MATCH PREVIEW #14: The calm before the fireworks erupt

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Way back on the first game of the season the highest scoring teams for game 1 happened to be placed head to head with each other in what ended up a 7-4 victory for Capital District. The loser of that game was Montgomery County which then went on to not lose again until this past weekend. So now here we are getting ready for game 14 of the BIGTIME season and the much awaited rematch has finally come.

While these teams did not know it back in game 1, they now find themselves fighting for playoff seeding. The Gunners are #1 in APG, MOV, and in the standings. The Monarchs are #2 in APG, MOV, and in the standings. The league might be on break until July, but this match might well be worth the wait.

Beyond the match of the week we have Union S.C. going up against D.C. Forever who currently has 7 points in Majors Cup qualifying and could pull to within 3 points of the Blues with a win for a BSL playoff spot. However, if Union S.C. manages to pull the win, not only does the team strengthen its edge of D.C., but could find itself in second place in the standings.

The green teams will battle it out riding a different set of streaks. The Saints are looking for a fifth straight win while the Kickers are looking to get back in the win column. Donovan will probably be out again for Gateway United, but so far the team hasn't missed him.

Ending the 4th of July schedule is the match between the leagues two most abused teams. Motor City got the upper hand over Gaithersburg City the last time these teams met, but neither team has had much to smile about the first 2/3's of the season. Both these teams could use the three points in the standing and the three points for Majors Cup qualifying. Who will get them?

POWER RANKINGS: Week 13

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If you haven't noticed then you haven't been paying attention, but Gateway United and D.C. Forever have really risen their games since the second half of the season started. Both teams have made up ground in the standings and are very much in the race for the playoffs. They still have their work cut out as the current top three teams aren't likely to go down without a fight.

Once again Capital District remains the leagues most powerful team (10 wins will do that).

Dropping to its lowest ranking ever is Montgomery County from #2 to #4. Even though the Monarchs only recently had an 11 game unbeaten streak stopped, the team is now on a 3 game winless streak going 0-1-2 in the last 3 games.

GAME 13: Monarch's streak ends as others continue own fortunes

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Things are beginning to tighten up in the standings. We begin with the match of the week as Gateway United ended the Monarchs 11 game unbeaten streak with a 4-3 victory. The win gives the Saints a 4-game winning streak and more impressively is the team did it without Landon Donovan again. Unlike previous weeks it was Montgomery County that had the early lead before Fredy Ljundberg came up with a goal and assist to give the Saints the edge.

Another hot team is D.C. Forever who got excellent production from newly acquired Cam Weaver. Infact, it is his 2 total points that was difference in the 5-3 win over Motor City. More good news for D.C. was the return of Darren Huckerby who had been sidelined with injury.

Union S.C. got a late Sunday goal from Eduardo Lillingston to break up a 1-1 tie and propel the Blues to an all important victory to keep the team 3 points ahead of Gateway United for the last playoff spot and bring the Blues to a points tie with Montgomery County.

Capital District held on to become the leagues first 10 game winner by defeating Garden State 5-4. The Kickers made it interesting with 2 goals from Schelotto on Sunday, but it would not be enough and the Gunners now have a 5 point lead for first place in the standings and have won 4 straight games as well as 8 of their last 9.

There will be a short break before the next set of games is set to begin on July 4th.

MATCH PREVIEW #13: Will the leaders prevail or is an upset in order

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The latest team to try and end Montgomery County's unbeaten streak will be Gateway United. The Saints have a winning record for the first time since game 4 of the season but will be without some key players.

- Garden State will try and right its ship and get a much needed victory when it faces Capital District.

- Gaithersburg City will be looking to get out of last place when it faces Union S.C.

- Will this be the week that Motor City stops its winless streak when it faces a hot D.C. Forever team?

POWER RANKINGS: Week 12

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It should be no secret that the C.D. Gunners remained #1 as the leagues most powerful. What will be of note is that no team has changed position from last week.

While the battle for the playoffs is heating up and 6 of the 8 teams are clearly in the running, the league does have 2 teams (Motor City and Gaithersburg City) struggling to garner points in the standings. Even with the new hope of Majors Cup, these two have collected no points in qualifying. Perhaps there is honor in playing spoiler.

More USMNT players will be missing action for their teams this coming weekend as well.

GAME 12: Some teams streaking as everyone chases Capital District

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With several key players out on national team duties this week, you would have thought that the games would be lacking in drama. That was far from the case as all the games were highly contested.

In the match of the week, Union S.C. jumped to an early 1-0 lead on Friday thanks to a Kei Kamara assist. By early Saturday afternoon the Blues had a 3-0 lead courtesy of Alan Gordon and when Saturday closed out Union S.C. had a comfortable 4-1 lead over Montgomery County. Sunday came and once again the Monarchs were on the comeback trail. First, Kenny Cooper scored in the afternoon game to make the score 4-2. Then Steve Ralston's goal and assist, both of which came in the second half, tied it up 4-4 in Sunday late game. For the second week in a row the Montgomery County avoided defeated in little time left to force a tie. Its the teams fourth come from behind win this season and the Monarchs now have an 11 game unbeaten streak.

After having to settle for a 6-6 tie last week, D.C. Forever used 2 Shalrie Joseph assists to defeat Garden State 4-2. This is the second time D.C. has defeated the Kickers this season.

Having to play without Landon Donovan, the Saints used Zack Thornton's clean sheet to push the team over the top with a 3-2 victory over Motor City. The win is Gateway United's third in a row and has the team a mere 3 points out from a playoff spot. The Saints are also one of the current leaders in Majors Cup qualifying. Motor City continues to struggle with an 8 game winless streak.

Finally, the team everyone is chasing had to play without Blanco and Guevara this weekend. Capital District got goals from Moreno and Holden to take a 2-1 lead, but its the 2 goals from Taylor Twellman that sealed the deal and gave the Gunners their 9th win of the season. With 27 points on the season and 6 points (plus top APG) in Major Cup qualifying, Capital District is the league's leader in everything.

MATCH PREVIEW #12: Team seeding to become a hotter topic

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With the schedule growing shorter with each passing game, its that time in the season when team operators will start monitoring who they are chasing and who is chasing them. No game better highlights this than the Match of the week. If the season had ended last week, Montgomery County and Union S.C. would have been the #2 and #3 seeded teams in the playoff Semi-Final round. While the season has not ended, its fitting that these two are meeting up in game 12. - Another key battle this weekend is between the G.S. Kickers and D.C. Forever. both teams will need to start producing wins more consistently in order to make a run to prehaps take over a playoff spot. - The C.D. Gunners will try to stay #1 when they go up against Gaithersburg City. - Gateway United will try to win its third straight while Motor City will try and end its winless streak.

Adding to the drama we also continue Majors Cup qualifying. Only the top 4 teams get in.

POWER RANKINGS: Week 11

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Its become increasingly clear who the top two teams in the league are. That is not to say that these teams don't have their flaws and also in no way are these teams a shoe-in to win some hardware. but, its time to give credit where credit is due.

Capital District remains the only team in the league to average above 4 points a game. One could only imagine the Gunners average if you were to take away the two 1 point game debacles earlier in the year.

Montgomery County has found a way to avoid defeat the whole season except opening day when the Monarchs lost 7-4 to.. you guessed it.. Capital District.

Jumping up 3 spots this week is Gateway United. After several 3-2 loses earlier in the year, the Saints have climbed back into the playoff hunt with some very strong wins.