Cups Draw Set
Morton Cup Kicks Off 6 January
Dates, times & field locations still need to be determined. (18 December) We are set to start the 2019 Cup Season. There are 14 teams playing for the Rowland Cup, Maryland's open competition, 11 battling for the Stewart Cup, Maryland's amateur competition, 10 sides taking place in the Morton Cup, 4 competing in the Maryland Over-30 Cup and 3 for the Maryland Over-40 Cup. We kick off in January and look to conclude by March with Region I matches slated for April. Go to the tabs above for the cup schedules.
Match Day One - Morton Cup
New Year, New Cup Season
Maryland to hold five cup competitions. (3 January) The Morton Cup kicks off the new cup season this Sunday with four games slated for Match Day 1 at Blandair Park. We have a cross league round featuring Maryland Major Division 2 champion Steel Pulse FC taking on the Mason-Dixon Soccer double winner Blue Side FC. The other 11:00 match sees Colombia FC challenged by The Referees. The 1:00 contests will have Old Baltimore Footballers against Banfield with the Baltimore Kickers facing DC Flame.
Match Day 2 will be played the following Sunday and the first round of the Rowland Cup (Maryland's open championship) starts on 20 January. In February we begin the Stewart Cup, Maryland's amateur competition, followed by the Maryland Over-30 Cup and the Maryland Over-40 Cup. Four of our cup winners advance to Region I qualifiers.
Off to a Good Start
Match Day 1 Complete
Morton Cup gets all four games to start the cup season. (7 January) The weather was very good on this early Sunday in January as our schedule in the Morton Cup went off without a hitch. In Group A, Blue Side FC and Banfield take the early lead in the standings with 1:0 shutout by Blue Side over Steel Pulse FC while Banfield edged Old Balimore Footballers 2:1. Colombia FC defeated The Referees 3:0 to share the top of the Group B chart with the Baltimore Kickers, 3:1 victors over DC Flames.
Next Sunday will be Match Day 2 with a doubleheader at Blandair Park featuring a Maryland Major derby between Steel Pulse FC and Old Baltimore Footballers at 11:00 followed by Fortitude FC making its cup debut against Blue Side FC. Our other two games will be at Martin Luther King Park in Silver Spring with the 11:00 fixture showing Colombia FC against Ferro Carril Oeste and then The Referees playing the Baltimore Kickers in the second leg.
We start the Rowland Cup, the open championship for Maryland, the third Sunday of the month along with Match Day 3 of the Morton Cup.
Snow Slows Us Down
Match Day 2 Moved Back
This weekend looks iffy as well. (18 January) The snow storm last weekend hit us good and there is still snow on the ground as this gets posted. Hope is that rain will clear the pitches. We will play it by ear and check the conditions throughout the weekend. Any update will be posted here.
Match Day 2 fixture for the Morton Cup has been moved to 10 February. We will try to stick with the schedule as was set, moving postponed games to the end of the cycle.
If all goes well, we get the Rowland Cup, the open championship for Maryland, started this weekend. For the Morton Cup, we move into Match Day 3.
Back on Track
It Got Cold & Windy But Games Were Played
Another round of Rowland & Morton Cups matches this weekend. (22 January) The overnight rain & warmth melted the snow away, allowing us to get our fixtures played. But as they day went on, it got very windy & cold. Yet, we were able to complete our schedule of matches.
We got half of the first round games of the Rowland Cup started. Starliners FC edged Columbia FC 2:1 to set up a quarterfinal date against cup holder Christos FC. The other contest in that bracket saw Steel Pulse shutout Fighting B.O.B.s 1:0. They await the winner between Capital City and JA Raiders FC that will be played this Sunday. The third match featured the Baltimore Kickers with a 1:0 victory over Izee Auto FC. That earned them a quaterfinal round against Washington Premier League champion Yinz United. The other two slated for this Sunday at Blandair Park will see Academy FC against Mason-Dixon champ Blue Side FC while World Class Premier Elite takes on the Aegean Hawks FC. The Rowland Cup this season is a competition among our three leagues with the winner advancing to the Region I qualifier for the Werner Fricker Cup.
