Christos FC is an American soccer team based in Baltimore, Maryland, that competes in the Maryland Major Soccer League, an affiliated league of United States Adult Soccer Association.

Christos FC
Full nameChristos Football Club
Founded1997; 27 years ago (1997)
GroundPlevyak Field
Mount Saint Joseph High School
General ManagerJody Haislip
CoachEric Bathras
LeagueUSL League Two
Maryland Major Soccer League and NESL
USASA
20233rd, Chesapeake Division
Playoffs: DNQ
WebsiteClub website

History edit

Founded in 1997, the team is composed of ex-professionals and local college players in the Greater Baltimore area. The team colors are green, gold and black. The team takes its name from Christos Discount Liquors.

The club received national recognition for advancing past fourth-division sides Fredericksburg FC[1] and Chicago FC United and the second-division side Richmond Kickers in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.[2][3] The team reached the fourth round, before they lost to Major League Soccer's D.C. United. Christos opened the scoring, which received national attention.[4][5]

The team qualified again in 2018, losing in the first round to Reading United AC in a penalty kick shootout, and in 2020.[6][7]

In November 2018, the team launched a partnership with FC Baltimore of the National Premier Soccer League.[8] The two teams began to share resources while the newly named "FC Baltimore Christos" continued to compete in the NPSL.

In April 2021, it was announced that the team would join USL League Two for the 2022 season.[9]

The club is also two-time Werner Fricker National Open Cup champions (2016, 2018) and won the USASA National Amateur Cup in 2016.[10][11][12]

Year-by-year edit

Year Division League Regular Season Playoffs Open Cup
2022 4 USL League Two 2nd, Chesapeake Conference Quarterfinals did not enter
2023 4 USL League Two 3rd, Chesapeake Did not qualify Second qualifying round

Roster edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   USA Phil Saunders
24 GK   USA Mike Zierhoffer
5 MF   USA Daniel Baxter
6 MF   USA Kaoru Forbess
7 FW   USA Jamie Merriam
8 DF   MLI Mamadou Kansaye
11 MF   CIV Levi Houapeu
15 DF   USA Jake Dengler
16 MF   USA David Harris
19 DF   USA Joseph Glos
22 MF   USA Brian Graham
No. Pos. Nation Player
25 DF   USA Cody Albrecht
80 FW   ITA Geaton Caltabiano
92 FW   USA Pete Caringi III
23 DF   USA Kyle Saunderson
MF   USA Malcolm Harris
MF   SCO Michael Scott
FW   USA Christopher Panian
FW   USA Khalid Balogun
DF   USA Oumar Ballo
MF   USA Tyler Rudy
MF   USA Jacob Bender

Club honors edit

References edit

  1. ^ Fontela, Jonah. "Christos FC - Baltimore's Sunday-League Superstars". United States Soccer Federation. ussoccer.com. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  2. ^ Bromley, Ben (May 17, 2017). "Christos FC upset Richmond Kickers in the US Open Cup". Black and Red United. SB Nation. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  3. ^ Culler, Adam (May 17, 2017). "Kickers offensive woes continue in 1-0 loss to Christos FC". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Berkshire Hathaway. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  4. ^ "The fascinating story behind Christos FC". ESPN. espnfc.com. June 14, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  5. ^ ESPN Staff (June 14, 2017). "D.C. United end Cinderella run of Christos FC in U.S. Open Cup". ESPN. espnfc.com. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  6. ^ Ralph, Matthew (2018-05-10). "Reading United advance to second round of U.S. Open Cup on penalties". Brotherly Game. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  7. ^ "2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Win & You're In: Christos FC qualifies for third time in last four years". Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  8. ^ "FC BALTIMORE LAUNCHES PARTNERSHIP WITH CHRISTOS FC". FC Baltimore. FC Baltimore. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  9. ^ "Christos FC Set to Join USL League Two for the 2022 Season". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  10. ^ "Werner Fricker Cup - National Open Championship Final". United States Adult Soccer Association. usasaregion1.com. July 30, 2016. Archived from the original on July 13, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  11. ^ says, Jody Haislip (2016-08-08). "Christos FC comes full circle with U.S. Amateur and WF Open Cup Championships". US Amateur Cup Media. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  12. ^ FC, Christos (2018-08-18). "CHRISTOS FC ARE USASA OPEN CUP NATIONAL CHAMPIONS !!!pic.twitter.com/WuUmXqkyBq". @ChristosFC. Retrieved 2019-12-17.

External links edit