By Liana Shapiro
DOTHAN, Ala. — A sudden storm delay, lasting over an hour and a half, couldn’t keep Dothan United FC from putting on a show in front of the home crowd Saturday night. The team delivered a dominant 3-1 win over Montgomery United FC in their 2025 USL League Two home opener, a game marked by resilience, excitement, and a remarkable bounce-back after last weekend’s season debut.
Center back and team captain Will Noecker opened the scoring in the first 15 minutes with an unlikely but electric goal. “I play center back, so I don’t score goals very often,” he said. “I was glad to get the first goal at home this season for the fans.”
Noecker, who played college soccer at Binghamton University and NC State, emphasized the pride he feels wearing the captain’s armband in front of Dothan’s supporters. “This community is incredible. This support, it’s like nowhere else in USL2,” he said. “I owe it to the fans, the coaches, the ownership, and my teammates. I’m just trying to lead by example and push the team further.”
After a 1-0 road loss last weekend, Head Coach Carl Reynolds said bouncing back was the priority. “The ability to bounce back is one of the most important things in sport, and we were able to do that pretty emphatically,” he said. “It shows a lot of character.”
Despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half, Dothan continued to dominate possession and territory, showcasing both skill and grit. “In the first half we showed the quality we have, and in the second half we showed that grit and determination,” Reynolds said. “We can play really good soccer, and we can also grind out and fight when we need to.”
The team’s first home match of the season came with a heavy dose of Southern spring unpredictability. Although no severe weather was forecasted earlier in the day, lightning and heavy rain delayed kickoff significantly. Still, fans packed the stands even after the delay, something Reynolds says did not go unnoticed.
“For the amount of people that stayed, even after the two-hour delay, it was incredible,” he said. “The fans and the energy in the stadium always help us. They act as a 12th man all the time.”
With one win and one loss under their belt, Reynolds says the next step is consistency, especially on the road. “We’ve got to follow a win with another win,” he said. “When you’re away and the environment isn’t as nice, that’s when success really counts.”
Dothan United will look to carry this momentum into next Saturday’s away match against Columbus.
Don’t forget to tune into the official livestream at 7:30 PM EST next Saturday, May 25th. Check our website and socials for more details.