Match Day 3 of the Morton Cup was completed with Banfield holding the Group A lead after a 9:2 trumping over Fortitude FC along with Blue Side FC, who defeated Old Baltimore Footballers 2:1. The two teams have earned the maximum 6 points. Group B is lead by Colombia FC, a 4:1 victor over DC Flames. Ferro Carill Oeste made good on its cup debut shutting down The Referees 1:0. We go into Match Day 4 this Sunday, scheduled at Blandair Park and Martin Luther King Park.
After this weekend, we kick off the Stewart Cup to determine who qualifies for the Amateur Cup.
Quarterfinals Set
Rowland First Round Completed
Match Day 4 of Morton Cup on records book. (27 January) The cup schedule is rolling along as we have all of our first round Rowland Cup games played. This season, the Maryland Open Championship is set among the top sides of our three leagues (Maryland Major, Washington Premier & Mason-Dixon). Capital City, Blue Side FC & the Aegean Hawks FC advance to the quarterfinals.
Capital City shutout JA Raiders FC 3:0 to set up it next match against Steel Pulse. Blue Side FC out scored Academy FC 5:2 and will match up against Aegean Hawks FC who defeated World Class Premier Elite 2:1. The other quarterfinal slots have cup holder Christos FC against Starliners FC and Washington Premier League champion Yinz United playing Baltimore Kickers FC. The quarterfinals are slated for 10 February at Blandair Park. The Rowland Cup winner advances to the Region I qualifier for the Werner Fricker Cup.
The Morton Cup is past the half way point in group play. Banfield was handed its first loss with Steel Pulse on the winning side of a 5:1 result. Old Baltimore Footballers blanked Fortitude FC 3:0 in the other Group A fixture. Group B play saw the Baltimore Kickers edge Colombia FC 2:1 while DC Flames and Ferro Carill Oeste finished in a scoreless draw. Blandair Park and Martin Luther King Park are the sites for the Match Day 5 schedule.
We now add the Stewart Cup into the mix, Maryland's Amateur competition. First round action has Academy facing Motorik FC Alexandria, Izee Auto FC versus Columbia FC and Fighting B.O.B.s squaring off against Baltimore United. All three matches will be at Blandair Park with the cup winner moving through to the Amateur Cup.
Missed Opportunity
Morning Ice Cancels Cup Rounds
Schedules pretty much pushed over a week. (4 February) After a polar vortex that brought some record cold temperatures throughout the nation, it was a very pleasant in the 50's yesterday. The problem was that icy fields early in the morning called for shutdown. So we were not able to get any of our cup matches played.
So we get back into the saddle next week and launch the Stewart Cup, Maryland's Amateur competition. Blandair Park will host the first round action with Academy meeting Motorik FC Alexandria, Izee Auto FC taking on Columbia FC and Fighting B.O.B.s facing off against Baltimore United FC.
The Morton Cup will get in Match Day 5 played with Ferro Carill Oeste squaring off against the Balitmore Kickers and DC Flames versus The Referees at Blandair Park. Over at Martin Luther King Park, the first match features Blue Side FC and Banfield with the second game showing Fortitude FC and Steel Pulse FC. We still have Match Day 2 to make up, which will take place over the following two weeks.
Stewart on the Books
Morton Down to Last Match Day
Rowland quarterfinals next on our plate. (11 February) The Stewart Cup finally got off the ground after a week delay. This is Maryland's amateur competition established in 1932 with the winner advancing to the Region I qualifier of the Amateur Cup. Academy FC ruined the cup debut of Motorik FC Alexandria with a 1:0 shutout. Izee Auto FC defeated Columbia FC 3:1 while Fighting B.O.B.s played a man short but were able to eliminate Baltimore United FC 4:0. The quarterfinals are set for 24 February.
Although it was the final match day scheduled for the Morton Cup, we still have Match Day 2 to make up. Blue Side FC and the Baltimore Kickers locked a place in the semifinals as they top their respective groups. Blue Side leads Group A after a 7:1 thumping of Banfield. The Kickers blanked Ferro Carill Oeste 2:0 and sit in first with 9 points in Group B. DC Flames won 4:2 against The Referees while Fortitude FC took a beating by Steel Pulse FC, losing 10:0. We have one match this weekend with Colombia FC and Ferro Carill Oeste to determine who will take the second Group B playoff spot. The other Match Day 2 games will be played on 24 February.
