MSSA Cups: Maryland Bays take Rowland Cup, FC Reina repeat with Morton Cup
In a replay of last year’s Rowland Cup final, the Maryland Bays and defending champion Screaming Eagles squared off in Silver Spring on a rare warm and snow free afternoon for this cup season. The Eagles surprised the Bays in the 2013 title match bouncing back from a one-goal deficit to win 4-2. The Bays took the lead in Sunday’s match and this time did not let it slip away as they became Maryland’s Open Champion in the 100th edition of the Rowland Cup.
Glenn Leitch led the Bays with a brace, first receiving service from Josh Taylor to head in the free kick 8 minutes from the start. Leitch got credit for the second goal as his free kick went in front of the goal mouth, was dummied by Jon Ports and then went past the Eagles’ keeper. Before the half ended, Chris Ports made it 3-0 as he pounced on his saved penalty kick and converted the rebound.
Jon Ports put the match out of reach 8 minutes into the second half, taking advantage of a mis-clearance from the Eagles defenders. The Eagles were awarded a penalty in the 84th to make the final result 4-1. The Rowland Cup is Maryland’s Open competition and was donated on 1 March 1914 in the interest of Association Football. The Bays will represent the state on 6 April in the Region I qualifiers of the US Open Cup where they will meet West Chester United of Eastern Pennsylvania.
In 2013, FC Reina went undefeated in group and knock out play to win the first Morton Cup, named in honor of Darwin “Lefty” Morton. The club repeated that feat by again not losing a match in the season as they defeated Ocean Spirit 4-2 in the final. Shawn Baker and Ben “The One” McMunn tallied twice each to allow their side to hold onto the Morton Cup for the second year.
On Sunday, two games were played in the Maryland Over-30 Cup with Christos FC Over-30 topping Colombia FC 2-1 in their quarterfinal contest and ASA Chesapeake Charge Over-30 Men reaching the final after a 5-0 shutout of the Baltimore Kickers.
On Wednesday night, the Stewart Cup final kicks off 7:00 at Howard High School in Ellicott City with the Maryland Bays and ASA Charm City seeking Maryland’s amateur title. The winner will represent Maryland in the US Amateur Cup during the USASA Region I qualifiers.
