MORE: 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup bracket
UPDATE: Cal FC (USASA Region IV) will play Kitsap Pumas and PSA Elite (USASA Region IV) will play Portland Timbers U23s in the First Round.
The United States Soccer Federation unveiled the draw for the First and Second Rounds of the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Tuesday in Chicago. The 32 First Round clubs will play in 13 states Tuesday May 15 with two contests each in California, Pennsylvania and Texas. The Second Round is set for Tuesday May 22.
Nineteen states will be represented in the opening round of the competition. California will have at least five and Texas four with the USASA Region IV tournament featuring seven California clubs and one from Texas yet to play. New York will have three representatives with two each hailing from Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The two clubs coming out of the Region IV tournament are among the three contests not yet set, though they will be heading to Portland and Kitsap. The third is the match between Ventura County Fusion (PDL) and Fullerton Rangers (NPSL).
The two games scheduled for Pennsylvania will see clubs from New York coming in for the First Round while the California and Texas matches will be in-state showdowns. Also featuring an in-state contest is Florida.
Texas’ two games have some interesting storylines with ASC New Stars (USASA) not having to travel out of state after being sent to South Carolina in 2008 and Florida in 2011. Their host, the PDL Laredo Heat, are making only their second appearance, but looking for redemption after losing at home in an upset by USASA’s Dallas Roma in penalties after a 2-2 draw. The El Paso Patriots, finalists in 1995, are familiar with the role of host, having played at home in 14 of their 18 matches in the tournament.
First Round Matches – Tuesday, May 15 (with notes of interest)
1. Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) at GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL)
Memorial Field, Deering High School; Portland, Maine – 8 p.m. ET
While TheCup.us does not have a record of every game of the last 98 years of the US Open Cup (most of them, but not all) and there is no record of a team from Maine participating in the US Open Cup. The Italians are a two-time Open Cup champion (1979, 1991).
2. N.Y. Greek American Atlas (USASA) at Reading United AC (PDL)
Shirk Stadium, Albright College; Reading, Pa. – 7 p.m. ET
The Greeks are a four-time US Open Cup champion (1967-69, 1974) and are back in the tournament for the first time since 2005. Reading United, who are making their fourth straight tournament appearance and sixth overall, are looking for their first Open Cup victory. United has also not left the state of Pennsylvania for an Open Cup game since 2003.
3. Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) at FC Sonic (NPSL)
Ulrich Sports Complex, Lehigh University; Bethlehem, Pa. – 7:05 p.m. ET
Long Island returns to the Keystone State for the first time since losing to the Harrisburg City Islanders in the Second Round of the 2010 tournament. This match marks the first time in the Modern Pro Era (1995-present) that the city of Bethlehem, PA, home of the five-time tournament champion Bethlehem Steel, has hosted an Open Cup game.
4. Jersey Shore Boca (USASA) at Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Ultimate Soccer; Pontiac, Mich. – 7:30 p.m. ET
Since 2000, the Bucks have hosted all but one game (6 of 7 games) against non-MLS opposition (Richmond Kickers, 2007). They have also never lost to an amateur club.
5. Carolina Dynamo (PDL) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA)
Maryland Soccerplex Stadium; Boyds, Md. – 7:30 p.m. ET
The Dynamo are on the road for only the third time in 10 games since Macpherson Stadium opened in 2002. It is the first home game for the Hawks in three appearances.
6. Jacksonville United (NPSL) at Orlando City U-23s (PDL)
Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla. – 7 p.m. ET
Orlando, formerly the Central Florida Kraze, are making their third straight appearance in the Open Cup and are still seeking their first tournament win against the defending NPSL champion, who has a number of players from Lynch’s Irish Pub, a 3-time Open Cup qualifier.
7. Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) at Georgia Revolution (NPSL)
RYSA Soccerplex; Conyers, Ga. – 7:30 p.m. ET
In the First Round’s battle of the two most inexperienced teams, Mississippi lost in their only Open Cup appearance in 2009 (vs. USL First Division’s Austin Aztex) and the Revolution are making their debut.
8. Croatian Eagles (USASA) at Chicago Fire PDL (PDL)
Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill. – 6 p.m. CT
Surprisingly the Fire have had only two home game in their 10 Open Cup matches, playing on the road for the last four since hosting Bavarian SC in the First Round of 2009. Chicago and Wisconsin clubs have met six times in the Modern Pro Era, with Chicago teams leading the series split with 3 wins each (Milwaukee clubs are 2-2-0 vs. Chicago clubs).
9. Des Moines Menace (PDL) at Milwaukee Bavarians (NPSL)
Bavarian Soccer Park; Glendale, Wis. – 7 p.m. CT
Home field is a consolation prize for the organization that had it’s USASA club miss out on Open Cup qualifying because the state association lost their paperwork last year. Now, the Bavarians’ NPSL team are in the tournament for the first time, hoping to carry on the Milwaukee club’s tradition against the Des Moines Menace, one of the elite PDL teams. This game marks the first road game for the Menace against an equal or lesser division opponent, including a 2003 loss, 2-1, to the USASA’s Bavarian SC in sudden death overtime.
10. KC Athletics (USASA) at Real Colorado Foxes (PDL)
Colorado School of Mines Soccer Stadium; Golden, Colo. – 7 p.m. MT
The Athletics are back in the tournament for the second time in three years, while Real Colorado are making their second straight appearance, having won in their debut last year at home against DV8 Defenders from the USASA, before losing at the Kitsap Pumas in Round 2.