This year's Rowland Cup is a championship featuring all three of our MSSA leagues. The winner moves onto the Werner Fricker Cup in the Region I qualifiers. Cup holder Christos FC takes on Starliners FC, Steel Pulse FC matches up against Capital City, the Aegean Hawks FC face Mason-Dixon's Blue Side FC and WPL champion Yinz United hook up against the Baltimore Kickers. All four contests will be played at Blandair Park in Columbia.
Final Four Set for Rowland Cup
Morton Has 3 Out of 4 Figured Out
Stewart Cup quarterfinals next in order. (18 February) We are on a good pattern as we have our first semifinals ready to go in the Rowland Cup and need to determine the fourth side for the Morton.
Christos FC has a three year run on the Rowland Cup and they took a step closer to making it four after beating Starliners FC 4:1. Pete Caringi, Brian Graham & Cody Albrecht tallied for Christos. Their semifinal opponent will be Steel Pulse FC who also won 4:1 against Capital City. The other semifinals feature Blue Side FC, 3:1 victors over the Aegean Hawks FC and Yinz United who defeated the Baltimore Kickers 6:0. These four will gather on 3 March at Montgomery Blair HS. The winner of the Rowland Cup advances to the Region I qualifier for the Werner Fricker Cup.
We were only able to squeeze in one match for the Morton Cup make up of Match Day 2 as some teams were playing in the Rowland Cup. Colombia FC locked up second in Group B edging Ferro Carill Oeste 3:2. That places them against Blue Side FC in the semifinals. The Baltimore Kickers await for the other semfinalists as there is the possibility of a three team deadlock for second in Group A. The final group matches will be played this Sunday at Blandair Park.
The Stewart Cup will get to its final four pairing this weekend. Two of the quarterfinals will be at Blandair Park, the other two at Montgomary Blair HS. Winning this prestigious cup forwards the winner to the Amateur Cup.
MSSA March Madness
Final Four in All Cups
Rowland Cup features four league champions in its semifinals. (25 February) It is always hit or miss during our cup season as we do not know what kind of weather we will get from week to week in this Mid-Atlantic atmosphere. But we survived through January & February and usher into March at the semifinal stage for the Rowland, Stewart & Morton Cups.
The Stewart Cup is Maryland's amateur championship with the winner advancing to the Region I qualifier for the Amateur Cup. Current holder Christos FC had an easy round eliminating Academy FC 8:0. Their semifinal opponent Starliners FC put away JA Raiders FC in a 6:0 shutout. The other side of the bracket went into extra time in both matches. After a 1:1 draw, Izee Auto FC scored twice to defeat Yinz United 3:1. World Class Premier Elite and Fighting B.O.B.s finished at 2:2 in regular time. World Class got the edge in the 118th minute to advance with a 3:2 victory. The semifinals are set for 10 March at Montgomery Blair HS.
We wrapped up the group stage of the Morton Cup as we got the last three Match Day 2 fixtures played. Blue Side FC completed an undefeated run with a 5:0 win over Fortitude FC to top Group A. Steel Pulse FC secured the second spot with a 7:0 scrubbing of Old Baltimore Footballers. The Baltimore Kickers kept a clean mark leading Group B with a 2:0 shutout of The Referees. Colombia FC finished second in the Group B to set a date against Blue Side in the semifinal. This final four will also take place on 10 March at Oakland Mills HS.
This year we tweaked the format of the Rowland Cup, Maryland's oldest competition established in 1914 to determine the state's open champion. Whereas in the past, teams entered the tournament, this time our leagues selected their top clubs who were then invited to take part to determine a champion among our leagues. In an interesting twist, the four remaining squads are all champions of the past fall season. The first semifinal features a Maryland Major derby with defending cup champion and the winner of first division Christos FC against the second division titlist Steel Pulse FC. That match will be at 11:00 followed by two teams that took their league doubles. Yinz United, regular season and Helge Boes Cup winner of the Washington Premier League, will face the Mason-Dixon Cup and Slick Cup winner Blue Side FC. Come out to Montgomery Blair HS Sunday for this champions fest.
