

2 years, 26 days and 10 ASA Finals later: "the Curse of the Massimo" is
finally broken!
Conturso wins the ASA Patapsco Challenge Open after a 2-1 match against a
steroid-high Paul Eyes in Ellicott City, MD. It is the first time for a SCC Individual Open
victory in Maryland since the legendary Sweep on November 7, 2004, when the
Italian held on to a 1-0 score against Gregg Deinhart. It is also Massimo's first ASA win
since April 10, 2005.
The weekend for the CT duo formed by Conturso & Rick Marques starts with
heartbreaking losses to national champion Zach Walker, who eliminates Rick in the
semis (0-2) before delivering the 10th straight defeat in a final to Massimo (1-2).
Marques then beats at the shootouts a cocky Daniel Cranston for a honorable 3rd
place.
Rick & Massimo find comfort from pints of Guinness on Saturday night, as well as
inspiration from a visit to Camden Yard, Baltimore where JT in incognito points their
stranded souls to the right directions.
On Sunday, it's another music. The 2nd Open is reduced to 8 players (but John
Svensson is a no-show) as Maryland's U15 compete in the traditional Patapsco Cup,
that Andrew Mendez manages to win once again with a 3-2 thriller over a
never-quitting Collin Dohner.
While Rick falls short in group qualifier against Stuart Russell (0-1) & Paul Eyes (1-2),
Massimo keeps Dan Cranston down (1-0, scored in 7 seconds & 3 touches from
flickoff!) and wins comfortably with Batacchi (4-0) & Kevin Bao (7-4).
The Group Championship is a thriller until the last second as Conturso qualifies to his
5th ASA final of the season by the window. MLS Cup winner, Stuart Russell has 1
point after two rounds, while the Italian is at 4. To qualify, Russell needs a large win
over club mate Daniel Cranston, while hoping for a Conturso defeat by Mr. Eyes. The
Englishman from Manchester is a gentleman and, despite being already qualified, plays
at his usual standard to deliver a 1-2 loss to Massimo. On the other table thought,
Cranston gets way too casual with Russell and concedes 3 times. After all the
appropriate checking, the GD count is: Massimo +1, Stuart 0.
The Championship Match is the second Old Firm Captains derby of the day. As every
Anglo-Italian matchup, the result could go either way, but it's a stalemate at the
break. Massimo takes the lead in the 2nd half, only to see Paul deliver a great goal
after a smooth move in the shooting box. What's to lose? The 11th straight final?
Who's counting! The Italian gets in charge mode and finds the 2-1 with 3 minutes to
time. Having already thrown away a final in the same situation (2005 MLS Cup),
Massimo focuses to avoid an awful deja-vu` and keeps possession to the end.
The timer's beep arrives like a liberation, the Curse is broken.
SATURDAY - MARYLAND OPEN
Group Stage
Massimo 5-1 David Marino
Massimo 3-0 (F) Gareth Johnson
Massimo 6-2 Travis Johnson
Rick 3-0 Jeremy Meiler
Rick 3-0 Mike Collins
Rick 3-0 James Wang
Round of 16
Massimo 5-3 Brendan Dames
Rick 3-0 Nevin V.
Quarter Finals
Massimo 3-2 Alex Batacchi
Rick 3-1 Ed Morgans
Semifinals
Massimo 2-1 Daniel Cranston
Rick 0-2 Zach Walker
Final
Massimo 1-2 Zach Walker
SUNDAY - PATAPSCO CHALLENGE OPEN
Group Qualifier
Massimo 4-0 Alex Batacchi
Massimo 1-0 Daniel Cranston
Massimo 7-4 Kevin Bao
Rick 3-0 (F) John Svensson
Rick 0-1 Stuart Russell
Rick 1-2 Paul Eyes
Group Mary Jane
Rick 1-1 Alex Batacchi
Rick 2-1 Kevin Bao
(Batacchi wins MJ by GD)
Group Championship
Massimo 0-0 Stuart Russell
Massimo 2-0 Daniel Cranston
Massimo 1-2 Paul Eyes
Final
Massimo 2-1 Paul Eyes
SUNDAY - NORTH ATLANTIC CUP
SC Connecticut 1-0 Maryland SC
Details here
SCC Red Sox Nation at Camden Yards.
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Our silverware: Patapsco Challenge 1st
place plaque & North Atlantic Cup.
Conturso's losing streak comes to an end
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