Dan Lader

2011 US Open Cup qualifying: Charm City FC cruise into Maryland final, 6-1 over Baltimore Kickers

March 21, 2011 by Josh Hakala

Charm City FC continued it’s lopsided run through the Maryland US Open Cup qualifying tournament with a 6-1 win over the Baltimore Kickers in the semifinals. Eric Breach assisted on three of Charm City’s goals to send them to the state championship game on Thursday where they will meet the Maryland Bays at 9 p.m. at Catonsville High School in Catonsville, Md.

The winner of that game will host Phoenix SC, the champion of Eastern Pennsylvania, in the opening round of the USASA Region I tournament on May 1. The winner of that match would play either the New Jersey champion (Go Soccer FC or FC Fort United) or Club Atletico Virginia (DC/VA champion) on May 22 with a spot in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on the line.

Charm City would get off to a quick start, coming out in a 4-3-3 formation. They scored 14 minutes into the match when a throw-in by Eric Breach found the head of former Crystal Palace Baltimore player Dan Lader, who headed it into the upper left corner of the goal. Lader also scored in Charm City’s 6-0 win over Inter AFC in the last round. Charm City would add two more before halftime with Noah Merl scoring unassisted in the 20th minute, and Lucas Pardew making it 3-0 on an assist by Wijy Jones seven minutes later.

Defender Eric Breach would assist on a pair of goals after the break. In the 50th minute, he found Lou Brunetti to make it 4-0 and he helped Merl score his second in the 75th minute. Tarik Walker came off the bench to finish out the scoring in the 80th minute, his third goal in two games. But the Kickers would ruin the shutout with Nick Kiss’ shot from distance that took a deflection to beat the goalkeeper, Mike Svehla, to leave the score at 6-1 when the final whistle blew.

“The boys played hard but we were just over-matched tonight,” said Baltimore Kickers head coach Mike Lott. “Charm City was operating on another level and clearly deserved the victory. I wish them well in the finals and think they would represent the league and the state well at regionals.”

Charm City will play in Thursday’s final aiming to qualify for the Region I tournament for the second year in a row. Last year, after getting an opening round bye when Athletic Club (West PA) forfeited, Charm City lost to United German Hungarians (East PA) in the quarterfinals, 3-1.

2011 US Open Cup qualifying: Maryland semifinals
Charm City FC 6:1 Baltimore Kickers
Catonsville High School – Catonsville, Md.
Sunday, March 20, 2011

Scoring Summary
CHA: Dan Lader (Eric Breach) – 14th minute
CHA: Noah Merl (Unassisted) – 20th minute
CHA: Lucas Pardew (Wijy Jones) – 27th minute
CHA: Lou Brunetti (Eric Breach) – 50th minute
CHA: Noah Merl (Eric Breach) – 75th minute
CHA: Tarik Walker (Unassisted) – 80th minute
BAL: Nick Kiss (Chris Lorenzet)

Baltimore Kickers lineup: Ryan Flannely, Dan Thrailkill, Brandon Fischer, Jason Janetti (Phil Kratochvil 65th), Joe Pusateri, Chad Dye (Rob Bailey 70th), Anthony DeCesaris (Brian Tully 65th), Marcos Perdomo (Jake Ayers 65th), Tyler Inge (Josh Miller 65th), Kelli Maddox (Nick Kiss 65th), Chris Lorenzet

Charm City FC lineup: Mike Svehla (GK), JC Cole, Sean Porter, Lou Karko, Eric Breach, Noah Merl, Dan Lader (Jerry Fialkwicz 83rd), Darren Laroque (Sergio Flores 56th), Wijy Jones (Kenny Suetter 77th), Lou Burnetti (JD Kershaw 72nd), Luke Pardew (Tarik Walker 46th)

2008 Quarterfinals: Second string Revolution avoid upset, edge Baltimore in PK shootout

July 8, 2008 by

Sergio Flores of Crystal Palace Baltimore reacts after being shown a red card in the 119th minute after a tackle on Pat Phelan of the New England Revolution. Photo: Art Donahue | Revolution Recap

The New England Revolution’s defense of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup was nearly ended in New Britain, Conn. at the hands of a resolute Crystal Palace Baltimore team on Tuesday night. Following 120 minutes of even soccer, the Revs pushed past Palace 5-3 on penalty kicks, with Mauricio Castro slotting home the final shot for New England.

Baltimore, who already claimed the $10,000 prize money as the USL-2 team that advanced the furthest, was attempting to become the first third division club to advance to the Semifinals since the San Francisco Bay Seals made the final four in 1997.

In a very similar lineup from their Third Round match against the Richmond Kickers (USL-2), the Revolution started Taylor Twellman, Kenny Mansally, Khano Smith along with a collection of players who, up until this point in the season, have not seen very much first team action.

Sergio Flores of Crystal Palace Baltimore was shown red in the 119th minute after a foul on New England’s Pat Phelan, leaving Palace one less player to choose from for the penalty kick shootout.

The defending champs would get on the scoreboard first after just six minutes with Kenny Mansally running onto a Brandon Tyler pass and putting it past Palace goalkeeper Brian Rowland. Baltimore would equalize in the 20th minute on a Dan Lader tally after he buried a shot from the top of the box after it pinballed off a couple of players in front.

After Sergio Flores was sent off, Palace with just ten men from which to select its five for the shootout. Chase Hilgenbrinck (NER) opened with a goal, followed by Shintaro Harada (CPB), Kheli Dube (NER), Bryan Harkin (CPB), Chris Tierney (NER), and Matthew Mbuta (CPB). Amaechi Igwe put the Revs ahead 4-3 with his score, but Val Teixeira had his attempt saved by Doug Warren, setting up Castro to be the hero.

The Revolution will hit the road for their Semifinal encounter, traveling to RFK Stadium to take on DC United on August 12.