Year 6 - 2014 in Review

Capital District may have bent, but they did not break in 2014. Despite not reaching the ultimate goal, a major trophy, the team still had a solid campaign. Among the highlights of the year was a return to playoffs after a 2 year drought, recapturing the BSL Classic and Founders Cup, and a sweep of their post-season tour.
 

Before losing the majority of the season to injury, Captain Álvaro Saborío showcaed why he is one of the best strikers in the league. Right behind Saborío was Team MVP Diego Valeri, once again leading the team down the stretch run in Saborío's absence. Having another masterful season, Valeri lead the Gunners back to the playoffs and through the group stage of the Majors Cup.

"While most will only look at not winning a major (trophies), I believe this was a succesful season for us," Manager Kevin Connor said. "We overcame a lot, and proved that we'll keep fighting until the end. We won 2 very important minors (trophies), got back to the playoffs, and were only a few steps short of getting out of the (Majors Cup) group stages. I'm looking foward to next year and continuing to build off what we've accomplished."

Even before 2014 was in the books, speculation on 2015 had begun. Though the team is being tight lipped about their plans, the expectation is for Capital District to use the max 3 Designated Players. Along with Saborío and Valeri, the 3rd DP is widely believed to be David Villa. The real speculation is on whether or not the team will chose to tag Stefan Ishizaki as a Retention Player, the only player who qualifies.

2014 Schedule (12-6-4) 40pts

BSL Regular Season

Playoffs
Majors Cup
Friendly

Week 1 - Second City (W 2-7)
     Man of the Match - Nick Rimando (CD)

Week 2 - Union S.C. - Founders Cup (W 3-2)
     Man of the Match - Mauro Rosales (CD)

Week 3 - @ Pennsylvania (L 5-1)
     Man of the Match -Robbie Keane (Penn)

Week 4 - Ohio (W 2-0)
     Man of the Match - Álvaro Saborío (CD)

Week 5 - @ Orange County (T 2-2)
     Man of the Match - Josh Williams (OC)

Week 6 - @ Rose City (W 4-2)
     Man of the Match - Stefan Ishizaki (CD)

Week 7 - Alamo City - BSL Classic First Leg / Founders Cup (W 3-2)
     Man of the Match - Stefan Ishizaki (CD)

Week 8 - Spartans 1612 - Empire Cup First Leg (L 7-3)
     Man of the Match - Bradley Wright-Phillips (Spa)

Week 9 - @ Gold Coast (W 6-3)
     Man of the Match - Álvaro Saborío (CD)

Week 10 - @ Burud Town (L 7-5)
     Man of the Match - Javier Morales (BT)

Week 11 - Gateway United - Founders Cup (T 7-7)
     Man of the Match - Federico Higuaín (GU)

Week 12 - @ Ohio (T 0-0)
     Man of the Match - Lloyd Sam (CD)

Week 13 - Orange County (L 4-3)
     Man of the Match - Bill Hamid (OC)

Week 14 - Gold Coast (W 7-2)
     Man of the Match - Cristian Maidana (CD)

Week 15 - @ Gateway United - Founders Cup (W 2-1)
     Man of the Match - Tally Hall (CD)

Week 16 - @ Spartans 1612 - Empire Cup Second Leg (L 4-2)
     Man of the Match - Bradley Wright-Phillips (Sp)

Week 17 - Rose City (W 9-8)
     Man of the Match - Mauro Rosales (CD)

Week 18 - Pennsylvania (T 5-5)
     Man of the Match - Stefan Ishizaki (CD)

Week 19 - @ Alamo City - BSL Classic Second Leg / Founders Cup (W 3-0)
     Man of the Match - Diego Valeri (CD)

Week 20 - @ Second City (W 5-3)
     Man of the Match - Nick Rimando (CD)

Week 21 - @ Union SC - Founders Cup (L 9-4)
     Man of the Match - Luke Moore (USC)

Week 22 - Burud Town (W 2-0)
     Man of the Match - Dillon Serna (CD)
Wildcard - Gateway United (L 8-3)
     Man of the Match - Landon Donovan (GU) 
Friendly - @ New York Red Bulls (W 2-0)
     Man of the Match - Diego Valeri (CD)
Friendly - New England Revolution (L 9-8)
     Man of the Match - Lee Nguyen (NE)
Majors Cup Game 1 - @ Sporting Kansas City (L 7-6)
     Man of the Match - Graham Zusi (SKC)
Majors Cup Game 2 - @ Orange County (L 3-2)
      Man of the Match - Alan Gordon (OC)
Majors Cup Game 3 - @ Montreal Impact (W 2-0)
      Man of the Match - Dillon Serna (CD)
Friendly - Club León (W 3-2)
     Man of the Match - Nick Rimando (CD)
Friendly - Newcastle Jets (W 8-1)
     Man of the Match - Tyler Deric (CD)
 Friendly - @ Arsenal - Gooner Derby (W 6-5)
      Man of the Match -Nick Rimando (CD)
Friendly - @ Manchester United - Euro Friendly (W 2-1)
      Man of the Match - Nick Rimando (CD)

Valeri wins 2nd straight Team MVP.

