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Maryland Bays

2016 US Open Cup qualifying: Aegean Hawks’ two clutch goals stun Maryland Bays

October 21, 2015 by Jon Knight

aegean-hawks-logo

Almost five years since their first Cup encounter in a US Amateur Cup qualifier that saw Georgetown winger Seth C’deBaca lace a curling long-range laser at the end of regulation to seal victory for the Hawks, the Maryland Bays of the Maryland Major Soccer League and Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks of the Washington Premier League renewed their rivalry on Sunday when both teams clashed for the ninth time in a single elimination Cup tie.

Sunday’s match was for the new-look US Soccer-managed first round of Lamar Hunt US Open Cup open division qualifying tournament. The Bays, based out of Baltimore, were 5-3-0 in all-time matchups against the DC-based Hawks leading into the game with the Hawks winning the last meeting 1-0 in last year’s Maryland Open Cup championship match. Awaiting the winner of the match was an away date in Round 2 with Aromas Cafe FC of Charlottesville, Va., who overcame the Tartan Devils FC of Pittsburgh, PA 3-1 in their matchup a day earlier.

On an uncharacteristically crisp autumn day awaited both sides at the Hawks home pitch at the Maryland Soccerplex, with temperatures in the upper 40s and a brisk wind blowing West-East. The Hawks started the match the more composed of the two sides with veteran midfielder Watson Vaughan-Prather and central midfield cohort Steven Hauschild pulling strings and organizing the Hawks attack.

Ten minutes in, the Hawks got their first solid chance in the match when winger Chris Hennings took on a few Bays defenders toward the endline and cut back nicely to fire a hard left-footed shot that was parried away by Bays goalkeeper Dan McCleary.

Just five minutes later, a free kick for the Hawks was lofted to the far post by William Fierro, where Vaughan-Prather headed it back across the goal mouth and onto the path of streaking forward Dan Fogarty for what looked like a tap in, but the ball sailed over his knee and out to safety.

The close call seemed to wake up the Bays, who began to assert themselves and push the match into the Hawks’ defensive half with solid possession-oriented soccer and switching the field of play. The Bays’ center midfield pairing of former Maryland Terp Kauro Forbess and former Loyola Greyhound Danny Ankrah orchestrated the Bays attack well and kept the Hawks on their heels, patiently searching for holes in the Hawks defense and spreading the ball to the wings and into forward Kingsley Onwuku’s feet.

The Hawks struggled to get a rhythm and relied on the occasional break to wingers Chris Hennings and Scott Larrabee to keep the Bays defense honest. While the possession was tilted in favor of the Bays, the Hawks defense stood tall as center back pairing Patrick Selwood and Joshua Damm and outside backs Devlin Barnes and James Kpainay all played their part with gritty goal saving one-on-one efforts during many Bays forays into the Hawks penalty area. Both teams stood at a deadlock at halftime.

Coming out of the break, the Hawks again looked livelier as Larrabee and Hennings threatened with Vaughan-Prather again serving as the link player, but the Bays defenders were always up to the task. Just as it looked like the Hawks would mirror their bright start to the first half, the Bays’ Glenn Leitch was taken down in the box by Hawks defender Devlin Barnes after a nifty piece of skill to maintain possession on a double team, and the referee awarded a PK at the 55 minute mark. Kingsley Onwuka stepped up to bury the penalty in the lower left corner past Hawks netminder Robbie Batchelder to lift the Bays to a 1-0 advantage.

Much of the ensuing play until the 80th minute echoed the second part of the first half, with the Bays dominating possession and the Hawks occasionally threatening with their wing play. As the match wore on, the game got a little chippy and the referee was not shy to dole out punishment. The Hawks were shown four yellow cards throughout the match, three after the Bays goal, while Maryland received two yellows in the second stanza.

Neither team had much teeth in the offensive third as both were missing important regulars in their front line. The Bays constantly probed with Danny Ankrah as the catalyst in the middle and some solid wing play on the right by Danny Baxter, but the Hawks defense created a wall and did well to keep the Bays from adding to the scoreline. On the other side of the pitch, Larrabee and Hennings were always dangerous on the break but could not unlock the combination to find Mccleary’s net.

From the 80th minute on, the Hawks desperation began to yield some opportunities to bring the match level. Several balls were whipped into the Bays penalty area and to the far post that looked to break the deadlock but the score remained in the Bays favor as stoppage time began. Seconds before the referee blew his whistle, the Hawks took a corner kick that was cleared by the Bays but found the feet of Hawks outside back Devlin Barnes for the second service. Center back and team captain Pat Selwood stepped up in traffic to head the ball in the net, granting the Hawks the dramatic equalizer and lifeline moments before the end of regulation.

In the first overtime period, the Bays pressed hard with the better chances and almost added to their tally off a blistering half-volley by Mike Gill that sailed just inches over the crossbar.

With five minutes left in the second overtime period, the Hawks’ Vaughan-Prather was fed a ball in the Bays penalty area. As several Bays defenders swarmed him for the takeaway, he snuck a pass to the endline for longtime teammate Michael Goldman, who took a touch and floated a left footed cross back to the six-yard box. The ball was perfectly weighted to avoid the first line of Hawks and Bays and fell to the foot of onrushing winger, Scott Larabee. Just as his college teammate did in the first meeting between these two storied USASA clubs, the Georgetown alum stunned the Bays with a well-placed volley to the left corner that left McCleary flat footed. Now with the lead, the Hawks bunkered in for the remaining five minutes of the match and the Bays could not break through, inching the Hawks closer to level in the all-time series and one step closer to the club’s first US Open Cup berth since 2012.

MORE: Ten teams advance to Round 2 in opening weekend of 2016 US Open Cup qualifying

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2016 US Open Cup qualifying, Aegean Hawks, Maryland Bays

2015 US Open Cup Round 1: Reading United wins 4th straight tournament opener, 1-0 over Maryland Bays

May 16, 2015 by Phil Naegely

Brett Campbell of Reading United scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal in the 19th minute against the Maryland Bays. Photo: Reading United
Brett Campbell of Reading United scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal in the 19th minute against the Maryland Bays. Photo: Reading United

After being told just a few days before the match that they would be hosting their First Round Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match, Reading United faced Maryland Bays on Wednesday night. It didn’t take long for the USL PDL side to find the net in front of their home crowd at Exeter High School’s Don Thomas Stadium. United, who were making its seventh straight tournament appearance out of the Premier Development League, used that goal to hang on for a 1-0 win over the reigning USASA Region I Open Cup champions

In the 19th minute, after a few early scoring opportunities, Reading struck first. Brett Campbell poked home the eventual game-winner after receiving a pass from Neco Brett.

Playing with only one substitute, the Bays struggled to find many threating chances on net as Reading’s goalkeeper Kyle Morton showed zero rust in the PDL side’s first competitive game of 2015.

With the 1-0 victory, Reading United will host USL side and fellow Philadelphia Union affiliate Harrisburg City Islanders on May 20 at 7 p.m. This will be the third time the Union affiliates have faced off in US Open Cup play. In 2011 Harrisburg defeated Reading 2-1, while United upset the City Islanders 1-0 in 2013.

Reading defender Paul Marie challenges former Reading player Jon Ports of the Maryland Bays. Photo: Reading United AC
Reading defender Paul Marie challenges former Reading player Jon Ports of the Maryland Bays. Photo: Reading United AC

After the game Reading United head coach David Castellanos was proud of his side.

“A great goal by Brett Campbell and good build up all around. We’re going to take the positives away from the match, but we know we have a ton of work to do to get ready for Harrisburg,” said Castellanos. “There were pieces of good movement. Keegan Rosenberry did well and William Picoux came on in the second half and really moved that ball. Our backline played great. Kyle Morton in goal, he saved us.”

For United, a franchise that began its Open Cup history losing its first give games, have made history in recent years. This is the seventh year in a row that the club has qualified for the tournament, which a record for amateur teams in the Modern Era (1995-present). This game also marks the fourth year in a row that the club has won their opening match, which ties the Ventura County Fusion’s modern era record (2011-2014). The Fusion currently hold the record for longest unbeaten streak in consecutive tournament openers with five (2011-2015). The Chicago Fire PDL side won five straight opening round games, but not in consecutive seasons (2004-05, 2009, 2010, 2012).

