EASTERN CONFERENCE RECAP

After a weekend off, AFC Mobile was back in action in Mobile. As always, they drew a large crowd, but unlike last year, the maroons pulled off not just a home win, but an end-to-end dominant performance over Real United FC. Chisom Ogbonna scored his second hat trick in two games and Sherman Winchester found himself scoring his first ever goal for the Azaleas. Next week, the Battle of Mobile Bay takes place as the Gulf Coast Rangers come to Mobile for a grudge match a year in the making.

Speaking of the Rangers, across Mobile Bay they took on a struggling Baton Rouge United. Baton Rouge had yet to earn any points this season. The Rangers’ David Hall struck early off a great ball from Nathan Gillespie. but Baton Rouge’s Cam Hilliard was able to score a late equalizer and Joshua Joseph was absolutely heroic in between the pipes in the final minutes for the Red Sticks, which led to them earning their first point of the GCPL campaign.

CENTRAL RECAP

After beating the Rangers last weekend, the Blues felt like things might finally be clicking, but the ever eager Northshore team was able to shred the Blues in an efficient and impressive 3-0 win at home. Brandon Core scored a brace for United and Eric Schwing’s solid performance helped to cement the all the points for Northshore who find themselves a point behind Gaffa FC for the last playoff spot in the Central Conference.

A battle of division leaders had CD Motagua of New Orleans continue their monstrous form as Eastern leading Pensacola FC. Carlos Palacios defense was instrumental in keeping a high-flying 59ers attack from scoring for the first time this season and Leonardo Barros scored twice to help the Blue Eagles remain perfect, and relatively unchallenged, so far this season.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Being on the receiving end of a streaking Motagua team last week, the Lobos had a point to prove this weekend and they did not disappoint. Following the season-ending injury of Blake Landers last week, 20-year-old Jordan Guardado stepped into the spotlight and did not fail to impress. Guardado ended the match with a goal and 2 assists as the Lobos were able to impress the home crowd with a dominant 4-0 win over Shreveport United.

In Alexandria, an evenly played match was broken apart by Ethan Loftin of Port City after the Pool Boys’ Martin Iddon subbed out at the end of the first half. Iddon, a defensive stalwart, had previously missed the first three matches of the season. He held the Sounders scoreless, but after being subbed off in the 40^th, Port City scored twice and then held on the rest of the way to gain three valuable road points.

In another matchup of cross-conference powerhouses, BOCA FC Knights and Quesi Weston were able to hold off Cillian Thompson and Gaffa FC. Both Weston and Thompson had braces for their respective clubs, but the firepower of BOCA helped them pull off an impressive 4-2 win against the defending champs. This win for BOCA and the dominance of Motagua perhaps marks these two teams as the clubs to beat this season.

GCPL TEAM OF THE WEEK

Leonardo Barros (CD Motagua of New Orleans)
Brantton Greene (AFC Mobile)
Jordan Guardado (Central Texas Lobos)
Joshua Joseph (Baton Rouge United SC)
Ethan Loftin (Port City FC)
Chisom Ogbonna (AFC Mobile)
Carlos Palacios (CD Motagua of New Orleans)
Abdallah Rayyan (BOCA FC Knights)
Eric Schwing (Northshore United FC)
Cillian Thompson (Gaffa FC)
Quesi Weston (BOCA FC Knights)

Eastern Conference Recap

In Ashton Brosnaham an insane goalkeeping performance by Lamoy Graham had Real United looking to stay with conference-leading Pensacola FC. Pensacola was up 2-0 at halftime behind goals from Matt Brooks and Matt Fiesen, but a second-half offensive explosion had the 59ers come pull out a dominant 5-0 victory.

Meanwhile, in cross-conference action, a late-game penalty scored by the Rangers’ Matt McArthur, had the Blues holding on tooth and nail as the boys from Foley tried desperately to pull out a point in Mississippi. However, goals from Grant Falla, Jasminko Dizdarevic, and Pablo Jimenez allowed the the Mississippi side to hold on to a 3-2 win for their first league victory.

