United White dropped a 3-2 decision to Lanco United 94 on the second day of the Columbia Fall Classic, ending Vienna's six-game unbeaten streak.

Lanco took the lead early on this sunny autumn morning, scoring in the 6th minute. They nearly added another goal five minutes later when an attacker was able to go in 1-on-1 against Evan, only to send his shot wide from close in front of the net. United struggled to develop threats of their own, though in the 21st minute Nick was able to drop a long cross in front of the far post, but nobody --- at least nobody on the Vienna side --- was able to reach it in time. Lanco added another goal four minutes before the end of the (30-minute) half for a 2-0 lead at the break.

After having been outplayed in the first half, United came out looking like the stronger side following the intermission. Moments after play resumed Collin passed into Jared who made a nice cross, and a shot by Matt was saved. Over the next few minutes a corner kick by Allen just missed the near post and went into the side of the net, Collin headed the ball over the crossbar, efforts by Zach and Jason were stymied by the goalkeeper, and a shot by Allen was deflected. At the 38-minute mark, Collin make a nice drive in from the right side, but his shot was also saved. Finally, in the 41st minute, Tommy Lomont centered the ball from the right side to Dan in front, who drilled it into the net to cut the deficit to 2-1.

United continued to hold the initiative until about the midpoint in the half. Dan got clear on a breakaway but his shot was stopped on a nice play by the Lanco goalkeeper, who came well out of the net to cut down his angle. Moments later Brian centered the ball to Tommy Lomont whose header passed just over the crossbar. After this play, Lanco generated a few chances of their own, missing a pair of shots and seeing another end up in Evan's capable hands. Shortly after a Lanco player was shown a yellow card for wasting time by kicking the ball away after being whistled offside, Tommy Lomont scored to tie the score with eight minutes remaining and electrify (half of) the crowd. Unfortunately, the joy of the Vienna faithful was short-lived as Lanco scored just seconds later to regain the lead.

As the clock wound down, Dan fired in a shot off of a Zach corner kick that the keeper repelled, and a subsequent long shot by Zach was also saved. Lanco had another near miss at the 57-minute mark when a sliding shot off of a corner kick hit the far post. It didn't go in, but it didn't have to for Lanco to preserve a 3-2 victory.

By Special Correspondent Richard Tontodonato.

The Ashburn Jaguares, United's first opponent, was a team that United had beat handily in the Spring 2011 NCSL season. United dominated the opening minutes of play, culminating in a goal by Dan from close range after Collin drew the defense to collapse on him in the box. But United let its guard down after scoring, allowing Ashburn to equalize just a minute later. United resumed its solid play, wining a series of corner kicks, with Ashburn's only chances coming on long free kicks. United finally regained the lead with a through ball that sent Collin completely behind the defense. The Ashburn keeper charged out, and Collin cooly floated the ball over him and into the net. The score remained 2-1 at halftime.

United came out attacking in the second half, with Brian ripping a shot just wide from long distance, Dan taking a hard shot saved by the keeper, and then Dan scoring on another hard shot from close range that the keeper got his fingers on but couldn't keep out of the goal. Ashburn continued to rely on long free kicks as their primary offensive weapon, but Evan had no trouble corralling their attempts. Ashburn's keeper did earn his place in the highlight reel by spontaneously falling down in front of his goal then somehow stretching out to grab the ball when Jarrett whacked a shot from long range while he was down. With the game in hand, Coach Jonny moved Tommy L into an attacking role, and Tommy responded by tallying two goals late in the game. The first was on a high speed run through the center of the Ashburn defense, and the second was an easy finish on a 3 on 1 break. Jared ended the blowout with a dunk from about a yard out, resulting in a final score of 6-1.

 United's second opponent was the Northern Elite Vipers, a team from Maryland that had lost their first game 0-1. United started out dominating possession and scoring chances, with shots by Dan, Nick, and Jared keeping pressure on the Vipers. The Vipers eventually mustered a couple of scoring chances, first picking off a goal kick and sending it right back at Evan, who stopped it nicely. Next, the Vipers forced a risky clearance on a long free kick, resulting in a corner kick that Evan snared high over his head in heavy traffic. United earned a corner kick of its own in the final minute of the half. The kick found Connor at the far post, and he pounded it into the goal to send United into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

Unfortunately, the lead lasted less than a minute into the second half, when an attempted clearance went to a Viper striker, who kicked it in from long distance. United regrouped and created more scoring chances, and in the 10th minute of the half Jason was tripped from behind in the box, resulting in a PK (which Dan converted) and a yellow card for the Viper goalie for expressing his displeasure with the officiating too rudely. This lead was also short-lived, as the ref found an opportunity for a make-up call about 2 minutes later, awarding the Vipers a PK for a dive at the edge of the penalty area. With the score tied at 2 goals apiece, both teams fought to claim a win. The Vipers' best chance came on a free run down the middle that their striker sent over the crossbar, which so impressed the ref that he awarded the Vipers a free kick from the top of the box as a consolation prize (which the defense dealt with easily). United generated a shot by Jason and several shots by Dan, but no further scoring was in the cards. The final score remained 2-2.

