Last Season

Maryland suffered from the same problem that plagued the team since it turned pro, being consistent. The team built a strong roster and looked dangerous on paper heading in to 2022, but all season long, the club struggled to find a way to deliver results consistently. Finishing the season 8-6-9, Maryland qualified for the playoffs, but had to go on the road to face ALBION San Diego. The Bobcats lost that match 2-0 and headed into the offseason.

OffSeason

Sylvain Rastello joined as head coach for the 2022 season and brought a new level of professionalism to the club. The club parted ways with Rastello due to a number of conflicts. The Bobcats, whose budget is regularly one of the smaller ones in the league, was audited by the USSF as part of the sanctioning process prior to the 2023 season. After final approval was given, the club began building for the coming season.

The Felix Anan (far right) era ended with with a first round exit from the playoffs.

Alex Kao, president of Maryland’s youth academy and assistant coach of the NISA first team, was promoted into the head coaching position. Kao had been a player for the Bobcats since its UPSL championship run in 2019 and served as co-captain when the Bobcats joined NISA.

A number of starters left during the offseason. This includes forwards Elijah Amo and Khalid Balogun. Those two along with long-time LB Davey Mason all signed with USL League One franchises. DM D’Morea Alewine signed with the Michigan Stars. The Bobcats also lost one of the league’s best keepers in Felix Annan, along with backup, Christian Caulker. Starting center backs Yaya Fane and Brandon Clegg as well as midfielders Andy Alvarado and Bernardo Majano all left the club.

This Season

Only Richard Forka remains from the entire starting defense from 2022. The starting keeper at the beginning of the season will likely be Alex Sutton who joined from Lafayette College as well as Manhattan SC. Sylvanus Thompson a veteran of the top Sierra Leone league joins as the other goalkeeper.

Maryland brought in former Detroit City and Greenville Triumph player, Jimmy Filerman, and Abdul Kooistra, from the Gambian top division to anchor the left defense. Dominique Kosséhassé will need to step up at center back after joining from Chicago State University. Ryan Machado-Jones from Christopher Newport University is another new player to watch at the right wingback position.

Much of last season’s roster is playing elsewhere in 2023.

The strength of the Bobcats is likely the midfield. A revamped Bobcat defense can rely on the veteran talents of Manny Gonzalez who is back at the defensive midfield position. Captain Josselin Possian also returns as the starting number 8. Leading scorer from 2022 Darwin Espinal returns at left wing. And, an ever-improving Drew Wivell returns at central attacking midfield.

The Bobcats technical staff is high on new signee Iker Bustamante. The Hounduran-American came up through the D.C. United Academy and last played for Steel Pulse FC. The team expects Bustamante to provide the presence of a younger Espinal but at right wing. Malik Thom, a former D.C United U-23 prospect who last played professionally in Australia, and Karl Mbouombouo, previously with PDX FC are two more young wingers looking to make a statement. Irish player Gavin Shiels and 19-year-old Marcos Sotarello, who last played in Spain, will add depth at central and defensive midfield.

With the loss of Amo and Balogun, the forward position is another question mark. But, along with returnee Sam Solomon, the Bobcats brought in a couple of players with untapped potential. Striker Nicolas Likula from Wright State University and Caleb Pritchett from CCBC Essex are seen as players who could potentially make the next step up in the professional ranks. The Bobcats also signed veteran CF Abou Thiam who played last season with Forward Madison of USL League One.

A lot of turnover, especially on defense, likely means a bumpy start to the season for the Maryland Bobcats. The team thinks they have all the parts necessary for a successful season but also that it’s a roster which needs time to gel. If Maryland can catch lightning in a bottle at forward and if they can put together a solid defense, it’s possible that the Bobcats could surprise a lot of folks in 2023.

- Dan Creel and Dan Vaughn