The draw for the USASA Region II Open Cup tournament is set, with several new teams among the eight amateur sides that will vie for two berths in the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
KC Athletics, the first entry from Kansas in at least several years, opens up at the Des Moines Menace USASA team in a first-round match May 1. The Menace have competed under a number of different names, including the Iowa Menace and the Des Moines Menace Reserves. The team is a collection of players from the Des Moines Menace Under-20s and some former PDL players.
Newcomer Fire SC ’00 is playing as the Minnesota representative, and travels to AAC Eagles, who ended RWB Adria’s three-year run as Illinois state champion. AAC Eagles, however, qualified for the 2008 Open Cup — along with Adria — after being the state runners-up. The Fire, as the name would suggest, were founded in 2000 and compete in the Minnesota Amateur Soccer League where they are the two-time defending league champions.
One interesting first-round game pits the St. Paul Twin Stars, the two-time defending National Premier Soccer League Midwest Region champions, but a first-time entry in this tournament, against 402 Academy. The Nebraska team advanced to the Open Cup last year in its first attempt, falling to the Minnesota Thunder 3-2 in the first round.
The other opener sees the Milwaukee Kickers, who ousted six-time Open Cup qualifier Bavarian SC in last fall’s Wisconsin state final, play host to the Michigan champion, Detroit United. Detroit United is scheduled to play Ann Arbor United on Sunday, April 11 at Saline High School to determine the final qualifier. Detroit United defeated Ann Arbor United 1-0 to win their first state title since 2007 and to deny Ann Arbor their second straight championship.
The winners of the two second-round matches earn spots in the Open Cup, and will play in the Region II championship June 18-20 at Gaelic Park in Chicago for a spot in the USASA national semifinals. No information was announced about the second round draw.
Saturday, May 1
(All games at 3 p.m. ET)
Detroit United (Michigan) at Milwaukee Kickers (Wisconsin)
Fire SC ’00 (Minnesota) at AAC Eagles (Illinois)
St. Paul Twin Stars (NPSL Midwest) at 402 Academy (Nebraska)
KC Athletics (Kansas) at Des Moines Menace USASA (Iowa)