United White clinched the NCSL Division 3 championship with a 2-1 win over the LMVS Patriots at Franconia Park. The victory capped a 7-1 league season, giving Vienna a 4-point advantage over their closest competitors.

The match was played on artificial turf on a pleasant sunny morning. The first-half action was pretty even. Evan saved a free kick early on, and Nick and Zach had shots that were off-target. In the 20th minute a long LMVS cross from the right side was collected by a player on the left, who scored from a sharp angle to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead. In the 33rd minute, Jason put the ball in the net, but the play was ruled offside. Jared, Dan and Brian sent shots over the crossbar, the LMVS goalkeeper saved efforts by Jason and Dan, and the referee warned a noisy Patriots fan to keep it down or else. Finally, in the last minute of the first half, Brian scored from the center to tie the game at 1-1.

Vienna had the edge in play in the second half, though both teams had scoring opportunities. The half opened much as the first one had, with Evan saving a free kick. Efforts by Collin and Franklin were stymied by the keeper, and an LMVS free kick in minute 58 was blasted just barely over the crossbar. In the 64th minute Nick launched a long throw-in that was controlled by Matt, who had come into the game just seconds earlier, in front of the goal. The ball found its way to Brian, who drove it home for his second goal of the match and a 2-1 lead. Evan made a fine save moments later on a shot from nearly point blank range following a Patriot free kick. United White kept the pressure on the LMVS defense for much of the game's final 20 minutes with Nick, Dan, and Jared having scoring opportunities. The Patriots nearly tied the match with six minutes remaining when a shot off of a breakaway hit the crossbar, but United White held on for the 2-1 victory.

Vienna United White overcame an early deficit to post an overwhelming 7-1 victory over the previously-undefeated Ashburn Warriors. The match took place on a crystal clear later autumn afternoon on the natural grass at Bles Park.

The Warriors took the lead in the very first minute; on a nice individual effort, #24 drove in from the right side, cut back quickly to get some space, and sent a shot off the far post that ricocheted into the net for a 1-0 lead. With plenty of time remaining to catch up, United kept their poise and gradually took control of the play. In the 12th minute Nick headed a corner kick from Dan just high, and over the next few minutes Collin, Jared, and Dan each had chances before Jared scored on a shot from the left side to tie the game at the 21-minute mark. Evan, facing the afternoon sun, made a nice save in the 34th minute, but Vienna continued to generate most of the attacks. Five minutes later Dan scored in action following a United White corner kick, and Vienna went into the break leading 2-1.

During the first half, both the Ashburn coach and goalkeeper yelled at their defenders for allowing Vienna to dominate the center of the field. Perhaps because of this, the first-half goalkeeper moved to the central defender position after the break, and an apparently less-experienced keeper took his place in the net. The latter's job was made more difficult by the fact that he spent the second half looking into the setting sun, a circumstance that probably helped to inflate the final score.

United continued to have the better play in the second half. In the 53rd minutes, a shot to the far corner by Dan was denied only by a fine leaping save by the Warrior goalkeeper. Four minutes later, however, Tommy B centered the ball to Collin who passed it on to Dan, and this time the keeper couldn't stop Dan's shot and the lead was now 3-1. Perhaps 30 seconds later Dan again drove in, the keeper came too far out of the net, and Dan poked it past him for a 4-1 margin.

Ashburn nearly got that goal back two minutes later on a well-struck free kick, but Evan was able to stop it. United White scored again in the 64th minute. Jared drove in, the keeper again came a bit too far out from the net, and Jared lofted a gentle shot over his head. A hustling defender caught up with the ball at the mouth of the goal and tried to clear it, but it hit the crossbar and bounced in to stretch the lead to 5-1. At the 81-minute mark a shot by Philip hit the crossbar and Franklin headed in the rebound. The scoring mercifully ended with only two minutes remaining when the Ashburn keeper was whistled for coming out of the box with the ball in his hands while preparing to punt it. Zach took the free kick, which sailed over the wall of defenders but dropped in just under the crossbar for a final score of 7-1.

Vienna United White improved their NCSL record to 5-1 with a 2-1 victory over the PWSI Courage 94 White on a sunny, cool morning at Madison High School.

