With the largest margin of victory and biggest goal total in club history, the Ocean City Barons (1-0-1) defeated the expansion New Jersey Rangers (0-2-0), 8-1 on Wednesday night.

Steve Miller (Colgate / Ivyland, PA), in his first PDL start, became only the second player in Barons’ PDL history to score a hat trick, while his strike partner Lee Squires (Lees-McRae / Sheffield, England) added a pair of goals and an assist. Ryan Richter (LaSalle / Southampton, PA) also scored two goals off the bench and Ryan Finley (Rancocas Valley HS / Lumberton, NJ) became the youngest Baron to ever score a goal.

DENVILLE, NJ (May 14, 2008) - With the largest margin of victory and biggest goal total in club history, the Ocean City Barons (1-0-1) defeated the expansion New Jersey Rangers (0-2-0), 8-1 on Wednesday night.
 

Steve Miller (Colgate / Ivyland, PA), in his first PDL start, became only the second player in Barons’ PDL history to score a hat trick, while his strike partner Lee Squires (Lees-McRae / Sheffield, England) added a pair of goals and an assist. Ryan Richter (LaSalle / Southampton, PA) also scored two goals off the bench and Ryan Finley (Rancocas Valley HS / Lumberton, NJ) became the youngest Baron to ever score a goal.

It didn’t take long for the visitors to get on the scoresheet. Wednesday’s theme was the teamwork between the strike partnership between Miller and Squires. Miller would find the Sheffield, England native at the top of the box and Squires fired low and past Rangers goalkeeper Matthew Scheer.

Eight minutes later, it was Miller’s turn for glory as he was able to track down a ball over the top of the defense by Joe Ilett. The ball was placed just over the head of the backline and Miller was able to run on to it and struck it on the half-volley and into the back of the net.

Squires would strike again in the 21st minute when Adam Williamson (Lehigh / Ocean City, NJ) delivered a corner kick into the area which Joe Banks (Drexel / Sicklerville, NJ)  headed back across the goal. The ball would fall to Nick Sih (Duke / Horsham, PA) whose shot on goal was redirected in by Squires.

With the score 3-0, the home side was given a little bit of hope by Giuseppe Tubito in the 27th minute. Tubito dribbled in from the right wing, cut inside and took a shot from the corner of the 18-year box, and placed it just outside the reach of goalkeeper Zach Zamek (Franklin & Marshall / Hillsborough, NJ).

With the lead cut down to two, the Barons would continue to dominate the run of play and Miller would add another before the halftime break. His defensive skills were highlighted as he stole the ball from the Rangers’ center back, played a ball to Squires, who sent it right back to him for the Barons’ fourth goal of the half.

Nick Talarico (Wesley College / Little Egg Harbor, NJ) replaced Zamek in goal for the Barons after the Franklin & Marshall product was relatively untested in the opening half, making three saves. Talarico, making his first PDL appearance since 2005 when he was a 15-year old, only had to make one save in the second frame.

It wasn’t until the 71st minute when the Barons struck again, and this time Miller completed his hat trick. Second half substitute Jeremy Ortiz (LaSalle / Mt. Laurel, NJ) stole the ball from the left back, and found the Colgate University youngster in front of goal where he finished with his right foot. With that assist, Ortiz moves into a tie with Tony Donatelli (Temple / Glenside, PA) for third place on the Barons’ all-time points list with 37.

Six minutes later, more history was made as Finley scored his first PDL goal on an assist from Byron Carmichael (Marshall / Lumberton, NJ). Finley at 17 years, 1 month and 16 days, became the youngest player to ever score for the Barons.

The final five minutes of the match was the Ryan Richter show. The LaSalle player came off the bench in the second half, and made an immediate impact. In the 85th minute, he stole the ball in the middle of the park, beat a couple of defenders, dribbled into the penalty area and beat the goalkeeper for his first PDL score. Less than 180 seconds later, Richter duplicated that feat, doing almost the exact same thing. His second goal gave the Barons eight on the evening, the most ever for the PDL club.

"This was exactly what the doctor ordered," said Barons’ general manager Neil Holloway after the match. "This gives the boys loads of confidence heading into our next two games, which are must-wins if we want to qualify for the U.S. Open Cup."

The 8-1 scoreline was the biggest margin of victory and the most goals scored by a Barons team. The previous mark of 7-1 was set back on July 19, 2003 when the men in red dismantled the Albany Blackwatch Highlanders. The margin of victory record of six had been matched three other times. 

Wednesday’s win improves the club’s record to 1-0-1, moving them into third place in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifying standings. The top two teams from the Eastern Conference will advance to the 95th edition of the tournament. The Barons will try to ride their offensive momentum when they travel to Long Island for a date with the Rough Riders on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.