Despite latest setback, confidence high for Real

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Despite latest setback, confidence high for Real

Harrisburg City Islanders 3, Real Maryland Monarchs 0

by Dan Greenberg | Staff Writer

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Call Real Maryland head coach Silvino Gonzalo a prophet, or maybe ‘‘La Profeta,” because his team’s debut season in the United Soccer League-Second Division is going just as he predicted.

Back in mid-April, before the Monarchs even kicked off the regular season, he stated that he expected three things from his collection of local and international players — they would string together good games and bad, take awhile to come together, but eventually be stay competitive among their nine USL-2 rivals. In fact, he felt it would be ‘‘in between” in the standings.

Through seven games, that’s about what Real Maryland is, sixth in the 10-team league’s standings at 3-4. Last Saturday was one of those bad days for the Monarchs, as they fell, 3-0, at the Harrisburg City Islanders, who picked up their first victory of the season. Midfielders Ryan Hein, Mo Odour and David Schofield all tallied for the reigning league champion, which is now 1-1-5.

‘‘[Saturday] we started good and then for whatever reason, in the second half, players didn’t show up,” said Gonzalo. ‘‘It’s one of those things that happens — it shouldn’t happen, I don’t want it to happen, and it doesn’t mean I’m happy about it, but it happens.”

The Monarchs have yet to win a game away from the friendly confines of their home field at Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds. But there are just as many encouraging news to speak of, beginning with the team’s first multi-game winning streak prior to their defeat this past weekend. After being shut out in three of their four matches, they scored five combined goals in victories over the Cleveland City Stars and Wilmington Hammerheads. The latter, a 2-1 victory, came in dramatic fashion, with Colombian striker Nilson Perez finding the back of the net for an 87th-minute game-winner.

Gonzalo noted a quartet of contributors for victories two and three. He pointed out Salvadorian midfielder Dennis Alas as arguably the team’s top performer thus far, and he’s certainly been their most potent offensive threat with a team-high three goals, almost a pleasant surprise for someone with a reputation as a passer extraordinaire. Two others have been the most consistent, backs Devlin Barnes and Stephen Basso. Barnes, a graduate of The Heights School in Potomac, has been exceptionally versatile, moving to midfield in the team’s inaugural victory over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds back on May 26 and logging the team’s first-ever assist on a cross to striker William Brindley. Finally, Gonzalo feels goalkeeper Emilio Zelaya is one of the finest in the league.

Also exciting for Real Maryland is its appearance in the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which it clinched with its 3-2 victory over the Stars. The U.S. Open Cup is a soccer competition open to all teams in the United States Soccer Federation, including teams from Major League Soccer, the USL and even top-rated amateur leagues.

The Monarchs will host the New York Pancyprian Freedoms of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League on Tuesday, June 10 at 8 p.m. in a first-round U.S. Open Cup matchup, and two victories in the summer-long tournament would qualify them for a chance to bout with an MLS opponent.

But their first priority is this Saturday, when they return home in a rematch with the Stars at 7:30 p.m.

‘‘We played very good against Cleveland the first time — that was a good game for us because Cleveland is an excellent team,” said Gonzalo. ‘‘It just a total effort by the team and we played great defense. ... You know, what happens is it’s very difficult to come into the league with all these guys who haven’t played together, but we are working very hard.”