US Open Cup qualifying for the Premier Development League is already underway for 2011 as the season began on April 30. It is arguably the most exciting portion of the event for the league as the task of qualifying can be more daunting than the professional opponents awaiting them in the tournament proper.
In the 2011 edition of the tournament, the PDL will be represented by a record nine clubs after seven consecutive years with eight representatives. With nine berths available, the league will send one from each division based on four league contests that will double as qualification matches – a format long established by the parent United Soccer Leagues.
The Central Conference has two divisions – the Great Lakes and the Heartland. The conference is dominated by three long-standing clubs: the Chicago Fire, the Des Moines Menace, and the Michigan Bucks. Between them they have reached the US Open Cup a total of 16 times. Des Moines made the trip last year as Heartland champions, but newcomer Dayton Dutch Lions (who are now in USL Pro) took control of the Great Lakes spot. This year, six returning clubs and two new ones are looking to match Dayton, dethrone the powerhouses, and make a run of their own.
Here is the how the Central Conference is currently shaping up:
Great Lakes Division
Final Results
Poised for a potential showdown of the perennial division powers on the final night of qualifying, the Chicago Fire Premier preempted that moment with a 1-0 win over the River City Rovers on Saturday, clinching the US Open Cup berth, their second in three years, via potential tiebreaker scenarios. While the Bucks made the most of their chance to possibly gain ground by posting a 4-0 win against visiting Indiana, it was Chris Estridge’s goal for Chicago in the first minute of stoppage time against the visiting River City Rovers that proved to be the deciding factor in who will advance.
| GREAT LAKES DIVISION | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | GF | GD | |
| Chicago Fire Premier | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 5 | +3 | |
| Michigan Bucks | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 7 | +4 | |
| Cincinnati Kings | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 8 | -1 | |
| Akron Summit Assault | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | -1 | |
| Indiana Invaders | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 6 | -1 | |
| River City Rovers | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | -4 |
Top team qualifies for the U.S. Open Cup
Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention
Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes
USL Premier Development League tiebreakers
(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers
(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games
(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)
(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)
(5) Lottery conducted by the USL
All times Eastern
| May 14 | Chicago Fire Premier | 2:0 | Akron Summit Assault | 7:30 |
| May 17 | Akron Summit Assault | 2:2 | Cincinnati Kings | 7:30 |
| May 19 | Akron Summit Assault | 0:0 | River City Rovers | 7:30 |
| May 21 | Michigan Bucks | 0:0 | River City Rovers | 7:00 |
| May 21 | Cincinnati Kings | 0:2 | Chicago Fire Premier | 7:30 |
| May 22 | Indiana Invaders | 0:1 | Akron Summit Assault | 7:00 |
| May 23 | Michigan Bucks | 2:3 | Cincinnati Kings | 7:30 |
| May 25 | Cincinnati Kings | 3:3 | Indiana Invaders | 7:30 |
| May 28 | Indiana Invaders | 0:4 | Michigan Bucks | 12:00 |
| May 28 | River City Rovers | 0:1 | Chicago Fire Premier | 7:30 |
| May 30 | River City Rovers | 1:5 | Indiana Invaders | 7:30 |
| May 30 | Chicago Fire Premier | 0:2 | Michigan Bucks | 7:30 |
Heartland Division
Final Results
The Real Colorado Foxes clinched their first US Open Cup spot after finishing qualifying 4-0. Perennial contender Des Moines Menace had a chance to qualify with a 3-0 start and a better goal differential, but failed in their last match as they lost 2-1 at the Kansas City Brass on May 25.
| HEARTLAND DIVISION | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | GF | GD | |
| Real Colorado Foxes | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 11 | +7 | |
| Des Moines Menace | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 9 | +6 | |
| Kansas City Brass | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 8 | +0 | |
| St. Louis Lions | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 7 | -2 | |
| Springfield Demize | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 4 | -11 |
Top team qualifies for the U.S. Open Cup
Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention
Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes
USL Premier Development League tiebreakers
(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers
(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games
(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)
(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)
(5) Lottery conducted by the USL
All times Eastern
| May 14 | St. Louis Lions | 1:2 | Des Moines Menace | 8:30 |
| May 14 | Kansas City Brass | 1:4 | Real Colorado Foxes | 9:00 |
| May 15 | Kansas City Brass | 2:3 | Real Colorado Foxes | 3:00 |
| May 17 | Des Moines Menace | 3:0 | Springfield Demize | 8:30 |
| May 21 | St. Louis Lions | 2:5 | Des Moines Menace | 8:30 |
| May 21 | Real Colorado Foxes | 3:1 | Springfield Demize | 8:30 |
| May 22 | Real Colorado Foxes | 2:1 | St. Louis Lions | 6:00 |
| May 22 | Springfield Demize | 2:5 | Kansas City Brass | 8:30 |
| May 25 | Des Moines Menace | 1:2 | Kansas City Brass | 8:30 |
| May 28 | Springfield Demize | 1:6 | St. Louis Lions | 6:00 |