Roy Nazawa scores three as Duluth FC beats Joy AC 5-0
Roy Nazawa struck in the 8th minute and finished with a hat trick as Duluth FC answered its opener with a 5-0 rout of Joy AC.
Roy Nazawa gave Duluth FC the early spark it needed, scoring around the 8-minute mark and setting the tone for a 5-0 win over Joy AC that delivered the BlueGreens’ first victory of the 2026 season.
That first goal carried extra weight because it was the only score of the opening half. Duluth had opened the year with a 0-0 draw against Siouxland United at Walt Hunting Stadium, a match in which Seth Davidson had a penalty saved and Alex Paredes handled the goalkeeping duties. Against Joy AC, the BlueGreens looked far more efficient in the final third, and Nazawa’s breakthrough turned a tight first half into a one-sided result after the break.
Nazawa finished with three goals, and Duluth added two more to pull away and shut down the Goats. The result pushed Duluth to 1-0-1 and showed a cleaner attacking rhythm than in the season opener, when possession and chances did not translate into goals. Against Joy AC, the BlueGreens were sharper in the box and more decisive when chances opened up, a difference that can often define early-season results in the National Premier Soccer League.
The win also added to a run of success against Joy AC. Duluth had already beaten Joy 3-1 in its 2026 home opener and played to a 2-2 result with the same opponent in 2025 at Saint Thomas Academy. The latest meeting suggested a team that knows how to solve the matchup, but also one that is beginning to show a clearer identity: a solid back line, a reliable scoring threat in Nazawa and the ability to turn a balanced game into a lopsided one once the first goal falls.
That matters for a club that entered 2026 with momentum from a strong recent stretch. Duluth FC’s official site lists the club as the 2025 NPSL North Conference regular season champion, and the team reached the national semifinals in 2024. The BlueGreens also play home matches at Walt Hunting Stadium and stream every home game online, keeping the team visible to fans across Duluth and St. Louis County.
Duluth will see Joy AC again on the road Saturday, May 30, with Nazawa’s breakout performance offering the clearest sign yet that the BlueGreens may have found their first early-season edge.
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