Dave Carey, The Examiner
2008-06-27 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

BALTIMORE -

The biggest game in Crystal Palace USA’s two-year history will be played on Tuesday night at 7:30 against Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup.

The catch?

The game is at Broadneck High School in Anne Arundel County.

“Unfortunately we could not use our home stadium [at UMBC] due to a scheduling conflict,” Jim Cherneski, the team’s founder, sporting director and co-manager, said. “That’s where we wanted to hold it and we did what we could, unfortunately the Baltimore area doesn’t have a lot of facilities. We had discussions with some major universities, but some already had things scheduled such as maintenance.”

Lawrence E. Knight Stadium in Annapolis, however, is the home of the girl’s state soccer tournament and is complete with press box, bleachers and state-of-the-art field turf. Cherneski said the team is hoping to fill the 3,000 seat venue for the game, adding he already had contacted local boosters about ticket sales and the possibility of adding additional seating.

Playing on a high school field is nothing new for MLS teams in the U.S. Open Cup. Last year, the Harrisburg City Islanders knocked out D.C. United at Hempfield High School in Lancaster, Pa. United, which was one of the eight MLS teams to qualify for the tournament, will play the Rochester Rhinos (USL Second Division) in Germantown at the Maryland Soccerplex on Tuesday night at 7:30.

The U.S. Open Cup is the largest soccer tournament in the United States, which includes both amateur and professional teams. Palace, which plays in the United Soccer League’s Second Division, the equivalent to baseball’s Double-A level, defeated teams from Los Angeles and Harrisburg, Pa., to have the right to host the Red Bulls.

New York plays in the MLS, which is the highest level of professional soccer in the United States.

 “This is what we are playing for, to be able to showcase our team,” Palace midfielder and former Towson standout Pat Healey said. “For me, it’s another way to see the top level in America and see how we do against them.”

Before Palace (6-3-1) can fully focus on the Red Bulls, it must first face league foe Real Maryland (3-7) on Sunday afternoon at 4 in Germantown. But even a league match will do little to slow down the buzz that bringing an MLS team to the area is generating.

“At UMBC, about 80 percent of our support has come through Anne Arundel County,” Cherneski said. “People sort of grew an affinity for the team when we played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium last year, so we hope for the area to really support us. When you move into venues like [Broadneck] and get three-to-five thousand people, it’s an electric atmosphere.”

dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com