The organization of the match was a challenge as the Maryland Bays had originally been awarded hosting rights. The opening game was scheduled to be played at Calvert Hall in Towson, Md. but the stadium was made unavailable due to safety concerns following the recent Baltimore riots. Scrambling to find a new venue, the Bays were able to find one at the University of Maryland – Baltimore County (UMBC). After renting the field, they were informed on Thursday that the person who rented it to them had done so in error, because the venue was not available because the stadium was under construction.

With less than a week until the match, the Bays were in desperation mode but somehow managed to find a field at Troy Park in Elkridge, Md. The condition of the field was good, but the venue didn’t have locker rooms, which is one of the US Soccer Federation’s minimum standards. Less than 48 hours before the game, the federation decided that Reading United would host the game.

Filed Under: 2015 US Open Cup, US Open Cup Tagged With: 2015 US Open Cup, Maryland Bays, PDL, Reading United AC, USASA

Maryland Bays win first USASA Open Cup title, expected to qualify for 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

August 1, 2014 by Sean Maslin

Maryland Bays: 2014 USASA Open Cup champions
Maryland Bays: 2014 USASA Open Cup champions

The first one is always the best. Whether it is the rush of emotions, the sense of accomplishment, or the flood of memories, being able to hoist a trophy and call one’s self a champion is an immense feeling and an important moment for any player or team.

The Maryland Bays had such a moment this weekend as the club won their first-ever USASA Open Cup championship defeating the Des Moines Menace of Iowa by the score of 3-0.

“We finally got over the Open Cup hump,” said Bays coach Bryan Bugarin. “It seems like it was always that one game, or an extenuating circumstance that kept us from getting back to Nationals since our U23s lost to the Chicago Fire in the Final.”

The team nearly had a another extenuating circumstance derail them when seven days before the opening game, their starting goalkeeper Phil Saunders told Bugarin that he had just signed a professional contract to play for a club in Iceland. Luckily for the Bays, they had a quality backup netminder in Kris Ward who performed well, allowing just a single goal in the two games at Nationals.

For those unfamiliar, the USASA Open Cup, officially named the Werner Fricker US Open Cup championship, is an annual competition hosted by the United States Adult Soccer Association which is the main arm for adult club soccer for the United States Soccer Federation. The Open Cup Championship is composed of the best teams from the four major regions in the United States. The Maryland Bays are a part of the Maryland Soccer Association and the Maryland Major Soccer League in Baltimore, Md. The team has won five consecutive Fall Premier League Championships in MMSL and has won five consecutive Stewart Cups, which is the Maryland State Soccer Association Cup. They are the first Maryland-based team to win the USASA Open Cup Championship since the Baltimore Colts FC won the title back in 2005.

maryland-bays-new-logo-2014This has been quite a run for the Bays. They defeated regional rivals West Chester United (Eastern Pennsylvania), Aegean Hawks (DC/VA), and Mass Premier Soccer (now known as GPS Massachusetts) in the Region I tournament. By winning the Region I tournament, based on last year’s format, the Bays are expected to qualify for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The win also booked them a spot in the USASA Nationals and found themselves matched up with Triangle Brigade in the Semifinals. Against the Region III winners, the Bays dominated possession and were able to defeat the newcomers from North Carolina by the score of 4-1. Glenn Leitch, Danny Baxter, Marco Mangione and Elton Joe all scored goals for the Bays to punch their ticket to the national title game.

“We actually changed up our formation five minutes before kickoff and it proved to be the difference as neither opponent really seemed to figure out any answers to hinder our pace offensively,” said Bugarin. “Our center midfielders clogged the middle and controlled play, while our outside midfielders constantly got around opponent’s backs to provide forward support to our lone striker (Elton Joe). Our back line was very quick to lock things down and the outside guys provided an extra bit of offense as they overlapped our outside midfielders with attacking runs quite often. The six players who came off the bench also provided a great deal of support later in each game.

In the championship game, the Bays faced a Menace side that had beaten Chula Vista FC in the Semis. However, the Bays were able to overcome the Menace with goals by Elton Joe in the 12th minute, Danny Baxter in the 60th minute, and by Bryan Moffa at the end of regulation.

Bugarin credits all the support the team has received over the years to help the club win their first national title. “I would like to thank all of our friends and family who have supported us along the way no matter what the travel distance, or weather conditions,” said Bugarin. “I would like to thank my Assistant Coach, Andrew Dicea, for the countless hours of work he put in to registrations, travel, and of course, helping to coach this great group of guys. And a special thanks goes out to our main sponsor, and very good friend of mine, Mark Shiflett. Mark has supported the Maryland Bays financially since I assembled the team in 2009. Without his contributions we would not be able compete, and properly run the team.”

Maryland Bays roster for 2014 USASA Nationals

Starters: Kris Ward (GK), Josh Taylor, Aaron Beale, Matt Shell, Glenn Leitch, Chris Ports, Mike Gill, Marco Mangione, Danny Baxter, Jon Ports, Elton Joe

Reserves: Collin Rome, Bryan Moffa, Nino Mangione, Ray Kuemmer, Chris Weaver, Chris Williams

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2015 US Open Cup qualifying, 2015 USASA qualifying, Des Moines Menace USASA, Feature, Maryland Bays, Triangle Brigade, USASA Region I

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: Maryland Bays in line for a USASA Region I double as championship games set

June 6, 2014 by Michael Berton

USASA Region I logoUSASA Region I qualifying for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is nearly at an end, with the Maryland Bays remaining alive in both the Open and Amateur Cups. Elsewhere, Mass Premier Soccer is in the Open Final after changing its name to GPS Massachusetts, and the New York Greek American Atlas nearly hit double-digit goals against its Amateur Cup semifinal foes.

2014 USASA Region I Open Cup Semifinals
Lansdowne Bhoys 1(4):1(5) GPS Massachusetts

It doesn’t seem to matter what their name is, GPS Massachusetts just keeps on winning in Region I play. Formerly Mass Premier Soccer, the side that switched its name partway through the tournament defeated Lansdowne Bhoys 5-4 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw.

According to BigAppleSoccer.com, the hosts from Eastern New York dominated the game after an early goal from Sikele Sylvester. However, GPS equalized from a deflected free kick, and neither team could find the back of the net again until the penalty kick shootout.

GPS is looking to return to the Open Cup in 2015, after gaining a surprise entry into the 2014 edition. With the announcement of an expanded 2014 Open Cup field, the USASA was awarded two additional entries. One of those new spots went to GPS, who lost in the First Round on May 7 to the PDL’s Western Mass Pioneers.

The Massachusetts side faces the Maryland Bays on June 15 for the Region I Open Cup title.

2014 USASA Region I Open Cup Semifinals
Maryland Bays 4:0 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks

The Maryland Bays continued to roll through Open Cup qualifying with a 4-0 victory over the Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks. Jon Ports scored a first half brace, and Chris Weaver and Chris Ports added goals in the second half.

Maryland was riding high after earning its first-ever victories in Region I qualifying. A week after defeating West Chester United 3-1 in the Open Cup, the Bays stormed past FC Motown 6-1 in the Amateur Cup.

The Aegean Hawks were the only team other than Maryland that qualified for both tournaments, but the DC side is now out of both—they fell in penalty kicks to Vereinigung Erzgebirge in the Amateur Cup.

This game marked the first time Maryland had ever hosted a Region I Open Cup qualifier. The Bays move on to face GPS Massachusetts in the final on June 15.

2014 USASA Region I Open Cup qualifying
(Home teams on right)

Preliminary Round (April 6)
AC Blaugrana (RI) L:W Mass Premier Soccer (MA)
ACB won original match 2-0, but were DQ’d for use of ineligble player

Quarterfinals (April 6)
Newtown Pride FC (CT) 1:5 Lansdowne Bhoys FC (East NY)
Maryland Bays (MD) 3:1 West Chester United (East PA)
Oak Avalon (West PA) 1:3 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (DC/VA)
Icon FC (NJ) 0:5 Mass Premier Soccer (MA) – April 13

Semifinals (May 4)
Lansdowne Bhoys (East NY) 1(4):1(5) GPS Massachusetts (Mass Premier Soccer) (MA)
GPS Massachusetts advances 5-4 on penalty kicks
Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (DC/VA) 0:4 Maryland Bays (MD)

Final (June 15, 11 a.m.)
GPS Massachusetts (MA) vs. Maryland Bays (MD)
Winner qualifies for 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2014 USASA Region I Open Cup Semifinals
New York Greek American Atlas 9:0 Danbury United

Danbury United just can’t seem to get over the New York hump. Since qualifying for the Open Cup in 2007, United have lost to teams from the Empire State in its three attempts. This year’s 9-0 loss to New York Greek American Atlas was by far the worst of those losses.

