Barons 2006 MVP Jeremy Ortiz in action during the Barons vs. Westchester game (Photo by Todd Miller)

Fans can already start planning ahead, as the United Soccer Leagues released the 2007 USL Premier Development League schedule. The Ocean City Barons will kick off their 11th season against the Delaware Dynasty at the Kirkwood Soccer Complex on May 12. The Barons will once again return to Carey Stadium, a place they will call home for a third straight season.

The Barons 16-game season will see the Barons play the other eight teams in the Mid-Atlantic division both home and away. Those teams include the Williamsburg Legacy, Richmond Kickers Future, Virginia Beach Submariners, Northern Virginia Royals, Reading Rage, West Virginia Chaos and one of the new expansion teams, FC Fredericksburg.

The top two teams out of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Divisions will qualify for the Eastern Conference playoffs. The playoffs will be hosted by one of the four qualifying teams. The Barons failed to qualify for the 2006 playoffs, however they reached the semifinals in 2005, and were finalists in the 2004 season.

The first four games of the season also double as qualifying matches for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the oldest and largest cup competition in the United States. After each team has played their four qualifying matches, the top two teams from the Eastern Conference will advance to take part in a knockout tournament where a couple of wins could earn you a date with a team from Major League Soccer.
 

Ocean City Barons 2007 Schedule
Saturday, May 12	AT Delaware Dynasty (OCQ)
Saturday, May 19	AT West Virginia Chaos (OCQ)
Tuesday, May 22	Home vs. Reading Rage (OCQ)
Friday, May 25	Home vs. Richmond Kickers Future (OCQ)
Saturday, June 2	AT Virginia Beach Submariners
Saturday, June 9	AT Northern Virginia Royals
Sunday, June 10	AT FC Fredericksburg
Saturday, June 16	Home vs. West Virginia Chaos
Saturday, June 23	Home vs. Virginia Legacy
Saturday, June 30	AT Richmond Kickers Future
Sunday, July 1	AT Virginia Legacy
Wednesday, July 4	AT Reading Rage
Sunday, July 8	Home vs. Northern Virginia Royals
Saturday, July 14	Home vs. FC Fredericksburg
Wednesday, July 18	Home vs. Delaware Dynasty
Sunday, July 22	Home vs. Virginia Beach Submariners
OCQ = Open Cup Qualifier
Possible Open Cup Dates:
Round 1 - Tue., June 12th
Round 2 - Tue., June 26th