Match Report - Albany @ Ocean City

Sunday, June 26, 2005

By Paul O'Donnell
Ocean City Barons Correspondent

Ocean City maintained their unblemished record at home with a 3-1 win over the visiting Albany Admirals tonight.

The Barons entered this match looking to avenge their only loss on the season to even the season series with the Admirals and remain in a tie at the top of the division (Cape Cod won last night over the Reading Rage 1-0). Ocean City set the tone early beginning with an urgency on the attack and it wasn't long before that up tempo paid dividends.

Byron Carmichael drilled home the opener in the 10th minute off a fine feed from Adam Sternberger. The goal was Carmichael's 6th on the season in league play.

The Barons produced several more good chances in the early going but couldn't get another one by Nick Bochette in goal. In the 33rd minute Carmichael found Michael Todd in space and his left footed drive got by the keeper but found the far post and not the net. In the 36th Carmichael had a good shot at goal when Tony Donatelli put him in and Bochette made another quality save and the half ended with the 1-0 scoreline.

Ruben Mingo came on for Carmichael early in the 2nd half and it wasn't long before he was in the thick of things for the Barons. Ryan Heins made a nice run to the endline and his cross found Mingo who made no mistake on his hard shot and it was 2-0 Barons in the 66th. Two minutes later Ryan Pierce was shown Red for his challenge from behind on Mingo and Albany was down a man.

But it would be Albany that changed the score in the 76th minute from Mathew Flaherty for his 1st on the season finishing a fluid attack by the Admirals. The Admirals then forced a quality save from Ryan Carr on a well executed free kick from just outside the box to keep it advantage Barons.

Then came the stunner on the night from the boot of Ryan Overdevest who struck a laser shot from about 35 yards out making it 3-1 Barons in the 84th.

Despite being a man down the Admirals applied some pressure in the final minutes but the Barons held firm and the night ended with Ryan Carr selected as Man of the Match for the Barons for his solid play and several quality saves. Others noted for their fine game for Ocean City were Steve Wacker, Byron Carmichael, Ruben Mingo (the game winning goal and his solid effort after coming on in the 2nd half) and Ryan Overdevest for his stunning goal from distance.

The Barons are now 6-1-1 on the season and are looking forward to their Open Cup 2nd Round match against the Long Island Rough Riders on Wed, June 29 at Ocean City. Kickoff is set for 8pm.