Eastern Conference U.S. Open Cup qualifying standings

Since the Barons moved to Ocean City in 2005, there has rarely been an unpleasant home game at Carey Stadium. Aside from an occasional splash of rain and some wind, there hasn’t been much to complain about. That is, until Saturday’s home opener against the Westchester Flames. Heavy rain, thunder and lightning created poor field conditions, causing the first abandoned game at Carey Stadium in Barons history.

 

Ocean City Barons Starting Lineup	School / Hometown
GK - Jordan Bar	Fairfield / Centerville, MA
DEF - Jamal Neptune	Hofstra / East Windsor, NJ
DEF - Kevin Curran	Loyola College / Upper Twp, NJ
DEF - Jimmy Davis	LaSalle (’09) / Pittsgrove, NJ
DEF - Joe Banks	Drexel (’07) / Sicklerville, NJ
MID - Ryan Richter	LaSalle / Southampton, PA
MID - Leon Brown	Wheeling Jesuit (’04) / Sicklerville, NJ
MID - Rory McCrea	Hofstra / Leeds, England
MID - Billy Pinto	Hofstra / Audubon, NJ
FWD - J.T. Noone	Temple / Harrisburg, PA
FWD - Byron Carmichael	Marshall (’03) / Lumberton, NJ
Substitutes
Junior Chapman	LaSalle / Winslow, NJ
Steve Miller	Colgate / Ivyland, PA
Scoring Summary
20th (WESTCHESTER)	Kevin Meyer (Penalty Kick)
45th (OCEAN CITY)	Ryan Richter (Jimmy Davis)
Game Stats
	OCEAN CITY						WESTCHESTER
Shots On Goal	8						3
Saves	3						5
Fouls	4						8
Offsides	3						0
Corners	3						1

Since the Barons moved to Ocean City in 2005, there has rarely been an unpleasant home game at Carey Stadium. Aside from an occasional splash of rain and some wind, there hasn’t been much to complain about. That is, until Saturday’s home opener against the Westchester Flames. Heavy rain, thunder and lightning created poor field conditions, causing the first abandoned game at Carey Stadium in Barons history.

Eastern Conference U.S. Open Cup qualifying standings

Ryan Richter’s header at the end of the first half answered a Westchester penalty kick earlier in the half to level the game at 1-1. After halftime, in the 58th minute, the storm fully arrived and caused players and fans alike to run for cover.

After an attack-minded start by the home side, it was the Barons who found themselves behind after Westchester was awarded a penalty kick in the 20th minute. The Flames used solid ball movement on a cross to the left side of the field, and after connecting another pass to the middle of the box, Ocean City defender Jimmy Davis clipped a Westchester striker as he attempted to take a shot. Kevin Meyer fired the spot kick to the right of goalkeeper Jordan Bar, making his Barons debut, but it was just out of his reach.
 
The Barons continued to press in order to find an equalizer, but they missed a few chances to pull even with the Flames. Billy Pinto hit the ball off the cross bar and Byron Carmichael missed a few opportunities in front of goal, but the point wasn’t saved until the final minute of the half.

Following a free kick near midfield, Jimmy Davis crossed a ball into the box looking for a head. The ball connected with his former LaSalle teammate Ryan Richter, who flicked the ball off his head and past Westchester goalkeeper Emilio Xikis to tied the game at 1-1.

After the halftime break the storm was swiftly approaching, and the two teams only managed to play eight minutes before the heavens opened up and after waiting it out as long as they could, the game was abandoned because of poor field conditions.

With the draw, the Barons extend their home opener unbeaten streak to six years in a row. They have not lost a home opener since their first season in the PDL in 2003, and have never lost one at "The Beach House" in Ocean City.
 
This game also doubled as a U.S. Open Cup qualifier, and while a draw certainly doesn’t eliminate them from contention, it does put additional pressure to win their remaining three qualifying games. The next three are home against the Long Island Rough Riders, followed by back-to-back road games at the New Hampshire Phantoms and the Rhode Island Stingrays on May 22 and 23.

For now the Barons will focus on their next game, next Saturday at Carey Stadium against the Rough Riders at 7 p.m.