Regional Overview

The Maryland Bobcats have won the last two Mid-Atlantic Region titles and they are the only club to win Independent Cup titles as an amateur and professional team. This time around the NISA side will see three new opponents. Soda City FC moves north after playing the last two cups in the Southeast Region. The two other clubs are newcomers to the Independent Cup - amateur powerhouse, NoVa F.C., and Rockville S.C., a club trying to build an adult amateur program.

NoVa FC

The Northern Virginia F.C., better known as NoVa F.C., was established in 1998. The club fielded the Northern Virginia Royals in the USISL/USL Division III professional league as well as the Northern Virginia Majestics in the USISL/USL W-League both during the late nineties and early 2000s. The men’s team moved to the USL PDL (now USL League Two) where it has been since 2006. After being renamed D.C. United U-23 and Evergreen FC for a handful of years, the team took on their current moniker in 2021. Along with an extensive youth system, the club also has men’s teams in the EPSL and Major Arena Soccer League 3, as well as a women’s team in the inaugural USL W League season.

The club felt like 2022 was the year to get involved in the IC because they feel they have some guys that can move on, and showcasing them is the right thing to do. Some of those names include Illias laghibi, Chris Palacios, Lorenzo Gordon, and Tyler Clegg. While many clubs claim to be bands of brothers, Nova literally has 6 sets of brothers playing for the squad.

Rockville SC

Maryland’s Rockville S.C. was founded in 2014. The club has a large youth system as well as fielding a men’s adult amateur team. After spending the past few seasons in the second division of the Maryland Major Soccer League, that squad recently finished its first season in the Maryland Super Soccer League’s Division I. In addition, the club launched its first UPSL team which took part in the league’s DMV Conference for the Spring 2022 season. This is the club’s first time competing in the Independent Cup.

Soda City FC

Founded in late 2017, Soda City FC has been a member of the UPSL since the league’s spring 2018 season. Based in Columbia, S.C. the club was founded by a group of local soccer players to grow and expand the footprint of soccer in their community. The team has won UPSL division and conference titles as well as making a trip to the UPSL National Semifinals. The club also launched a women’s team that takes part in the WPSL’s Carolinas Conference.

One of only three teams to take part in every Independent Cup, Soda City is the only amateur squad to compete in all three seasons of the competition. The club played in the Southeast in the prior two years coming second in 2020 and fourth in 2021.

Maryland Bobcats FC

Two competitions likely vaulted the Maryland Bobcats into the national soccer limelight. The first was their run to the Fall 2019 UPSL championship when they also went from World Class Premier Elite name to the Bobcats. The second was their Mid-Atlantic Region title in the inaugural 2020 Independent Cup. The Bobcats took points from both NISA professional clubs in their region which they took on goal differential. That experience fast tracked the club into the NISA professional league for the 2020-21 season. While the Bobcats first year as a professional season was full of growing pains, a highlight was another Mid-Atlantic Region title in the 2021 Independent Cup.

- Dan Creel