Rowland Final Set
Christos & Yinz to Determine Open Champion
Izee Auto claims spot in Stewart Cup final. (4 March) That damn groundhog promised us an early spring and despite his erroneous forecast, we still got a number of semifinals played in yesterday's less than ideal weather. Christos FC and Yinz United will meet in the final of the Rowland Cup while Izee Auto FC waits to see who it will play for the Stewart Cup.
The semifinals of the Rowland Cup featured the four champions of the fall season. The first match was a Maryland Major derby as Christos FC, the first division champion, defeated the second division winner, Steel Pulse FC 4:3 in extra time. Cup holder Christos will look to defend the title against Yinz United of the Washington Premier League who edged Mason-Dixon's Blue Side FC 2:1. The Rowland Cup, established in 1914, is Maryland's oldest competition that determines the state's open champion and who will move forward to play the Region I qualifiers of the Werner Fricker Cup of which Christos won last summer. The final is set for 31 March.
We played one of the semfinal matches of the Stewart Cup, Maryland's amateur championship. Izee Auto FC and World Class Premier Elite finished at a 2:2 draw through extra time. Izee advanced to the title match outkicking World Class 4:3 in penalty rounds. They await the winner between Christos and Starliners FC who will meet Sunday at Montgomery Blair High School.
The Morton Cup semifinals will be played Sunday with Blue Side FC hosting Colombia FC at Montgomery Blair and the Baltimore Kickers facing Steel Pulse FC at Oakland Mills High School. These four sides were the top two in their respective groups and the final is scheduled for 17 March.
Stewart Replay Set
Christos & Izee Return to Last Season's Final
Baltimore Kickers & Colombia FC to meet in Morton Cup final. (13 March) After two months of cup play, we have three finals set to take us to the end of March. The first championship will be the Morton Cup where the Baltimore Kickers will face Colombia FC this Sunday at Laytonia Recreational Park in Gaithersburg. The Kickers shut out Maryland Major rival Steel Pulse FC 2:0. Colombia upended Blue Side FC 3:0 to reach its first Maryland title match. It will kick off at 11:00.
Last Sunday, Izee Auto FC locked up a spot in the final of the Stewart Cup, Maryland's amateur championship. Christos FC and Starliners FC were looking to get the other slot with Christos running away with a 4:0 victory. This will be a repeat of last season's Stewart championship that Christos won 3:2. The two shall meet on 24 March at Laytonia Recreational Park with the winner advancing to the Amateur Cup qualifiers.
Christos will look to defend the Rowland Cup on 31 March when they take on Yinz United. Last summer this competition took Christos to the Werner Fricker Cup and another national title.
We wrap up the 2019 cup season in April with the Maryland Over-30 and Over-40 Cups.
Colombia FC Takes Morton Title
Stewart Final Up Next
Start of Over-30 with Christos & Bays. (18 March) Colombia FC has been a regular entry of the Morton Cup since its beginning in 2013. A seventh try turned out to be the lucky one as Colombia lifted the trophy for the first time with a 2:0 shutout of the Baltimore Kickers. Andres Gomez calmly put away two goals from the penalty spot while Julian Castiblanco earned the clean sheet in front of the net. Jason Vuniga in central midfield and Julian Gomez at center back controlled the tempo for the Division I champions of the Montgomery County League. Congratulations to manager Jorge Daniels whose side joins FC Reina (twice), Sierra Rangers, Brothers United, Catonsville FC and Starliners FC among the Morton winners. The Morton Cup was established in 2013 as a state cup championship in honor of former MSSA vice president Darwin "Lefty" Morton, who could always be seen on the touch lines of cup and league games throughout Maryland.
This Sunday we play the title match for a competition that has been around much longer, the Stewart Cup. It will be a replay of last year's final as cup holder Christos FC will meet once again Maryland Major league rival Izee Auto FC. The Stewart Cup, Maryland's amateur championship that started in 1932, determines who represents Maryland in the Amateur Cup. The match is set for 11:00 at Laytonia Recreational Park.
The Maryland Over-30 Cup kicks off this Sunday as well with Christos FC taking on the Maryland Bays in the first of two semifinals. It will be played after the Stewart final at 1:00. Colombia FC and the Baltimore Kickers will meet the following weekend in the other semifinal.
