More than a month after the United States Soccer Federation announced the format for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) has decided their remaining entries for the 102nd running of the tournament. Detroit City FC, Virginia Beach City FC and Fort Pitt Regiment complete the amateur league’s 12 awarded spots in the competition, with all clubs beginning play the week of May 13 in Round 1.
When the initial announcement was made, the NPSL only revealed seven of their 12 spots. On Feb. 5, TheCup.us confirmed the NPSL Western Conference qualifying tournament would account for two of those spots, and a little more than a month later, Virginia Beach City FC and Fort Pitt Regiment were confirmed on March 10. Finally, on March 20, the league’s 12 teams were complete as Detroit City FC were revealed to be the final entry into the 2015 US Open Cup as the highest remaining team in the Midwest Region after Minnesota United Reserves declined an invitation.
Virginia Beach City FC made the NPSL playoffs in their inaugural campaign last year, finishing 6-1-3 which was good enough for second place in the Mid-Atlantic Conference behind DC United Academy U23. DC United left the league, so Virginia Beach stepped in to take that Open Cup spot. City becomes the first team from the Virginia Beach area to take part in the US Open Cup since 2006 when the Virginia Beach Mariners (USL First Division) and the first-year franchise Virginia Beach Submariners (PDL) both competed.
Fort Pitt Regiment is another first-year club that had success in their maiden voyage. The Regiment finished 6-5-3 and won the four-team Great Lakes East Division, edging the Erie Admirals by a single point. After upsetting Quad City FC, the Midwest Region’s top team in the playoffs, they would fall in the NPSL Regional Finals to fellow Open Cup qualifier Lansing United. Fort Pitt are the first amateur club from Western Pennsylvania to compete in the US Open Cup since 1992 when the Bradling Terriers lost their opening round game to the United German Hungarians (East PA).
Detroit City FC will be making its second straight US Open Cup appearance after being named as the 12th and final NPSL team into the tournament. The club was 8-3-3 in 2014 and finished in second place, just one point behind Lansing United. Le Rouge were eliminated in their first-ever Open Cup game last year, falling to Chicago’s RWB Adria (USASA) 3-1 in penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw. Detroit City can thank the Minnesota United Reserves for the opportunity as Minnesota was offered the final spot, but decided not to enter. Detroit were awarded the spot as the highest-ranking team from the Midwest Region from last year based on points-per-game (Minnesota had a 2.0 while Detroit had a 1.93).
The other nine National Premier Soccer League entries for the 2015 US Open Cup include:
Brooklyn Italians: The two-time US Open Cup champions (1979, 1991) finished second behind eventual NPSL champions New York Red Bulls U23s, but since the Red Bulls left to join the PDL, the Italians are stepping in to make its sixth straight US Open Cup appearance. Last year, they defeated Jersey Express (PDL) 4-2 before falling 2-0 to the New York Cosmos (NASL).
Chattanooga FC: The Southeast Conference champions will make a fourth appearance in five years and made history with the club’s first-ever Open Cup win. When Chattanooga upset USL PRO (Division 3) side Wilmington Hammerheads 3-1, it was the first time an NPSL team defeated a professional opponent in 22 tries.
Greater Binghamton Thunder: The Keystone Conference champions were 9-1-2 in league play last year and made its first-ever Open Cup appearance, falling to the PDL’s Reading United 5-2.
Lansing United: Last year’s expansion team had an impressive inaugural campaign by going 8-2-4 and winning the Great Lakes West Conference and reaching the NPSL semifinals. They are rewarded with the club’s first Open Cup berth while becoming the first Michigan club outside of Metro Detroit or Saginaw (Michigan Bucks were based in Saginaw, Mich. before moving to Metro Detroit) in more than two decades.
Miami United: The Sunshine Conference champions were undefeated in league play last year (7-0-3) in its first year in the NPSL. The club’s head coach is former MLS star Diego Serna who has seven career US Open Cup goals between the Miami Fusion and Miami FC (now Ft. Lauderdale Strikers) and finished runner-up with the Fusion in the 2000 tournament.
Tulsa Athletics: The Athletics have accomplished a lot in the club’s first two seasons. Last year they won a second straight South-Central Conference title while participating in the US Open Cup for the first time. They made quite a showing in a losing effort, falling 2-0 to the Oklahoma City Energy (USL PRO) in front of a home crowd of 3,834.
Upward Stars: Another first-time Open Cup entry, the Stars were 7-3-0 in their inaugural season, winning the South Atlantic Conference by seven points in a 10-game season. They are the first amateur club from South Carolina to qualify for the Open Cup since 1994 (Charleston Trident).
Sonoma County Sol: The Sol are back in the Open Cup for the first time since 2010 and the fifth time in franchise history (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010) after a dramatic 2-1 win over CD Aguiluchos in the championship game of the Golden Gate Conference qualifying tournament. The Sol are full of veterans (many with Open Cup experience), and aren’t dependant on college players and could be a tough out in Round 1.
FC Tacoma 253: The 12th and final NPSL spot in the 2015 US Open Cup was awarded to expansion team FC Tacoma 253, who defeated the San Diego Flash 6-1 on Sunday, Mar. 22 in Seattle.