The team finished the regular season with a 6-2-2 record, enough for third in the conference and a road playoff game against Alexandria Reds (that’s the same Reds organization that the Dream beat last round in 2025 Open Cup Qualifying). Trailing at halftime, the Dream scored twice in the second half to reach the conference championship.
There, they battled national darlings Annapolis Blues FC at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in front of over 8,000 fans. A 2-0 win in a chippy game against their local rivals earned the Dream a first ever NPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference Championship.
Elsewhere, and more currently, the Dream are in their second season of play in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL). They’ll play DC Hyper (another familiar face from Open Cup Qualifying this year) in the DMV South Conference Championship game the same day as their game on our Open Cup Third Qualifying Matchday. That’s not even talking about the Dream’s Virginia Super Soccer League squad, the one officially competing in Open Cup Qualifying, that just finished their season undefeated (10-0-0) with 46 goals for and only three against.
Mendes hopes this success opens eyes to what local soccer can do for Virginia. Despite being a local kid and attending the University of Virginia, historically one of the most successful collegiate men’s soccer programs, the former New York Cosmos B player wants kids from all over the state to have the chance to play.
“A lot of clubs around this area charge their players to play in leagues,” Mendes explained. “We made it a point from the very beginning that we would take care of everything and all the players had to do was show up. A lot of people in our club work a full-time job.”
Experience is Fashionable
The second-year Dream have already attracted some recognizable names to play.
Last season in the NPSL, hot off his cameo appearance in the First Round of the 2024 U.S. Open Cup, former D.C. United and U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Bill Hamid joined the squad. The one-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, who won the Open Cup in 2013 with D.C. United, earned a Dream clean sheet in the Mid-Atlantic Conference Championship.
While Hamid left the team some months back to join NISA’s Maryland Bobcats, who won a regular season title with him at the helm, he wasn’t alone in bringing top-tier experience to the Dream.
Former New York Red Bulls midfielder Jean-Christophe Koffi, Greenville Triumph defender Jimmy Filerman and USL journeyman Hawkins all found a place on the squad this season.
The English-born Hawkins has experience playing in the Open Cup, and in the F.A. Cup qualifying rounds with Histon F.C., so his eyes are already looking towards what could be next.
“It would be incredible to make it through the Open Cup Qualifying,” Hawkins said. “The challenge of playing against pro teams is exciting, but I know we’re ready for it and that we’re capable of making a run and surprising some bigger teams.
“It would be cool for us to play Loudoun United since they’re the biggest team in VA,” added Hawkins, referring to the area’s USL Championship club, and dreaming of big things for himself and his fashionably ambitious club.
Michael Battista is an award-winning journalist and regular contributor to TheCup.us, Hudson River Blue, & New York Sports Nation. Follow him at @MichaelBattista on Twitter/X.
