Kendall Wanderers

2019 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 1: Kendall Wanderers need PKs to oust Boston Siege again

September 25, 2018 by Joaquin Colon-Nava

MORE: 2019 US Open Cup qualifying results/schedule

The second game of the 2019 US Open Cup open division local qualifying tournament would see two teams from the Bay State Soccer League face off for the second year in a row. Last year in the opening round, the Kendall Wanderers beat the Boston Siege FC, 5-2. This year, the Wanderers advanced once again but they had to work a little harder for it. After 90 minutes of scoreless soccer, and an intense 30 minutes of extra time, the score would finish 2-2. Then Kendall eliminated Boston in the longest penalty kick shootout in the four-year existence of this new qualifying tournament, winning 9-8.

Upon kickoff it would be the Kendall Wanderers who once would again get the better of the possession and chances. However, the Siege held their own, keeping the Wanderers scoreless and creating good chances of their own when they had the ball. The half ended without a goal, and after the break, the roles would be reversed.

The Siege controlled much of the possession and went about threatening Kendall’s defense throughout the second half. The Wanderers were left to attack, while still dangerous, against the run of play. In the end, neither team could find the breakthrough as the score would remain 0-0 through the end of regulation.

In extra time, the game opened up significantly. Both teams were now trading shots, the deadlock was finally broken on a Wanderers’ goal scored directly from a corner kick in the 97th minute.

The game’s urgency intensity ramped up in the minutes that followed as players came together in the 103rd minute. A Wanderers’ player claimed he was elbowed in the face, shoved a Boston player. Luckily for both teams, once the dust settled, no one was sent off.

The incident may have sparked the Wanderers because they doubled their lead just before the first extra time break.

As the teams went to their respective benches for OT halftime, another confrontation broke out. This time, multiple players from both teams were jawing at each other and would have have to be separated by their teammates and the referees. After the break, an energized Boston Siege team quickly cut the deficit in half less than two minutes into the second half of extra time. By the 112th minute, the score was tied once again and it would stay tied through 120 minutes forcing penalties.

The penalty kick takers would remain perfect through six rounds of penalties until both teams missed their shots in the 7th round. Finally, in the 10th round, and with the two final outfield players Boston Siege’s Mario Martinez missed and Declan Hunter scored putting the Kendall Wanderers through to the second round of the qualifying tournament as the club attempts to qualify for the US Open Cup for the second year in a row, and the second time in club history.

2018 US Open Cup Round 1: Seacoast United Phantoms need PKs to eliminate 10-man Kendall Wanderers

May 13, 2018 by Tucker Moss

The Seacoast Phantoms huddle up during their match against the Kendall Wanderers in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Ashley MacLaughlin | Seacoast United Phantoms

After 120 minutes plus and seven rounds of penalties Seacoast United Phantoms find themselves headed to the Second Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after defeating a 10-Men Kendall Wanderers side at Seacoast United Sports Park in Amesbury, Mass.

The Phantoms, who were making their sixth appearance in the tournament — third in the last four years — got a gift from the Wanderers in the form of a 12th minute red card by Kendall’s Jason Noctor. The Wanderers, who were making their US Open Cup debut, had to play down a man for the remainder of the game but managed to hold the home team to a 2-2 draw before falling in penalty kicks, 6-5.

Kendall Wanderers players looked to prove their case as to why the Bay State Soccer League side deserved to be on field coming out with a high intensity press taking the game to Seacoast United. This proved effective in early moments of the game, but Wanderers found it difficult to get possession of the ball back once lost. Tackles began to fly in an effort to win possession, and after 12 minutes, Jason Noctor slid through the back of Seacoast forward Donnett Sackie, earning a straight red card.

After going a man up, Seacoast United began carving out chances, hitting the post early in the 21st minute. But it was the 10 men of Kendall Wanderers to strike first after winger Braima Samati latched on to a through ball and put it past the Seacoast keeper.

Following the first goal, Seacoast began to bring the intensity to Kendall and eventually found an equalizing goal in the 44th minute through a Rok Taneski cross that found the head of Donnett Sackie. Seacoast ended the first half continuing a high press looking for a go-ahead goal, but went into the locker room with the game tied 1-1.

