The Maryland Bays are headed to their first Region I tournament with a 5-1 win over Charm City FC in the Maryland Open Cup championship game. Marco Mangione was the story of the night, scoring four of Maryland’s five goals, to put his team two wins away from qualifying for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
The Bays move on to the USASA Region I finals where they will travel to face Eastern Pennsylvania champion Phoenix SC on May 1. The winner of that match will play either Go Soccer FC (New Jersey) or Club Atletico Virginia (DC/VA) for one of the region’s two Open Cup berths on May 22.
Charm City came out firing in the opening 15 minutes, putting pressure on the Maryland backline, but after weathering the storm, it was the Bays who were on the board first. In the 22nd minute, Mangione got in behind the defense and received a ball over the top from defender Matt Beckman. Mangione brought it down cleanly, and fired it past the goalkeeper to make it 1-0.
Just six minutes later, Charm City would equalize thanks to a rebound goal by Lucas Pardew. Luciano Brunetti took a shot from outside the penalty area and Pardew was there to clean up the loose ball.
In the 37th minute the Bays would break the tie with a goal by Lucas Emil from inside the penalty area, but the game would really open up after Maryland was awarded a penalty kick. Bays team captain John Ports beat a defender to reach the corner of the area, broke into the box and was fouled. Ports landed hard on his shoulder and had to leave the game. However, on the bright side, Mangione converted the penalty kick to make it 3-1 going into the intermission.
Mangione broke the game open early in the second half when he beat his defender to his left foot, freed up some space to shoot and put it past the keeper to complete his hat trick.
Two minutes later, in the 61st minute, he added his fourth courtesy of a run by teammate Dan Bulls. The former University of Maryland Baltimore County player won the ball at midfield and raced up the left wing. He sent the ball into the penalty area where Mangione one-timed it into the back of the net to make it 5-1.
“I think we just kept it pact defensively and put in a couple good counter attacks,” said Mangione, who just graduated from Towson University. “Once the game opened up we took advantage of our chances and I received some great service tonight.”
Mangione has scored seven of the Bays’ 10 goals in Open Cup qualifying this year and comes from a strong soccer family. Two of his five siblings played college soccer and his father, Nick, played professionally for the Baltimore Blast during his playing days.
“ is a very humble player,” said Maryland Bays assistant coach Nick Gill. “Sure he was getting great service, and I thought we controlled the midfield today, but every time he touched the ball something special happened. The defense really had a hard time getting a hold of him. He’s got all the tools to play at the next level, but he got injured during his senior year. Now that he’s at full strength, it’s pretty clear what he’s capable of.”
The Bays opened the competition with a 3-1 win over the Baltimore Bays Blue ‘93. Baltimore fielded an Under-18 team, but put up a fight against the more experienced Bays. In the semifinals, Maryland trailed 1-0 to Christos FC in the first half, but came back to win 2-1. After Christos scored their opening goal, they missed a penalty kick shortly after that which shifted the momentum toward the Bays. Marco Mangione would tie the game up a few minutes after the missed spot kick and then converted what would prove to be the game-winning penalty kick in the 75th minute.
This state Open Cup title just adds to the list of accomplishments from the last two years. They won the last two Maryland Major Soccer League Fall championships, as well as last year’s Stewart Cup, Rowland Cup and Amateur Cup. They were also a national finalist in the USASA’s Under-23 tournament.
The Maryland Bays are named after the American Soccer League / American Professional Soccer League team from the late 80s, early 90s and are in their second year in their current form. The team was put together by head coach Bryan Bugarin, who played professionally for the indoor club the Baltimore Blast. The Bays are made up largely of players from Coach Bugarin’s Baltimore Bays ‘87 team (Under-14). Many of those teenagers are now in their mid-20s and have been coached by Bugarin for almost a decade.
The current roster includes of mix of college and local players, as well as former professionals such as Billy Chiles (Crystal Palace Baltimore), Kevin Gnatiko (Crystal Palace Baltimore), Dan Bulls (Joe Public FC – Trinidad).
Scoring Summary
MAR: Marco Mangione (Matt Beckman) – 22nd minute
CHA: Lucas Pardew (Unassisted) – 28th minute
MAR: Lucas Emil (Unassisted) – 37th minute
MAR: Marco Mangione (PK) – 42nd minute
MAR: Marco Mangione (Unassisted) – 59th minute
MAR: Marco Mangione (Dan Bulls) – 61st minute
Maryland US Open Cup tournament recaps:
2011 US Open Cup qualifying: Maryland kicks off state tournament
Maryland Bays advance to state final, Charm City ends Inter AFC’s run
Charm City FC cruise into Maryland final, 6-1 over Baltimore Kickers
Round 1
Inter AFC 7:3 Magicmen
Quarterfinals
Charm City FC 6:0 Inter AFC
AC Baltimore 0:1 Baltimore Kickers
Maryland Bays 3:1 Baltimore Bays Blue ‘93
Christos FC 2:0 Aegean Hawks FC
Semifinals
Charm City 6:1 Baltimore Kickers
Maryland Bays 2:1 Christos FC
Final
Maryland Bays 5:1 Charm City FC
Thursday, March 24, 9 p.m. (Catonsville High School – Catonsville, Md.)
2011 USASA Region I Open Cup qualifying schedule
USASA Region I tournament bracket
First Round (May 1)
Danbury United (CT) at NY Pancyprian Freedoms (East NY)
East Providence Sports (RI) at Mass Premier Soccer (MA)
Club Atletico Virginia (DC/VA) at Go Soccer FC (NJ)
Maryland Bays (MD) at Phoenix SC (East PA)
Semifinals (May 22)*
Danbury/NYPF winner vs. MPS/East Prov winner
Go Soccer /Atl. Virginia winner vs. Phoenix/Bays winner
* Winners of each game qualify for the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup
Past Maryland Open Cup champions
2010: Charm City FC
2009: Christos FC
2008: Baltimore Colts FC
2007: AC United (Note: Christos FC & Allied SC merged)
2006: Allied SC
2005: Baltimore Colts FC
2004: Allied SC
2003: Brilla Baltimore
2002: Christos FC
2001: DiPasquale Baltimore Colts FC
2000: Jerry D’s
1999: Jerry D’s
1998: High Topps