United scored early when Jared fed the ball to Dan who netted it in the 13th minute, following a nice centering pass from Ji-Hyun. Allen very nearly extended the lead four minutes later when he sent in a blistering shot that was just inches over the crossbar, close enough for many spectators to think it had gone in. Vienna continued to control the flow for the first 20 minutes of the match, at which time the play began to even up. In minute 34, Tommy D made a nice run upfield culminating in a shot that went just high. A long shot by Tommy L missed to the right side as Vienna rallied late in the half. Dan won the ball near midfield, ran a give-and-go with Collin, and fired in a shot that was wide to the right. Moments later another shot by Dan was deflected, but with two minutes remaining United again found the net. Jason received a corner kick and took a shot that was deflected. The ball bounced around in front of the goal until Allen controlled it and fired it home for a 2-0 halftime lead. Evan had to make only a couple of easy saves in the first half.

Vienna had the better of the play in the second half, but were unable to find the net. A shot early in the second half by Collin was saved, and two nice crosses, from Ji-Hyun and Zach, were both just barely beyond the reach of the charging Jared. A pair of long shots by Zach sailed wide, and a nice centering ball from Jared was snared by the PWSI goalkeeper. Meanwhile, the Courage were busy picking up a yellow card for tripping and sending in a hard shot off a breakaway in minute 63 that Evan saved. A second yellow card was issued to PWSI in the 73rd minute for an overly-enthusiastic discussion of a referee's call. United's last good scoring chance came soon after, when Nick centered the ball to Connor whose shot passed over the crossbar. In the 82nd minute a Courage player was judged to have been fouled inside of the penalty area; the resulting penalty kick was converted to cut the margin to 2-1. That was as close as they would get, however, as the match ended with yet another Courage player being issued a yellow card, this time for berating the ref for not getting up the field fast enough. You can't please everyone.

Vienna United White played a pair of NCSL matches over the weekend, enjoying the better play in both contests but splitting the results.

Saturday's game was played on a cool, clear, and early morning on the artificial turf at Braddock Park against the SYA Revolution. The first half was played at a fast pace, with both teams having scoring chances but neither converting. Collin found the net in the 28th minute but the play was ruled offside. United White took the initiative as the second half started, and beginning at about minute 58 launched a sustained attack capped by two shots each from Dan, Allen, and Jared. Unfortunately, in the 63rd minute the Revolution scored on a breakaway against the flow of play what would turn out to be the only goal of the match. Following that sudden turnaround, Vienna continued to generate most of the scoring opportunities, with Zach, Tommy B, and Allen sending in near misses, but the match ended in a 1-0 defeat.

Sunday's match took place on a large artificial turf field at the Riggs Lasalle Community Center in northeast DC on a gloriously sunny autumn afternoon. Both teams fielded fewer than the typical complement of players, with United White missing Brian, Franklin, Jason, Ji Hun, and Michael, and the host Stoddert Dragons having only one substitute. Vienna completely outclassed the Dragons, though for much of the match their marked superiority in play went unrewarded on the scoreboard. Your reporter estimates that in the entire first half, Stoddert had possession of the ball in their attacking half of the field for a total time of about one minute. The half was almost one continuous attack by United; their defensive line remained just behind the center line, dutifully resuming the offensive whenever the Dragons managed to clear the ball. Vienna took 17 shots in the first half by my count, five of them on net. Stoddert's lone shot came on a free kick in the 8th minute which was easily scooped up by Evan.

The story was much the same in the second half, as United White took another 17 shots, ten of which were on goal. Evan easily collected another free kick in the 58th minute, and in minute 65 he saved DC's first attempt during the actual flow of play. All told, shots were taken by Collin, Dan, Zach, Allen, Jared, Nick, Matt, Tommys B and L, and Philip, nearly all of whom had multiple efforts.  A few of the many highlights included a near miss from a tough angle on the right side from Matt, Philip reeling off three nice shots in succession late in the match, and a long shot to the far upper corner by Tommy B that was only denied by a fine leaping save by the overworked Dragon goalkeeper. Justice was finally served in the 69th minute when Nick headed in a free kick served up by Zach for the match's lone score. A brief lapse followed the goal, allowing the Dragons to make a few forays into United White's territory, but Vienna soon regained their composure to assure the 1-0 victory.

Vienna United White blanked VISTA MLS United 3-0 on a cool, cloudy morning in Nokesville. The match was played on natural grass, as well as natural mud and natural standing water, following Friday's heavy rains.

Vienna got off to a fast start with Nick taking a shot on a drive from the opening kickoff. Allen and Collin also sent in efforts in the match's first five minutes. Unfortunately, because of the poor field conditions, players on both teams were slipping and even falling throughout the game. At around the 15-minute mark VISTA temporarily seized the initiative, while United White's attacks were frustrated by an inability to keep everyone onside. Starting at about the midpoint of the first half, however, Vienna regained control of play, resulting in (unsuccessful) scoring opportunities for Zach, Dan, Adam, and Philip. In the 27th minute the VISTA goalkeeper was issued a yellow card for his actions while the teams prepared for a Vienna corner kick. The scoreless tie was finally broken seven minutes later when Nick headed in a corner kick for a 1-0 United White lead.

