Check out the 2010 US Open Cup bracket HERE
From US Soccer Communications
CHICAGO (June 2, 2010) – U.S. Soccer has announced the groupings for the first two rounds of the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which kicks off with first-round matches on Tuesday, June 15, around the country.
All 32 lower division teams will enter the tournament in the first round. First-round pairings were determined by dividing the clubs geographically into eight groups of four, with match-ups within each group determined by random draw. In the second round on June 22, the 16 first-round winners will face off, with eight victors moving into the third round to square off against eight Major League Soccer teams.
The third round will take place June 29, with the quarterfinals set for July 6-7, the semifinals on Aug. 31-Sept. 1 and the final slated for Oct. 5.
Of the 16 amateur division teams representing the U.S. Adult Soccer Association regional qualifiers and the Premier Development League, only the Arizona Sahuaros (USASA) are returning for their second consecutive U.S. Open Cup. The Sahuaros have qualified for four of the last five U.S. Open Cups, the best record of any amateur team during that span. Another team returning from last year is the Sonoma County Sol of the National Premier Soccer League, (an affiliate of the USASA), who qualified for the first round by virtue of winning a play-in match against PSA Los Gatos Storm, a club affiliated with U.S. Club Soccer (a member organization of U.S. Soccer).
Within the U.S. Open Cup framework, teams compete in one of the following four categories: professional outdoor Division I (Major League Soccer), Division II (USSF D-2 Pro League) or Division III (USL Second Division), or Amateur Division. In recent years, the Amateur Division has been comprised of the USL Premier Development League and regional qualifiers from the U.S. Adult Soccer Association.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which is recognized as U.S. Soccer’s National Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The tournament has crowned a champion for 95 consecutive years dating back to 1914.
The U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament, with games tied after regulation being decided in two 15-minute overtime halves. If the score is still tied after overtime, the winner is decided in a penalty kick shootout. The team that advances the furthest from each level except Division I will earn a $10,000 cash prize. The runner-up will take home $50,000, while the champion will collect $100,000. In addition, the winner will have its name engraved on the historic Dewar Challenge Trophy, the oldest trophy competed for nationally in American team sports.
2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
May 31 Qualifying Deadline
June 15 First Round: 32 lower division teams enter tournament
June 22 Second Round: 16 First Round winners face off
June 29 Third Round: Round 2 winners face eight MLS teams
July 6-7 Quarterfinals: Round 3 winners
Aug. 31-Sept. 1 Semifinals: Quarterfinal winners
Oct. 5 Final: Semifinal winners
LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP FIRST ROUND
(All games June 15)
Game 1: N.Y. Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA) at Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) – 7:30 p.m. ET – Cy Donnelly Stadium; South Huntington, N.Y.
Game 2: Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club (USASA) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) – 7 p.m. ET – Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.
Game 3: Real Maryland FC Monarchs (USL-2) at Reading United A.C. (PDL) – 7:30 p.m. ET – Don Thomas Stadium; Reading, Pa.
Game 4: Crystal Palace Baltimore (D2) at Richmond Kickers (USL-2) – 7 p.m. ET – University of Richmond Stadium; Richmond, Va.
Game 5: Capital Area Soccer League Elite (USASA) at Charleston Battery (USL-2) – 7:30 p.m. ET – Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.
Game 6: Charlotte Eagles (USL-2) at Carolina RailHawks (D2) – 7:05 p.m. ET – WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.
Game 7: Dayton Dutch Lions FC (PDL) at Rochester Rhinos (D2) – 7:05 p.m. ET – Marina Auto Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.
Game 8: Detroit United Soccer Club (USASA) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-2) – 7 p.m. ET – Chartiers Valley High School; Bridgeville, Pa.
Game 9: Kansas City Athletics (USASA) at NSC Minnesota Stars (D2) – 8 p.m. ET – National Sports Center; Blaine, Minn.
Game 10: AC St. Louis (D2) at Des Moines Menace (PDL) – 8:30 p.m. ET – Valley Stadium; West Des Moines, Iowa
Game 11: Central Florida Kraze (PDL) at Miami FC (D2) – 7:30 p.m. ET – Lockhart Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Game 12: FC Tampa Bay Rowdies (D2) at Legends FC (USASA) – 9 p.m. ET – Richland Stadium; Dallas, Texas
Game 13: Dallas-Fort Worth Tornados (PDL) at Austin Aztex (D2) – 8:30 p.m. ET – House Park; Austin, Texas
Game 14: Arizona Sahuaros (USASA) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL) – 10:05 p.m. ET – Ventura College; Ventura, Calif.
Game 15: Sonoma County Sol (USASA) at Portland Timbers (D2) – 10 p.m. ET – PGE Park; Portland, Ore.
Game 16: Bay Area Ambassadors FC (USASA) at Kitsap Pumas (PDL) – 10 p.m. ET – Bremerton Memorial Stadium; Bremerton, Wash.
LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP SECOND ROUND POSSIBLE PAIRINGS
Game 17: Winner 1 vs. Winner 2
Game 18: Winner 3 vs. Winner 4
Game 19: Winner 5 vs. Winner 6
Game 20: Winner 7 vs. Winner 8
Game 21: Winner 9 vs. Winner 10
Game 22: Winner 11 vs. Winner 12
Game 23: Winner 13 vs. Winner 14
Game 24: Winner 15 vs. Winner 16
Note: Potential Second Round hosts to be announced at a later time.