Crystal Palace?s shutout streak continued against Wilmington ? by a matter of feet.
Late in the first half in Saturday’s United Soccer Leagues Second Division game at UMBC Stadium, Crystal Palace USA?s players saw a ball hit the backof their net. But instead of seeing their scoreless streak to open the season end, players looked at the referee, who disallowed the goal because it had ricocheted off a Wilmington player in an offsides position.
“I was devastated when that one went in,” Palace defender Paul Robson said. “I was like, ‘no way!’ But he was offsides, and you get those breaks when you’re playing well.”
But Palace is playing more than well.
After opening its inaugural season with a four-game losing streak last year, Palace improved to 3-0 following a 2-0 victory over Wilmington, enabling it to take its 270-minute scoreless streak to Bermuda (3-2-1) for Saturday?s game at 6 against the Hogges.
“So far we’re doing great: three games, no goals,” Palace defender Ibrahim Kante said. “It’s a great feeling for us. It’s going to be a long season, we just have to be ready, and go game to game.”
Palace went 9-7-5 last year, but ended the regular season with consecutive shutouts, meaning it hasn?t allowed a goal in five straight games.
“Our team is very organized,” said Palace defender Mike Lookingland, a Fallston native who also plays for the Blast. “A lot of the guys played together last year and played well to end the season. That’s carrying over into this season.”
Lookingland is one of the newcomers on a squad that retained much of its talentedcore from last season. Lookingland was a substitute on Saturday and made his Palace debut in the 79th minute. Robson, who played with Charlton in the English Premier League, is in his first season with Palace, which is a feeder club to the English team with the same name.
Defender Andrew Marshall, a Centennial High and Towson University graduate, is in his second season with the club. He was named USL Second Division Player of the Week after fueling a 3-0 win against Pittsburgh with two assists.
The team’s attacking mentality puts pressure on its defense. But when the offense finds success, the Palace guard can play with confidence.
“Anyone you put up top and in the midfield, we really don’t miss a beat,” Marshall said. “That takes so much pressure off the backs.”
But Marshall feels the biggest contributor to the team’s hot start is its depth.
“It’s incredible. It?s two even teams going at each other every week,” Marshall said. “I think that’s a big point when you’re competing every day for your spot.”
