but it's a rate of conversion that any soccer team on the planet would find acceptable.

Thankfully, this greedy gang of goal-getters just happens to reside in the Hudson Valley. Catch 'em while you can.

Stockade's next match is on Saturday, June 10 at 5 p.m. at Dietz Stadium against first-place Boston City FC.

Man of the Match: Eric Fortier

Stockade Starting XI: Skonieczny; Anasta, Gatti, Lis-Simmons (C), Curtis; Koziol, Kloster, Maley; Espindola, Creswick, Fortier

By Randy Kim, Kingston Stockade FC GM

Kingston Stockade FC Goes On Front Foot In 4-1 Home Win Against NYAC (Highlights)

KINGSTON, N.Y. — In soccer parlance, the phrase "playing on the front foot" is used when one side is putting the opposition under pressure, playing with confidence and showing itself to be a constant threat to score.

On Saturday afternoon at Dietz Stadium, Kingston Stockade FC spent the full 90 minutes showing itself to be the embodiment of playing on the front foot, as Stockade went at New York Athletic Club early and kept the pressure on throughout, en route to an impressive 4-1 victory.

The home side went up in the 7th minute, thanks to a lovely, powerful strike from forward Victor Guirma. The goal was the Howard University product's second in as many matches, coming on the heels of his impressive goal against Hartford City FC last weekend.

Stockade then doubled their lead in the 28th minute thanks to a poised breakaway goal from David Nikansah-Siriboe. The Marist College forward made an impressive run and found himself one-on-one with the NYAC goalkeeper. Rather than blast it from a tough angle, however, Nikansah-Siriboe dragged it past the goalkeeper with a lovely dribble and then passed it calmly into the back of the net.

Scott Zobre then made it 3-0 with a well-driven follow-up in the 82nd minute. Playing at right back rather than higher up the pitch as he normally does, Zobre made life very difficult for NYAC all afternoon with an impressive mix of pacey runs and expert tackling.

But perhaps the gem of the day came from winger Pedro Espindola. Espindola also found himself on a breakaway with the NYAC sticksman, but rather than fire hard at the net or try to go around the keeper, the SUNY Albany product converted via an extremely impressive chip from close range that barely flitted beneath the crossbar before nestling into the back of the opposition goal in the 83rd minute. Espindola then ran straight to the home stand and celebrated his bona fide golazo with the Stockade fans, much to the crowd's delight.

NYAC's Laurin Vogel then scored the final goal of the day in the 85th minute, which led to the final score of 4-1. While the goal denied Stockade goalkeeper David Giddings a shutout in his first appearance of the season, Giddings still had an impressive day in net, as he made a handful of crucial, difficult saves that kept the visitors operating at a deficit for the duration of the match.

The 4-1 win means Stockade duplicated its offensive output earlier in the season against NYAC, as Kingston won 4-0 on the road on May 22.

The home match paid tribute to Kingston's local first responders, as policemen, firemen and emergency personnel from the community were all given two free tickets to the match. Official attendance was announced at 693.

Man of the Match: Scott Zobre

Stockade Starting XI: Giddings; Steigerwald, Lis-Simmons, Barrett, Zobre; Koziol, Mitchell, Konicoff; Guirma, Nkansah-Siriboe, Corbi

By Randy Kim, Kingston Stockade FC GM

Kingston Stockade FC Manages 2-2 Away Draw With Hartford City FC

Stockade's starting 11 at Hartford City FC.

NEW BRITAIN, CONN. — It wasn't the full three points, but it was still an impressive road draw nonetheless.

Kingston Stockade FC traveled to Hartford City FC on Saturday and came away with a hard-fought 2-2 draw. This comes after Stockade lost to Hartford at home, 3-1, in the first match of the season.

Stockade opened the scoring in the 12th minute, thanks to an impressive, hard-struck goal from Eric Fortier.

The action went back and forth for long stretches, before Hartford scored twice in quick succession, in the 36th and 37th minutes.

But Stockade wouldn't head into halftime at a deficit, thanks to a lovely goal from Victor Guirma. The Howard University product fired a perfectly-placed shot from the top of the box to notch a goal in his Stockade debut.

While neither side found the back of the net in the second half, the action was relentless for the final 45. Both sides created numerous opportunities, with the play going back and forth throughout.

Stockade nearly saw Hartford take the lead in the 84th minute, but goalkeeper Steve Skonieczny came up with two huge saves to keep the visitors level with the hosts.

The draw means that Stockade now has seven points from four matches in NPSL's Atlantic White Conference, with two wins, a draw and one loss. Kingston's goal differential now stands at an impressive +4. Stockade also remains undefeated on the road.

Hartford City now has two wins and two draws from four matches in the club's inaugural season. They also have a +4 goal differential through four matches.

Stockade's next match is at home against New York Athletic Club on Saturday, June 3 at 5 p.m.

This is followed in quick succession by a trip to Providence to face the Rhode Island Reds on Sunday, June 4 at 5 p.m.

Stockade Man of the Match: Steve Skonieczny

Stockade Starting 11: Skonieczny; Curtis, Gatti, Lis-Simmons, Anasta; Koziol, Maley, Kloster; Fortier, Creswick, Espindola