In Region I qualifying action this weekend, the Massachusetts USASA US Open Cup final is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at Dilboy Field in Somerville, where 2011 Region I tournament qualifier and defending Massachusetts champion Mass Premier Soccer will take on the Battery Park Gunners. New Jersey is also hosting its state final Saturday. Go Soccer FC and Jersey Shore Boca will meet at the John F. Patrick Sports Complex in Lakewood, NJ. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30.
The two clubs in Massachusetts are very familiar with each other, both competing in the Bay State Soccer League Division 1. Battery Park Gunners are defending 2011 League champs, posting a 15-1-2 record last year, while MPS finished third in the table at 14-3-1.
This is the first of four potential meetings for the local rivals in 2012. In addition to USOC play, the teams will meet home and home on June 30 and Aug. 25 respectively, and appear to be on a collision course for a possible May 19 match up in the second round of the BSSL’s McKenzie Cup competition.
Expect a high level of play in this match, though it’s a shame it is scheduled for the same day as the New England Revolution’s home opener, a doubleheader that also features an international women’s friendly between Canada and Brazil.
The winner of the match will face nearly immediate competition in the USASA Region I tournament with a road trip April 1 to play NY Greek American Atlas, champions out of Eastern New York.
In the Garden State, Go Soccer FC is looking to qualify for the US Open Cup in 2012 after coming up one game short at the regional tournament in 2011. The defending New Jersey state champs beat FC Fort United 1-0 on a frozen field in Bridgewater last March to claim their spot on the Region I tournament.
They went on to beat Club Atletico VA, the 2011 DC/VA champs, by a score of 2-1 in the first round but failed to secure a place in the Open Cup after falling to Eastern Pennsylvania champ Phoenix SC, 3-0, in a game in which they gave up a penalty kick and an own goal.
Four teams took part in the New Jersey qualifying tournament this year with Go Soccer defeating Soccer Dreams 5-1 and Saturday’s opponent, Jersey Shore Boca, had no trouble in their opening match, crushing Santorini 10-0.
The New Jersey champ this year books themselves a bye in the Region I tournament and will await the winner of the April 1 match between NY Greek American Atlas and the Massachusetts winner. That game is tentatively scheduled for April 22.
RELATED: Details of the 2012 USASA Region I Open Cup qualifying tournament