Maryland State Cup semifinals coming up Sunday (Boys)
The Maryland State Cup semifinals are coming up this Sunday in the U-12 through U-17 age groups.
+Read: Maryland State Cup semifinals coming up Sunday (Girls)
U-12
Bethesda SC Blue 03 vs. Potomac SA Blue
May 15 (8:30 a.m.) at the Maryland SoccerPlex
Bethesda SC Blue 03 has outscored its first two opponents in State Cup competition by a total of 14-2, setting up a match-up with Potomac SA Blue, which has also posted a lopsided scoreline on its way to the Final Four. Potomac defeated Severna Park Heat 10-0 in the quarterfinals, setting up an evenly-matched semifinal with Bethesda.
FC USA 03 vs. Baltimore Celtic Dynasty
May 15 (10 a.m.) at the Maryland SoccerPlex
FC USA has played its way through to the semifinals with a 7-0 win over Brausa United FC in the Sweet 16 prior to a 2-1 defeat of Bethesda SC Green 03 in the quarterfinals this weekend. No. 4 seed Baltimore Celtic Dynasty earned a 5-0 victory over MSC Academy 03 White in its first match of the knockout stages.
U-13
Takoma Park SC MFC Friends United vs. Baltimore Celtic Frye
May 15 (8:30 a.m.) at the Maryland SoccerPlex
Takoma Park SC has overpowered its first two State Cup knockout stage opponents by a combined score of 8-0, setting up a match-up with a Baltimore Celtic Frye team which has battled its way through three rounds of stiff competition. Celtic has reeled off 1-0, 1-0 and 2-1 wins over Pipeline SC Black, Future SC Black and BBGC Bulldogs on its way to the Final Four.
Bethesda SC Blue 02 vs. FC Frederick 02
May 15 (10 a.m.) at the Maryland SoccerPlex
A pair of two-goal victories has led Bethesda SC Blue to the Final Four, as the team has knocked off Potomac SA Blue 2-0 and Salisbury United SC 4-2 to bring it within one win of reaching the state title match once again. Bethesda won it all in 2015, defeating Fruitland SC Fire for the U-12 state championship.
Standing in the way will be a dominant defensive unit in FC Frederick 02, which has earned shutout wins against FC USA 02 and Olney Rangers Blue. FC Frederick has gone 9-2-0 this season in Club Champions League (CCL) competition, racking up 27 points for its club.
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U-14
Pipeline SC Black vs. Salisbury United SC 01 Gold
May 15 (11:30 a.m.) at the Maryland SoccerPlex
The younger of the two Pipeline SC squads to reach a Final Four on the boys side, the U-14 Black team has earned its way to the semifinals with a 1-0 shutout of FC Frederick 01 and a 2-1 win over Brausa United 01. Pipeline is seeking its second consecutive appearance in the state finals, following a second place finish in the event last year at the U-13 level.
Salisbury United SC 01 Gold earned a 2-0 clean sheet win in the Sweet 16 against MSC Vipers Green before edging Pipeline SC Red 2-1 on Sunday in the quarterfinal round.
Baltimore Celtic Darby 01/02 vs. Potomac SA Blue
May 15 (1 p.m.) at the Maryland SoccerPlex
One of six Baltimore Celtic boys teams to reach the State Cup Final Four in their respective age groups, the Darby 01/02 squad knocked off tough Bethesda SC Blue 01 and Arundel SA Premier 01 teams to set up a battle with Potomac SA Blue. Celtic is going for the three-peat this season in the State Cup, having already won the event at the U-12 and U-13 levels.
Fifth-seeded Potomac followed up a 3-1 win over Bethesda SC Green 01 with a narrow 2-1 defeat of PHWM Marlins Premier. Potomac is 6-6-2 in CCL play this season, compiling 20 points for its club.
U-15
Olney Rangers Blue vs. FC Frederick 00
May 15 (8:30 a.m.) at the Maryland SoccerPlex
Olney Rangers Blue has stormed through its first two matches of State Cup play, outscoring SAC Premier Blue and MSC Thunder by a total of 9-0. Olney has made the state semifinals for a third consecutive year, and will look to push through to the finals against an FC Frederick side that has also seen its last two State Cup runs end in the semis.
FC Frederick handed Bethesda Blue a 3-0 defeat in the round of 16 before edging out ASA Juventus Elite 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Frederick has a strong 7-3-2 record in CCL play this season, compiling 23 points.
Baltimore Celtic Dynasty 00/01 vs. Baltimore Bays 00/01
May 15 (10:30 a.m.) at the Maryland SoccerPlex
Baltimore Celtic topped Brausa United FC 00 by a close 2-1 scoreline and went on to blank TSC Lokomotiv 1-0 in the quarterfinals, setting up an all-Baltimore final against the Bays. “Dynasty” is a fitting team name for this Celtic squad, which is vying for its third State Cup title in a row.
The Final Four match will be the fourth game of the tournament for Baltimore Bays 00/01, which has outscored its opponents by a combined score of 10-1 so far. Bays will seek a third straight clean sheet in the Final Four, coming off 2-0 and 6-0 shutouts of Laurel FCR Lions White and Severna Park Tornados.
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U-16
Fewster FC vs. Potomac SA Hotspur Black
May 15 (12:30 p.m.) at the Maryland SoccerPlex
Fewster FC has racked up seven goals while allowing just one in two games against SAC Baltimore Armour Pre-Academy and Bethesda Pre-Academy, while Potomac Hotspur Black reached the Final Four by way of one-goal wins over Olney Rangers Blue and Severna Park Fury. Undoubtedly the team to beat in this age group, Fewster FC has won every State Cup title since 2013. The team looks to make it four state championships in a row, but first has to face a Potomac team that is making its second straight appearance in the semifinals.
Baltimore Celtic SC Christos vs. Pachuca FC 99
May 15 (2:30 p.m.) at the Maryland SoccerPlex
Baltimore Celtic SC Christos has netted an astounding 16 goals on its way to the Final Four, defeating BASC Ospreys 12-1 and FC Frederick 4-1 in the first two rounds. Pachuca FC 99 will seek a third consecutive shutout in the Final Four, coming off 2-0 wins over SMU Rangers and Bethesda Blue 99. Pachuca is making its fourth straight appearance in the state semifinals, while Celtic has reached the semis for the second time in three years.
U-17
Arundel SA Premier 98 vs. Pachuca FC River Plate
May 15 (12:30 p.m.) at the Maryland SoccerPlex
Arundel SA Premeir 98 has not allowed a goal in two State Cup knockout round matches, shutting out Bethesda SC Blue 2-0 and FC Frederick 3-0. Pachuca FC River Plate has outscored SAC Premier White and DC Stoddert Red Metros 98 by a combined margin of 7-1, setting up a high profile Final Four match-up. Arundel has made the semifinals for the third time in the past four seasons.
Baltimore Celtic 98/99 vs. Pipeline SC Black
May 15 (2:30 p.m.) at the Maryland SoccerPlex
Celtic made a statement with a 6-0 rout of Maryland United 98 Red in the quarterfinals this weekend at the SoccerPlex, following a 2-1 defeat of Olney Roadrunners Blue in the round of 16. Celtic is going for back-to-back state titles, coming off last season’s championship at the U-16 level.
Pipeline SC Black has played its way through three rounds already, outscoring opponents by a combined score of 13-3. One of the top teams in the nation at the U-17 level, Pipeline won the US Club Soccer Mid-Atlantic Regional last season before going on to win division titles at the Bethesda Premier Cup and Disney Showcase, while also reaching the Dallas Cup semifinals earlier this season.