In the 41st minute the VISTA goalkeeper came out of the net and collided with Jared, who was coming in on a breakaway. The referee whistled the keeper for a foul in the penalty area, and appeared to show him a yellow card, which would be his second of the match. The goalkeeper protested vociferously and was again shown a yellow card (his third, by my count), followed by a red card and ejection. (The Assistant Referee said that the final straw was when the keeper told the center ref to read the rule book.) VISTA brought in one of the better field players to tend goal, but Brian easily put the penalty kick past him into the net, and the United lead was now 2-0.

The flow of play in the second half was clearly in Vienna's favor against the short-handed VISTA squad. Five minutes into the period a pair of United White corner kicks came to naught, but four minutes later opportunity knocked again. Another corner kick was controlled by Nick but his shot was tipped by a VISTA player and went over the net, resulting in still another corner. This time Nick headed it into the goal, extending the lead to 3-0. The frustration among the VISTA players became evident; shortly afterward one of them was shown a yellow card for kicking away the ball following a referee's decision with which he disagreed.

With the match's drama now waning, Vienna continued to generate most of the scoring chances, including attempts by Franklin, Michael, Philip, Dan, and Brian. Adam was shown a yellow card following after a tackle late in the match. A VISTA shot narrowly missed to the right side in the 80th minute, but that was their last real opportunity, and the contest ended in a 3-0 United White victory.

United White defeated BAC Arsenal 3-2 on a cloudy autumn-like morning at Madison High School.

Vienna took an early lead when, in the 8th minute, Nick drove in from the left side and centered the ball to Allen, who fired it into the net for a 1-0 lead. BAC tied the match 12 minutes later on a penalty kick, but United regained the advantage in minute 35 as Franklin scored after receiving a pass from Dan. The margin remained 2-1 at the half; Vienna had most of the scoring chances, though Arsenal mounted an attack late in the period that was thwarted by two nice stops by Evan.

United White maintained an edge in play in the second half, dominating possession but occasionally finding themselves vulnerable to quick counterattacks. Each team was assessed a yellow card for objecting to decisions by the referee.

In the 70th minute BAC tied the match on a 40-yard blast into the upper corner of the net. For a while it seemed that Vienna's advantage in play might go unrewarded, but with 6 minutes remaining in the game, a cross was sent in front of the goal to Dan, who flicked it to his right to Jared, who in turn scored from close in. The match ended in a 3-2 United victory.

Vienna took the initiative from the outset, with Franklin and Allen each launching multiple shots in the first 20 minutes of the match. In minute 26, Allen passed up ahead to Connor on the right side, who sent in an excellent cross; Jason drilled it into the net for what would turn out to be the only goal of the match.

In the 32nd minute Jason was issued a yellow card for walking in front of a player who was preparing to take a free kick. Six minutes later a McLean player met the same fate, this time for commenting on a call made by the center referee. It seemed clear at this point that this referee had little interest in discussing his decisions with the players. Some boys just can't take a hint, however, and two minutes later a (different) McLean player was shown a red card and instructed to leave the pitch, again for an overly spirited disagreement as to how the FIFA Laws of the Game should be applied. This ejection was followed by long, animated conversations between the referee and the McLean players and coach.

When play resumed, United's dominance continued, with Philip and Michael sending in efforts that were saved by the Hotspur goalkeeper. In the closing minutes of the (45-minute long, starting this year) half, Brian passed to Jason who again fired the ball into the net, but the play was ruled offside. Wisely, nobody objected to the call. Moments later a bicycle kick by Brian sailed wide to the left of the goal. It should be noted that United played much of the first half with three Tommys on the defensive line, making it a bit confusing to give instructions.

Although Vienna seemed a little complacent in the first 15 minutes of the second half, they continued to control the flow of play. United played ball-control soccer, thoroughly dominating possession but only occasionally advancing the ball into the final third of the field. Early in the half a free kick by Dan went high, and a shot by Franklin was stopped by the keeper. In the 59th minute, a long ball by McLean went wide of the goal; this was their first shot of the match.

In the 64th minute Allen was issued a yellow card -- for a slide tackle, not for anything he said. Evan made nice saves of the resulting free kick and the ensuing rebound. As the game wound down, Franklin and Philip had shots saved and McLean added two more yellow cards to their collection. The final whistle sounded on a 1-0 United victory, and seemed to be greeted with relief by players on both sides, who were unaccustomed to playing 90-minute matches.

Vienna United White partcipated in an abbreviated August Cup tournament, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Calverton Revolution as Hurricane Irene approached. The match was tied 1-1 at the half, but the revolution added two goals after the break to seal the win. The storm washed out United's other two scheduled matches, against the Seneca Cougars and VISTA MLS United.