For the 2nd straight year Diego Valeri has earned Team MVP honors. Capital District's leading scorer this year, he was a big reason for the Gunners success this season. With the team struggling with form and injuries, Valeri stepped up to lead the team to a 5th place finish, a playoff spot, and qualification for the Majors Cup.

"Diego did everything asked of him and more," Manager Michael Connor explained. "He's continuously been our best player, and we owe a lot of our success to his fantastic play. For the past two years, he's stepped up as a leader for this team. Hopefully next year we can reward his commitment to us."

Capital District sweep postseason tour.

Capital District finished their postseason friendly tour with a 2-1 victory over Manchester United. With the win, the Gunners have swept the four matches of the tour. While the wins finishes the season on a high note for the club, it comes at a cost. In the final match against Manchester United, Diego Valeri suffered a torn ACL. The clear front runner for Team MVP this year, Valeri's recovery isn't clear but it's hoped he'll be ready for next season.

Someone who knows a little something about injuries, Álvaro Saborío concluded his year with a goal. Nick Rimando secured what proved to be the winning point with a clean sheet. Manchester United tried to make a late comeback, but was only able to split the lead.

"After the ups and downs we've had this year, it was nice to be able to finish the year strong and take all four matches against strong opponets," Manager Kevin Connor said after the match. "We're going to take some time away, but we've already been making plans for next season."

Friendly @ Manchester United (Euro Friendly)

Capital District takes Gooner Derby

The 5th annual Gooner Derby certainly didn't disappoint. Starting in 2010, Capital District and Arsenal have meet annually in a friendly derby, with the two sides splitting the previous meetings. This year's derby came down to the wire in exciting fashion.

Nick Rimando started the scoring with saves point and clean sheet double, something that has become his trademark. Arsenal quickly rallied back, scoring five points. Chris Pontius began the comeback with a goal, and Cristian Maidana dished out two assists to bring the match level. In the end, it was Lloy Sam who struck the match winner to earn the Gunners their third straight derby win.

"This is a great win for us. Sometimes the closer wins are even more impressive then the blowouts," Manager Kevin Connor said afterwards. "Given our club's history and the stature of Arsenal has one of the top clubs in the world, this win will leave a little better tastes in our mouth when the season is over."

Capital District are set to end their post season friendly tour, and 2014 campaign, with their 2014 Euro Friendly. This year's opponent is another worldwide top club from the English Premier League, Manchester United.

Friendly @ Arsenal (Gooner Derby)

Gunners ground Jets

Capital District continued it's end of the year friendly tour with a 8-1 victory over the Newcastle Jets of the A-League. Trialist Tyler Deric put the Gunners ahead early and the team never looked back as they cruised to an easy win. With Nick Rimando out on international team duty, Deric made the most of his trial by earning a saves point and a clean sheet. 

Quickly following Deric, Diego Valeri continued his sensational season by doubling the lead with a brace of goals. Adding on to the score were goals from Andrew Wenger and Stefan Ishizaki, and assists by Lloyd Sam and Andrés Escobar.

"It was an impressive win, both figuratively and literally," Manager Kevin Connor told reporters. "On paper these games might not mean much, but to us they mean something. It's a chance to end the season on a high note, and to lose a bit of the bitter taste to how we finished the postseason."

Next up for Capital District is the annual Gooner Derby in London versus Arsenal. The two sides have split the previous four meetings, Arsenal winning the first two and Capital District the last two.

Friendly vs Newcastle Jets

T = Trial

Rimando saves Gunners in friendly versus León

The offical season over, Capital District has begun their end of the year friendly tour in impressive fashion. Falling behind 2-0 to Club León, Capital District rallied to put up 3 unanswered points to win the friendly with the Liga MX side, 3-2. Down 2, Mauro Rosales struck a pair of assists to even the match, and Nick Rimando put aside 5 saves for the late winning point.

"It's great to see the team still have fight in them, especially when the only thing on the line in these matches is pride," Manager Kevin Connor said afterwards. "Aside from just a way to keep playing until the calender is up, we're going to use these friendlies as auditions for next year. No one is ever guarenteed a spot each year, it needs to be earned."

Friendly vs Club León

Gunners end Tournament with win.

