2025 Season Recap
Enter 2025 Cups
Registration EXTENDED to 6 December
(11 October) The application for the 2025 Cup Season is now available. Teams may register for the Stewart, Morton and Maryland Over-30, Over-40 & Over-50 Cups. This season, the Rowland Cup will be integrated with the Maryland-District-Virginia Cup. Those teams will be selected among the league participants. Registration has been EXTENDED to 6 December.
Play will start in January with the goal to complete by March. Several of our winners will advance to the qualifiers for USASA Region I. The Morton and MDV Cups are state only competitions. Only teams registered through MSSA affiliated leagues are eligible for the Stewart Cup. Non-affiliated teams may register for the other cups but will be required to register their players with MSSA.
A draw will be held for all of our cups. Teams must enter online through the link below. Referee fees for the cups are $240 ($120 per team) and paid at the field by each team. Matches will be played primarily on Sundays.
2025 Field Set
Groups Draw Next
(9 December) Once again we have a big crop of contenders taking place in our cup competitions as seven titles are in play for the 2025 season. The Morton and Maryland-District-Virginia Cups will be 16-team formats as teams compete at group play to earn places in the respective quartefinals. The Stewart Cup will be a four sided affair to determine who advances to the USASA Region I qualifiers for the Amateur Cup. Then there are several teams taking part in the Maryland Over-30, Over-40 & Over-50 Cups. The Rowland Cup will be determined among the top group finishers of the Rowland Division of the Maryland-District-Virginia Cup. It promises to be a very active cup season.
We kick it off in January with group play for the Morton and MDV Cups. The groups are being drawn and the schedule will be posted soon.
Schedules Posted
Here We Go
(13 December) We are all set for the 2025 cup season. In all, there will be 50 places competing for 7 titles. It all starts on 5 January with group play in both the Morton and Maryland-District-Virginia Cups with 16 teams fighting to make their quartefinals. By the end of the month, we will play the semifinals of the Stewart Cup that will determine Maryland's representative to the USASA Region I qualifiers of the Amateur Cup. We look to conclude the cups by March. Check the tabs above for the schedules and results.
Match Day 1 Set
Morton & MDV Start Group Play
(4 January) We welcome 2025 as we kick off the new cup season. It starts off with the Morton Cup and the Maryland-District-Virginia Cup, each with 16 teams battling to get into the quartefinals. The next three weekends will see each competition in group play before they reach the knockout stage.
We conclude the month with the semifinals of the Stewart Cup. It is Maryland's amateur championship and determine who advances to the USASA Region I qualifiers of the Amateur Cup. We will play through February and March with four other competitions. Plenty of action throughout the state.
Match Day 1 Almost Complete
Only Two MDV Matches Postponed
(6 January) We got off to a cold start for our 2025 cup season, getting most of our games in except for the two night caps due to field closure. Now with the snow fall overnight and the expected frigid temperature this week, we will have to see how Match Day 2 plays out. We will post updates on this site.
The Morton Cup saw all eight of their group play contests played. A3 Highlanders and Silver Spring United took the early lead of Group A, Highlanders 3:0 over Blessed FC while United defeated DMV Starz FC 4:2. In Group B, Ittihad FC crushed Banfield 6:1 and the Lions FC won big over DayWalkes 4:1 with King Remi, Nicholas Tziamouranis, Yann Mbianga and Essodum “ Joel “ Tchalim scoring. Cheverly AC and ACFC took early command of Group C. Cheverly making it easy over Blazers Football Club 5:1 and ACFC pouncing MoCo 1776 FC 3:1. The Group D contests were bit closer with Sláinte’s Athletic shutting out Baltimore City FC 2:0 despite City testing Sláinte’s backline. Gavin Mooney set up Logan Funk to take the lead the 22nd. The second half saw keeper Kristian Slaby tested by Baltimore as they tried to equalize the result. Iddriss Iddriss took a pass from BP Seivers to seal the match. In the other Group D game, Starliners FC edged street footie Football Club 4:3.
