Written by: Edwin Pintor

October 14, 2021 (Boyds, MD) – The Bobcats are back home to take on Chicago House AC this Saturday, October 16, in Matchday 13 of the NISA Fall 2021 season. It is an important match for both teams as Chicago House looks to build momentum after two consecutive wins, and the Bobcats will look to reconsolidate with their winning ways at home in front of their fans. 

Chicago House is unbeaten in three consecutive games; a draw and two wins have seen them rise from 10th to 8th. Last Saturday, the House won at home against San Diego 1904. A significant result for the debutant club, now they look to get their first three-game winning streak as they visit the Maryland Bobcats for the first time. 

The Bobcats have an arduous task on their hands, winless in a month and two goals scored in a month. After a debacle of a night in NISA’s match of the week, the team has learned from the mistakes made and wants to win Saturday against Chicago House AC. Back to square one, after the Bobcats gained a valuable point at Keyworth Stadium at the beginning of October, two back-to-back defeats show that more work needs to be done. Although the Bobcats are the first team in NISA to be eliminated from championship contention, these matches prove to be so much more for the club than just simple points. The matches ahead are opportunities to help grow players and help the team find their play style for next season. Work needs to be done, but the team knows the importance of winning the season’s final six games. 

“We have to find our play style. These final games will help us build for next season but do not get me wrong. This season is still not over for us; we aim to finish in the top four. The table fluctuates a lot. Anyone can still fight for second or third, and that was our goal at the beginning of the season, and it still is.” Center back Jake Dengler knows the situation is worrying, but the team acknowledges that it is not simply one person at fault but the entire team. The squad is also aware that this team can be the best team in the league or the worst team; it all depends on the “team mentality.”

Captain Kay Banjo commented, “we have been very unlucky; we have had the chances and opportunities to put the ball in the net, but as we all know in the game of soccer, it is a game of highs and lows. We must ride the wave and keep going.” Banjo and his team know the importance of the next game. It is now or never for the Bobcats. “Every game in NISA is winnable. New team or not, we were once the new team, and I do not think that is an excuse to come out confident in that we will get the result if we do not try. We have goals in us, although the stats say otherwise. The ball will have to go into the net one way or another.”

Dengler also mentioned the struggles he believes the team has been having. He states, “A lot of the struggles have been as a team in general, the defense being scored on, the midfield not being creative enough, and the offensive line not being able to score. The results have not gone our way. If you watch footage of our games, you can see our great play. Unlucky is not a word I like using in soccer because as a defender, 12 goals are a lot of goals to concede, we have to get over this bad streak of results, and I expect the results to change as soon as Saturday.”

Dengler also mentioned the goals for the team for the final six games of the season. “The next few games will be focused on playing exciting soccer like the soccer we know we can play; the results will come; the wins will come, and that will attract fans. We are a team finishing year one, and we have had a lot of positive results, but we know we are capable of more as a collective. We want to compete with any team in the league. We owe it to the ownership group, some of the technical staff, and of course the fans that have been with us through thick and thin since day one.”

Moving forward, the team’s primary goal is to “be that team that is relentless from start to finish from here onward.”

Coach Sam will have 95% of his squad available for him this Saturday as injuries finally die down.

No previous encounters have occurred between both clubs, and both teams want to win their first encounter. After this fixture, the Bobcats will visit Chicago House the following week for the final game between both teams this season.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm EST/4:30 pm PT. The match can be streamed via Eleven Sports or follow the minute-by-minute action live on Twitter via @MDBobcatsFC.

Additionally, fans can buy tickets via SoccerStub and by visiting our website at marylandbobcatsfc.com/tickets.

About Maryland Bobcats FC
The Maryland Bobcats Football Club was founded in 2009. Based in Montgomery County in Maryland, it is a fully minority-owned club and Maryland’s only outdoor professional soccer team. MBFC has a “one family” mentality. From the youngest player to the most experienced youth teams to First Team, players support, push and encourage each other to play the right way. Beyond soccer, Bobcats FC helps, inspires, gives back, and supports the local community, comes to games, and cheers them on. For more information about Maryland Bobcats FC, visit marylandbobcatsfc.com or contact at evan@marylandbobcatsfc.com. Follow MBFC on Twitter @MDBobcatsFC and Instagram @mdbobcatsfc.
 
About NISA
The National Independent Soccer Association was founded in 2017 to bring professional soccer to every city in the United States. A pro league member of U.S. Soccer, NISA focuses on a model based on meritocracy, independent clubs controlling their league, clubs owning their intellectual property, all without the barrier of territorial rights. Sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation, NISA also runs the mid-summer Independent Cup, open to independent professional and amateur clubs. For more information about NISA, visit NISAOfficial.com or contact info@nisasoccer.com. Follow NISA on Twitter @NISALeague and Instagram @nisasoccer.