BOYDS, MD – The Bobcats have clinched their spot in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) playoffs for the second consecutive year. For 2023 that news comes with a bonus of having 2 games yet to play in the regular season for the Maryland squad.

Led by former first team captain, President of the MBFC Youth Academy, and first-year head coach Alex Kao, the team has earned a club record a 36 out of a potential 39 points that could be secured after their last regular season match on October 18 vs. Savannah Clovers FC.

Accompanied by Moe Gueye, Anthony Ugorji, and James Tolley, the young coaching staff were able to smash the previous record of 30 match points in 2022. With 12 players returning from the 2022 season, the 28 year old Coach Kao continued to build a squad consisting of local and international talent to create the system that elevated the team to a current record of 11 wins, 3 draws, and 9 losses. An improvement from 2022’s 8 wins, 6 draws, and 9 losses which saw the team clinch playoffs with a 6^th place finish in the regular season table.

MBFC have continued to invest in youth since their initial inception in the early 2010s that spread from the coaching and playing talent on the field to the administrative staff within the front office. A staff that was able to consistently operate home games on a weekly basis and secure a 2023 season debut of 1,000+ match attendance.

As the team prepares for their final 2023 regular season game, there is a potential to further expand on the club record match point total with a victory on October 18. Savannah Clovers FC are a new team to NISA for the year and the record between the two clubs sits current in a deadlock of 1 to 1. Maryland secured the first win on June 10 and Savannah Clovers responded with a victory on August 12 both at the Bobcats home venue, the Maryland SoccerPlex.

Coach Alex Kao has been a part of MBFC since 2019 when he signed as a Defensive Midfielder after previously winning a NJCAA National Title with Louisburg College in 2015 and playing with the Philadelphia Fury from 2018-2019. He was quickly named captain of the senior team and led them to a UPSL Fall 2019 National Championship title.

After playing for 2 more years from 2020-2022, Kao would formally hang up the cleats to serve as the President of the MBFC Youth Academy after head coaching the U18 team while playing professional for the club.

The 2023 season consisted of a roller coaster of emotions and experiences for MBFC that has not swayed the club from their mission of improving year by year. With the team still working daily to accomplish even more this season, fans, families, and the community will watch on to see just how high the Bobcats will fly.

Inside Photo Credit: Malachi Dixon