Following an application in late July 2020, Maryland Bobcats FC was admitted into the National Independent Soccer Association on October 13, 2020.[1][2] The team had previously been members in leagues such as the United Premier Soccer League, where it went undefeated and won a national championship in fall 2019, and the National Premier Soccer League.[3] Prior to officially joining NISA, Maryland competed in the inaugural NISA Independent Cup as a member of the NPSL and took part as a member of the Mid-Atlantic Region. Additionally, the team played a friendly against NISA member Chattanooga FC following the conclusion of the fall 2019 season.[4]
On August 14, 2020 Maryland also joined in the Eastern Premier Soccer League, an amateur league affiliate of NISA, and began fielding a reserve team in it in spring 2021.[5]
Prior to joining NISA, the Bobcats were announced as one of the 11 non-association teams taking part in the inaugural NISA Independent Cup on July 1.[43] The regional tournament acted as both a pre-season and chance to "provide a platform for professional and amateur independent clubs to play together on a national stage."
On July 24, NISA announced that the Mid-Atlantic Region tournament was postponed due to a surge of COVID-19 cases in Maryland and the subsequent closing of the Maryland SoccerPlex to professional sports.[44] On July 28, NISA announced a majority of the region's games would be played at Evergreen Sportsplex in Leesburg, Virginia.[45] Following a weather postponement that forced the Bobcat's final game to be played at a neutral site, the team won the Mid-Atlantic Region title on October 10 when the Cosmos and FC Baltimore played to a 2–2 draw allowing Maryland to finish atop the table via goal differential.[46]
NISA announced initial spring season plans in early February 2021, including starting the season with a tournament in Chattanooga, Tennessee with a standard regular season to follow.[49][50] The tournament, now called the NISA Legends Cup, was officially announced on March 10 and is scheduled to run between April 13 and 25.[51] All nine NISA members teams taking part in the Spring were divided into three team groups and played a round robin schedule. The highest placing group winner automatically qualified for the tournament final, while the second and third highest finishing teams overall played one-another in a semifinal to determine a second finalist.
The Spring Season schedule was announced on March 18 with each association member playing eight games, four home and four away, in a single round-robin format.[52]
Source: nisasoccer.com Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal differential; 3) goals scored; 4) head to head; 5) goals allowed; 6) coin toss (X) Spring Legends Cup champion; (Y) Fall Champion, qualifies for season final; (Z) Spring Legends Cup runner-up, qualifies for spring final [1] Notes:
^If either 2020 Fall Champion Detroit or 2021 Legends Cup runner-up Chattanooga finish the spring season in first place, or both teams finish in the top two, the spot in the spring final will go to the next best team.
Note: Samuel Kahsai incorrectly listed as receiving a yellow and broadcast clarified it was Yaya Fane, report missing Ian McGrath entering for Brett Jones in 16th minute (lists Jones leaving)
Note: Match was not streamed due to technical issue and the match report only shows the starting lineups. Further detail was gathered from team social media and a match recording provided by Maryland. 1904 Subs (63' Lomeli in for Almubaslat, 75' Ramirez Jr in for Esquivel), MBFC Subs (56' Pato in for Alvarado, 79' Mason in for Balogun / Gray in for Kao / Kahsai in for Banjo, 85' Blystone in for Dawkins). Additionally, match report incorrectly lists Marson as starting GK for 1904 when it was actually Sarmiento.[55]
As a team playing in a recognized professional league, Maryland would normally be automatically qualified for the U.S. Open Cup. However, with the 2021 edition shorted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NISA has only been allotted 1 to 2 teams spots.[56] On March 29, U.S. Soccer announced 2020 Fall Champion Detroit City FC as NISA's representative in the tournament.[57]
^Anderson, Jason (February 2, 2021). "Tuesday Freedom Kicks: Arriola to Swansea, USWNT SheBelieves roster, and more". Black And Red United. Retrieved March 18, 2021. Former UMBC star Kay Banjo, after a few years playing with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, is the first player to sign a pro deal with the Maryland Bobcats, who will play their first season in NISA this year.