Monday, February 8th, 2010

Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore open their 2010 season at home on Friday, April 16 at 7:00pm, welcoming FC Tampa Bay to UMBC Soccer Stadium.  A second home fixture follows just five days later as Palace host the Puerto Rico Islanders.  These matches kick off a 30-game regular season schedule consisting of 15 home and 15 road matches in the new twelve-team US Soccer Federation Division II.  Tampa Bay are also Palace’s opponents in their final regular season clash on October 1 in Florida.  The league playoffs are set to begin October 4.

The initial schedule for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was also revealed today, with the first round date set for June 15/16.  Additionally Palace expect to announce at least one exhibition match during the regular season against international opposition.

The full 2010 season schedule is listed here.

Flex Season Tickets are currently available online or by calling (410) 933-TEAM.  All games are General Admission.
 
Details of the 2010 league playoff format have been unveiled by the USSF. The twelve-team league, consisting of two conferences of six teams, has adopted the following format:

• The first place team (based on total points, at the conclusion of the regular season) in the USL Conference and NASL Conference will become the top two seeds in the playoffs.
• The next six (6) best teams, based on total points, will round out the playoff field.
• The four teams with the fewest total points in the regular season are excluded from the playoffs.
• Playoffs will begin during the week starting Monday, October 4.
• First round will be a two-game, home-and-away series determined by total aggregate goals.
• Semifinal round will be a two-game, home-and-away series determined by total aggregate goals.
• Championship will be a two-game, home-and-away series determined by total aggregate goals.
• Exact dates for playoff games are to be determined.