Reigning Region I Amateur Cup champions and 2014 US Open Cup entrants NYGAA were up 6-0 at halftime. The victory propels the Cosmopolitan League side to the Final, where last year they defeated fellow New Yorkers, the Italian Americans.

The Greek Americans are four-time US Open Cup champions (1967-69; 1974) and this year qualified for the tournament for the fifth time in the Modern Pro Era and won their first tournament game during that span as they defeated the Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL) 2-0 in the Second Round.

2014 USASA Region I Amateur Cup Semifinals
Maryland Bays 1:0 Vereinigung Erzgebirge

With a spot in the Regional final on the line the Semifinal battle between the Maryland Bays and Eastern Pennsylvania’s Vereinigung Erzgebirge came down to the final minutes. The Bays put themselves in line for a Region I double with a a game-winning goal in the 86th minute, giving Maryland a 1-0 win. They will play in the Region I Open Cup Final and the Amateur Cup Final, which will be hoested by the Ukrainian Nationals (Horsham, Pa.) on June 15.

In the opening half, the visitors from the Philadelphia area focused on absorbing pressure from the Bays, and with the game scoreless at halftime, it was mission accomplished.

“The game plan was advance. We knew we would need to defend first and finish off one of our chances,’ said VE manager Rob Oldfield.

VE created more chances in the second half as the game opened up, but the Bays would have the best chance thanks to Greg Ermold. Maryland’s John Boswell sent a cross into the box that snuck through all of the traffic in front of the net and fell to Ermold who launched a shot off the post to keep the game scoreless.

The game opened up late and just when it looked like it was heading to extra time, a deflected cross fell to Maryland’s Elton Joe and after a scramble for the ball, Joe got his foot on the ball and put what would prove to be the game-winner into the back of the net with less than five minutes to play.

2014 USASA Region I Amateur Cup qualifying
(Home teams on right)

First Round (April 13)
Manzanillol Deportivo (NH) 0:6 Danbury United (CT)
NY Greek American Atlas (East NY) 5:0 Mass United FC (MA)
Maryland Bays (MD) 6:1 FC Motown (NJ)
Vereinigung Erzgebirge (East PA) 3(4):3(3) Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA)
VE advances 4-3 in penalty kicks

Semifinals (May 11)
Danbury United (CT) 0:9 NY Greek American Atlas SC (East NY)
Vereinigung Erzgebirge (East PA) 0:1 Maryland Bays (MD)

Final (June 15, 3 p.m.)
New York Greek American Atlas (East NY) vs. Maryland Bays (MD)
Winner qualifies for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

Filed Under: US Open Cup, US Open Cup Qualifying Tagged With: 2015 US Open Cup qualifying, 2015 USASA qualifying, Aegean Hawks, Danbury United, GPS Massachusetts, Lansdowne Bhoys, Maryland Bays, Mass Premier Soccer, New York Greek American Atlas, USASA Region I, Vereinigung Erzgebirge

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: Amateur Cup to decide USASA Region I entry for first time

April 21, 2014 by Martin Whiteley

USASA Region I logo

USASA Region I logoThe opening round of the 2014 USASA Region I Amateur Cup took place on on April 13 with four teams moving one step closer to qualifying for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Region I announced last fall that, for the first time in tournament history, the winner of the Amateur Cup will represent the region in the US Open Cup.

Vereinigung Erzgebirge from Eastern Pennsylvania traveled to the Maryland Soccerplex to face 2009 Amateur Cup champion Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks from Metro DC/Virginia. In the closest of the four first round games the teams ended play locked at 3-3. A Greg Shertzer goal in the 29th minute gave VE a 1-0 halftime lead, but after Andre Nunes equalized just after halftime for the Hawks, a 60th minute penalty kick by Artie Taylor gave VE the lead again. Aegean Hawks veteran Watson Prather tied the game in the 78th minute off a free kick but the scoring wasn’t done. Five minutes later, Drexel University product Malcolm LeBourne put VE ahead again.

“Malcolm thought the third goal was the finisher, allowing him to get home in time for ‘Game of Thrones,'” said VE’s Paul Dudley after the game.

Unfortunately, LeBourne’s favorite show would have to wait as Prather scored a stoppage time penalty kick for the Hawks to send the game into extra time.

After 30 minutes of scoreless soccer, a place in the semifinals came down to penalty kicks and VE, who have been playing soccer since 1969, emerged victorious 4-3. The Philadelphia area club earned a spot in the Amateur Cup regional semifinals for the first time since 1997 and are looking to qualify for the Open Cup for the first time since 2002.

“This was a complete team win,” said VE’s Brian Madden. “We are playing some of the best soccer I’ve seen in the 9 years I’ve been on the team.”

In other action, Danbury United from Connecticut played host to New Hampshire’s Manzanillol Deportivo at Immaculate High School. Danbury, who last qualified for the Open Cup in 2007, won a one-sided contest by the score of 6-0.

At Montclair State University, the home side FC Motown of New Jersey entertained the Maryland Bays. The Bays, who are also competing in the Region I Open Cup semifinals on May 4, came out comfortable 6-1 winners.

Another home side to struggle was Mass United FC, who lost 5-0 at Manning Stadium against 4-time US Open Cup champion New York Greek American Atlas. Keith Detelj scored two goals in the first 15 minutes, then completed his hat-trick 11 minutes into the second-half. Stephan Barea scored after 69 minutes and the scoring was completed 10 minutes from time. New York is attempting to qualify for the Open Cup for the second year in a row. They have been awarded a spot in the 2014 tournament as the 2013 Region I Amateur Cup champion.

The Amateur Cup semifinals will see Danbury United travel to New York to take on Greek American Atlas, while the Bays will play host to Vereinigung Erzgebirge. Both games are scheduled for May 11.

2014 USASA Region I Amateur Cup

First Round (April 13)
Danbury United (CT) 6:0 Manzanillol Deportivo (NH)
Maryland Bays (MD) 6:1 FC Motown (NJ)
NY Greek American Atlas 5:0 Mass United FC (MA)
Vereinigung Erzgebirge (East PA) 3:3 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA)
VE advances 4-3 in penalty kicks

Semifinals (May 11)
Danbury United (CT) at NY Greek American Atlas SC (East NY)
Vereinigung Erzgebirge (East PA) at Maryland Bays (MD)

Final (June 15)

Danbury/NYGAA vs. VE/Maryland Bays
Winner qualifies for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

Filed Under: Amateur Cup, US Open Cup, US Open Cup Qualifying Tagged With: 2015 US Open Cup qualifying, 2015 USASA qualifying, Aegean Hawks, Danbury United, FC Motown, Manzanillol Deportivo, Maryland Bays, Mass United FC, NY Greek American Atlas, USASA, Vereinigung Erzgebirge

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: Aegean Hawks, Maryland Bays, Lansdowne Bhoys and AC Blaugrana advance in USASA Region I tourney

April 7, 2014 by Josh Hakala

It was a physical battle between the Maryland Bays (left) and West Chester United in the 2014 USASA Region I Open Cup Quarterfinals | Photo: Kari Haffelfinger

UPDATE: AC Blaugrana of Rhode Island has been disqualified due to the use of an ineligible player. Details here.

The United States Adult Soccer Association’s (USASA) Region I took another step toward the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup as their qualifying tournament kicked off this weekend.

In the tournament’s lone preliminary round game, Rhode Island’s lone entry AC Blaugrana made their debut with a 2-0 win over Mass Premier Soccer to earn themselves a date with New Jersey champion Icon FC in the quarterfinals on April 13.

Elsewhere, Open Cup regulars Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks from Metro DC/Virginia defeated Pittsburgh’s Oak Avalon 3-1 to punch their ticket to the final four. They will take on the Maryland Bays who traveled north and defeated the three-time defending Eastern Pennsylvania champions West Chester United by the same score.

And finally, a new face joined the semifinals when Eastern New York champion Lansdowne Bhoys cruised past Newtown Pride SC from Connecticut 5-1. The Bhoys will await the winner of the Icon FC-AC Blaugrana match. The semifinals will take place on May 4.

The winner of the Open Cup tournament, along with the Region I Amateur Cup champion will represent the region at the 2015 US Open Cup.

