Virginia’s Dream Team Dressing for the Big Occasion

The Dream is alive in Falls Church, Virginia.

This small city, just ten miles away from the nation’s capital, is back in the spotlight thanks to the recent success of Virginia Dream FC. Founded by former professional and national high school player of the year Lucas Mendes, they’re making waves in only a second year of existence.

With former national team players on the roster, and having played in national million-dollar competitions, the Dream is now a win away from a spot in its first Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

“We’ve had to build an identity on the field, grow and solidify a large player pool to conquer local and national leagues,” said head coach CJ Taylor, who is entering his seventh month with the team. “The next step is to cement ourselves as a top semi-pro side and climb the next rung on the ladder. That’s The U.S. Open Cup.”

No matter if you see them out playing on a local park in the DMV, or broadcast on national television during The Soccer Tournament (the seven-aside tournament that will be contested for the third time in May of next year), the Dream is working toward the goal of opening doors for Virginia’s players.

They’re hard to miss.

Soccer Field as Runway

Since their inception the Dream have made statements with their kits. These projects aim to create a connection between soccer, art, fashion and music. That all began in 2023 with the team’s hand tie-dyed, square pattern kits. The colors of light blue and pink stood out plenty – and that was the whole point.

“We understand how art and sport can combine and really grow the culture of this game in this country,” said Mendes, a product of the D.C. United academy system. “The more time that clubs put into that, the more they'll be able to relate to their fans and find new fans that maybe weren't into soccer first but were into the creative side of things. Then you draw them into the sport and they're able to feel a part of the club that way.”

More recently, the team launched a so-called Crown Jewel Kit – a sleek black top interlaced with golden crown iconography. For many in the Dream organization, the simple things go a long way. Like hand-dying a kit or taking a simple black jersey and adding a special touch to it that both looks cool and speaks about what the club wants to represent.

The kits aren’t just uniforms but canvases for expression, creativity and change.

Some of the Dream’s players didn’t really understand what the whole deal was at first. Team captain Harri Hawkins, the former Hofstra defender, has seen how fan engagement can vary from club to club.

“My first reaction was honestly just a soccer team that had big ambitions and a staff and roster of guys that were hungry and ready to work,” said the 31-year-old Hawkins, who had stints with the NY Cosmos and Recreativo Huelva in Spain. “It’s hugely impressive to see the club grow so far, in such a short space of time. Growing a fan base from scratch is always going to be a challenge, but the club has gained notoriety in the soccer community far past Northern Virginia.”

That growth has been fueled by more than just good soccer and cool kits. The Dream treat all aspects of the club as if it were fashion and art. Every game has a photographer that shoots a run down the touchline like it's a catwalk. And every video and photo put out by the team is edited to look like high fashion.

“To be able to see the fit work first-hand, be behind the scenes of photoshoots and connect with others outside of the Dream in the fashion world has been something to soak in,” explained coach Taylor. “It has certainly fostered interest amongst younger players to explore different avenues and it’s really cool to see the club’s impact off the field.”

Looking Good & Playing Better

While the team’s presentation is outstanding, the on-field performance might be (dare we say) even better. The crowds that amass at Meridian High School Stadium are usually treated to something artistic one way or another.

Following a disappointing inaugural season in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the Dream rebounded for 2024 with a deep roster. Forward Angel Chavez scored 14 goals in the regular season to take home co-Golden Boot honors along with the league’s Mid-Atlantic Conference MVP award.

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.