Annapolis (Map, News) - To Crystal Palace USA, its scoreless tie against the Harrisburg City Islanders was a wasted opportunity.

“A tie right now might as well be a loss,” co-coach Pete Medd said Monday from Hamilton, Bermuda, before Crystal Palace (3-5-5) kicked off against the Bermuda Hogges (2-9-1). “It’s a lost opportunity. We consider ourselves one of the top teams. We were there to win. Coming away with a tie was a big letdown.”

With the United Soccer League-Second Division’s postseason picture coming into focus with eight games remaining, Crystal Palace has four of its games against teams ahead of it in the standings — three against the City Islanders (7-2-5) and one against the Western Mass Pioneers (5-4-5).

Crystal Palace is scratching for every point possible to add to its 14, which is well-behind fourth-place Harrisburg (26) and fifth-place Western Mass (20). With three points awarded for a victory, one in a tie and only four teams advancing to the postseason, Crystal Palace has little margin for error.

“We really needed the three points [against Harrisburg],” Crystal Palace co-coach Jim Cherneski said. “The tie is not as half as good as a win. We went out to Harrisburg, and frankly, walked away disappointed.”

Because of the game’s postseason implications, Crystal Palace found nothing positive in its result against the City Islanders, who were coming off consecutive shutout victories against second-place Charlotte and Major League Soccer’s D.C. United.

Cherneski said he feels his team’s four-game losing streak to start the season could ultimately keep it from making the playoffs in its inaugural season.

“We couldn’t put ourselves any further in the hole than that,” he said.

After the abysmal start, Crystal Palace was unbeaten in its next seven games before suffering a before a 1-0 loss to Western Mass on July 7. Crystal Palace has lost once in its last nine games, moving from last place to sixth.

Cherneski attributes the turnaround to the players’ sense of urgency to overcome the horrible start. However, he believes it may be too late.

“You don’t know where the bar is set until the bar is set,” he said. “If they had played that way in the beginning of the season, then maybe we wouldn’t be in this position right now.”

Comments from Examiner Readers

7:15 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 25, 2008 re: "A new look at Palace"

Examiner Reader said:
Not after the two more games they play they will be in playoffs and be promoted to EPL!!! GO PALACE!!!

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6:12 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 25, 2008 re: "A new look at Palace"

Examiner Reader said:
Crystal Palace isn't in the EPL. They are in the League Championship, which is one level below.

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