2014 USASA REGION I OPEN CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND
AC BLAUGRANA (RI) 2:0 MASS PREMIER SOCCER (MA)
by Brian O”Connell | NESoccerToday.com

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – For many wearing the white AC Blaugrana strip, Sunday’s US Open Cup clash against Mass Premier Soccer at Framingham State University was a chance to right past wrongs. To atone for previous failures. And, perhaps most importantly, to avenge recent defeats.

With no fewer than 12 players from the recently-dissolved East Providence Sports on their squad, Blaugrana (R.I.) grabbed 2-0 Region 1 preliminary round win over the same Mass Premier (Mass.) team that had knocked the former LUSA powerhouse out of Open Cup play in three straight tournaments (2010, 2011 and 2012).

A scoreless first half gave way to a decidedly different sequel, which saw the Rhode Island-based side score its first from Kyle Teixeira in the 48th minute. Local goalscorer extraordinaire Alencar Junior scored Blaurgrana’s second in the 64th minute. Goalkeeper Scott Perdomo kept the sheet clean to ensure that he and his fellow E.P. Sports alumni would taste the nectar of sweet revenge against their recent Region 1 nemesis.

With the win, Blaugrana, who played its first Open Cup clash on Sunday, advanced to the Region 1 quarterfinals, where it will host Icon (N.J.) on Apr. 13 at a location to be determined.

Sunday’s match started off with Mass Premier pressing the issue, with Perdomo and his backline tested early. Tyler McNee and Ben Shuleva made runs into their opponent’s end, but Perdomo wasn’t forced to take any drastic actions.

Though they may have been making gains as the game progressed, Mass Premier found its best opportunities from set pieces. In the 20th minute, they were awarded a free kick near the left edge of the box, but Derek Nobrega’s effort was cleared away by center back Rui Fortes.

The Commonwealth XI found another chance from the set piece in the 40th minute, this time with a free kick given deep inside the right flank. Once again, Nobrega’s cross was cleared away, this time by right back Jimmy Hernandez.

Undaunted, Mass Premier nearly pocketed a goal seconds before the interval. MacNee beat his mark, and went alone into the area with only Perdomo standing in his way. But the Blaugrana keeper held his ground, and denied MacNee with a quick flick of his left arm before corralling the rebound.

Mass Premier may have looked like early favorites following an ambitious first half, thanks to their play along the flanks. But the second half would prove to be an entirely different story for the longtime Region 1 powerhouse.

Three minutes into the second stanza, Blaugrana came alive when Hernandez launched a long ball over to Teixeira, who beat the defense and looked to bring down the pass. MPS goalkeeper Jeff Newman quickly closed in on Teixeira, and the pair collided – but not before the Blaugrana winger pushed the ball on frame and gently into the back of the net.

The lead was theirs, but Blaugrana knew they couldn’t rest easily. Not against the same Mass Premier that proved itself the mightier in matches past.

However, Mass Premier would find its chances far and few in between. Unable to find a comfortable rhythm, they struggled to summon their first half form, and laid waste to the few opportunities afforded to them.

They were further frustrated just after the hour when Blaugrana put together the finest display of offense seen all afternoon. Wilder Arboleda sent it ahead to Hernandez on an overlapping run down the right, where the right back went deep into the MPS end before crossing it far post. With the ball about knee high, Junior clinically finished it on the volley to make it a two-goal game with just under half an hour remaining.

Facing deeper deficit, Mass Premier attempted to assemble their attack in search of a way to get back into the match. Set pieces afforded them glimpses of hope, but each opportunity went unanswered. Around the 75th minute, the men in red went to a 3-4-3, attempting to get bodies into the box.

Yet, the polish required to seize a measure of success eluded them throughout the afternoon, as Blaugrana were crowned victors once the final whistle screeched.

Lineups:

Mass Premier Soccer: Jeff Newman, Sam Brill, Alan Ashenfelter, Jake Edwards, Dan Tweed Kent, Ben Shuleva, Harris Smirko, Derek Stenquist, Charlie Romero, Tyler MacNee, Dan McGregor. Substitutes: Derek Nobrega, Nick Figueiredo, Matt Lemire, Jake Johnson, Matt Hoff

AC Blaugrana: Scott Perdomo, Wilder Arboleda, Quim DePinia, Rui Fortes, Mateo Giraldo, Jimmy Hernandez, Andres Perdomo, Anthony Petrarca, Jefferson Rojas, Alonso Villasenor, Alencar “Junior” Ventura. Substitutes: Patrick Gerard, Tristan Lewis, Peter Maciel, Dom Petrarca, Diego Tabares, Kyle Teixeira.

Scoring summary:
ACB: Kyle Teixeira (Jimmy Hernandez) – 48th min.
ACB: Alencar “Junior” Ventura (Jimmy Hernandez) – 64th min.

2014 USASA REGION I OPEN CUP QUARTERFINALS
DULLES SPORTSPLEX AEGEAN HAWKS (DC/VA) 3:1 OAK AVALON (WEST PA)
By Grant Czubinski | A Moment of Brilliance blog | @Pieyow

GERMANTOWN, Md. – It was business as usual for the reigning Metro DC-Virginia Open Cup Champion Dulles Sportplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA) today as the Washington club handily defeated visiting Oak Avalon (PA West) 3-1 in their USASA Region I Open Cup quarterfinal. The win sees the Hawks advance to the semifinal round where they will face the Maryland Bays on May 4.

If not for the heroics of Oak Avalon’s goalkeeper, Dustin Walker, the score line could have easily been much higher in favor of the Aegean Hawks. Walker – a Penn State Erie graduate – proved to the most important player on the field as he singled handedly prevented the game from becoming a rout, a performance that Aegean Hawks player/ assistant coach Watson Vaughn-Prather called “fantastic.” In the end, his efforts were for naught as the more experienced Hawks found ways to put the ball into the net, as David Rosenbaum, Scott Larrabee, and Gui Fonseca were able to notch goals to send the Washington club through to the next round.

After some pregame pleasantries between former Pittsburgh Riverhounds teammates Devlin Barnes (Aegean Hawks), Anthony Calvano, and John Liersemann (both of Oak Avalon), the game got underway just after 3 p.m. at the Maryland Soccerplex in Germantown, Md.

From the first whistle, the Hawks dictated the tempo of the game, which according to Vaughn-Prather, was part of the Washington club’s game plan. It did not take long for the Hawks to find the back of the net as Rosenbaum got on the end of a cross, found himself alone in the left side of the box, and blasted a mouthwatering shot near post beating Oak Avalon’s Walker for the game’s first tally in the 5th minute.

Following the game’s opening goal, the Hawks repeatedly made deep runs into Oak Avalon’s final third during the game’s first quarter hour, as the visiting Pennsylvania club looked overwhelmed and off balance. As the game progressed, Oak Avalon settled in and eventually created chances of their own, though their forays always sputtered while Walker who kept them in the game by continually turning away shots, which left the home team frustrated to only be up by one goal at the half.

Oak Avalon started the second half much more in control than the first, but could not get a shot on target, despite constantly controlling the ball in the Hawks’ half. The breakthrough finally came in the 63rd minute as Paul Paradise scored to level the game at 1-1.

The stalemate did not last long as Paradise’s goal proved the motivation the Hawks needed to perform at their highest level. Larrabee, finally got a shot past Oak Avalon’s Walker two minutes later to put the home team back on top 2-1.

Play began to get scrappy after the Hawks’ second goal as Oak Avalon realized that Larrabee’s goal decisively pushed the momentum of the game in the Hawks’ favor. Oak Avalon tried in vain to equalize for the next fifteen minutes, but always failed to find an opening in the host’s competent back four. The entrance of substitute Alex Herrera in the 80th minute proved to be the death knell for the tiring Pennsylvania club, as the speedy winger repeatedly took advantage of Oak Avalon’s often absent left back to control the ball deep in Avalon’s half giving the Pennsylvania club zero opportunity to mount an attack.

With momentum on their side, and a slew of substitutes in the game – including DC United academy product Parnell Hegngi – the Aegean Hawks took advantage of the fact that Avalon traveled with just 12 players, wearing them out as the game went on and dominating the final 20 minutes.

Fonseca decisively put the game away in stoppage time after he broke through several defenders to earn a one-on-one opportunity with the Avalon goalkeeper. Fonseca, a Santos academy product, danced around a fast encroaching Walker inside the box and calmly slotted home a left footed shot in the six yard box to give the Aegean Hawks a 3-1 lead in stoppage time to secure the win.

