Hello everyone and Happy Wednesday to you! It is another exciting week of action on the field here in the DMV so here are three DMV Soccer Related thoughts to get you through the midweek!

DMV Soccer Related Thought #1:Bobcats, FC Baltimore Tear It Up

I had the chance to catch Sunday night’s NISA Mid-Atlantic Cup opener between the Maryland Bobcats and FC Baltimore Christos on Sunday at the Evergreen Sports Complex on Sunday in what was my first live soccer game since the shutdown. It was a great match and a great opportunity to see two sides that are really breaking through here in the DMV.

In terms of on the field efforts what really struck me was how balanced both sides were. FC Baltimore’s speed and ingenuity on the outside was matched by some excellent series of possessions from the Bobcats. In my experience, the best soccer matches are when you have two teams that are evenly matched and with a bit of a chip on their shoulder.

In terms of individual player performances I was really impressed with Tunde Akinlosotu of Baltimore who scored the opener and made several devastating runs deep into Bobcats territory. As for Maryland, Levi Houaupeu did a great job at sparking the Bobcats attack in the second half, finding space in between the Christos center-backs.

Both the Bobcats and FC Baltimore certainly impressed on Sunday and I am interested to see how they adjust in their second match at Evergreen on Thursday. In speaking with both teams what is abundantly clear is that they want to win this tournament. Based off the energy that they showed on Sunday and in speaking with both clubs what is absolutely clear is that they recognize the importance of this moment.

If you want to look at some photos from the match check out my gallery below!

DMV Soccer-Related Thought #2: Ten Years Of Ben Olsen

Yesterday marked a very important date in D.C. United history as it was ten years ago that Ben Olsen took over the job as head coach.

There is a lot to unpack with that statement. First, that is a pretty incredible accomplishment considering the shelf life of most soccer coaches. Since Olsen took over MLS has seen 96 coaches come and gone, a staggering number and a sign of the revolving door that can at times be the coaching profession.

Small sidebar: What’s crazy is that Olsen isn’t even the longest tenured coach in MLS. The distinction goes to Peter Vermes of Sporting Kansas City who bests Olsen by about a year. Vermes literally took over the job when George W. Bush was still President. Let that sink in.

Now, a million different things have been written about Olsen through the past decade and there have certainly be calls for his exit. United is an interesting club in that early success has set expectations to a higher level. Olsen knows this and having sat in hundreds of press conferences with him he can be his own worst critic. Even after ten years he still wears every loss as if he was on the pitch himself.

One thing that no can take away from him though is his effort and passion as a coach. Over the past ten years United management have handed him rosters that are quite frankly subpar and yet somehow D.C. are almost always competitive. The club has made the playoffs six out of his ten years and have an Eastern Conference title and a U.S. Open Cup title under his tenure. While it is fair to criticize Olsen’s difficulty in developing young players and the lack of imagination on the attack let’s also give him credit for often making something out of nothing.

Whenever Olsen’s tenure with D.C. ends it will mark the end of a chapter for the club. While there will certainly be acrimony over Olsen’s exit (on both sides really) let’s remember two things: 1.) He has been with the club for a long time and probably could have taken a number of different jobs through the years and 2.) He wasn’t the only decision-maker within the club.

DMV Soccer Thought #3: When it rains, it pours in the DMV

Fun fact about the DMV: We have absolutely the worst weather in July and August . It is almost a rite of passage for any person who lives in this area to have to experience a DMV summer. Whether it is swamp-like humidity or the intense, short bursts of thunder and buckets of rain living in the District around this time of the year can be a bit of a challenge.

This also applies to soccer, or any sports for that matter. It is not uncommon for a game to be picture perfect to start and then for a ten minute period where the skies open up. Games that would normally last two hours can drag on for hours. We call this the ‘Maryland SoccerPlex’ Scenario. Chances are if you have attended a match there you have been stuck inside their indoor sports complex waiting for the all clear to go outside.

Quick Sidebar: I would love to do story about the airhorn that detects lightning at the Maryland SoccerPlex. There is now sound that draws greater scorn from soccer players and fans in this area than the airhorn at the Plex. But it is also unique that you don’t hear it any other soccer park.

The one bright spot has been the fun that usually comes during these weather delays. Whether it is the Barra Brava hanging out at RFK Stadium during a downpour or the games inside the SoccerPlex supporters in the DMV supporters always seem to find a way to make the delays work. So here is my question for next week: What is your favorite rain delay moment in the DMV? I will be sharing mine next week.