Seacoast United Phantoms goalkeeper Mitch Stedman made two saves in the penalty kick shootout to eliminate Kendall Wanderers in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Ashley MacLaughlin | Seacoast United Phantoms

Seacoast came out of the break continuing where they left off pressing Kendall and exploiting their man advantage. For most of the second half Kendall absorbed the pressure that Seacoast was throwing at them in waves. As the half went on, Kendall defending began to get desperate with several goal line clearances. But with the constant pressure from Seacoast’s front three it proved to be too much and Kendall conceded to a Julian Canosa strike from the top of the box in the 82nd minute.

As the clock continued to roll it looked increasing likely that Seacoast United had punched their ticket to the Second Round. In stoppage time, the Wanderers were awarded a corner kick, and they capitalized with defender Eric Robertson heading the ball home.

As the game entered extra time the tempo of the game stayed very much the same as it was from the second half. Kendall continued to absorb Seacoast’s continued press searching for a goal. Kendall Keeper Evan Weagle was called into action multiple times during extra time, saving what should have been Seacoast’s go ahead goal in the 116th minute. Seacoast continued to press until the officials whistle went signaling the game would be decided on penalties.

Both teams scored in the first two rounds of the shootout. Kendall had their third penalty saved and Seacoast capitalized scoring their third. The score stayed the same until the fifth round, where all Seacoast would need to do is score to win the match, but again Kendall goal keeper Even Weagle came up big again saving a Donnett Sackie shot to move to sudden death rounds. After Seacoast’s Mitch Steadmen saved Kendall’s seventh penalty, Joey Bhangdia stepped up and scored sending Seacoast United to the Second Round of the US Open Cup.

The PK that sealed the deal tonight!! Great work from the lads in their first match, now on to the next one vs @elmcityexpress #WeAreSUSC #SupportTheLads pic.twitter.com/VYy6cxrjPe

— SeacoastUtdPhantoms (@SUSC_Phantoms) May 10, 2018

After claiming victory, Seacoast United will host the Elm City Express of the National Premier Soccer League on May 16th, 2018.

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2018 Meet the Underdogs: Kendall Wanderers, formerly The Black Rose, confidently making US Open Cup debut

May 4, 2018 by Ben Ferree

Kendall Wanderers of the Bay State Soccer League pose for a team photo after defeating Mass United FC 2-1 to clinch the club's first-ever trip to the US Open Cup. Photo: Kendall Wanderers — Kendall Wanderers of the Bay State Soccer League pose for a team photo after defeating Mass United FC 2-1 to clinch the club’s first-ever trip to the US Open Cup. Photo: Kendall Wanderers

Every year there’s a surprise team in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. A squad of players that makes it farther than anyone thinks they should. A team vying for that title this year is the Kendall Wanderers from Massachusetts.

Playing in their first-ever US Open Cup, the road to get there wasn’t easy.

In the first game of the qualifying tournament, they could only dress 11 players and even had to use their head coach, Phil Keane, as a player. Still, they won 5-2 over Boston Siege FC (UPSL). Their next match came against fellow Bay State Soccer League (BSSL) competitors, and perennial Open Cup qualifiers, GPS Omens. Things looked bleak for the Wanderers when a red card set them down a man, but they still managed to earn a 2-2 draw and prevailed in the penalty kick shootout, 4-3. Their official qualification came after beating Mass United FC of the American Soccer League, 2-1.

“Getting into the Open Cup is massive for us. It exposes the club to a bigger audience. But as a team and as individual players, it’s always great to test yourself against top opposition,” Keane said.

Keane went on to praise the Wanderers’ team captain and club president, Eric Robertson. Robertson is a center back who went to Brown University. Another Brown alumnus plays for the Wanderers in midfield, Taylor Gorman. But the real X factor for the team is Ian Sweeney, who formerly played for Athlone Town AFC, the oldest club in Ireland. He helped the squad capture the first division title in 2013 for just the second time ever (the first was in 1987-88).

The Wanderers themselves are one of the oldest teams in the BSSL. The club was formed in 1976 as The Black Rose, who were the sponsor at the time. The name changed to Kendall Wanderers in mid 1990s when sponsors changed to The Kendall Cafe. The original name of the team is still incorporated by a black rose on the team crest. The club operates a full six teams, three in the BSSL and three in the OTHSL (over 30s and 40s). The “A” team has won the BSSL Division 1 title twice (2008, 2013).

The US Open Cup will be their biggest challenge to date.

“We don’t have any expectations on how far we can go. We are just going to try to win the next game,” Keane said, “But we are very confident we can compete against anyone.”

The Wanderers kick off their inaugural US Open Cup run on May 9 when they travel to take on the Seacoast United Phantoms of the Premier Development League in Amesbury, Mass.