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June 15, 2008

RARE HOME DEFEAT: Ironbound Express stuns Barons, 4-0

Ocean City, N.J. -- In what could be another chapter in a potentially tense in-state rivalry, the Newark Ironbound Express handed the Ocean City Barons their first loss of the Premier Development League season, 4-0.

It was the worst regular-season home loss in Barons history, surpassing a 3-0 defeat to the Rhode Island Stingrays in the 2003 season opener and a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Hampton Roads Piranhas in the 2007 season finale.

The Express improved to 4-2-3 and 15 points, while the Barons (16) fell to 4-1-4.

It was only the sixth regular season home loss in club history, and just the fourth time the team has lost at Carey Stadium.

These two teams met May 11 at Carey Stadium in the season opener with the Express earning a 1-1 draw, despite spending most of the match down a man, and later, down two men.

Former New York Red Bulls forward Jerrod Laventure had another productive night against the Barons. In the season opener, he scored a goal and was red carded for head butting a player. On Satirday, he played the full 90 minutes this time and scored a hat trick. Former Baron (and former Red Bull and Chicago Fire draftee) Chris Karcz also contributed a first half goal.

Karcz opened the scoring nine minutes into the match, followed by the first of three from Laventure 20 minutes later. With the Barons pushing forward, trying to save a point at home, Laventure scored two more in the 74th and 82nd minutes to put the game out of reach.

Tomer Chencinski made 13 saves for his third clean sheet of the season.

Nick Talarico was in goal for the Barons, making his first regular-season start since the 2005 regular season finale when he was forced into the starting role as a 15-year old after the team's #1, Ryan Carr, was injured.

The loss leaves the Barons in second place in the Northeast Division, and also makes things a little tighter in the standings. Brooklyn remains in first place with 17 points (and with a game in hand), followed by Ocean City with 16, and Newark with 15. Westchester is just two points behind the Express, with Long Island a point behind the Flames, leaving just a five-point gap between fifth place and first.