The win sends the Aegean Hawks into the semifinal round of Region I qualifying, one that Vaughn-Prather feels his team is more than ready to play. When asked how the competition in the Washington Premier League prepared the Hawks for this game, Vaughn-Prather responded, “It’s a competitive league that keeps us fit and allows us to compete in Open Cup qualifiers.”

Scoring Summary:
AEG: David Rosenbaum – 5th min.
OAK: Paul Paradise – 63rd min.
AEG: Scott Larrabee – 65th min.
AEG: Gui Fonseca – 90th min.+

Cautions:
OAK: Andres Lopez (Yellow) – 45th min.
AEG: Watson Vaughn-Prather (Yellow) – 79th min.

2014 USASA REGION I OPEN CUP QUARTERFINALS
MARYLAND BAYS (MD) 3:1 WEST CHESTER UNITED (EAST PA)
By Michael Berton | @MichaelBerton

In a battle between two teams that had never won a USASA Region I Open Cup game, the Maryland Bays overcame an early deficit to defeat Pennsylvania hosts West Chester United by a 3-1 score.

The Maryland Bays celebrate Chris Weaver's goal in the 74th minute that gave the Bays a 3-1 win over Wets Chester United. | Photo: Kari Haffelfinger

West Chester won the Eastern Pennsylvania championship for a third year running, but had been knocked out in the quarterfinal round of the Region I tournament in each of its previous two attempts. Maryland won its third state championship in its last four attempts, but similarly had yet to win a regional game.

United got off to a quick start on its home turf. An 8th  minute corner kick was cleared out of the Bays penalty box, but only as far as United winger Justin McCall. With time and space, McCall shot from 25 yards out, curling the ball into the right side-netting.

That lead was short-lived however, as Maryland’s Elton Joe sped past the West Chester defense in the 11th minute and easily slotted the ball past the United keeper. Joe’s speed would prove to be an issue for the home side throughout the contest.

Maryland Bays won a physical battle with West Chester United to advance to the Region I Open Cup semifinals. Photo: Kari Haffelfinger

Each side had several more close chances in the first half, but the game remained tied 1-1 at the break. The second half was a different story though. According to West Chester head coach Blaise Santangelo, a mixture of tired legs and missing players gave his squad some problems, which showed in a second half dominated by the Maryland champions.

Maryland got the eventual game-winner just six minutes into the second stanza. Once again, a Bays player ran through the middle of the West Chester defense for an easy goal. This time, it was former Loyola University Maryland player Glenn Leitch with the goal.

The game gradually got more physical, culminating in a red card for United’s Aaron Thomas, who got involved in an altercation in the middle of the field in the 67th minute. Maryland made the home team pay seven minutes later, when Joe’s blazing speed got him past the defense. His cross found Chris Weaver, who pushed the ball in from six yards out.

Maryland was able to calmly see out the remainder of the game, and in the process won a Region I game for the first time. The Bays will take on DC/VA champions Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks in the semifinals on May 4.

2014 USASA REGION I OPEN CUP QUARTERFINALS
LANSDOWNE BHOYS (EAST NY) 5:1 NEWTOWN PRIDE FC (CT)
By David Harris | Soccer Long Island Magazine | @DavidHarris0422

Bronx, N.Y. – In a performance worthy of those usually seen in Ballsbridge or Parkhead, Lansdowne Bhoys defeated Newtown Pride FC by a score of 5-1. Representing Eastern New York in the USASA Region I quarterfinal, Lansdowne added to a season of dominant displays with their win over Newtown, who were representing the Connecticut State Soccer Association.

The scoring started early in the first half as Lansdowne earned a penalty, which was coolly converted by midfielder and captain Stephen Roche. Lansdowne midfielder Cian McBrien added to the tally with a goal off a pass from forward Dwayne Reid. McBrien added another goal just before halftime, to make the score 3-0 to Lansdowne.

Lansdowne Bhoys captain Stephen Roche in action against Newtown Pride in their USASA Region I Open Cup quarterfinal match. Photo: David Harris

The second half started slow, with both teams struggling to create good scoring chances. Lansdowne maintained possession and Newtown looked to counter, which they eventually did through a goal by Colin Jackson.

With the score now 3-1, Lansdowne knew they had to finish what they started and they did. Lansdowne pushed the pace once again and came up with a fourth goal by Reid. Midfielder Sikele Sylvester added another for Lansdowne just before the end to make the score 5-1 and seal the win for the Eastern New York champions.

Lansdowne president and ESPN commentator Tommy Smyth was among the supporters who were there to cheer on their club. It’s been a dominant season thus far for the Bronx-based Irish-American club, with many terrific performances in the various Eastern New York and USASA competitions.

Currently top of the East group in Division 1 of the Cosmopolitan League with 36 points from 12 wins and only 1 loss, Lansdowne have been the story of the season thus far throughout amateur soccer in the region.

Austin Friel, the player/manager for Lansdowne said after the game, “it was another terrific performance by the lads. Newtown have a very good team, but the lads showed once again the quality that we possess. It’s a special group and it’s been a special season thus far, but we need to keep going with so many important matches coming up. We also want to thank our supporters and sponsors, who’ve been behind us all the way.”

Stephen Roche, the Lansdowne captain said, “I’m very proud of the effort the lads put in today. We pressed them from the word go and looked like we could score every time we had the ball. We will respect our next opponent, but are full of confidence.”

USASA Region 1 national cup commissioner Gus Xikis said, “Lansdowne looked really good today and are a great representative of Eastern New York. I can’t wait to see how they progress throughout the competition. Whether it’s Lansdowne or another club, Region 1 will be well represented at this year’s National Finals in Salt Lake City.”

Lansdowne Bhoys will play the winner of AC Blaugrana (R.I.) vs Icon FC (N.J.) on Sunday, May 4 in the USASA Region I semifinal.

2014 USASA Region I Open Cup qualifying
(Home teams on right)

Preliminary Round (April 6)
AC Blaugrana (RI) L:W Mass Premier Soccer (MA)
ACB won original match 2-0, but were DQ’d for use of ineligble player

Quarterfinals (April 6)
Newtown Pride FC (CT) 1:5 Lansdowne Bhoys FC (East NY)
Maryland Bays (MD) 3:1 West Chester United (East PA)
Oak Avalon (West PA) 1:3 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (DC/VA)
Icon FC (NJ) at Mass Premier Soccer (MA) – April 13, 2 p.m. at Framingham State College

Semifinals (May 4)
Lansdowne Bhoys (East NY) at Icon FC / Mass Premier winner
Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (CT) at Maryland Bays (MD)

Final (June 15)
Teams TBD – Winner qualifies for 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

Filed Under: US Open Cup, US Open Cup Qualifying Tagged With: 2015 US Open Cup qualifying, 2015 USASA qualifying, AC Blaugrana, Aegean Hawks, Icon FC, Lansdowne Bhoys, Maryland Bays, Mass Premier Soccer, Newtown SC, Oak Avalon, West Chester United

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: Maryland Bays avenge last year’s loss to win third state title in last four years

March 28, 2014 by Kellen Becoats

A year after the Maryland Bays were defeated by the Screaming Eagles, denying them a third straight Maryland Open Cup title, the Bays got their revenge. They defeated the Eagles 4-1 in the Maryland final March 9 to earn their third Rowland Cup championship (as it’s known locally) in four years.

With the win, the Bays will represent Maryland at the 2014 USASA Region I Finals, which will begin April 6. For their first round game at regionals, the Bays will travel north to the Philadelphia area to take on three-time defending Eastern Pennsylvania champion West Chester United. The winner of the Region I tournament will qualify for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Before they reached the 100th Maryland Open Cup final, the Bays defeated two-time champion Christos FC 4-0 in dominant fashion in the semifinals.

Maryland played the game with finesse, and after a quiet opening half-hour the Bays exploded onto the scene. Chris Williams sent in a low cross across the box and Jon Ports let it take a bounce before hitting it on the half-volley to rocket the ball into the upper right corner to give the Bays a 1-0 lead.

Christos FC, one of Maryland’s league rivals, then changed tactics and chose to sit back and defend to see if they could get a goal on the counter. But the Bays offense continued to push forward for another breakthrough and they would get it in the 60th minute.

Elton Joe beat two Christos defenders on the left side of the box and slotted a pass across the box that broke through Christos’ tentative defense once again, allowing Chris Ports to tuck the ball into the back of the net after a dummy from brother Jon.

This seemed to be the straw that broke Christos defense’s back as just five minutes later Maryland’s Leitch beat another CFC defender and attempted a shot from inside the six-yard box that looked off target, until it hit another Christos defender and rolled in for an own goal.

