Check back here and on Twitter for the latest updates throughout the weekend. Day 1 recap here
American soccer is back and ramping up across the country and the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is no exception. Another bid to the 2015 tournament will be handed out this weekend at the Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kansas.
The Kansas City suburbs play host to the US Specialty Sports Association’s (USSSA) tournament just like last year and the similarities don’t stop with the venue. Three teams that showed well in 2014, the Kansas City Athletics, Colorado Premier and Colorado Rovers, are all back for another shot at the bid. The Rovers are the two-time defending champs and should have a good chance to retain their title. Colorado Premier plays in the same league as Rovers and last year’s derby between the two Colorado sides was one of the best games of the tournament. KC Athletics are the local side and a two-time Open Cup qualifier (2010, 2012) out of the USASA.
Another familiar face is the ASC New Stars from Houston, who are entering the competition after qualifying for the Open Cup three titmes (2008, 2011, 2012) out of the USASA. Rounding out the six-team field are Denver-based Monaco FC and Harpo’s FC from Boulder, Colo.
The winner of the tournament will begin the 2015 US Open Cup in the opening round. The draw for this year’s competition has not been held.
One interesting element of this tournament is the Athletics, who have already qualified for the 2015 US Open Cup through USASA Region II. Player/manager Kyle Perkins says they are using this competition to help prepare for the Open Cup, not to qualify for it twice.
“We are not attempting to qualify for the Open Cup since we are already in,” said Perkins. “We just want to play in it to get some games in against good teams before the cup starts.”
If they were to win the tournament, the USSSA will submit the runner-up to the 2015 US Open Cup.
The six teams are split into two groups, each team plays the three in the opposite group and then the team with the most points in its respective group advances to the final on Sunday. Group play opens on Friday night before teams play two games on Saturday.
TheCup.us will have live coverage of the event all weekend, including player and coach interviews, game recaps and stats. Follow @USOpenCup and #USOC2015 on Twitter for the latest updates and check back here for scores and standings below.
2015 USSSA Open Cup qualifying tournament
Overland Park Soccer Complex – Overland Park, Kan.
| Group A | GP | W | L | D | Pts | GF | GA | GD |
| Colorado Rovers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +0 |
| KC Athletics | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -3 |
| Monaco FC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -4 |
| Group B | GP | W | L | D | Pts | GF | GA | GD |
| ASC New Stars | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | +4 |
| Harpo’s FC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | +3 |
| CO Sporting Premier | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +0 |
Friday, March 13 (All games 7 p.m. CT) [+] Day 1 recap
Colorado Rovers 1:1 CO Sporting Premier
Harpo’s FC 4:1 KC Athletics
ASC New Stars 5:1 Monaco FC
Saturday, March 14 (All games 9 a.m. CT)
CO Sporting Premier vs. KC Athletics
ASC New Stars vs. Colorado Rovers
Harpo’s FC vs. Monaco FC
Saturday, March 14 (All games 3 p.m. CT)
Colorado Rovers vs. Harpo’s FC
KC Athletics vs. ASC New Stars
Monaco FC vs. CO Sporting Premier
Sunday, March 15 (12 p.m. CT)
Championship game (Group A winner vs. Group B winner)
*Winner qualifies for 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup*