Old dynasties, new champions step up at Md. State Cup finals in Germantown

By Jimmy LaRoue

Bethesda SC teams came away with four Maryland State Cup titles Sunday at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md. last weekend, with three of its other teams falling in the final, while it was a history-making day for FC Frederick’s Under-17 boys and Olney Cyclones White U-17 girls as both won their first-ever State Cup championships.

In the U-13 Boys bracket, Bethesda Blue 98 won all of its State Cup games by shutout, including a 2-0 win in the final over Baltimore Bays Chelsea 99.

Neither team scored in the first half, but Bethesda Blue broke through about 15 minutes into the second half, according to Bays’ website. A Bethesda forward dribbled through the Bays’ defense and was fouled about 20 yards out from goal. The resulting free kick from Bethesda went into the top right corner to give the Montgomery County-based squad a 1-0 lead. Bays Chelsea had chances to equalize, but their best opportunity sailed over the crossbar. Bethesda scored its second goal in the waning moments of the match on a 1v1 opportunity.

Bethesda Blue outscored their opponents by a 28-0 margin over the course of their State Cup run.

Bethesda Lions, meanwhile, also did not surrender a goal throughout their championship-winning march through the State Cup U-14 Boys bracket. The Lions won their final 2-0 over Maryland Rush 97b Nike and outscored their opponents 13-0 throughout the tournament.

In the U-15 Boys bracket, Bethesda Blue 96 scored a 6-2 win over FC Frederick 96.

In the U-13 Girls bracket, Bethesda Academy 98 defeated Alliance SC Red Venom Premier 2-1 in overtime to take home State Cup glory.

Olney Rangers dominated the U-16 Boys bracket, surrendering just a single goal in its opening cup match before securing their hardware with a 3-0 win over Bethesda Revolution in the championship match.

With a win over Baltimore Bays Blues 94/95 in the U-17 Boys bracket, FC Frederick 94 became the first boys’ team in club history to win a State Cup title, according to the club’s website. The win came via a  penalty-kick shootout, as the two teams finished 2-2 after regulation and overtime. Bays Blues played part of the first half and the entire second half and overtime with 10 men due to a red card ejection.

In the U-17 Girls bracket, the same two clubs faced off, with Baltimore Bays Chelsea 95 coming away with a narrow, 2-1 win over FC Frederick 94.

This is the first time in FC Frederick club history that a boys and girls team from the same age group have reached the finals in the same year, and the first time two boys teams have reached the finals.

In the U-18 Boys bracket, SAC United Premier defeated Bethesda Internationals 4-0 to win the State Cup championship for the second consecutive year, getting a hat-trick from Tommy Krug and a goal and an assist from Colin Bonner. SAC United Premier outscored their cup opponents 9-0 overall, and in the last two years of State Cup play, they’ve outscored their opponents 22-0.

“The final was a hard fought game on Sunday,” SAC United Premier coach Gary Hodgson told the club’s website. “Colin Bonner made it 1-0 halfway through the first half, finishing a fine flowing move with a powerful header into the bottom right corner. Early in the second half, Tommy Krug added to the lead from close range after a goal mouth scramble from an assist by Colin Bonner.

“The third goal once again came from Tommy Krug and his ability to react quickest in the box. The fourth was the most impressive of his three goals, playing a fine one-two with Colin Bonner again on the edge of the box and finishing low into the bottom right corner. A great goal to cap off a fine display from the SAC U-18s.”

In the U-14 Girls bracket, MSC Coyotes Green defeated SAC United Premier 1-0. MSC Coyotes Green did not surrender a goal in the State Cup and scored 14 in four games. In the U-15 Girls bracket, PSC Baltimore won 6-2 over TSC Thunder Extreme.

Olney Cyclones White won the first State Cup title for any of its girls’ club teams, winning the U-16 Girls title over Bethesda SC Threat in penalties after playing a scoreless regulation and overtime. In U-18 Girls play, Freestate Fury outscored its three opponents 21-1 on its way to a State Cup title, winning in the championship game 5-0 over Maryland Rush Nike Premier 93.

The weekend’s winners advance to the Region I championships, held in Lancaster, Penn. from June 28 through July 3. The Soccer Wire congratulates all of this year’s Md. State Cup participants and wishes the champions good luck in regional play.

U-13 Boys
Bethesda Blue 98 2, Baltimore Bays Chelsea 99 0
U-14 Boys
Bethesda Lions 2, Maryland Rush 97b Nike 0
U-15 Boys
FC Frederick 96 2, Bethesda Blue 6
U-16 Boys
Olney Rangers 3, Bethesda Revolution, 0
U-17 Boys
FC Frederick 94 2, Baltimore Bays Blues 94/95 2 (FC Frederick wins in penalties)
U-18 Boys
SAC United Premier 4, Bethesda Internationals 0
U-13 Girls
Alliance SC Red Venom Premier 1, Bethesda Academy 98 2 (OT)U-14 Girls
MSC Coyotes Green 1, SAC United Premier 0U-15 Girls
PSC Baltimore 6, TSC Thunder Extreme 2
U-16 Girls
Bethesda SC Threat 0, Olney Cyclones White 0 (Olney wins in PKs)

U-17 Girls
FC Frederick 94 1, Baltimore Bays Chelsea 95 2

U-18 Girls
Maryland Rush Nike Premier 93 0, Freestate Fury 5

* Matches ending in overtime or penalties are noted where information is available