Firelands United opened the 2026 men’s season with a 2-2 draw against Fut Ohio on Sunday, May 10, earning a point in the club’s first match of the year and first home match at Strobel Field.
The afternoon marked a special moment for the club, as Firelands United played its first match at its new home in the historic stadium in downtown Sandusky. With a new season, a new home, and a strong crowd behind the team, the match carried plenty of energy from the opening whistle.
Fut Ohio struck first after building an attack down the far side. A run to the endline opened the Firelands back line, and the cutback found a runner waiting near the six-yard box for a simple finish to make it 1-0.
Firelands responded five minutes before halftime through Reggie Johnson, who produced the club’s first goal of the season in style. Johnson won the ball from a Fut Ohio defender near the halfway line, drove forward on his own, beat two defenders, and calmly placed his finish past the goalkeeper to level the match at 1-1.
The score remained tied going into halftime.
In the 75th minute, Firelands United found the breakthrough. Ayden Adams sent a ball downfield, and Cohen Hawes used his pace to beat the onrushing goalkeeper to it. With the keeper caught out, Hawes finished into the open net from around 30 yards to give Firelands a 2-1 lead.
Fut Ohio answered with about eight minutes remaining. After good buildup play through the middle of the pitch, a diagonal run across the Firelands back line created space, and the finish brought the match level again at 2-2.
The final minutes were tense, with both sides pushing for a winner, but neither team could find the deciding goal. Firelands United and Fut Ohio shared the points to begin the NOSL season, each leaving Strobel Field with a 2-2 draw.
For Firelands, the result was a competitive start to the new campaign and a memorable first match at Strobel Field, setting the stage for a season full of energy, growth, and home support in downtown Sandusky.
The full match replay is available on the Firelands United YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/nqEKGr4f7Y4?feature=share