Barons defeat Cape Cod in playoffs rematch
Carmichael now tied for most goals in Barons history
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In the first of two straight road games, the Ocean City Barons (3-0-2) remained unbeaten with a 2-1 road victory over the Cape Cod Crusaders on Saturday night. The win snaps a three-game losing streak to the Crusaders, including last year’s playoff game, and was the Barons’ first win at Cape Cod since May 22, 2004. Byron Carmichael and Joe Banks were the goalscorers for the Barons, and by assisting on Carmichael’s goal, Steve Miller extended his point streak to four games. In the first of two straight road games, the Ocean City Barons (3-0-2) remained unbeaten with a 2-1 road victory over the Cape Cod Crusaders on Saturday night. The win snaps a three-game losing streak to the Crusaders, including last year’s playoff game, and was the Barons’ first win at Cape Cod since May 22, 2004. Byron Carmichael (Marshall / Lumberton, NJ) and Joe Banks (Drexel / Sicklerville, NJ) were the goalscorers for the visitors, and by assisting on Carmichael’s goal, Steve Miller (Colgate / Ivyland, PA) extended his point streak to four games.
The game was a rematch of the 2007 Eastern Conference semifinals, in which the Crusaders won 5-0. Carmichael was one of two Barons sent off in the opening 23 minutes of the match. However, he made amends by scoring his first goal of the season in the second half of Saturday’s match.
Carmichael’s first goal of the season was his 36th in his five years with the club, tying Ruben Mingo as the Barons’ all-time leading goalscorer.
Starting Lineup | School / Hometown | ||||||
GK - Tunde Ogunbiyi | New Hampshire / Gwynedd, PA | ||||||
DEF - Joe Banks | Drexel (’07) / Sicklerville, NJ | ||||||
DEF - Connor Gorman | West Virginia / Phila, PA | ||||||
DEF - John Fletcher | Eckerd College / Uxbridge, ENG | ||||||
DEF - Tyler Bellamy | St. Bonaventure / Hammonton, NJ | ||||||
MID - Nick Sih | Duke / Horsham, PA | ||||||
MID - Joe Ilett | Eckerd College / Maldon, ENG | ||||||
MID - Adam Williamson | Lehigh (’05) / Ocean City, NJ | ||||||
FWD - Adam Sternberger | Rutgers (’08) / Mays Landing, NJ | ||||||
FWD - Steve Miller | Colgate / Ivyland, PA | ||||||
FWD - Byron Carmichael | Marshall (’03) / Lumberton, NJ | ||||||
Substitutes | |||||||
Lee Squires | Lees-McRae College / Sheffield, ENG | ||||||
Ryan Richter | LaSalle / Southampton, PA | ||||||
Scoring Summary | |||||||
54th (OCEAN CITY) | Byron Carmichael (Steve Miller) | ||||||
69th (OCEAN CITY) | Joe Banks (Adam Williamson) | ||||||
74th (CAPE COD) | Yan Klukowski (Unassisted) | ||||||
Game Stats | |||||||
|
OCEAN CITY |
CAPE COD |
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Shots On Goal |
12 |
13 |
|||||
Saves |
12 |
10 |
|||||
Fouls |
17 |
19 |
|||||
Offsides |
1 |
3 |
|||||
Corners |
1 |
3 |
After a scoreless first half, the Barons finally broke through in the 54th minute with an impressive individual effort by their leading scorer. Miller made a run to the touch line on the left wing, dribbled into the area, past a couple of defenders and crossed the ball to Carmichael in front of the goal. He then controlled the ball with his right, and toed it with his left into the upper corner of the goal. Miller leads the team with five goals and three assists (13 points).
Ocean City Barons |
Goals scored (career) |
In the 69th minute, the Barons would double their advantage off a free kick. Ocean City native Adam Williamson (Lehigh / Ocean City, NJ) bent a ball into the box from the left wing and found Banks who headed home his second goal in as many games. Banks, who was named to the PDL Team of the Week for his performance last week, now has four career goals.
Five minutes later, the Crusaders’ cut the lead in half thanks to a goal by Yan Klukowski, but the Barons defense, led by Banks and new signing Tyler Bellamy (St. Bonaventure / Hammonton, NJ), held strong to protect the 2-1 lead.
Tunde Ogunbiyi (New Hampshire / Gwynedd, PA), a member of the Nigerian Olympic Team that will compete in Beijing this summer, made a strong debut in goal with 12 saves for Ocean City. Ogunbiyi recently joined the club from New Hampshire University where he was finishing up the spring semester.
"He made some really miraculous saves tonight," said head coach Mike Pellegrino about his new goalkeeper. "He did a sensational job in his first game at this level."
On short rest, the Barons will travel to East Providence, Rhode Island tomorrow to take on the Stingrays at 5:00 p.m. A win on Sunday will give Ocean City sole possession of first place in the Northeast Division.