MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
BY DAN STICKRADT
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST | WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
PH: (248) 884-1051
TW/X: @msn_stickradt @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
UTICA, Mich. – Just in a nick of time.
Union FC Macomb scored with one tick before stoppage time at the end of the second half to salvage a 1-1 tie with visiting rival Oakland County FC in a USL-League Two Great Lakes Division match at Utica Swinehart Stadium.
It marked the season finale and curtain call on Union FC Macomb’s inaugural season, while it was the second to last contest of the year for Oakland County, which hists Kalamazoo FC on Sunday to wrap up its season.
Down but not out, Union finally netted the equalizer in the 90th minute and simply a moment before the four minutes of stoppage time was set to begin. Richie Ludwig (Michigan State University) sent his cornerkick into the box where Zach Townsend (Oakland University) headed the ball towards the goal. Oakland County goalkeeper got a hand on the shot, but Joshua Copeland (University of Detroit-Mercy) was there at close range to knock home the rebound and tie the game.
“To be honest I thought the game got a little bit stretched, a little bit more direct at the end and the shape and quality of soccer kind of went down. AS we played direct that was going to happen. At the end of the game, we had to start to get numbers to try to get the goal back. That created a lot of pressure for them and it led to (several) corners and some opportunities,” said Gronthik Chatterjee. “Their keeper made a nice save on a shot by Tanner Hodges from about 25 out. That led to some corners and we started to get more opportunities and finally got one. Obviously, our big man Zach (Townsend) is fantastic on set pieces and he got up and got it. In the scrum (Josh Copeland) was able to tuck it in.
“Obviously, when you give up a lead it feels like a loss, but when you tie it late if feels more like a win,” added Chatterjee. “At least for us it’s a nice way to end the season (getting the point).”
Oakland County FC coach Steve Walker was displeased, especially with some what he perceived was some questionable calls that led to some late scoring chances for Union, including the cornerkick on the game-tying goal.
“It’s not a corner,” beamed Walker. “I know we ended up falling apart at the end. When neither one of them (officials) could make decisions. The first one explained he was better lined for the first corner. It wasn’t a corner. It is what it is. It’s a shame because it was a good battle, but it needed better officiating.”
Union FC Macomb outshot Oakland County 15-12 overall, including 7-5 with shots on frame. Both teams traded off five cornerkicks in the match.
Oakland County FC (4-7-2) moved into fifth place in the eight-team Great Lakes Division. OCFC can cement the fifth-place finish with a win in its finale on Sunday at home against Kalamazoo FC.
Oakland County FC scored first in the ninth minute when Alex Markovski knocked in a rebound following a blast from Gabe Gjokaj on OCFC’s first two shots of the contest. Oakland struggled to gain many quality chances in the second half.
“I thought (Gabe Gjokaj) was really dangerous until he got injured,” noted Walker. “It was a shame for him to come out the way he did. He was just catching his feet.
“But we didn’t (score) on our chance in the first minute and then we scored on our second chance. It could have been 2-nil and then it’s a totally different game.”
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
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