Barons Kick Off 2001 Season

Press Release

Marlton, NJ -- The South Jersey Barons, a perennial D3 Pro League play-off team (1999 D3 Pro League national finalists), will attempt to do something they've never done when they open their season this Saturday. In four years of play, the team has yet to qualify for the U.S. Open Cup Tournament -- a competition which determines a national champion from all levels of professional soccer.

Saturday, at Cherokee High School Stadium, the Barons will face the Richmond Kickers in an Open Cup Qualification game. Kick-off is set for 7:30 PM, and tickets ($6.50 for adults and $4.50 for youths age 12 and under) are available at the gate.

South Jersey will return much of the line-up which battled for the United Soccer Leagues' D3 Pro League regular season championship last year, finishing third on the final week-end of play. Returners Kevin Kelly, a late season addition last year at forward (3 goals, 0 assists, 6 points) and midfielder Majik Agu (3, 3, 9) will be counted on to do much of the scoring.

The defense is solidly anchored by Paul Zgalich, an All D3 Pro League second team selection in 1999. The Barons also return most of the defense which was one of the league's stingiest last season, including defenders James Harvey and Dan Christian. Goalkeeper Steve Welham will be given the start in the nets, after having turned in a 1.46 goals against average in limited play in 2000.

In Richmond, the Barons will face a team from the USL's A-League, a level one step above the D3 Pro League. The Barons have had no luck advancing out of qualification play in the past, and this year's qualifiers include matches with two A-League teams, Richmond and the Long Island Rough Riders.

Also returning for South Jersey is Pat Hickey (2 goals, 2 assists, 6 points), a solid midfielder with an extremely high work rate. Midfielder Huey Ferguson also rejoins the team, coming back from a season cut short by injury last year.

Cherokee High School is located on Willow Bend Road off Route 73. For more information, or for Barons season tickets, fans can call (856) 753-7608. Fans can also follow the Barons season on the web at www.sjbarons.com.