RICHMOND, Va. – Loudoun United FC goalkeeper Dane Jacomen made the decisive save in the fifth round of a penalty shootout as the USL Championship side took a 5-4 victory from the spot against USL League One side the Richmond Kickers in the Third Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at City Stadium on Wednesday night after the sides had played to a scoreless draw through 120 minutes of regulation and extra time.

The shootout was the first in Loudoun’s history as the visitors squared off with their fellow Virginia side for the first time in official competition and came after a tightly fought matchup that saw neither side create many clear-cut chances.

Getting the chance to shoot first, Loudoun put the pressure on its hosts with each opportunity. Zach Ryan opened the shootout with a confident finish and was followed by Keegan Tingey, Yanis Leerman and 19-year-old Abdellatif Aboukoura only for the Kickers to answer each time.

After Drew Skundrich opened the fifth round with a goal for Loudoun, completing a perfect set of five for the visitors, it was Jacomen’s moment to shine. The goalkeeper denied Arthur Bosua’s shot to the right corner with a diving stop, sending United into the Round of 32 for a second consecutive year.

The side had exchanged chances throughout the contest with Loudoun’s creating a good chance just after the halftime break when Haitian winger Christiano François broke through in transition but was denied by Richmond goalkeeper Ryan Shellow in a one-on-one opportunity. The Kickers also threatened just before the hour-mark when Adrian Billhardt crossed to Bosua whose strike deflected out a corner. The resulting set piece came to Billhardt at the top of the penalty area only for his shot to slide wide.

François again had an opportunity, and arguably Loudoun’s best of the night, in the 66th minute when his speed again put him through one-on-one with the goalkeeper only for Shellow to again make a big save. Billhardt, meanwhile, also had a late chance in regulation but had his chance from the top left corner of the six-yard area denied by a fingertip save.

Jacomen was called on again in extra time when Billhardt cut past a defender in the right side of the penalty area and sent a low shot to the far post that the goalkeeper parried before his defense cleaned up the rebound, but neither side was able to break the deadlock.

But, on a night in which Loudoun United experienced a first in club history, Jacomen was up to the task from the spot to give his side a hard-earned result.