In what could be another chapter in a potentially tense in-state rivalry, the Newark Ironbound Express (4-2-3, 15 pts.) handed the Ocean City Barons (4-1-4, 16 pts.) their first loss of the 2008 season, by a score of 4-0. It was the worst regular season home loss in Barons history, surpassing a 3-0 loss to Rhode Island in the 2003 season opener and a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Hampton Roads Piranhas in the 2007 season finale.

It was only the sixth regular season home loss in club history, and only the fourth time the team has lost at Carey Stadium.

In what could be another chapter in a potentially tense in-state rivalry, the Newark Ironbound Express (4-2-3, 15 pts.) handed the Ocean City Barons (4-1-4, 16 pts.) their first loss of the 2008 season, by a score of 4-0. It was the worst regular season home loss in Barons history, surpassing a 3-0 loss to the Rhode Island Stingrays in the 2003 season opener and a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Hampton Roads Piranhas in the 2007 season finale.

It was only the sixth regular season home loss in club history, and only the fourth time the team has lost at Carey Stadium.

These two teams met on May 11 at Carey Stadium in the 2008 season opener with the Express earning a 1-1 draw with the Barons, despite spending most of the match down a man, and later, down two men.

Former New York Red Bulls player, Jerrod Laventure had another productive night against the Barons. In the season opener, he scored a goal and was red carded for head butting a player. Tonight, he played the full 90 minutes this time and scored a hat trick. Former Baron (and former Red Bulls player and Chicago Fire draftee) Chris Karcz also contributed a first half goal.

Karcz opened the scoring nine minutes into the match, followed by the first of three from Laventure 20 minutes later. With the Barons pushing forward, trying to save a point at home, Laventure scored two more in the 74th and 82nd minute to put the game out of reach.

Tomer Chencinski kept the Barons offense off the scoreboard, making 13 saves for his third clean sheet of the season.

Nick Talarico (Wesley College / Little Egg Harbor, NJ) was in goal for the Barons, making his first regular season start since the 2005 regular season finale when he was forced into the starting role as a 15-year old after the team’s #1, Ryan Carr, was injured.

The loss leaves the Barons in second place in the Northeast Division, and also makes things a little tighter in the standings. Brooklyn remains in first place with 17 points (and a game in hand), followed by Ocean City with 16, and Newark with 15. Westchester is just two points behind the Express, with Long Island a point behind the Flames, leaving just a five point gap between fifth place and first.

The Barons will try to bounce back next Saturday, when they travel to Westchester to take on the Flames. Kick-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Four days after that, on Wednesday, June 25, the Barons will play their third and final regular season game against the Ironbound Express, this time at Newark.