Rarely do you find disappointment in a team with an unbeaten record after the first three games of the season, but when dealing with qualification for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, it’s different.

The Ocean City Barons’ (1-0-2) chances of qualifying for the 94-year old tournament for the fourth time in the last five years took a major blow with a 2-2 draw at the Long Island Rough Riders on Saturday night. Steve Miller (Colgate / Ivyland, PA), fresh off his historic hat trick on Wednesday, added two more to his season total, including the game-tying goal in second half stoppage time. Rarely do you find disappointment in a team with an unbeaten record after the first three games of the season, but when dealing with qualification for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, it’s different.

 

 

Ocean City Barons Starting Lineup	School / Hometown
GK - Zach Zamek	Franklin & Msrshall / Hillsborough, NJ
DEF - Joe Banks	Drexel (’07) / Sicklerville, NJ
DEF - Jimmy Davis	LaSalle / Pittsgrove, NJ
DEF - Dale Parker	Lees-McRae College / Worksop, ENG
DEF - John Fletcher	Eckerd College / Uxbridge, ENG
MID - Nick Sih	Duke / Horsham, PA
MID - Adam Sternberger	Rutgers / Mays Landing, NJ
MID - Kyle Evans	Lehigh / Ocean City, NJ
MID - Joe Illett	Eckerd College / Maldon, ENG
FWD - Steve Miller	Colgate / Ivyland, PA
FWD - Lee Squires	Lees-McRae College / Sheffield, ENG
Substitutes
Ryan Finley	Rancocas Valley HS / Lumberton, NJ
Nick Talarico	Wesley College / Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Ryan Richter	LaSalle / Southampton, PA
Byron Carmichael	Marshall (’03) / Lumberton, NJ
Billy Pinto	Hofstra / Audobon, NJ
Mackenson Altidore	Temple / Abaco, Bahamas
Scoring Summary
19th (LONG ISLAND)	Michael Todd (Andrew Herman)
21st (OCEAN CITY)	Steve Miller (Kyle Evans)
48th (LONG ISLAND)	Andrew Herman (Michael Todd)
90th (OCEAN CITY)	Steve Miller (Byron Carmichael)

The Ocean City Barons’ (1-0-2) chances of qualifying for the 94-year old tournament for the fourth time in the last five years took a major blow with a 2-2 draw at the Long Island Rough Riders on Saturday night. Steve Miller (Colgate / Ivyland, PA), fresh off his historic hat trick on Wednesday, added two more to his season total, including the game-tying goal in second half stoppage time.

"We’re obviously disappointed not to win," said Barons general manager Neil Holloway. "However, I think when we look back on this match later on in the season, we’ll be happy to get a valuable point on the road."

With the draw, the Barons have five points in their first three games, and need to finish in the top two in the Eastern Conference to qualify for the Open Cup. While they are tied for second place currently, there are still several teams that have multiple games yet to play. To make matters worse, the odds are against Ocean City. Since 1999, no PDL team has ever qualified with two wins. Long Island, after playing their fourth and final qualifying game, is officially eliminated from contention due to tonight’s result.

The Rough Riders opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Long Island cleared a Barons’ corner kick to ignite a counter attack. Andrew Herman would finish off the break by finding former Barons player Michael Todd (Hofstra / Cleveland, England) in front of goal and he put the home side up 1-0. Two minutes later, the visitors would level the game when new signing Adam Sternberger (Rutgers / Mays Landing, NJ) played a ball to Kyle Evans (Lehigh / Seaville, NJ) on the left wing. The Ocean City native sent the ball across the face of goal and found the foot of Miller, who put it past the Riders goalkeeper.

Another former Baron would contribute to the second Long Island goal just after the halftime break. Rob Youhill (Hofstra / Harrogate, England), who played eight games last year for Ocean City, came on as a second half substitute. Within the first two minutes of the half, he received the ball near midfield and crossed the ball over to Todd on the left wing. Todd then returned the earlier favor by finding Herman in front of goal, and he finished to make it 2-1.

For the rest of the half, the Barons were in an all-out attack mode, looking for the equalizer. After creating several chances, they finally broke through in dramatic fashion. In the final minutes of stoppage time, Byron Carmichael (Marshall / Lumberton, NJ) tracked down a clearance by the Long Island defense over on the right wing. He gathered the ball and then crossed it into the fray in front of the Rough Riders’ goal, and out of the chaos in front, Miller stepped in and tied the game with his second goal. With that heroic goal, it gives the Colgate product five goals in his first two PDL starts.

Zach Zamek (Franklin & Marshall / Hillsborough, NJ) remains unbeaten as a starter for the Barons, making two saves for the visitors. Carmichael’s assist on Miller’s game-tying goal gives him 16 career assists, leaving him four helpers away from breaking the club record. His 86 career points with the Barons is just five points short of the top mark, held by Ruben Mingo.

To have any chance of qualifying, the Barons must win their next game against the Richmond Kickers Future at home next Friday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m.