The official season has come to a close for Capital District with a 2-0 win over MLS side, Montreal Impact. The Gunners finish the Majors Cup 1-2 in group play, finish 3rd and eliminated from proceeding to the knockout stage. Dillon Serna scored the winning point, and yellow accumulation by the Impact allowed Omar Cummings goal to count.

"It's nice to finish with a win, but it still doesn't eliminate the sting of being eliminated," Manager Kevin Connor told reporters. "We had a heck of a season, and to accomplish what we did, I'm proud of these boys."

While the official season is over, Capital District still has matches to play. There'll be at least 3 friendlies to close out the year, including the annual Gooner Derby and Euro Friendly.

Majors Cup Game 3 vs Montreal Impact

After 2nd heartbreaking loss, Gunners eliminated.

Orange County defeated Capital District 3-2 on a late goal from Alan Gordon. Falling to 0-2 in group play, and with Sporting Kansas City's win over Montreal, the Gunners have been eliminated from the Majors Cup. Capital District will close out the season with their final match of group play against the Montreal Impact.

Diego Valeri continues to be a one man band on offense, scoring both of the Gunners points this match with a assist and a goal. While the team has had a rough season, Diego Valeri as been sensational. Valeri is the expected Team MVP, and there have even been questions raised to if he will take over the official captain's role next year.

"It's been a long season, and it's frustrating to be just good enough to get there but not to break through," Manager Kevin Connor said after the match. "To be able to hang with these two high power offenses is great, but I'd rather take the actual victory over the moral one."

Capital District's official season will end at home against Montreal this week. Afterwards, the Gunners plan to travel to England for the annual Gooner Deby versus Arsenal and then on to Manchester for their Euro Friendly against Manchester United. It's also expected that one or two more friendlies could be added before the Gunners call it a year.

Majors Cup Game 2 @ Orange County

Rally falls just short.

In their opening match of the Majors Cup, Capital District lost 7-6 to MLS side, Sporting Kansas City. It was a bitter loss as the Gunners are rallied from 5 down to fall just short of a complete comeback.

Diego Valeri led the way with a goal and assist combo, as well as earning the Gunners lone yellow card. Lloyd Sam struck the first point of the match with a goal, with Stefan Ishisaki and Mauro Rosales each chipping in an assist, and Nick Rimando earning a saves point.

"Sporting is a tough side, one of the best in the MLS. But it's frustrating to come this close and not be able to be pull it off," Manager Kevin Connor said in his post match interview. "Only thing we can do now is forget and get ready for the Zodiacs (BSL side Orange County)."

Majors Cup Game 1 @ Sporting Kansas City

Pontius looks for 2nd run with Gunners.

Back in 2011, turning the Gunners' treble run, Chris Pontius was an important piece of the championship run. He was the man of the match in the Gunners first match of that year's Majors Cup, registering three assists, but in the same game suffered a season ending leg injury. Looking for redemption, and coming back from injury that's kept him out for most of this season, Capital District as signed Chris Pontius.

"Chris is an excellent player, that as incredible potential when he's healthy," Manager Michael Miller said to reporters during practice Tuesday. "With our returning players, and now Chris in the fold, we're hoping this proves to be the spark of a deep and successful run for us this year."

To make room for Pontius, Capital District made the release of injured Tally Hall official. The goal keeper filled in for Nick Rimando during the World Cup. Hall suffered a torn ACL last week and will miss the rest of the year following surgery.

Transaction: Chris Pontius

Sign: Chris Pontius
Release: Tally Hall

Revs outlast Gunners in final friendly before Majors.

In their final tuneup before the Majors Cup, Capital District fell 9-8 to the New England Revolution. While the Gunners lost, there were many good things to take away from the friendly. Cheif among them was the return of Captain Álvaro Saborío. Out since before the World Cup, Saborío's return could prove to be the spark the Gunners are looking for as they prepare for the Majors Cup.

Diego Valeri lead the way for the Gunners with 3 assists. Also returning from injury Cristian Maidana, along with Stefan Ishizaki, Omar Cummings, and Lloyd Sam each earned an assist. Andrew Wenger chipped in a goal, and thanks to 6 yellows earned by the Revolution, Saborío's goal counted off the bench.

"It was good to finally see the team everyone was expecting from us. We've had Sabo and Diego for almost two years now, I can't remember how many times they've actually played together," Manager Kevin Connor said after the friendly. "We're familar with Sporting (Kansas City), and we're expecting a high scoring match. I know that we can keep up with them, now we just need to prove it."

While Capital District saw the return of Saborío and Maidana, the team also announced that goal keeper Tally Hall had been lost for the season. Hall tore his ACL last week and underwent season ending surgery to repair his knee. With Nick Rimando cemented as the starter, the Gunners are expected to sign another position player to add to the team's depth during the tournament.

Friendly vs New England Revolution