All of the Rowland Division matches of the Maryland-District-Virginia Cup were played. Cup holder Ristozi FC got off to a good start with their 5:1 victory over Patuxent Football Academy. Maryland Super League Champion shutout league rival Baltimore Kickers 3:0 to take share of the Rowland A lead. In Rowland B, Kyle Saunderson, Justin Gielen and Edixon Moreira tallied to lead Christos FC 3:1 over Bowleys Athletic. Das Bierhalle FC only need to put one away to defeat Team United.
The Potomac Division had Los Toros trounce Orange FC 6:1. Agean Hawks and Yinz United played to a 3:3 draw. The Alexandria United FC - World Class Premier and Esperion FC - North Stars Berryville contests were postponed due to Langley High School being shut out for the night. Those two matches will be rescheduled.
Getting Back to the Pitch
Winter Blues Done for Now
(27 January) After three consecutive Sundays of field closures due to the snow storm and frigid cold we have had in the area, we look forward to returning back to the pitch and have our teams playing again. It will start off Thursday evening in the MDV Cup with Esperion FC taking on the Aegean Hawks at Thomas Jefferson High School at 9:00. On Sunday, the Match Day 2 schedule takes place for the Morton Cup and most of the MDV games as well.
We had to shuffle our original schedule, pushing back the Rowland and Stewart Cups. But let's hope we are done with inclement weather for the remainder of the cup season to allow us to get caught up.
Groundhog Saw his Shadow
We are Playing Anyway
(3 February) The big woodchuck may have seen his shadow to predict six more weeks of winter but that will not discourage getting the MSSA Cups back on pace after a three week layoff. The MDV Cup returned last Thursday with the Aegean Hawks defeating Esperion FC 4:1. The Hawks then went on to clinch their Potomac B Group yesterday in their 4:1 victory over North Stars Berryville. In other group match, Esperion drew Yinz United 3:3. Los Toros guaranteed advancement from Potomac A edging Alexandria United FC 2:1. Match Day 3 will determine the other teams to make it out of the Potomac Division.
In the Rowland Division, cup holder Ristozi FC booked their way to the elimination round after earning a 6:3 win over Rowland A rival Steel Pulse FC. Top spot in the group is not in question with one more to play. Patuxent Football Academy kept their hopes alive after a 6:5 shootout over the Baltimore Kickers. Next week's show down with Steel Pulse will determine who advances out of the group.
Christos FC punched their ticket to the knockouts shutting out Das Bierhalle FC 5:0. Justin Gielen recorded a hat trick with the other goals from Danny Baxter and Ezekial Ayilola. Bowleys Athletic won convincinly against Team United 2:0 to make their encounter next Sunday against Das Bierhalle the decider for second place. The quarterfinals of the MDV Cup will pit the Rowland sides against those of the Potomac.
We played eight games in the Morton Cup with only a few knowing they will advance through. In Group B, the meeting between Ittihad FC and Lions FC will determine who takes top seed as both have locked advancement to the next round. The Lions defeated Banfield 3:1 with a brace from Joel Tchalim plus a goal from Nicholas Tziamouranis. Ittihad got by the DayWalkers 2:1. Sláinte Athletic earned passage from Group D getting over street footie Football Club 3:0. They will play Starliners FC who could overtake the group lead with a win. Their nil-nil draw against Baltimore City FC leaves unclear who will be the second side to make it from the group. Group A will rely on the final match day as three are in the running to push through. Group leader Silver Spring United defeated Blessed FC 3:1 while DMV Starz FC took a 3:1 victory over A3 Highlanders to share the second spot. Group C is in the same situation with leader ACFC beat up Blazers Football Club 6:2. MoCo 1776 FC got back into the race with a 3:1 defeat of Cheverly FC. The quarterfinals will be played on 12 February.
