2025 Morton Cup: A Statement Made
Sláinte Athletic’s introduction to Maryland State Soccer came on the biggest stage yet—the 12th Annual Morton Cup, and it did not disappoint. A tournament of sixteen, built on group-stage grit and knockout glory, became the proving ground for a club determined to show it belonged.
Placed into a loaded Group D, Sláinte faced a tall order: local rivals Baltimore City FC, Street Footie of the Maryland League, and Lions FC from the Maryland Majors. The task was clear—win the group, and advance. What followed was a run filled with rising stars, tactical resilience, and unforgettable moments.
Matchday 1: Sláinte Athletic 2-0 Baltimore City FC
A long-anticipated clash with neighbors Baltimore City FC kicked off the campaign, and Sláinte rose to the moment. While the opening 15 minutes tested our backline, tactical shifts from Coach Tanner Babischkin changed the tempo. Isaac Ngobu and Gavin Mooney brought fresh energy, and Mooney’s through ball to Logan Funk opened the scoring in the 22nd minute.
From there, Sláinte pressed forward, forcing key saves off the likes of Kai Kressman and Funk. In the second half, a high-stakes chess match saw goalkeeper Kristian Slaby coming off his line repeatedly to deny equalizers. With BCFC pushing bodies forward late, Sláinte struck back—BP Seivers, making his mark early in the tournament, found Iddriss Iddriss on the break for a dagger in the 89th.
A full-team performance sealed all three points.
Standouts: BP Seivers (midfield control), Ngobu (creativity), Ramos & Novian (defensive wall).
Matchday 2: Sláinte Athletic 4-1 Street Footie
Danny Hallowell wasted no time—back from a four-month layoff, he found the net inside two minutes. Sláinte looked unstoppable. BP Seivers scored his first goal for the club, Iddriss added another, and Mooney delivered two more assists. It was flowing football—until complacency set in.
A high backline misstep gifted Street Footie a goal and a touch of momentum. Before anything escalated, the match was cut short at 30 minutes due to misconduct by the opposing manager. Regardless, Sláinte’s dominance was clear.
Matchday 3: Sláinte Athletic 2-1 Starliners FC
A win would secure a perfect group stage—and Sláinte answered the call. Despite wasteful finishing early, Mark McDonough held the line with critical tackles and a goal-line clearance. Just before half, a Ryan Cummings flick from a corner landed to Iddriss, who bagged his third in three.
In the second half, Hallowell fired home a stunner to double the lead. Starliners pulled one back late, but it wasn’t enough. Sláinte finished group play undefeated, with the joint-best goal differential and the fewest goals conceded across the cup.
Quarterfinal: Sláinte Athletic 1-0 Lions FC
Possession-heavy, composed, and patient—Sláinte dominated large stretches but struggled to find the final touch. Brady O’Connor and BP Seivers ran the midfield, creating waves of pressure. Finally, in the 62nd minute, Iliass Zouita curled in a dangerous cross that was forced into the net by a Lions defender. The defense held strong, buoyed by the return of 2024 POTY Adam Ramos, sealing a deserved win and a place in the semis.
Semifinal: Sláinte Athletic 1-4 ACFC
Cold night. Hot start. A goal inside 10 minutes gave Sláinte early control, but missed chances haunted us. When Ramos went down injured, our pace in the back vanished, and ACFC capitalized with ruthless efficiency. A questionable offside call let them level, then a counter off a midfield error made it 2-1. Despite owning second-half possession and territory, we couldn’t find the finish.
ACFC punished every mistake, and while we had plenty of chances, they had the composure. It was a harsh but fair lesson on the margins at the highest level.
ACFC went on to win the Morton Cup, defeating Baltimore City FC 1-0 in the final.
Tournament Overview:
• Record: 4-1
• Goals Scored: 10
• Standouts:
• Iddriss Iddriss: 3 goals, 1 assist in group play
• Danny Hallowell: 4 goals across the tournament
• Gavin Mooney: 3 assists, controlling the tempo
• BP Seivers: breakout star, midfield general
• Defensive Unit: Ramos, Novian, McDonough – rock solid under fire
Sláinte’s 2025 Morton Cup campaign wasn’t just a deep run—it was a declaration.
This club belongs on the state stage. And next time, we’ll be back for the trophy.
