Voltage Shock Phantoms, 5-3

The Vermont Voltage finally have something to cheer about after a Bozidar Jelovac hattrick gave the club their first win of the season, 5-3, over the Seacoast United Phantoms on Sunday night at South Burlington High School.

A disastrous start found the last place Voltage (1-8-2, 5 points) down 2-0 against the third place Phantoms (5-2-3, 18 points), but led by Jelovac’s three goals, Vermont came back to win 5-3 and end their 10 game winless streak to start the season.

Within the first ten minutes the Voltage found themselves behind 2-0, victims of an own goal and a slow rolling shot from Dylan George that resulted in his fourth goal of the season. With the Voltage’s bad luck this season and the Phantoms fantastic defense that had allowed just five goals all season heading into the game, the match seemed all but over.

Yet, this time, the Voltage had other plans. First Jelovac cut the lead in half in the 18th minute with his first goal of the season and then Etienne Boulanger tied it up with his second goal of the year just before halftime.

Seven minutes into the second half, Jelovac, a 24-year-old Serbian striker, put the Voltage ahead, chipping a shot over Seacoast’s ‘keeper.

But, four minutes later, the score was level again – this time at 3-3 – when Jordan Thomas scored his second goal of the season for the Phantoms.

Playing in front of their home fans, the Voltage still had more energy left in the tank and Bozidar finally put the home side ahead for good and completed his hattrick with a 35 yard shot into the upper corner in the 78th minute.

Ognjen Peruccia added an insurance goal – his third tally of the season – in the 81st minute, finishing off a rebound from yet another Bozidar shot.

Looking to build upon their first win of the season, the Voltage – who finish off the season with five more home game – face the Boston Victory on Wednesday, June 27th at 7pm at South Burlington High School.

Seacoast, who remain just four points out of first with a game in hand in the PDL’s Northeast Division, looks to return to its winning ways when they take on the Western Mass Pioneers at Portsmouth High School on Thursday, June 28 at 7pm.