11. ASC New Stars (USASA) at Laredo Heat (PDL)
Texas A&M International University; Laredo, Texas – 8:15 p.m. CT
ASC New Stars are making their second appearance in a row and their third in the last five years and will shoot for their first tournament win in their first game against an amateur opponent. Laredo hasn’t qualified since making their debut in 2006, when they nearly kept the historic run of Dallas Roma FC from ever happening. They were eliminated by the USASA club (who moved on to become the first USASA club to upset an MLS club) in penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw.
12. NTX Rayados (USASA) at El Paso Patriots (PDL)
Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas – 8 p.m. MT
The Rayados, making their first appearance in the tournament out of USASA’s Region III will face a club with a rich history in the competition at multiple levels. The Patriots were a professional team from their founding in 1991 until 2004 when they joined the PDL. During their time as a PDL club, they have qualified five times and have moved beyond the opening round three times, including a penalty kick upset of the USL First Division’s Miami FC in 2007.
13. Fresno Fuego (PDL) at Stanislaus United Turlock Express (US Club Soccer)
Academica Fields; Turlock, Calif. – 7 p.m. PT
The Fuego have been one of the better PDL teams over the last decade, but have only qualified once. They accomplished that in their inaugural season in 2003, and what a run it was, winning three games, upsetting two professional teams (Utah Blitzz of the PSL and the El Paso Patriots of the A-League) before falling 3-1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Home Depot Center. The Fuego are one of just three PDL teams to ever reach beyond the Third Round (Carolina Dynamo, Des Moines Menace). They will face off against the Stanislaus United Turlock Express (no relation to the Stanislaus United Cruisers who qualified in 2000), who are the first US Club Soccer team to compete in the Open Cup.
14. Ventura County Fusion (PDL) vs. Fullerton Rangers (NPSL)
Santa Ana Stadium; – Santa Ana, Calif. – 7 p.m. PT
This is the third straight Open Cup appearance for the Fusion, who have hosted all three of their tournament games at Ventura College. The Rangers emerged from the NPSL qualifying tournament to make their first appearance in their inaugural season.
15. PSA Elite (USASA) at Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL)
Jeld-Wen Field; Portland, Ore. – 7:30 p.m. PT
The Timbers PDL square are making their first appearance in the US Open Cup after missing out last year despite finishing qualifying with an undefeated record (3-0-1). Rather than going through a tiebreaker, they decided to have the Kitsap Pumas and the Timbers U23s use their regular season game on double as a play-in game. Kitsap Pumas won the game 3-2. PSA Elite are making their first appearance in the tournament after emerging from the USASA Region IV tournament.
16. Cal FC (USASA) at Kitsap Pumas (PDL)
Bremerton Memorial Stadium; Bremerton, Wash. – 7:15 p.m. PT
This is the fourth consecutive year that Kitsap will kick off the tournament at home. USASA Region IV qualifier Cal FC are led by a mix of young players and former professional players and their manager, former US international Eric Wynalda.
SECOND ROUND– Tuesday, May 22
17. Jersey Shore Boca (USASA)/Michigan Bucks (PDL) Winner at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO): Chartiers Valley Stadium; Bridgeville, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET
18. Long Island Rough Riders (PDL)/FC Sonic (NPSL) Winner at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO): Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET
19. Cal FC (USASA)/Kitsap Pumas (PDL) Winner at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO): Legion Sports Complex; Wilmington, N.C.; 7 p.m. ET
20. PSA Elite (USASA)/Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL) Winner at Carolina RailHawks (NASL): WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET
21. Fresno Fuego (PDL)/Stanislaus United Turlock Express (US Club Soccer) Winner at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL): Lockhart Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET
22. K.C. Athletics (USASA)/Real Colorado Foxes (PDL) Winner at Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO): Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET
23. N.Y. Greek Americans (USASA)/Reading United AC (PDL) Winner at Charleston Battery (USL PRO): Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET
24. Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)/GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL) Winner at Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO): Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.; 7:35 p.m. ET
25. Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Jacksonville United (NPSL): Patton Park; Jacksonville, Fla.; 7 p.m. ET
OR
Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Orlando City U-23s (PDL): Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 1 p.m. ET
26. Carolina Dynamo (PDL) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO): Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; 7 p.m. ET
OR
Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA): Maryland SportsPlex Stadium; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET
27. Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Georgia Revolution (NPSL): RYSA Soccerplex; Conyers, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) at Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL): Atlanta Silverbacks Park; Atlanta, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET
28. ASC New Stars (USASA)/Laredo Heat (PDL) Winner at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL): Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT
29. Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Chicago Fire PDL (PDL): Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill.; 6 p.m. CT
OR
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) vs. Croatian Eagles (USASA): TBD
30. Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Des Moines Menace (PDL): Valley Stadium; Des Moines, Iowa; 7:30 p.m. CT
OR
Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Milwaukee Bavarians (NPSL): Bavarian Soccer Park; Glendale, Wis.; 7 p.m. CT
31. Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at NTX Rayados (USASA): Richland College; Dallas, Texas; 8 p.m. CT
OR
Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at El Paso Patriots (PDL): Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas; 8 p.m. MT
32. Ventura County Fusion (PDL)/Fullerton Rangers (NPSL) Winner at Los Angeles Blues (USL PRO): Titan Stadium, Cal-State Fullerton; Fullerton, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT
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