By John Shuster
The NPSL season kicked off with impending weather in the forecast for Duluth as Joy AC traveled north for the Thursday night matchup.
The worst of the weather passed at the beginning of the timeframe the teams were to warm up and the game was delayed just 15 minutes. The Blue Greens were looking to have a strong start to kickoff their 2025 season following their Midwest Regional title run last season.
Felipe Olirveira, who scored the game-winning goal in extra time in that Midwest Regional Championship game, was a huge factor for Duluth FC as well in the opener.
Duluth FC came out of the gates with some early pressure, testing the Joy AC backline numerous times in the first five minutes. Joy responded beginning in the sixth minute by winning two consecutive corner kicks in the next two minutes.
After Duluth’s failed clearing attempt on the second, Philip Caputo, who scored four goals against Duluth FC in a match last season, put a good ball onto teammate Griffin Price at the top right corner of the 18. Price hit a beautiful cross where Carver Tierney soared high for a booming header past Duluth goalkeeper Alex Paredes to put the visitors up 1-0 in the 8th minute.
After both teams exchanged several chances in the next 20 minutes without putting any more goals in the net, Duluth began to pour on the pressure beginning in the 30th minute.
After several nice saves by Joy keeper, John Dufner, and a few nice defensive plays to nix Duluth FC point blank chances, Duluth finally scored in the 38th minute when a powerful cross from Duluth FC’s Teddy Miranda found a streaking Oliveira who tapped it past Dufner to even the match at 1-1.
The match would stay tied until the 51st minute when Duluth’s Tylor Guerrero crossed a ball into the box that may have been headed to the feet of Oliveira by Duluth captain Liam Pritchard. Oliveira quickly put the ball into the back of the net from the far post for the brace and put the BlueGreens up 2-1.
After each team made a substitution in the 60th minute, both sides would make some headway deep into their opponent’s territory. In the 71st minute, Duluth got a counterattack deep to the streaking Pritchard who put a great ball onto the foot of Caio Gomes – who had subbed on for Oliveira in the 60th minute – at the top of the box. Gomes made no mistake tucking it inside the right post to give Duluth FC the 3-1 lead. The game would remain at 3-1 for the remainder of the match, and Duluth FC would come away with the 3-1 victory in their opening match of the
2025 NPSL season.
Following the game, Duluth FC first year Head Coach Thomas Pazo said, “I’m happy with the result, but know that we can definitely be better. It was a good foundation to build off and glad we were able to come away with the victory.”
Duluth FC (1-0) will see its next NPSL action on May 27 against the Minnesota Blizzard. Joy AC (0-1) will visit the newest members of the North Conference Iowa Demonhawks on May 24.
