NISA member and winner of the 2020 region, Maryland Bobcats, is the lone club returning to the Independent Cup’s Mid-Atlantic Region from last year’s competition. FC Baltimore Christos, which took second place, is not in the tournament and New York Cosmos is currently on hiatus from competition. New Amsterdam FC moved to this year’s New England Region. Allentown United, Steel Pulse and Atlantic City are the three new clubs hoping to take away the Bobcats’ title.

Maryland Bobcats FC

It would be hard to find another organization that benefited more from the 2020 Independent Cup than the Maryland Bobcats. The club won the Fall 2019 UPSL National Final in March of that year and rebranded from World Class Premier to the name we now know. The Bobcats had intended to join the NPSL for the 2020 season but that fell through due to the numerous COVID-related cancellations that occurred at that time. Seizing on the opportunity, the organization restructured that spring into a traditional club format and took on the duties of host of the Mid-Atlantic region of NISA’s Independent Cup. That experience, including winning the region itself, gave the club and the league confidence that the Bobcats were ready to make the jump from the amateur to the professional ranks.

Maryland was solid in NISA play in their debut season. Photo credit: Maryland Bobcats

As to what to expect this year from the now-professional club, here’s what general manager, Evan Raimist, told us: “As with any Cup competition, we're looking to win. That being said, with an 18-game home and away Fall season coming up, we're going to be really smart with what guys play what minutes and who gets playing time. We know the Fall is the real prize, but this Cup is a great way to incorporate younger players, guys that didn’t get as much time in the Spring, or new players that we've added or are looking to add. You may see some guys that we’ve had on our Reserve team called up to show what they can do and there will be some shifted minutes for sure. The Independent Cup is a great way to be able to rotate our roster but with a real trophy on the line. It allows us to see what guys can step up to the plate when called upon, even if they haven't played as much. They've got a trophy to win, and this is a great way to see which guys have it and which don't. With a slog of a Fall season coming up, our focus is on finishing as high in the table as we can. Seeing some new opponents will be good for the Independent Cup, but look for some heavy squad rotation as we gear up for our biggest season yet."

The Bobcats will host Steel Pulse FC on July 10 and Allentown United FC on July 17 at the Evergreen Sportsplex in Leesburg, Va.

Allentown United FC

Allentown United joined the UPSL for its Fall 2019 season. Founded by Emmanual Ntow-Mensah, Allentown give talented soccer players in the Lehigh Valley the ability to play at a higher level than has been previously available. Calling itself “The People’s Club”, Allentown United hopes to be a true community-based organization. While the Independent Cup will be the first team’s real competition after a hiatus during the spring, Allentown United U23 is currently sitting second in the UPSL’s Northeast Conference American – Division I table. Allentown United will host Atlantic City FC on July 10 at FalconPlex Stadium on the campus of Cedar Crest College.

Club President, Emmanuel Ntow-Mensah, sees the Independent Cup as a multi-faceted opportunity for his club. “Allentown is looking to really make a statement in the cup this year. We’re hoping to surprise some of these more established teams with our style of play and get some positive results. Our main target is to put the club on the map to attract potential investors to help us advance the club to the professional standard some day. We are also hoping to get some of our best players noticed and signed by a professional team. This will help fulfill the clubs goal of moving players onto the next level.”

Atlantic City FC

“Audaces fortuna iuvat” which translates as “Fortune favors the bold” is the fitting mantra for a soccer club based in a city known for its casinos and boardwalk. Surprisingly, Atlantic City, N.J. had been without a true club sports team since 2009 and Atlantic City FC sought to fill that void. The club joined the NPSL in 2018 and took the Keystone Conference regular season title in its second season. Co-owners Andrew Weilgus and Nick Bilotta brought in Steffan Siebert as the head coach who has decades of coaching experience along with A licenses from USSF and UEFA. Issues related to COVID meant the cancellation of the 2020 NPSL season, but this season the club is currently sitting second in the stacked Keystone Conference only one point behind the leaders and is seventh out of 76 clubs in the overall league power rankings.

With playoff implications, Atlantic City’s final NPSL regular season match is Wednesday against FC Monmouth. For the Independent Cup, the club is hosting Maryland Bobcats FC on July 25 at Silver Eagle Stadium in Egg Harbor Township. That is the last game in the Mid-Atlantic and has a good chance of determining the winner of that region.

Steel Pulse FC

Baltimore’s Steel Pulse FC was founded in 2016 and has steadily climbed the ranks of Maryland soccer clubs. Starting in the Maryland Major Soccer League’s Division Two, it won that competition and was subsequently promoted to Division One where it won both spring and fall titles in 2019.

Steel Pulse is on a hot streak as they enter the Independent Cup. The club recently won the regular seasons of both the Spring 2021 MMSL Division One and the inaugural EPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference. Steel Pulse will have a busy couple of weeks as they play in both the Independent Cup and MMSL Division One playoffs.

The administrators of Steel Pulse let Protagonist know that the club is a “proverbial ‘dark horse’ that is notorious for upsetting the status quo in Maryland Soccer.” And also, that the club “tries to create opportunities and exposure for all players who have aspirations to play at the highest levels, as we have done for some who are currently playing professionally at different levels.”

Steel Pulse will host Atlantic City FC on July 18 and Allentown United FC on July 24 both at Blandair Park in Columbia, Md.

- Dan Creel