Later in the month we start the Stewart and Maryland Over-30 Cups. It will carry us into March with our other competitions.
Group Play Complete
Final 8 in Morton & MDV Cups
(10 February) After a snow delayed January that set back our schedule, we finally concluded the group play in both the Morton and Maryland-District-Virginia Cups. The two in each group advanced to their respective quarterfinals with the Morton scheduled to start this Wednesday.
The MDV Cup will see cross play between the Rowland sides against their counterparts from the Potomac. Cup holder Ristozi FC will host Oranje FC in the first match followed by an encounter between Christos FC and Esperion FC. Across the river Los Toros will receive a visit from Steel Pulse FC while the Aegean Hawks battle it out with Bowleys Athletic.
In the Morton Cup, Ittihad FC edged Lions FC 2:1 to secure top spot in their group. Ittihad will play Baltimore City FC in their quarterfinal affair while the Lions meet up against Group D winner Sláinte Athletic. The other knockout matches has ACFC pitted against Silver Spring United and MoCo 1776 FC visiting A3 Highlanders. Weather permitting, these quarterfinals will be played Wednesday evening.
As we wrap up these two competitions, we prepare for the Stewart and Maryland Over-30 Cups at the end of the month.
Semifinals Set for Morton & MDV
Stewart Cup Hits Ground
(17 February) We are past the halfway point of our cup season as we are in the semifinal stages for all of our competitions. We look to complete two finals in the next ten days, the Morton and MDV Cups while also getting the Stewart Cup off and running.
The MDV Cup saw teams crossing the Potomac River with the Maryland sides getting the better ends of the results. Christos FC shutout Esperion FC 4:0 with goals from Alejandro Arbelaez, Jacob Bender, Jamie Merriam and Brandon Burkholder. Their semifinal opponent will be Steel Pulse FC, 2:1 winner over Los Toros. The Aegean Hawks were the lone Virginia team to win as they edged Bowleys Athletic 4:3. That sets up a meeting against defending champion Ristozi FC. The semifinals will be played Sunday at Blandair Park in Columbia.
The Morton Cup semifinals will take place this Wednesday. Sláinte Athletic will battle against ACFC after their 1:0 victory over Lions FC. ACFC defeated Silver Spring United by the same scoreline. The other semifinal will feature MoCo 1776 FC, 3:1 winners over A3 Highlanders, against Baltimore City FC. Baltimore made it through on penalty rounds, 3:1, after a 3:3 draw against Ittihad FC. Howard High School and Long Reach High School will be the sites for those matches Wednesday evening.
We get back to one of our older competitions this week, the Stewart Cup. The two who win this Wednesday qualify for the Region I knockouts in the Amateur Cup. Steel Pulse and Das Bierhalle FC face each other at Rockburn Park at 8:00. The Baltimore Kickers will host Christos FC 8:30 at Catonsville High School.
Champions Crowned
Cup Season Winding Down
(4 March) January was a month of delays but February went in a fury. Four champions were crowned over the last two weeks with three more to go. Three of the sides will advance to USASA Region I qualifiers to battle for national titles. One champion repeated bragging rights as the best in the area.
The first final was the Morton Cup that pitted ACFC, 4:1 semifinal victors over Sláinte Athletic, against Baltimore City FC who defeated MoCo 1776 FC 5:1. In a tense match, ACFC edged City from a shutout by keeper Ryan Bass with the lone goal from Simon Amato. It was a first title for ACFC in a state competition. The Morton Cup is in honor of former vice president Darwin “Lefty” Morton and was a tournament of 16 teams.
