Just one month after tornadoes tore through the Southeast and brought heavy destruction to Tuscaloosa, Ala., the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (USOC) qualifying tournament for Region III is set to begin. Eight teams from the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) will compete for two slots in the first round of the US Open Cup, which begins June 14. (Update: Seven teams remain after withdrawal of Louisiana’s Crossroads Alexandria)
In a unique arrangement to Open Cup qualifying, the Region III organizers host a blind draw on Thursday, May 26, the night before the opening day of the tournament. The draw will be held at the University of Alabama Recreational Center and only then will the teams know who they will play on Friday to kick off the competition.
With eight teams taking part, the format will be the same as last year with two groups of four playing a round robin and the winner of each group qualifying for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. While it doesn’t affect the Open Cup tournament, those two group winners will play each other on Memorial Day to determine Region III’s Open Cup champion that will represent at the USASA’s national tournament.
| For information on how to donate to the relief effort for all of those affected by the tornado devastation this year, visit the Red Cross website HERE. |
The Region III tournament will take place less than a mile from the path of destruction left by an F5 tornado. The tornado, estimated to be a mile and half wide, produced winds of 190 mph winds and traveled 80 miles killing more than 35 people in Tuscaloosa while injuring more than 800 others. The tornado was on the ground for nearly one and half hours.
While recovery is underway, additional revenue for the city is welcome and was a major factor in deciding not to move the tournament.
The Region III cup commissioner and director of programs for Georgia Soccer, Kim Bowen, said changing the qualification venue was never considered.
“The thought of not going to Tuscaloosa really never crossed my mind,” said Bowen. “As long as the fields were available and the incredible staff at the University Recreational Center were available and as long as there was at least one hotel standing to house us, we were going. It was my thought that if the USASA Region 3 National Cup Championships could bring one day, if not a few days, of normalcy to the community, any economic impact at all, then we were going. Our only regret at this point is given the packed itinerary for the competition, we are not able to do more.”
The Greenville Eagles are bringing more than just the typical sports event revenue. The club has arranged, along with Tuscaloosa’s Capstone Church and Harvest Church, to assist in the relief efforts as volunteers. It’s not an easy process for a team with a busy tournament schedule as they will also have to undergo a training session in order to be credentialed to enter the disaster area as a volunteer.
Aid from people and organizations have been pouring in from across the country. The New York Yankees have donated $500,000 to the Southeast relief efforts with $250,000 going to the Red Cross and $250,000 going to the Salvation Army.
Charlie Sheen, actor and former sitcom star of the television show “Two and a Half Men,” visited Tuscaloosa and is organizing events to help fund tornado-relief efforts.
“I want to bring some money, hope, faith and healing to the area,” Sheen said.
Sheen recently launched a relief Web site called “Torpedos Against Tornados,” where users can make tax-deductible donations using PayPal. “Torpedoes,” a term Sheen coined for his “Tornadoes of Truth” comedy tour. Any user who donates a gift of $100 or more will receive an autographed baseball by Sheen, the “Major League” star.
Sheen said he is also considering organizing a celebrity softball game to raise money and awareness for tornado victims.
The backdrop for the tournament couldn’t be farther from perfect but like the great English playwright Noël Coward said, “the show must go on.”
TEAMS:
ASC New Stars (South Texas): Houston’s Aria Soccer Club (ASC) New Stars are on fire entering the tournament. The team boasts an impressive goal difference after scoring 58 goals and allowing only 18 through as many match’s in the Houston Football Association league. The New Stars went 0-2-1 a year ago in the tournament and finished bottom of their group, only scoring 2 goals while conceding six.
Boston Avenue Athletic Club Reserves (Oklahoma): The BAAC of North East Oklahoma are nearing the end of their 2011 league campaign. The BAAC (9-0-1) are currently undefeated in league play and have scored 75 goals while conceding only 8 in 10 matches. BAAC won the Division I Adult State Cup tournament in mid-March, beating COASL IFC 2-1 in the championship.
CASL Elite (North Carolina): The reigning Region III champions are aiming for back-to-back US Open Cup berths. CASL Elite, formed just over two years ago, was meant to be a quality training team for high level boys teams to train and compete against. The team eventually became more than just a “training side” and developed an identity of its own. Last year’s team had six former professionals including Scott Schweitzer, a former Rochester Rhino who won the US Open Cup in 1999. In 2010 CASL fell in the first-round 4-2 to USL-2 side Charleston Battery.
Crossroads Alexandria (Louisiana) The team is a representative of Crossroads Soccer Association located in Alexandria. CSA operates adult, youth and indoor soccer in the area. This club has withdrawn in advance of the event.
Florida Gators (Florida): The first university club team to ever submit their application to compete in the competition. Florida’s club soccer program was established in 1953, making it the oldest in the country. The Gators made it to the quarterfinals of the 2010 NCCS National Soccer Championships, losing to the University of Arizona in penalty kicks. The Gators lost 3-2 to regional foe Royal Eagles in the Florida State Cup Final. (RECAP)
Greenville Eagles (South Carolina): The Eagles defeated Sin Bandera to win the Div. I 2011 SCYSA State Cup. The SCYSA State Cup was held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Regals FC (South Texas): Regals FC is based in Houston, Texas and is a founding member of the Southern Premier Soccer League (SPSL) for the 2010-2011 season. Regals FC (16-2-2) were crowned SPSL Winter Cup Champions in April. Regals FC defeated fellow Region III competitor ASC New Stars on penalty kicks in the 2011 Copa Verizon Alianza. The Regals have gone 42-8-7 since October 2010.
Head Coach Miguel Landaverde said his team has an advantage over others in the competition and expects his team to do well in qualification.
“I like our chances of getting out of the qualifier, most of the other clubs expected to participate are generally very competitive, but do not train like our guys do, this will give us a bit of an advantage over a three game stretch,” Landaverde said.
Royal Eagles (Florida): The Royal Eagles are based in Lakeland, FL and were founded in the Spring of 2009. This season, the Eagles have won the FSSL Premier Championship, Florida Classic and were finalists in the Amateur State Cup. The Eagles defeated Region III qualifying foe Florida Gators 3-2 for the state title. (RECAP)