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Real Maryland tops Crystal Palace Baltimore in pre-season test

7 Apr, 2008

Real Maryland passed its first ever USL-2 test with a 1-0 pre-season win over Crystal Palace Baltimore at the Maryland SoccerPlex on Saturday evening.

It was an emotional night as both teams lined up before the match to honor Matt DeOrsey- a local player and teammate of Crystal Palace Baltimore Co-coach Pete Medd- who died tragically a few months ago just before his 30th birthday.

The evening started with DeOrsey’s parents presenting the DeOrsey Cup to both squads. The team that scores the most goals over the two regular season matches between the two Maryland sides will lift the trophy. Real Maryland captain, Ronald Cerritos, then presented the DeOrsey family with a Real Maryland pennant and a moment of silence was held in Matt DeOrsey’s honor.

Real Maryland started the match nervously but scored the game’s only goal midway through the first half. Dennis Alas had been spraying nice long balls all over the field, and in the 35th minute he floated a perfect ball to Nilson Perez just beyond the Palace backline. Perez took the ball down with one touch and slotted the ball past the onrushing keeper.

Real Maryland was the better side in the second half. The Monarchs imposed its possession game and created numerous chances, but could not add to their lead.

Palace came at Real Maryland with a late surge, but the defense held tough and Emilio Zelaya made some crucial saves as the team held on for its first ever win against a USL opponent.

“I saw a lot of positive things to start the season” said head coach Silvino Gonzalo after the match. “I think as a team we did a great job.”

Gonzalo signaled out his defense for special praise and center back Daryl Ferguson echoed his coach’s sentiments. “This is our best game as a unit thus far this pre-season,” the former Delaware Dynasty player said. “I think if we can stick together as a unit, we won’t let in too many goals this year.”

Real Maryland is back on the training ground this week before two final pre-season matches next weekend against UMBC and West Virginia University.

Real Maryland kicks off its inaugural season with a 4:00 p.m. home match on April 20th, 2008 against the Western Mass Pioneers at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown (Boyds) Maryland.

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