Our other big tournament also involving 16 sides was the Maryland-District-Virginia Cup. Established last year as part of the MSSA centennial celebration, the MDV Cup has teams from both sides of the Potomac River affiliated with several USASA leagues. After group play within their respective divisions, Rowland for Maryland sides and Potomac for the rest, knockouts started with cross play among the top two in each group. The final was a carbon copy of the previous year with Ristozi FC getting the better of Christos FC in a close final. Peter Gansallo gave Ristozi the lead in the 53rd minute from a direct kick. In the 80th, Danny Baxter drew it even. It appeared the match was to go into penalty kicks but Gansallo had other ideas with a wonderful solo run during stoppage time for the 2:1 result.
The Stewart Cup, Maryland’s amateur championship, featured four teams with the two finalists locking spots in the Region I Amateur Cup qualifiers. Christos, Region finalist last season, booked a return with an 8:0 drubbing of the Baltimore Kickers. Their opponent turned out to be Das Bierhalle FC who got by Steel Pulse 3:2. In the 93rd edition of the Stewart Cup, Christos repeated as champions with a 5:1 triumph. Jack Stone scored a brace along with goals from Anthony Dragisics, Morgan Lussi and David Ogbonna. Reid Hawkins had the lone goal for Das Bierhalle. It was the 12th Stewart title for Christos, the clubs first coming in 2001.
Christos was also triumphant once again in the Maryland Over-30 Cup, defeating the Fighting Bods 4:3. Trailing 2:0 at halftime, the Bods mounted a furious comeback to take a 3:2 lead with ten minutes remaining in the match. An own goal drew it even with 2 minutes to go in regular time before Joe Glos sealed the victory in injury time. Christos returns to defend its Region I title in the qualifiers.
This weekend we have the Rowland Cup semifinals along with the Maryland Over-40 Cup. In order to clear a congested schedule, the top sides of the Rowland groups in the MDV Cup advanced to the semifinals. The first match at MLK Park in Silver Spring features Ristozi against Bowleys Athletic followed by Christos and Steel Pulse. In the lone semifinal match of the O-40, AAC United take on the Baltimore Kickers at Long Reach High School. Both finals are scheduled for 16 March.
Two More Finals Set
Rowland & O-40 Title Matches
(10 March) The state's oldest competition, the Rowland Cup, first played in 1914, completed its semifinal stage. Ristozi FC did away with Bowleys Athletic in the first match 4:1. In the follow up, Steel Pulse FC defeated longtime rival Christos FC 3:1 with a brace from Ramsey Hassan. Ben Stitz made good on a penalty in the 88th for the lone Christos goal. Steel Pulse looks to defend its title in a noon matchup against Ristozi at MLK Park in Silver Spring.
There was only one semifinal for the Maryland Over-40 Cup. AAC United shutout the Baltimore Kickers 4:0 to set a date against cup holder Christos FC. This final follows the Rowland one at 2:00 at MLK Park.
After these two championships are played, we have one more to go, the Maryland Over-50 Cup on 23 March. Two semifinals featuring the Baltimore Kickers against OG Soccer FC followed by Christos FC and Old Timers FC.
Ristozi with Cup Double
Christos Repeats with O-40
(16 March) It is a Maryland double for Ristozi FC after their shutout of Steel Pulse FC 3:0 in the Rowland Cup final. It is a unique double as they lifted the state's oldest competition, the Rowland, and the youngest, the Maryland-District Cup. After a scoreless first half, Ristozi poured three goals from Taichi Nogami, Donail Elshani and Barth Yakkarn. The Rowland goes back to 1914, is the state's oldest competition and is the open championship of Maryland.
The Maryland Over-40 Cup is a more recent championship, established in 2018. Throughout this competition, there has been only one title holder, Christos FC. Once again, Christos came through in the final, defeating AAC United 2:0. Val Texeira recorded the match winner converting a penalty in the first half and Brian Walters sealed it in the 89th. Christos will host the Ukrainian Nationals next month in the Region I quarterfinals.
We have one more to go, the Over-50 Cup. Semifinals at MLK Park with the first set featuring the Baltimore Kickers and OG Soccer FC at noon. It will be followed by Christos against Old Timers FC. The final to take place on 30 March.