Unfortunately for CFC the goal-onslaught wasn’t over as Chris Ports received the ball at half-field, dribbled past three defenders and slotted the it into the far right corner of the net past Christos goalkeeper Dan Louisignau to cement the Bays’ place in the final.

The semis wouldn’t be the only game that Maryland scored four goals as the Bays eased their way to a Rowland Cup championship after dismantling the Eagles.

Maryland’s high-powered offense really poured it on the Eagles and suffocated the chances the Eagles had offensively. It also stretched the Eagles defense, often to the point of breaking. The most spectacular break would come in the 60th minute.

After Bays goals by Jon Ports and Glenn Leitch, Aaron Beale took the ball out of the back and began to run with it playing a bit a of 1-2 with Colin Rome. Beale eventually received the ball in the penalty area and after cheekily avoiding three defenders, he was tripped up and awarded a penalty.

Chris Ports stepped up to the spot and delivered a shot to the right but saw his effort saved. Unfortunately for the Eagles goalkeeper, he only managed to deflect the ball off the line, watching it land right back at Ports’ feet for the easy tap-in to give the Bays a 3-0 advantage.

Maryland offense looked to open the scoring early as Ports slotted a through ball to the right side of the box for his brother, who drove a scorching shot off the post in the fifth minute.

It wouldn’t take the Bays much longer to find the goal as Glenn Leitch nodded in a 35-yard free kick delivered by John Taylor to open the scoring in the eighth minute. Next, Leitch would turn provider in the 20th as he beat his marker on the left side and drove a hard pass across the box at Jon Ports, who made a cheeky dummy and watched it slide between the goalkeeper’s legs to put Maryland up 4-0. The Bays then subbed out five players to run out the clock, but the scoring wasn’t finished.

The Eagles deposited a late penalty in the 86th minute but the damage had been done and Maryland became the 2014 Rowland Cup champions and will represent Maryland in the USASA Region I Finals.

2014 Maryland Open Cup qualifying results
(Rowland Cup)

First Round (Jan. 19)
Baltimore Kickers Bayern 3:1 Malawi FC
Washington Elite FC 6:4 (AET) Pipeline SC

Quarterfinals (Feb. 2)
ASA Charm City FC 3:1 Academy FC
Screaming Eagles 8:1 Baltimore Kickers Bayern
Christos FC 2:1 Washington Elite FC
Maryland Bays 2:1 Spartans FC

Semifinals (Feb. 23)
Maryland Bays 4:0 Christos FC
Screaming Eagles 4:2 ASA Charm City FC

Final (March 9)
Maryland Bays 4:1 Screaming Eagles

Past Maryland Open Cup champions
2014: Maryland Bays
2013: Screaming Eagles 2012: Maryland Bays 2011: Maryland Bays 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
1997: Casa Mia
1996: Casa Mia
1995: Casa Mia

*qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

Filed Under: US Open Cup, US Open Cup Qualifying Tagged With: 2015 US Open Cup qualifying, 2015 USASA qualifying, Maryland, Maryland Bays, Screaming Eagles, USASA Region I

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: Charm City, Bays join Maryland Open Cup semifinals

February 4, 2014 by Richard Kirtland

The state of Maryland’s Open Cup semifinals, or Rowland Cup, as it’s known locally, are complete.

All four teams that advanced have won the tournament title in the last five years. Two-time champion Maryland Bays (2011-12), ASA Charm City FC (2010 co-champion), last year’s winner Screaming Eagles and another two-time champ Christos FC (2002, 2009) round out the final four, set to be played Feb. 23.

MARYLAND BAYS 2:1 SPARTANS FC

A goalkeeper’s job can be defined by spectacular saves or glaring misses, but when it came down to it, Phil Saunders came up with the former.

Saunders saved a penalty kick late in the game and effectively took the drive out off a strong Spartans squad and Chris Ports would tuck away a last-second penalty to give the Maryland Bays a 2-1 win over the Spartans.

After playing counterattacking soccer for much of the afternoon, the Spartans would push forward and work the ball into the box. Maryland tried to absorb the pressure but eventually conceded a penalty to seemingly swing the momentum in the Spartans’ favor with the score tied at 1-1 at the 75 minute mark.

But Saunders made himself big and saved the ensuing kick, pumping up the Maryland squad and urging his teammates forward to go for the win.

The push forward would eventually work for the Bays as Jon Ports dribbled into the box before being fouled and drawing a red card on a Spartan player.

Ports’ brother, Chris Ports, would step up to the spot and convert the penalty to give Maryland a one-goal advantage and the whistle would blow a few minutes later to seal the win.

The Bays opened the scoring on one of the three dangerous early breakaways that stretched the Spartans’ defense. Jon Ports led the breakaway and tucked the ball into the net five minutes into the game and it seemed smooth sailing heading into the second half.

But the Spartans exploded out of the gate in the second half, using strong counterattacking play to put one past Saunders and tie up the game at 1-1, but Maryland would keep pushing for another goal and leave the pitch with the win.

The game was extremely taxing for the Bays as three Maryland players left the game with game-ending injuries that left coach Bungarin with only his backup goalkeeper as a sub.

The Bays, last year’s state runner-up, will move on to play fellow two-time champion Christos FC in the final four. Christos narrowly edged Washington Elite FC 2-1 in their quarterfinal match earlier in the day.

ASA CHARM CITY FC 3:1 ACADEMY FC

The road to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is long and winding for most teams, and in the Rowland Cup quarterfinal match between ASA Charm City FC and Academy FC, one team’s journey was coming to an end. With a stellar cohesive team performance, Charm City was able to move on to the semifinals with a powerful 3-1 victory.

The game started without much fanfare, with both teams trading blows for the first 30 minutes of the game. In the 30th minute, Charm City’s Dan Lader scored on an attempted cross that ended up in the top corner. Lader raced down the right flank and launched a venomous curling cross to the back post that had enough spin to be tucked inside the frame.

That goal proved to be the only mark on the scoreline from the first half, and Charm City went into halftime up 1-0.

Academy conceded a penalty kick shortly after halftime when one of their defenders took down Charm City’s Pat Delaney inside the area. John Cole stepped up to calmly slot home the attempt to the goalkeeper’s right side. Academy was not done fighting, however, drawing back a goal in the 50th minute to make the score 2-1.

Unfortunately, the effort proved to not be enough, as City forward Cubay Wilson broke free and chipped the ball over the Academy keeper’s head to give Charm City a firm 3-1 lead which they would not relinquish.

Charm City is back in the final four where they will face the Screaming Eagles who cruised past Baltimore Kickers Bayern 8-1. Last year, the Eagles won their first-ever Maryland Open Cup title, denying the Maryland Bays a three-peat.

2014 Maryland Open Cup qualifying results
(Rowland Cup)

First Round (Jan. 19)
Baltimore Kickers Bayern 3:1 Malawi FC
Washington Elite FC 6:4 (AET) Pipeline SC

Quarterfinals (Feb. 2)
ASA Charm City FC 3:1 Academy FC
Screaming Eagles 8:1 Baltimore Kickers Bayern
Christos FC 2:1 Washington Elite FC
Maryland Bays 2:1 Spartans FC

Semifinals (Feb. 23)
Christos FC vs. Maryland Bays
Screaming Eagles vs. ASA Charm City FC

Final (March 9)
Montgomery Blair High School

Past Maryland Open Cup champions
2013: Screaming Eagles
2012: Maryland Bays 2011: Maryland Bays 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

*qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

Filed Under: US Open Cup, US Open Cup History Tagged With: 2015 US Open Cup qualifying, 2015 USASA qualifying, Academy FC, Charm City FC, Christos FC, Maryland, Maryland Bays, Screaming Eagles, Spartans FC, USASA Region I

2013 US Open Cup qualifying: Screaming Eagles win first Maryland title, deny Bays a three-peat in chaotic fashion

March 11, 2013 by Matt Johnston

First time US Open Cup entrants the Screaming Eagles defeated two-time defending champions Maryland Bays 4-2 in what can only be considered a wild final in Maryland’s Rowland Cup, the state’s US Open Cup Qualifying tournament. With their first final appearance and win, the Eagles advance to the USASA Region I tournament and are now just two wins away from the Open Cup proper.

The Eagles will move on to host the Metro D.C./Virginia champions Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks on April 7 in the Region I quarterfinals. The winner will play the team that emerges from the yet-to-be determined New Jersey champion and Eastern Pennsylvania title holder West Chester United in a “Win & You’re In” match on April 21.