The Rowland Cup championship is set for 31 March between Christos and Yinz United. Our Open champion will advance to the Werner Fricker Cup, which was won by Christos last season.
Christos Defends Stewart Title
Extends Reign to Fourth Year
Bays edge it out in extra time to win Over-30 semifinal. (25 March) The Stewart Cup is Maryland's second oldest competition, the state's Amateur Championship first played in 1932. For the fourth consecutive year, Christos FC hoisted the trophy once again, the seventh time in club history to move on to the US Amateur Cup with a 6:0 rout of Izee Auto FC. Mamadou Kansaye put Christos in the lead in the 12th minute and scored again in the second half. He was joined by Jamie Merriam, Michael Scott and Joe Glos who contributed a brace as well. Christos will host the BSC Raiders of Western New York on 7 April in a first round Region I qualifier. Time and location to be determined.
In the second part of a doubleheader, Christos fell short in extra time as they lost 3:2 to the Maryland Bays in a semifinal match of the Maryland Over-30 Cup. The lead went back and forth to finish 2:2 in regulation. A penalty converted by the Bays in extra time made the difference. Colombia FC and the Baltimore Kickers finish out the other semifinal this Sunday, 1:00 at River Hill High School.
Christos will look to defend the Rowland Cup as it faces Yinz United at 11:00 at River Hill High School. This is Maryland's oldest competition, the state's Open championship with the winner advancing to the Werner Fricker Cup, which Christos looks to defend as well.
Yinz Lifts Rowland Cup
WPL Champ Ends Christos Run
Baltimore Kickers set final date against the Bays for the Over-30 championship. (2 April) They knocked the door several times, losing state finals in 2016 & 2017 to their cross league rivals. This year was the charm as Yinz United came back to defeat Christos FC 2:1 to take the Rowland Cup. This title match featured the fall champions of the Maryland Major Soccer League against that of the Washington Premier League and both went at it immediately. Yinz's Amir Najib got his shot blocked and Christos hit it off the post in the first ten minutes. Kaoru Forbess' 36th minute strike was enough to give Christos the lead at halftime. The Baltimore side were about to put a grip on defending the title when they were awarded a penalty in the 65th. The goal post once again got in the way to deny doubling the result. Momentum changed immediately when Garrett Muzikowski made good on a brilliant cross by Josh Prosser to draw it even a few minutes later. Chris Fanet then got the game winner stripping the ball near midfield and sprinting 40 yards to hit it into the far post. Yinz held off Christos for the last 20 minutes to earn its first Maryland title. The Rowland Cup is the state's Open championship and oldest competition established in 1914. Yinz will now advance to Region I qualifier of the Werner Fricker Cup, looking to keep it in Maryland as it was won by Christos last season. They will host Real VSA of West Virginia on the 13 or 14 April.
The second semifinal of the Maryland Over-30 Cup was played with the Baltimore Kickers defeating Colombia FC 3:1 to earn a title date against the Maryland Bays. The final will be played this Sunday, 6:00 at Marriotts Ridge High School in Marriottsville. The winner advances to the Gerhard Mengel Cup.
Christos kicks off the Region I rounds of qualifiers as it will host BSC Raiders of Western New York in the Amateur Cup. Sunday's match will be at Essex Community College at 4:00.
Bays Return to Champions Roll
Yinz Advance to Region I Semifinal
Mando Ramos meet for Over-40 semifinal. (24 April) The Maryland Bays made a comeback to the MSSA cups, this time as an Over-30 side. After disposing holder Christos FC in the semifinal, the Bays put away the Baltimore Kickers 7:0 to win the Maryland Over-30 Cup. They await the winner between Polonia Wallington SC (NJ) and the winner from Eastern Pennsylvania for a semifinal round in the Region I qualifier of the Gerhard Mengel Cup.
Yinz United earned their way to the semfinal stage of the Werner Fricker Cup after defeating Real VSA of West Virginia 5:1. Next will be BSC Raiders of Western New York. The match will take place in Buffalo on the weekend of 5 May.
Christos will host Steel FC of Pennsylvania West this Sunday, 3:45 at Essex Community College. Christos defeated the BSC Raiders 2:1 in a first round match to advance to the quarterfinals.