Central Conference Recap

During the midweek, Northshore United traveled down the road to New Orleans to take on CD Motagua of New Orleans. Over 90 minutes, Motagua proved to be the better side behind Gino Ray and held off Northshore for a 2-1 victory to start off their home schedule.

After two positive results that did not seem to equal the vast expectations they had upon them, Gaffa FC, the reigning champs, returned to their typical league form with a dominant 3-0 result over Baton Rouge.

Western Conference Recap

Despite a perfect start from Motagua and good form from Gaffa FC, it is the BOCA FC Knights that have perhaps become the “team to watch” in the GCPL. In the middle of the week, BOCA had a dominant 9-0 win over Shreveport United. Yet, the result that has eyes truly on BOCA is a surprisingly stunning and decisive 4-1 victory over cross-divisional foe Northshore United in Covington. Quesi Weston, over two games this week, had 3 goals. And with those two big wins this week, BOCA may have risen as the team to beat this season.

Deep in Acadia, Cajun Soccer club won their first game of the season with a 3-1 win over Pool Boys. While Alexandria held advantages in possessions, shots, and shots on target, the precise passing and finishing of Austin Clause helped CSC leave Alexandria with the win and perhaps signs that things are starting to click for the Lafayette club.

The Central Texas Lobos saw the unfortunate loss of Blake Lander for the season, which only tacked onto their 4-1 loss to Motagua in a cross-divisional game. Currently, Motagua is the only team that has won all of their games and standing alone atop the Central Conference.

Did Not Play

AFC Mobile and Port City FC sat the weekend out due to Tropical Storm Alberto. AFC Mobile will be looking to get its first home win of the season when Real United travels to the Archbishop Lipscomb Stadium on Saturday.

Port City will be hoping to leapfrog Pensacola for the top of the Eastern Conference when they head to New Orleans to face Central-leading Motagua of New Orleans.

GCPL Team of the Week

John Avery Slay (Mississippi Blues)
Chance Bourdene (Gaffa FC)
Austin Clause (Cajun Soccer Club)
Jasminko Dizdarevic (Mississippi Blues)
Matt Freisen (Pensacola FC)
Leroy Mahagayu (Alexandria Pool Boys FC)
Matt McArthur (Gulf Coast Rangers)
Donaldo Morales (CD Motagua of New Orleans)
Oscar Ramirez (Central Texas Lobos)
Gino Ray (CD Motagua of New Orleans)
Quesi Weston (BOCA FC Knights)

Honorable Mentions:

Jordan Angelle (Cajun Soccer Club), Brandon Core (Northshore United), Andrew Canales (Central Texas Lobos), ), Lamoy Graham (Real United FC), Patrick Lynch (Pensacola FC), Chandler McInnis (BOCA FC Knights), Eduardo Soto (Northshore United), Yan Yaninho (Gulf Coast Rangers)

Eastern Conference Recap

Last weekend the Gulf Coast Rangers did not score their first goal until second-half stoppage time; this week they made up for lost time. The Rangers put up 10 goals on Real United FC in a match that was never questioned. After Rangers scored in the seventh minute on a Matt McArthur free kick, they never looked back. Amos Ndikumana led the charge with a goal and two assists and was fantastically dynamic going forward. The Riverhawks’ defense could do nothing but foul, which ultimately led to 3 penalties for the Rangers, who pulled out all stops in an incredibly dominant and professional performance.

Over in Pensacola during the biggest match of the weekend, conference favorites Pensacola FC and Port City FC played to a 2-2 draw. Pensacola’s central defense of Nick Trzesniowski and Kyle Sealy were sent off with double yellows alternately in the first and second half. Jordan Hall continued his run of good form with a brace for the Sounders while Pensacola defender Christoph Zellar scored two to keep the score even at Ashton Brosnaham.

Currently, the Pensacola and Gulfport clubs sit atop the Eastern table with four points each. Port City faces AFC Mobile in Gulfport hoping to get ahead in the Forgotten Coast Cup and solidify early season dominance over their rival from Mobile on Saturday. Pensacola FC, on the other hand, will be heavy favorites, even while missing its starting centerback duo, against Real United FC. Gulf Coast Rangers will travel to Clinton to take on Mississippi Blues in a cross-divisional matchup.