The Screaming Eagles also make a little history in the process as they were the first Maryland International Soccer League team to enter the tournment, and now they are the first to win it.

While the six goals themselves, including two deep in stoppage time, would normally signal a lively affair, the goalscoring was only the tip of the iceberg. The game nearly saw the winning team have to start with only eight players, suffered four somewhat soft yellow cards, three mass confrontations, two clear red cards, a bizarre episode where two fans were ejected from the match and a seven minute suspension of the match while those fans were ejected.

The strange afternoon began even before the first whistle. In an interesting twist, the change to daylight savings time affected the Eagles, who five minutes before kick-off had only eight players. Just before the match started, three additional players arrived to give the Eagles a full complement of players. The Bays, on the other hand, had nearly as many players on their bench. In the 13th minute, three more Eagles arrived to give the first time entrants a bench to tap into for the game.

The first half was dominated by the Bays, who were fully warmed up and working to overcome their normal slow start. The experienced champions took control of possession and showed some sharp passing to create a few chances and keep the Eagles on the back foot. The Eagles, a physically strong, quick team, lacked cohesion and struggled to get passes strung together and their play was easily disrupted.

The physical tone of the match was set early when the Bays’ Antonio Bue made a strong, sliding challenge in the Eagles penalty area. Although a foul was called, the referee just spoke to Bue, on what appeared to be a studs up challenge, normally a misconduct warranting a yellow card. The game only got more physical from here.

The Bays took the early lead when a scramble on the left side saw multiple attempts by the Bays to cross the ball and ultimately winger Elton Joe was able to get a ball across the face of goal. With the Eagles defenders drawn to one side, Bays midfielder Chris Ports was standing all alone, unmarked and one-timed a right footer into the back of the net from six yards out in the 18th minute.

The remainder of the first half saw neither team able to create any solid chances. For the Eagles, it looked as though their best chances would come down the left flank, where Malone Komara was regularly beating Aaron Beall, but Bays centerback Josh Taylor snuffed out any real chances.

By the 40th minute, it had become clear that the refereeing was going to be a factor in the game and it would only be a matter of time before a red card was shown. The inconsistent calls were leading to a escalation of physical play, dangerous tackles and almost constant bickering from the Eagles team. The Bays players and managers had a good case about being on the short end of the referee’s inconsistency, but both teams played through.

When the teams returned to the pitch for the second half, the Bays jumped early into the attack. Again demonstrating quick ball movement, the Bays put two shots on goal and a couple of near misses in the first ten minutes of the half.

The 60th minute saw a definitive shift in the game. The Bays players, though technically skilled, were being muscled off the ball, sometimes fairly, and sometimes, it appeared, not so fairly. The Eagles, for their part, were beginning to link well through the midfield and the movement of their strikers, Munir Hassan and Francis Kamara, began creating options and opportunities.

In the 65th minute, Kamara took possession approximately 30 yards out from goal in the left channel and pushed a clean pass toward the center to the feet of an unmarked Olakunle Banjo who fired a curling right footer past the outstretched arms of Bays keeper Phil Latham to level the match.

After some midfield back and forth, the Bays’ Elton Joe and Powell Cuchiella counterattacked into the heart of the Eagles defense in the 72nd minute. Joe played a nifty through ball to the running Cuchiella who collected the pass at the top of the penalty area, took one touch, and then nutmegged the Eagles keeper for a goal.

At the time of the Bays second goal, the game started to get out of control. In fairly quick order, three Bays defenders, Josh Taylor, Matt Shell and Maxx Hurkamp received yellow cards in fairly dubious circumstances. The calls, in their view, were similar and sometimes identical to challenges made by the Eagles that often went without a call, let alone a yellow card. By the 75th minute, it was clear that tempers were simmering.

Just six minutes after the go-ahead goal, Eagles defender Alimany Jabbie elbowed Elton Joe in the face in a clear case of serious foul play. However, whether the referee was screened or not, it did not appear that he was prepared to issue any discipline to Jabbie, an action that incensed the Bays’ bench. The assistant referee clearly saw the incident and after a discussion with the referee, Jabbie was given his marching orders. The red card touched off the first mass confrontation with Eagles players and managers pleading Jabbie’s case, but the appeals were for naught. Play resumed but tempers were high.

In the 81st minute, Eagles Olakunle Banjo scored his second goal of the game with a hard blast from the right channel, leveling the score at 2-2. It looked as though play was headed to extra time. But when the Bays attempted to begin play again, the ball was kicked away and a few words were exchanged, leading to the second mass confrontation, during which the Eagles’ Christian Culker, who had been substituted out of the game, entered the field of play and appeared to push or strike another player. Culker was given his marching orders, but the Eagles remained with 10 men on the field.

Another attempt to restart play was delayed when Bays manager Andrew Dicea complained to the officials about the number of managers and non-player personnel in the Eagles technical area. An Eagles fan responded by coming down from top of the stands, and began shouting at Dicea from the lowest level of the stands. After two minutes of heated exchanges, the referee then ejected the fan from the grounds, which led to a third mass confrontation. When the Eagles fan refused to leave, a Bays fan took a photo of the Eagles fan and apparently called the local police who responded with four officers. The referee then ejected the Bays fan. When neither fan showed any inclination to leave, the referee suspended the match until such time as the fans left.

After another five minute delay during which the referee refused to restart the match until the ejected fans left the grounds, the fans finally left, although without police escort. Play resumed, and it appeared as though the Bays would simply ride the game out to extra time and mentally regroup. But a free kick conceded at the left corner of the penalty area changed matters.

Jonathan Orlando stepped up to the kick and bent the ball around and over the three-man wall and past the diving Latham and into the back of the net for what would be the game winner five minutes into a lengthy second half stoppage time. In response, the Bays threw everything forward in an attempt to equalize. However, a minute later, the Eagles were on a 2-on-1 break and Orlando scored his second goal in less than two minutes to give the the team a 4-2 lead.

The referee called full time a minute later and the Maryland Bays were denied the Maryland tournament’s first three-peat since Casa Mia won three straight titles from 1995-97.

2013 US Open Cup Qualifying – Maryland
Rowland Cup Final

Scoring Summary
Bays: Chris Ports – 18th min.
Eagles: Olakunle Banjo – 65th min.
Bays: Powell Cuchiella – 72nd min.
Eagles: Olakunle Banjo – 81st min.
Eagles: Jonathan Orlando – 95th+ min.
Eagles: Jonathan Orlando – 96th+ min.

Discipline
Bays: Chris Ports – Yellow Card (reckless challenge)
Bays: Josh Taylor – Yellow Card (reckless challenge)
Bays: Matt Shell – Yellow Card (reckless challenge)
Eagles: Alimany Jabbie – Red Card (Serious Foul Play)
Bays: Maxx Hurkamp – Yellow card (reckless challenge)
Eagles: Christain Culker – Red Card (Violent Conduct)

Lineups
Screaming Eagles: Edwin Theodore (Christian Caulker) Francis Kamara, Issa Mohamed, Isiaka Kamara, Guillermo Rodriguez, Godwin Amuzie, Usif Sindel, Alimamy Jabbie, Mannie Yamson, Jonathan Orlando, Olakunle Banjo | Subs: Larry Sawyer, Malone Koroma, Bash Bangura, Abdul Rasheed

Maryland Bays:
craig Nearhood, Powell Cuchiella, Phil Latham, Brian Moffa, Chris Williams, Matt Shell, Maxx Hurkamp, Chris Ports, Josh Taylor, Ray Kuemmer, Mike Gill, Elton Joe, Aaron Beall, Kevin Gnitcko, Antonio Bue, Bryan Barry, Jon Ports, Glen Letich.