The Maryland Over-40 Cup kicks off Sunday with a sole semifinal between the Baltimore Kickers and Mando Ramos. The game will be played at Marriotts Ridge High School Sunday evening at 7:00. The winner to face Christos in the final on 5 May.
Mando Ramos Reach Final
Christos Out of Amateur Cup
Yinz head up to Buffalo for Werner Fricker Cup semifinal. (30 April) The Maryland Over-40 Cup finally made it to the pitch after a weather delay pushed it back two weeks. Two early goals by Mando Ramos were enough to hold back a comeback by the Baltimore Kickers as the match closed 2:1. Mando Ramos will meet Christos FC Sunday evening, 7:00 at Marriotts Ridge High School.
Christos hosted Steel FC of Pennsylvania West in the quarterfinal round of the Amateur Cup. After a scoreless first half, an early free kick in the second half was enough to send the Pittsburgh side to the Region I semifinals.
Yinz United face the BSC Raiders of Western New York in the semfinal round of the Werner Fricker Cup. The match will be played Saturday.
Christos Repeat O-40
Yinz in Region Final of Werner Fricker Cup
Bays will meet Phoenix Sport Club in Gerhard Mengel Cup semifinal. (9 May) Christos FC collected their second silverware of the cup season while holding onto their title in the Maryland Over-40 Cup with a 4:2 victory over Mando Ramos FC. Bill Wnek, Marcos Chantel, Val Teixeira and Andre Wise tallied for Christos before Mando Ramos scored two late goals. Christos head up to Philadelphia next month to play West Chester United in the Region I semifinal. Earlier this cup season Christos lifted the Stewart Cup.
Yinz United came up with a tough away shut out against the BSC Raiders of Western New York to reach the Region I final of the Werner Fricker Cup. An early own goal was enough as Spencer LaCivita kept the clean sheet to send his side through. Yinz will face Lansdowne Yonkers FC of Eastern New York in June for the championship.
The Maryland Bays head north next week as they challenge Phoenix Sport Club in the Region I semifinal of the Gerhard Mengel Cup, the Over-30 Championship. The match will be played 19 May.
Yinz & Bays Fall Short
Both Get a Shot at Championship of Regions
Maryland to host national event on 16 & 17 August at Troy Park. (17 June) Both Yinz United and the Maryland Bays made valiant comebacks in the Region I finals held at the Ukrainian American Sport Center. But extra time got the best of both sides. In the Werner Fricker Cup, Yinz scored with a minute left to tie the match at a goal apiece against Lansdowne Yonkers FC of Eastern New York. In exta time, the Bhoys put it away to earn its second Region title in the Amateur Open Championship in three seasons.
The Bays had a similar fate against Pancyprian Freedom O30, also of Eastern New York in the Gerhard Mengel Cup. With the match in its dying minutes, they made it 2:2 to keep the match going. The Pancyprian doubled up in extra time to take the Over-30 title.
Both have a shot at redemption as Region I will have both finalists competing in the Championship of Regions among winners from Region I, Region II and Region III. Troy Park in Elkridge will be the center of attention come August.
Maryland to Host Championship of Regions
Winners from Regions I, II & III Play for Titles
Yinz & Bays among those competing in national event. (28 July) The finale of the 2019 cup season is the Championship of Regions with teams from Region I, Region II & Region III competing for three titles. Region I and the Maryland State Soccer Association will host the event at Troy Park in Elkridge, Maryland on 16 & 17 August.
Friday will feature the semifinals with Yinz United hosting ASC New Stars of Region III (Texas South) in the Werner Fricker Cup, the Amateur Open Championship. The other semifinal will see Region I champion Lansdowne Yonkers FC of Eastern New York against Ft Wayne SC from Region II (Indiana).
The Maryland Bays will battle for the Gerhard Mengel Cup, the Over-30 Championship, as it goes up against Nashville United FC of Region III (Tennessee), which won the Cup last season. The Region I winner Pancyprian Freedom O30 of Eastern New York will meet AAC Eagles O30 of Region II (Illinois).
The third title will be the National Over-40 Cup with Region I champion West Chester United of Eastern Pennsylvania facing Illinois side Jake Stars Punishers of Region II while Region I finalist Fairfield GAC FC of Connecticut squares off against defending national champion Kickers FC O40 of Region III (Florida).
