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Fusion captures PDL opener, 2-1
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More from SoccerMidfielder Varden Adzemian scored a game-winning goal with four minutes to play as the Ventura County Fusion got off to a winning start Saturday night in Palmdale.
The 22-year-old central midfielder forced the ball home in an 86th-minute melee as the Fusion dramatically defeated the Lancaster Rattlers, 2-1, in its Premier Development League opener at Pete Knight High in Palmdale.
"It was total effort by everyone on the field," said assistant coach Ross Greaney. "They all battled pretty hard."
Playing without its core of 11 NCAA Division I players because of NCAA regulations, the first-year county entry went with a lineup consisting mainly of players from Oxnard College, Westmont College and local club teams.
The first goal in franchise history was scored by English professional Mark Draycott, who gave the Fusion a 1-0 lead after 16 minutes by pouncing on a defensive miscue.
The former Swindon Town youth product stole the ball in the Rattlers' half and expertly chipped the opposing goalkeeper from atop the 18-yard box.
The Rattlers' Martin Galvan equalized in the 74th minute, but Adzemian, whose younger brother Gurgen is also a Fusion player, pounced on a rebound in traffic in the Rattlers' goalmouth for the winner.
The Fusion had planned to use a three-pronged attack, but settled for a more conventional lineup when forward Hagop Chirishian was injured in the pregame warmups.
Instead, Adzemian started in central midfield alongside former Thousand Oaks High and Loyola Marymount maestro Diego Barrera.
Logan Frank started in goal, behind a backline consisting of Westmont teammates Ryan Warner and Dillon Barna, Eduardo Ayala of Oxnard College and former Buena High star Devin Toohey.
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