Franklin (AP) - Nobody said winning the Kingdom Sports Rec Center title, and perhaps going undefeated for the first time in league history, was going to be easy. And the Dayton-Cincinnati Megalopoli finally found that out last night, playing a talented and spirted Mixed FC team last night. However, in typical DCM fashion, they made the plays they needed to make to secure the win.
The game had an inauspicious start for the league leaders. A little over a minute in a fluke goal found them trailing 1-0, a deficit they are not used to facing. The goal did more than just give Mixed FC the lead, it gave them a new found confidence, which was perhaps the most important thing. As veterans Dan Kimble and Ben Sicnolf looked on from the bench, their faces told a story of - "We're in for a game today, we better be ready." The 1-0 lead held for another 5 minutes until Sicnolf broke free down the right side, beating several defenders before firing a low shot to beat the goalkeeper and knot the score at 1. This goal allowed the Megalopoli to calm down and play their game, but although they began to control the action, it would be another 14 minutes before the next goal was scored. That breakthrough came through the play of veteran Mark MacDonald.
Breaking free, MacDonald put the Megalopoli ahead for the first time in the match, with a shot between the goal keepers legs. That goal was followed up immediately with a goal from Dan Kimble. Known solely as a defender prior to this season, Kimble has been making deep runs into the offensive third, giving the Megalopoli another potent attacker. When the ball found Kimble's left foot from 14 feet out, you knew the veteran would not miss his chance. This goal was followed by rookie Justin Davisson's lone goal of the afternoon, and the rout was on...or so it seemed.
Mixed FC would not going quietly into that dark night. They found life with about 8 minutes remaining, scoring two goals to pull within one. Sicnolf then scored his two finest goals of the season - a heel flick beneath the MFC goalie, and a dazzling 1 v 1 along the left side (assisted from one of John Pallant's patented long throws from goalkeeper). Those two goals broke the back of Mixed FC, and it was all over but the shouting. Mixed was able to put one more in the net, but the game was never in doubt, and MacDonald connected on two more to seal it.
DCM moves to 4-0 in the league. They were tested dearly last night, but found a way to pull through. Quoted after the game, Dan Kimble said, "We've been here before. When we got down 1-0, a lot of teams would have just packed it up, but we weren't rattled. We know we can play with anyone, and I think we proved that tonight."
Notes: Game ball goes to Mark MacDonald. Mark got his first hat trick of the season. After the game, teammate and biggest fan John Pallant was overheard saying, "That's the McDonald we know - ATTACK the goal!" But it wasn't just the goals that earned Mark the game ball, the greatest achievement in his life thus far, but his relentless attack. This game meant something to him and he played like it. It was thrilling to see...Goals were scored by MacDonald (3), Davisson (1), Sicnolf (3) and Kimble (1)...DCM returns to action next week, February 23, to take on Thataboy.
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