The Ocean City Barons kicked off the first leg of back-to-back road games this weekend with a 4-0 win over the Northern Virginia Royals. Jeremy Ortiz (LaSalle Univ. / Mt. Laurel, NJ) scored twice, with Sean Boyle (Limestone Coll. / Galaway, Ireland) and Lee Catchpole (Univ. of Buffalo / Norwich, England) each providing two assists to improve the Barons’ record to 5-0, the best start in club history. Adam Edwards (Bucknell Univ. / Downingtown, PA) only needed to make one save for his third straight shutout, his fourth of the 2007 season.

Ortiz, last year’s team MVP, opened the scoring in the 4th minute on an assist from Boyle. It was the third game in a row where the Barons scored within the opening five minutes of the match. Adam Sternberger (Rutgers University / Mays Landing, NJ), one of the key contributors from last season, celebrated his 2007 debut with a goal in the 18th minute to make it 2-0. Catchpole, who assisted on Sternberger’s goal, also helped out on Ortiz’ second in the 51st minute. The tally was Jeremy’s team-leading fifth of the season.

Boyle finished off the scoring in the 71st minute, putting a corner kick on the head of defender, and Limestone College teammate, Adam Ennis, who found the back of the net for his first goal as an Ocean City Baron. The Ireland native now leads the team with five assists, and is on pace to break the single-season record of nine set by Ruben Mingo during the 2005 campaign.

With the shutout, the Barons’ defense has not allowed a goal in 326 minutes of play. This breaks the club record, previously held by the undefeated 2004 Barons who went 305 minutes without conceding a goal. The last goal (and only goal thus far) the club has allowed was by Chris Whalley of the West Virginia Chaos in the 34th minute of the team’s second game on May 19.

The Barons hope to continue the momentum on Sunday night when they travel to Fredericksburg to take on the Gunners at 6:00 p.m. After starting the season 2-0, Fredericksburg FC are now winless in their last four matches.

After a busy weekend, the Barons will return home on Tuesday for their first round U.S. Open Cup match against professional side Crystal Palace Baltimore of the USL Second Division. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. and tickets will be available at the Carey Stadium main gate, $6 for adults, $4 for kids. For more information about the Barons, visit the official website at www.ocbarons.com. For more information on the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, visit www.usopencup.com.