NISA Independent Cup Round 2 Recap
Clovers Fall to SC United Heat, Bobcats Roll, and 5 Amateur clubs reach the Regional Finals.
We completed seven of the nine second-round matches in the NISA Independent Cup. The Maryland Bobcats FC continue their winning streak, the Clovers go down to SC United Heat, and five amateur sides advance to the Regional finals, with SC Union Maricopa, ALBION Silicon Valley, Inter Detroit, FC Milwaukee Torrent, and SC United Heat moving on. There is a lot to cover today, so let’s recap all the action so far.
Baltimore City FC 1 Maryland Bobcats FC 3 (Saturday July 13)
The Maryland Bobcats FC bounced back from being down early in the first half to defeat EPSL side Baltimore City FC 3-1 at BGE Field on Saturday in round 2 of the NISA Independent Cup. Baltimore City FC scored the first goal less than two minutes into this one with a golazo from Omar Gudiel to take a 1-0 lead over the Bobcats. Caleb Pritchett scored the equalizer in the 56th minute in the second half to tie the match. In the 73rd minute, the Bobcats extended their lead with Cameron Mcdonald's goal and took a 2-1 lead. Pritchett would add another goal in the 80th minute to extend the Bobcats lead 3-1, which would be your final score. The Bobcats have advanced to the East Regional final and will play the winner between Golden Ball Soccer Academy and Georgia FC.
United Stars Soccer Academy 1 Inter Detroit 2 (Saturday July 13)
MWPL side Inter Detroit defeated UPSL side United Stars Soccer Academy 2-1 at the Michigan Stars Complex on Saturday in round 2 of the NISA Independent Cup. Inter Detroit has advanced to the Great Lakes Regional final and will take on FC Milwaukee Torrent.
Olympiacos CA 1 ALBION Silicon Valley 2 (Saturday July 13)
In this one, we had a battle of two NISA Nation sides as ALBION Silicon Valley edged past Olympiacos CA 2-1 at Biola University’s Al Barbour Stadium. ALBION struck first in the 12th minute as Daniel Schembri rips a shot past the goalkeeper to give ASC Silicon Valley the early lead. Olympiacos CA would find its equalizer in the 23rd minute as both sides battle for the loose ball in the box, and Brian Alvarez pounces on the rebound to tie it at one. We were tied 1-1 at the half, but ASC Silicon Valley pulled away in the second half with a golazo from Hector Orozco in the 72nd minute to give them a 2-1 lead and seal the win. ALBION Silicon Valley will play the winner of Irvine Zeta FC/Silicon Valley Rush in the Pacific Regional final.
SC Union Maricopa 3 Indios Denver FC 1 (Saturday July 13)
We also had a battle between two UPSL sides as SC Union Maricopa beat Indios Denver FC 3-1 at Willow Canyon Stadium on Saturday in round 2 of the NISA Independent Cup. They will face the LA Force in the West Regional final.
United Soccer Alliance 1 Club de Lyon FC 4 (Sunday July 14)
Club de Lyon FC cruised past United Soccer Alliance with a 4-1 win at Fleming Island Stadium on Sunday. It all started in the 23rd minute from a corner kick chance for Club de Lyon FC as Matias Pourrain connected with Christian Aragon Ruiz to put CDL in front. However, in the 38th minute, United Soccer Alliance pulled one back to tie this match at one with an excellent header from Sam Atherton. Club de Lyon would add another goal two minutes later as Agustin Ortiz delivered a pass to Pedro Hernandez Echevarria and buried it to take a 2-1 lead into halftime. Early in the second half, United Soccer Alliance almost got an equalizer, but CDL goalkeeper Hector Melendez stepped up with a big save in the 50th minute. In the 52nd minute, CDL gets a breakaway. United Soccer Alliance turns it over, Aragon Ruiz catches goalkeeper Adam Mineo way off his line and puts this ball into the back of the net for his second of the day, and CDL takes a 3-1 lead. Hernandez Echevarria would add another goal in the 68th minute to put CDL up 4-1 to close out this match. Club de Lyon punches its ticket to the Southeast Regional final and will face SC United Heat.
SC United Heat 4 Savannah Clovers FC 1 (Tuesday July 16)
UPSL side SC United Heat upset NISA pro side Savannah Clovers FC 4-1 at Southeastern Freight Lines Soccer Complex on Tuesday in round 2 of the NISA Independent Cup. SC United Heat were in control of this one from the start as Seth Hanson scored the opener. Later in the first half, Tom Marriott converts his penalty from the spot to put SC United Heat up 2-0. Marriott would add another goal to extend SC United Heat’s lead to 3-0 just before halftime. In the second half, the Clovers got one back with a goal from Lester Hayes to cut SC United Heat’s lead to 3-1. Later in the second half, Derick Antonini scored to extend SC United Heat’s lead by three as they closed this out with a 4-1 victory. SC United Heat will face Club de Lyon FC in the Southeast Regional final.
FC Milwaukee Torrent 4 Dakota Fusion FC 2 (Friday July 19)
FC Milwaukee Torrent put on a show at Hart Park on Friday as they defeated the Dakota Fusion FC 4-2 to advance to the Great Lakes Regional final. Javier Steinwascher put the Torrent ahead 1-0 in the 25th minute. The Fusion would get an equalizer from a penalty kick goal from Toshiki Makimoto and tie the match at one. In the 35th minute, Jamie Le Comte pulled the Torrent back in front with a 2-1 lead just before halftime. In the second half, the Fusion would strike again as Makimoto rips a shot from distance to score his second goal of the night and tie this match at 2-2 in the 54th minute. A few minutes later, Angel Gongora’s goal gave the Torrent a 3-2 lead in the 58th minute. Juan Lopez would add another goal for the Torrent to seal its 4-2 win over the Fusion in the 72nd minute. FC Milwaukee Torrent faces Inter Detroit in the Great Lakes Regional final.
We still have two more second-round NISA Independent Cup matches to complete, as Golden Ball hosts Georgia FC and Irvine Zeta FC faces Silicon Valley Rush this weekend. Stay tuned; I’ll have my NISA Matchweek 14 post recap ready by tomorrow.
Is Javier Steinwascher related to Nate Steinwascher of DCFC and Alex Steinwascher formerly of Union Omaha?
Seeing Savannah's result here, coupled with their 4-0 loss to CdL, how have reported pay issues impacted the Clovers' roster? Have they lost some key players?