The Annapolis Blues, the indomitable titan that has spent the summer stomping over the National Premier Soccer League’s Mid-Atlantic Conference, was well prepared for the competitively enhanced brand of soccer that the playoffs offer. The Blues didn’t make it far in the 2023 national tournament, but entered Wednesday night’s matchup against FC Frederick with some recent experience eliminating a team. Annapolis routed Grove United last Saturday, knocking the Richmond club out of the dance before it even started and robbing them of another date in Annapolis.
The Blues ended the season for another league rival Wednesday night before 7,036 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Midfielder Matias De Jesus had a hat trick as Annapolis easily dispatched FC Frederick, 5-0, in a Mid-Atlantic Conference semifinal. Amid heightened physicality, the Blues continued their summer-long supremacy by beating FC Frederick for the third time this season.
“I never had to say much, the guys were self-motivated to [perform] in the playoffs,” coach Colin Herriot said. “Everyone wanted to come back and play in the championship game on Saturday, so I think guys were pretty motivated to put on a good performance and get a good result.” The game started out slowly, but not in the way Annapolis has become accustomed.
The home team is used to hogging the ball and dominating time of possession with careful ball movement, but Frederick looked eager to make the favored Blues uncomfortable..