NISA came to Jersey, and of course I went. I am a Knight, after all.

The Maryland Bobcats made the trip up to Glassboro with a squad made up of reserves and were able to take care of Atlantic City FC 1-0 on the pitch at Rowan University. A goal by Eduardo Jimenez in the 62nd minute gave the Bobcats the lead that felt like it had been coming and was inevitable. Some observations from a gorgeous South Jersey summer night:

A hard-fought contest without the extra chippiness. It was enjoyable to watch two teams go at it for 90 minutes and not have moments of tempers flaring, pushing and shoving, extra hard tackles. The game was well-played, and by and large you felt like there was mutual respect. There may have only been two yellow cards issued the entire match, if I remember correctly.

The Bobcats have lots of depth. Many of the players that started for the Bobcats were getting their first chance with the big club. And while playing a quality amateur side in Atlantic City FC, Maryland controlled possession and got stronger as the game wore on. They dominated play in the second half, and could have added a goal or two to the final score. But the pipeline of local talent from their home region was very much on display.

Atlantic City FC gave a good account of itself in the first half. The Aces’ central defense was stout in the first half of play, keeping Maryland’s scoring chances to a minimum. They found success on the counter, creating a number of potential scoring chances. And they played their game, not resorting to an ultra-defensive posture. As a fan, I appreciate that. In a tournament like the Independent Cup, you want to see teams playing the style that has been successful during the season and not go cynical.

Lucas Danhauer never stops talking. The goalkeeper for Atlantic City FC can be heard from the first minute on, barking out to his defensive line and shouting encouragement to the rest of the team. I noticed that when I attended a ACFC NPSL match last month. I would not be surprised if I learned that Danhaure hasn’t stopped yelling at his teammates since the season began. I can’t verify this, but I want to believe it to be true.

The ever-changing venue locations for Atlantic City FC. By my count, Rowan University is now the third venue that ACFC has had to use since being founded in 2017 - and it’s the furthest away from the city. At some point, the club is going to have to find a more permanent home, preferably one in the city proper or close by. Sandcastle Stadium? Bader Field? Easier said than done, though. Securing a field for a lower league soccer club can be challenging, especially now while we continue to grapple with a pandemic.

Hello...609 Ultras? Listen - I get that not every supporters group in lower league soccer is going to be Northern Guard-like. But, where is 609 Ultras? I didn’t get any sense of the presence of a supporters group for ACFC. It was a beautiful night, it was a game against a professional side in a tournament, and...nothing. I would hope that at some point a vibrant supporters group can develop and help make attending an Atlantic City FC game a happening. Because if not…

The region’s track record of keeping sports teams around is not good. Many attempts have been made to have a sports team in Atlantic City. Sandcastle Stadium is the most obvious remnant of one of those attempts, the independent Atlantic City Surf baseball team. They’ve tried ice hockey, they’re tried arena football - nothing seems to stick. So I do give credit to the ownership for doing their best to field a competitive team and have them look good doing it with those sweet Icarus FC threads. But that can only go so long before either fans come out in larger numbers or team ownership cut their losses. I am genuinely pulling for Atlantic City FC to make it and develop a solid following.

Oh, and congrats to the Maryland Bobcats. Back-to-back group winners in the Independent Cup, baby! I know that we Knights have discussed the Bobcats a lot on the podcast, but it bears repeating again: you can’t help but love how this club has grown. And to now have them as part of NISA, showing that this can work here in America, is exciting. I can’t wait to see where this goes.

- John Howard-Fusco