2013 Maryland Open Cup qualifying results
(Rowland Cup)

First Round (Feb. 10)
ASA Charm City FC 5:0 Looney’s Pub North

Quarterfinals (Feb. 10/17)
Pipeline SC 5:4 Spartan SC (Feb. 10)
Screaming Eagles 2:0 Christos FC (Feb. 10)
Charm City FC 0:2 Maryland Bays (Feb. 17)
Mundo SC 2:1 Washington Elite FC (Feb. 17)

Semifinals (Feb. 24)
Maryland Bays 4:1 Pipeline SC
Screaming Eagles 4:1 Mundo FC

Final (Mar. 10)
Screaming Eagles 4:2 Maryland Bays
Howard High School

Past Maryland Open Cup champions
2013: Screaming Eagles
2012: Maryland Bays 2011: Maryland Bays 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

*qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2013 US Open Cup qualifying, 2013 USASA qualifying, Maryland, Maryland Bays, Screaming Eagles, USASA Region I

2013 US Open Cup qualifying: Maryland final set after Bays, Screaming Eagles cruise in semifinal wins

February 25, 2013 by Josh Hakala

In what is typically a very competitive state qualifying tournament for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Maryland’s Rowland Cup semifinals were a pair of one-sided affairs. The two-time defending champion Maryland Bays will have a chance at a rare three-peat after cruising past Santino Quaranta and Pipeline SC, 4-1. The Screaming Eagles will join them in next Sunday’s final by defeating Mundo FC by the same scoreline.

The championship game will take place on Sunday, March 10 at Howard High School in Ellicott City, Md. The winner will advance to the USASA Region I Finals where they will face DC/VA champions Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks in the quarterfinals.

Maryland Bays counterattack their way to a third straight final
By Matt Johnston

Coming into the Rowland Cup semifinals, the Maryland Bays had to be considered the favorite as the two-time defending champion and facing Pipeline SC, a new club that has only been in existence for less than two years. The Bays came away with the victory with a 4-1 scoreline that completely belied the run of play.

Pipeline SC had long spells of dominant possession, particularly early in each half, but were unable to translate that possession into goals, although they did have their chances. But despite all the possession, it was the Bays counterattack that produced their four goals.

The Bays had what general manager Andrew Dicea characterized as a typical slow start, and Pipeline established an early dominance, with much of the first 30 minutes of the game played in the Bays’ defensive half. Driving much of the play for Pipeline was holding midfielder Gus Terran, a former College of Charleston starter and relatively new addition to the Pipeline squad. Former DC United star, US international, and current Pipeline SC vice president Santino Quaranta nearly latched onto a fourth minute through ball down the right channel, but Quaranta put the ball just wide of the left post after nudging the ball around the sprawling Bays keeper. Quaranta would only play the first half before leaving the game at halftime

Just a few minutes later, Bays counterattacked down the left flank. A strong strike for Elton Joe was parried away by the Pipeline keeper, but the ball fell to the feet of Andrew Gillis, who slotted home the game’s first goal. Pipeline remained in control of the possession though, but were unable to convert a couple half-chances as the first half wound down.

The game appeared to be heading to a stalemate or a draw for the first fifteen minutes of the second half. But in the 61st minute, the Bays were on yet another counterattack, playing two attackers against three defenders. The Bays showed a tremendous amount of off the ball movement and the ball ended up playing across the backline to Mike Gill on the left side of the penalty area calmly slotted home the game’s second goal. But that was not without a great deal of controversy as at least twice it appeared that a Bays player was in an offside position in the build-up play and Gill himself might have been offside. However, the flag stayed down and the Pipeline defenders were more than a little vocal and upset. Pipeline coach Bill George rightfully called the goal “a game changer.”

Two weeks ago, Pipeline recovered from a three goal deficit to rally to victory and it appeared that Pipeline could do it again as the Bays continued to put men behind the ball and allow Pipeline to maintain the bulk of possession. Despite the large amount of movement among the Pipeline offense, but the front line appeared to not be on the same page, with passes ending up long, wide of the target, or behind the moving strikers.

In the 70th minute, despite the experience of the Pipeline back line, a deep centerback kept Elton Joe onside on a clean breakaway. Collecting the ball near the center circle, Joe sprinted nearly 40 yards to slide home an easy goal that may have been the icing on the cake.

Yet credit to Pipeline for not giving up. In the 85th minute, after much heavy pressure from Pipeline, former Real Maryland, Crystal Palace Baltimore player Sean Rush fired a 28-yard daisy cutter through traffic and past a sprawling keeper to nab Pipeline’s only goal. Yet, no heroic comeback was in the cards. In the final minute, on yet another rapid counterattack, Andrew Gillis netted his second goal of the day, but at that point the match was finished and shortly after the restart the referee blew the final whistle.

Asked about the prospects for the Bays in the final against the Screaming Eagles, Dicea admitted he didn’t know much about the Eagles other than their pace. “If they are moving well off the ball, it could be a great match up for us.”

Pipeline’s manager Bill George had praise for the Bays, “They are a quality side who will represent Maryland well in the US Open Cup. We wish them well.”

But the Bays have one more match before hoisting the Maryland championship for a third straight time, something that hasn’t been achieved in at least two decades. (TheCup.us’ Maryland Open Cup tournament records are incomplete)

Screaming Eagles book passage into final after rout of Mundo FC
by Richard Kirtland

It was a true showing of attacking prowess at Montgomery Blair High School as the Screaming Eagles managed to secure a berth in the 2013 Rowland Cup final after a 4-1 win over Mundo FC. The Eagles, a first-time entry into the tournament, are now one win away from a berth in the Region I Finals.

The scoring started early in the day as Rashid Deen managed to put a goal in the back of the net fairly early in the first half. Mundo FC then buckled down defensively, keeping the Eagles off the scoresheet until a few minutes before halftime when Godwin Amuzie tallied another one for Eagles.

After the halftime break, Mundo came out on fire, creating a number of chances and eventually scoring a goal of their own to force a 2-1 scoreline. The game then turned into a tense back-and-forth affair until Eagles player Alimamy Jabbie put in a third goal for the Maryland International Soccer League (MISL) side. Mundo then made several good attempts on goal, with most being parried away by goalkeeper Edwin Theodore. The Eagles then netted a fourth goal on the day off a brace by Deen. Content with a 4-1 scoreline, Eagles manager Adam Camara made a number of defensive-minded subs and Eagles held on to move into the Rowland Cup Final.

After the game Camara chose to praise his opponents. “Their team was a very complete team. They came out in a 5-3-2 and played very well.” Camara added that his team is completely focused on the Rowland Cup final on March 10 and that they are ready for the challenge.

2013 Maryland Open Cup Qualifying
Rowland Cup Semifinals

Maryland Bays 4:1 Pipeline SC

Scoring Summary:
Bays: Andrew Gillis (Unassisted) – 10th min.
Bays: Mike Gill  – 61st min.
Bays: Elton Joe – 70th min.
Pipeline: Sean Rush – 85th min.
Bays: Andrew Gillis – 90th min.

Lineups
Maryland Bays: N/A
Pipeline SC: N/A

Screaming Eagles 4:1 Mundo FC

Scoring Summary
Eagles: Rashid Deen – 1st half
Eagles: Godwin Amuzie – 1st half
Mundo: Rigoberto Gutierrez – 2nd half
Eagles: Alimamy Jabbie – 2nd half
Eagles: Rashid Deen – 2nd half

Lineups
Screaming Eagles: Edwin Theodore, Isiaka Kamara, Malone Koroma, Ruben Asare, Rodriguez Gurllermo, Abdul Rashid, Rashid Deen, Mannie Yamson, Usif Sindel, Jonathan Orlando, Godwin Amuzie | Subs: Larry Sawyer, Bash Bangura, Francis Issa, Issa Mohamed, Alimamy Jabbie

Mundo FC:Ashkan Bahrani, Mehran Mirjafari, Rich Burrowes, Rigoberto Gutierrez, Brian Greuter, Chris Brown, Erick Requeno, Mike Somtia, Frank Bakong, Jake Kern, Ben Wagner | Subs: Vahid Zeinoddini, Eric Narcis, Arnaud Ngueguim, Len Van de Graaff

2013 Maryland Open Cup qualifying results
(Rowland Cup)

First Round (Feb. 10)
ASA Charm City FC 5:0 Looney’s Pub North

Quarterfinals (Feb. 10/17)
Pipeline SC 5:4 Spartan SC (Feb. 10)
Screaming Eagles 2:0 Christos FC (Feb. 10)
Charm City FC 0:2 Maryland Bays (Feb. 17)
Mundo SC 2:1 Washington Elite FC (Feb. 17)

Semifinals (Feb. 24)
Maryland Bays 4:1 Pipeline SC
Screaming Eagles 4:1 Mundo FC

Final (Mar. 10)
Maryland Bays vs. Screaming Eagles
Howard High School

Past Maryland Open Cup champions
2012: Maryland Bays 2011: Maryland Bays 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

*qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2013, 2013 US Open Cup qualifying, 2013 USASA qualifying, Maryland, Maryland Bays, Mundo SC, Pipeline SC, Screaming Eagles

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