Photo courtesy of Matt Ralph
Derek Antonini scored a hat-trick to lead VE to a 5-1 win over shorthanded Christos FC in the USASA Region 1 Quarterfinals Sunday afternoon at the Vereinigung Erzgebirge Club.
VE, the runners-up in the EPSA Amateur, put aside their last-second loss to rivals West Chester in the state final to post back-to-back convincing wins over regional opponents, setting up a semifinal matchup against Virginia side Atlético Los Toros, 3-0 winners over West Chester. The win puts VE in a regional semifinals for the third time in over a decade. In 2021, they lost to West Chester, and in 2015 they lost to the Maryland Bays. VE beat Syndicate FC 5-1 in the Round of 16. Los Toros had a forfeit in the opening round, one of four in the regional competition’s first weekend.
Christos, one of the top clubs in the region, are known for their historic U.S. Open Cup run that took them to the Fourth Round. Thee Baltimore club also won the National USASA Amateur in 2016 and the Werner Fricker Open Cup in 2016 and 2018. Sunday, they put themselves in a difficult position form the start. Barely fielding ten players at kickoff, the visitors were forced to adjust tactics, playing defensively in hopes of creating enough counters.
Intent on taking the game to Christos early, VE pressured the backline often. Antonini broke the game open four minutes in after he jumped on an errant back pass. The VE forward dribbled around Christos keeper Dan McCleary, slotting the ball into the net. Minutes later, Antonini doubled VE’s lead. Chris Gomez sent a long ball from his left back spot that beat the Christos line again, and Antonini finished off another well-timed run to put the hosts in a comfortable postion.
Despite the man disadvantage, Christos appeared to weather the storm of the first twenty minutes and late in the half created a few opportunities to get back into the game. Spencer Hanks had a ball fall to him following a long throw in, but VE keeper Steve Paul was in the right position and saved Hank’s well-taken half volley with ease.
As Christos pushed ahead to take a few risks, they left more space at the other end, and VE created some chances on the rare counters. Bobby Hennessey ran down a long ball with McCleary coming well outside the box to defend, and McCleary got enough of Hennessey’s flick to break up the attack. Shortly after, Hennessey broke free down the left after a VE counter-press and picked out Danny Bloyou at the front six, but Bloyou’s header missed wide. Antonini had another golden chance beyond the Christos defense, but McCleary made a fine kick save to keep VE’s lead at two.
The efforts by McCleary and the Christos defenders led to the break the visitors needed on the last kick of the half. Christos’ Anthony Dragisius flicked on a long throw in that fell to Christian Correra at the top of the box. Correra smashed the ball past Paul to close the gap to 2-1. The goal created a moment of unrest for the hosts heading into the break.
First half highlights between @VEClub and @ChristosFC . Derek Antonini scores twice for VE and Christian Correra for Christos. pic.twitter.com/7GVQttcv1p
— Backyard Pitches (@BackyardPitches) April 26, 2026
Christos came out attacking to start the second half, but VE regained control of the game within the first ten minutes. Bloyou combined with Antonini through the heart of the Christos defense, and after Hanks pulled him down during his attempted shot, the referee delayed his penalty call long enough for Hennessey to bury the rebound and put VE up 3-1.
Antonini completed his hat-trick seven minutes later. Running down another Gomez through ball, he fought off the final Christos defender and tucked a shot past McCleary inside the far post.
Even with the game out of reach, Christos fought until the very end, and VE tried to extend their lead with several good chances, one from A.J. McIntyre and another from Alonso Rodriguez. A late free kick from Hanks and the ensuing scramble was the closest Christos came to pulling a goal back, and after Connor Budnaiak scored with fifteen minutes to play, the rest of the game played out with very little action aside from frustration shown from the visitors.
VE coach Rob Oldfield sent an important message to his players before the game to not take their opponents lightly. Though Christos started short, one can never tell how many players will appear once the game gets started. “You’ve got to travel well in this,” he said. “At some point in the region, you’ve got to go on the road and win a game on the road. They knew it was going to be an uphill game because they didn’t travel well. But it was our job to put them away.”
Coach Oldfield praised the play of Bloyou and Hennessey and liked the way his team’s depth maintained the level of play with McIntyre and Budnaiak keeping Christos honest in the second half. “With a full squad,” he said, “I like our chances against anybody.”
“It’s a great day at the club,” Antonini said after the game. Antonini was a member of the 2021 team that lost to West Chester, so he’s glad VE won’t have to face their rival in other cup. “West Chester being out is huge, so we can make a run here and hopefully do some damage.”
Hennessey, like Antonini, agreed the key for VE is staying fit and playing more together. “Just really getting guys out to these games,” he said. “We have an extremely good quality team, so just show up and play at the level we’re capable of.”
VE will now play Los Toros in the semifinal, with the game the date and time to be determined. Los Toros led the Virginia South Conference of the UPSL in the fall season and are also the two-time defending Virginia champs.
VE Starting XI (Not in Order): S. Paul, C. Williams, N. Hazel, C. Gomez, J. Ruth, A. Watkins, K. Smolyn (C), A. Hajj, D. Bloyou, B. Hennessey, D. Antonini
Subs: S. Krysztofowicz, C. Budnaiak, G. Dwyer, V. Leone, A. McIntyre, A. Rodriguez,
VE Over 30s 3, Christos Over 30s 1
Christian Williams scored goals in each half to lead VE Over 30s past Christos in the USASA Region 1 Quarterfinals Sunday, April 19th. In a battle between two storied clubs, with much history against together, VE jumped on the board early when Williams headed home a corner at the back post. Derek Antonini converted a penalty to open the second half to give the hosts a 2-0 lead, but Christos pulled a goal back minutes later to cut the deficit to one.
Williams finished off the game after Mark Garrity made a commanding run down the left side, beating two defenders and finding Williams in front of goal for the tap in.
VE’s O-30s reached the Region 1 finals two years ag
Highlights from @VEClub O-30s vs Christos O-30s in the USASA Region 1 Quarterfinal. pic.twitter.com/XEjHvI6PEk
— Backyard Pitches (@BackyardPitches) April 27, 2026