Central Conference Recap

Another high flying, high scoring game took place in Covington’s Wolverine stadium as defending champ Gaffa FC was able to get their first win of the season with a 4-2 win over Northshore United FC. United’s Cam Lavallee created multiple opportunities in addition to his own goal, but Gaffa looks to be hitting its mark quickly in spite of drawing with Sippi Cup rivals, Mississippi Blues SC, earlier in the week. Gaffa captain and defender Tom Cosgrave, the GCPL Cup Championship MVP, who looks to be just as dominant as he was last year in this match, led the charge. Cosgrave finished the night having tallied two assists and served as the ever-present field marshal for the boys from Jackson, MS who find themselves in an ever familiar position at the top of the Western Conference table.

But perhaps Gaffa shouldn’t get too comfortable as CD Motagua of New Orleans went to Clinton, MS for their regular season opener and rolled over the Mississippi Blues to the tune of 3-0. Former Honduran international goalkeeper Donaldo Morales earned his first clean sheet of the season for the Blue Eagles, and Gino Ray was absolutely commanding in New Orleans’s attack. Motagua are looking rejuvenated after their slow start last year. Right now it seems that the Blue Eagles and Gaffa will be in a constant battle for control of the Central Conference.

This week, Motagua will take on Northshore United in a midweek game that will prove a huge testing ground for the new Covington club. Gaffa will host Baton Rouge United in Jackson on Saturday. Meanwhile, Mississippi Blues will host the recently unleashed, offensive behemoth of the Rangers in Clinton, MS.

Western Conference Recap

In the West, Alexandria FC fell just short of gaining a huge three points falling to Boca Knights 2-3. Pool Boys’ goalkeeper Tom Fuller stood on his head collecting an amazing 10 saves in the loss, but it did not prove enough as behind stellar performances from Mario Hidalgo and Alvaro Castro Boca was able to head to Alexandria and leave with all points.

In cross-conference action, AFC Mobile headed over to Lafayette to take on last year’s GCPL Cup runners-up and put on a relatively dominant performance in a 3-1 win over Cajun SC. Chisom Ogbonna had a hattrick by game’s end. While earning the maroons’ first ever three-goal game will surely make sure Ogbonna stays on the player’s to watch list, it was the ball movement from Erik Aispuro, Ibrahima Ndaw, and Donte Oliver, who had an assist each, that has Mobile looking as if it may be starting to fire on all cylinders. If the defense, led by Markos Mallis and Barou Ndaw can play as calmly as they did in LUS Fiber Stadium on Saturday night, things could finally turn around for the Azaleas.

The rest of the Western Conference had the weekend off.

Did Not Play

Shreveport United will host Boca Knights on Wednesday, May 23rd.

Saturday, May 26th, Central Texas Lobos host CD Motagua of New Orleans in the first GCPL match to ever take place in Texas.

Also on Saturday, Baton Rouge SC will hope to pull some points out of Jackson as they head up to Freedom Ridge to take on Gaffa FC.

GCPL Team of the Week

Chance Bourdene (Gaffa FC)
Alvaro Castro (Boca Knights FC)
Tom Cosgrave (Gaffa FC)
Tom Fuller (Alexandria FC)
Jordan Hall (Port City FC)
Mario Hidalgo (Boca Knights FC)
Burkley Louviere (Cajun Soccer Club)
Amos Ndikumana (Gulf Coast Rangers)
Chisom Ogbonna (AFC Mobile)
Gino Ray (CD Motagua of NOLA)
Christoph Zeller (Pensacola FC)

Honorable Mentions: Benoit Dorronsoro (Gulf Coast Rangers), Zack Elegamy (Cajun Soccer Club), John Hamide (CD Motagua of NOLA), Harrison Houle (Alexandria FC),Cam Lavallee (Northshore United FC), Markos Mallis (AFC Mobile) , Rudy Seelman (Pensacola FC), Eduardo Soto (Northshore United FC)

Eastern Conference Recap

Both Alabama teams showed a lot of quality, but neither one could close out their matches with a result. While newcomers Gulf Coast Rangers showed their creative caliber often, it was not until late in their match against Port City FC that they were able to finally score their debut GCPL goal as Daniel Whelan put away a 90+ minute penalty. Though Port City ended up with all 3 points behind an outstanding performance from Kieran Robins, the Rangers showed an impressive amount of prowess that should have the Eastern Conference on notice despite their 2-1 loss.

