OBGC Rangers (Md.) win U-16 Dallas Cup title

OBGC Rangers of Olney, Md. took the Under-16 championship in the illustrious Dallas Cup over the weekend after a 3-1 win in the final against southern California side FC Golden State.

Jony Karahbetyan scored for OBGC Rangers in the second minute, but FC Golden State tied the match before halftime. Karl Brown then extended the lead for OBGC Rangers and just before the final whistle, and Sean Cowdrey tallied another goal for Rangers to provide the final margin.

Cowdrey had a hat trick in Rangers’ 4-1 opening group stage win over Dallas Texans Pre-Academy, with Jeremy Ebobisse scoring the fourth goal. Goalkeeper Mac Burke, on his birthday, saved a penalty to earn “Save of the Day” honors by the Dallas Cup.

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In the second group stage match against Santa Clara Sporting, Rangers had to rally for the 2-1 win. Right winger Sam Schmidt tapped in the matchwinner after a long dribble run through the Sporting defense by Karl Brown, who played a long ball to the back post that Schmidt got onto.

In the final group stage game, OBGC Rangers dominated in a 9-0 win over Colegio Americano de Guatemala.

Rangers, twice trailing in the match, needed extra time in the quarterfinals to beat Milan FC of California 4-2. Jorge Quintanilla put Rangers ahead in the extra time, and they tacked on an extra goal.

Cowdrey came up big once again in the semifinal, converting a second half penalty against FC Phoenix Academy to put Rangers into the final, where coach Matt Pilkington’s team finished off their string of wins with a Dallas Cup title.