Meanwhile, AFC Mobile pulled in over 800 fans to see a goal-fest. Ibrahima Ndaw had 2 goals and an assist for the home side, but it was Isaiah Lopez with a goal and assist and some stellar defensive work from Christopher Zeller that had the Eastern Conference favorites Pensacola FC exit The Lip with a 4-3 victory. Once more, the fans of the Azaleas were left waiting for their first home GCPL win, but the traveling support of the 59ers undoubtedly have an exciting, high pressing team to follow this year.

The biggest result for an Eastern Conference team, however, happened in a cross-divisional match where Real United FC pulled off a 2-0 win against CABOSA Shreveport United in Shreveport and now find themselves atop the table. Denver Bankston and Rainer Araujo had a goal each and Todd Langilaus got his first clean sheet of the season. Now the Moss Point side, thanks to goal differential, sits atop the Eastern Conference and should feel confident as they head down to Foley, Alabama this week where a hungry Rangers side will attempt to earn their first GCPL points.

Central Conference Recap

In the only Central Conference match this weekend, Northshore United was able to please their supporters in the regular season christening of Wolverine Stadium after finishing their pre-season 1-1-1. That training seemed to pay off as they rolled over Baton Rouge in a decisive 4-1 home win. United’s Rolando Sanchez had a dominant performance, notching a goal and 2 assists while causing havoc for the Baton Rouge defense throughout the match.

Western Conference Recap

Traveling almost 400 miles is a rough road for anyone, but the Central Texas Lobos made the trip out to Alexandria, Louisiana to take on the Pool Boys and rode back to Kyle, Texas with 3 points in hand. Leroy Mahagayu’s wide play was almost enough to pull out points for the Alexandria-based club, but Edgar Reyes’ game-winning goal showed that the Lobos may be a dark horse in the Western Conference.

Meanwhile, Boca Knights FC and Cajun Soccer Club held out for a point each at LUS Fiber Stadium in Lafayette, Louisiana. Both teams clearly hoped for more but will have to settle for a draw heading into week 2. This week, Boca will travel to Alexandria to face Pool Boys, with both teams looking for their first win of the season. Cajun Soccer Club will host AFC Mobile in a cross-conference match and look to continue the winning woes of the boys from Mobile.

Did Not Play

Reigning champions Gaffa FC take on newcomers Mississippi Blues Monday, May 14th in Jackson.

CD Motagua of New Orleans begins their GCPL season on Saturday, May 19th against the Mississippi Blues as well.

GCPL Team of the Week

Brandon Briscoe (Cajun Soccer Club)
Denis Canales-Mejia (Central Texas Lobos)
Zach Clear (Pool Boys)
Todd Langilaus (Real United FC)
Eric Medina (Cajun Soccer Club)
Kieran Robins (Port City FC)
Rolando Sanchez (Northshore United)
David Valverde (AFC Mobile)
Jorge Vazquez (Boca Knights)
Daniel Whelan (Gulf Coast Rangers)
Christopher Zeller (Pensacola FC)

Honorable Mentions: Gerardo Flores (Gulf Coast Rangers), Joe Guinchard (Port City FC), Isaiah Lopez (Pensacola FC), Luis Peña (Boca Knights), Edgar Reyes (Central Texas Lobos), Pat Rye (Northshore United), Pablo Sanjuán Delgado (AFC Mobile), Claudy St. Louis (Pool Boys)

The Gulf Coast Premier League (GCPL) believes that the implementation of promotion and relegation would allow teams to find the appropriate level in which to compete, champion the sport in smaller communities, stimulate the fan base, and increase spending on smaller regional and amateur leagues throughout the United States. The GCPL is supportive of any move that could bring about promotion and relegation in the United States of America.