The 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is a little more than nine months away, but 18 amateur teams have already earned a spot in the 103rd edition of the tournament.
With the 2015 Premier Development League (PDL) regular season wrapping up, and the Quarterfinals of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) playoffs complete, the entries from each league have been determined, barring an unlikely reduction in the number of amateur teams in the tournament. The remaining entries for both leagues will be announced by the United States Soccer Federation at a later date.
The PDL will determine all of their entries based on the 2015 regular season results, while the initial NPSL entries will be based on which eight teams reached the national quarterfinals in the league playoffs. The USSF’s Open Cup handbook for 2016 US Open Cup qualifying lays out how the remaining NPSL teams will be determined, based on the number of teams the league is awarded. The NPSL’s Open Cup entries will be prorated based on the size of each of the league’s four regions (Midwest had 13 teams; Northeast 19; South 24; West 12). The preliminary number of teams will be announced Aug. 10 with the final number announced in January.
These teams have qualified for the 2016 tournament, but there’s no guarantee that every club will accept the invitation to the competition. In recent years, some amateur teams have declined to participate for various reasons. Some teams have cited financial or travel concerns, while others have had issues with player availability, which is difficult in early May with college players finishing up finals and other school commitments.
In 2012, the Erie Admirals were the 2011 Northeast-Keystone Conference champion and were awarded a spot, but declined their invitation. FC Sonic Lehigh Valley, the second place finisher in the conference replaced them. In 2013, the Admirals and the second choice AFC Cleveland both declined, causing the NPSL to go with the remaining team with the best regular season record (Brooklyn Italians), rather than a third choice team from the Great Lakes Division, which left Detroit City FC out in the cold. Last year, the Minnesota United Reserves turned down a spot in the tournament, and this time, Detroit City FC was allowed in to take their place.
The remaining amateur teams from the USASA, US Club Soccer and the USSSA can qualify for the 2016 US Open Cup by entering a qualifying tournament set up by the federation that will begin in the fall. The deadline to enter is Aug. 3.
Here are the teams who have qualified for the 2016 US Open Cup:
PREMIER DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE (PDL)
Michigan Bucks (11-1-2, Great Lakes Division champions)
The Bucks won their 12th division title on the final day of the season, by one point over K-W United FC, but K-W got their revenge in the playoffs, beating the defending PDL champions in the conference final. The Bucks will add to their Modern Era record with their 13th appearance in the tournament next year, the most of any amateur club. The Bucks hold nearly every amateur record in the Modern Era: wins (13), pro teams eliminated (9), as well as MLS teams eliminated (2). Last year, they snapped a three-game losing streak in the tournament with a convincing 3-0 win over fellow Michigan club Detroit City FC (NPSL).
Des Moines Menace (11-2-1, Heartland Division champions)
If the Michigan Bucks are the best amateur team in the US Open Cup, then the Des Moines Menace are a close second. The Menace picked up their second straight division title which punches their ticket to the US Open Cup for the eighth time. They are 10-8-1 (1-0 PKs) all-time in the tournament with five pro team upsets under their belt. Last year, they defeated the USASA’s Madison Fire 2-1 before giving Saint Louis FC (USL PRO) all they could handle in a 2-1 extra time loss on the road.
New York Red Bulls U23s (9-2-3, Mid-Atlantic Division champions)
The 2016 US Open Cup is going to have a little extra caffeine this year as the Red Bulls U23s are expected to be the third Red Bulls team that will be joining the competition next year. With the MLS and USL PRO teams expected to be in, it will create a scheduling challenge as the ‘Baby Bulls’ (as some refer to them as) will compete for the third time and the first time since 2014. The club qualified in 2013 and 2014 as a member of the NPSL, but after winning the 2014 NPSL title, they left the league and joined the PDL, therefore, not qualifying for the 2015 US Open Cup. Some fans were disappointed to see the U23s miss out in 2015, but the logic was that it would be odd for the NPSL to give up one of their Open Cup spots to a team that was no longer part of their league.
GPS Portland Phoenix (8-1-5, Northeast Division champions)
After dropping the first game of the season to 2015 qualifier Seacoast United Phantoms, GPS Portland Phoenix wouldn’t lose another game the rest of the season on their way to finishing tied with the Phantoms on top of the Northeast Division standings. The Phoenix won the division and a spot in the 2016 US Open Cup for the fourth time in five years. When they first qualified for the 2012 tournament, according to TheCup.us records, they were the first team from the state of Maine to ever compete in the Open Cup.
As a pro team, the Charlotte Eagles upset the NASL’s San Antonio Scorpions in 2012. Photo: San Antonio ScorpionsCharlotte Eagles (10-0-4, South Atlantic Division champions)
After spending 20 years as a professional team, the Charlotte Eagles made the move to the PDL and had no trouble transitioning as they finished undefeated and ran away with the division. Last year, the Eagles missed out on the tournament for the first time since 2003 and they will hope to recapture the magic from their franchise’s greatest run in 2012 where they upset teams from MLS and the NASL before falling short to Chivas USA in the Quarterfinals.
Mississippi Brilla (6-3-3, Mid South Division champions)
The Brilla are back in the tournament for the first time since 2012, and the third time overall after winning a tiebreaker with 2015 qualifier Midland/Odessa Sockers FC. The two teams finished tied atop the Mid South Division but Mississippi won the season series (2-1-1) over the Sockers to get back into the tournament. The Brilla are still seeking their first Open Cup game after being one-and-done in 2009 and 2012.
Ocala Stampede (8-3-3, Southeast Division champions)
The Ocala Stampede are back in the tournament for the fourth year in a row after winning the Southeast Division with a win over FC Miami City Champions on the final weekend. The Stampede won their Open Cup debut in 2013 over the USASA’s Red Force, but have lost their last three matches (two of them were against USL Pro’s Orlando City SC). This past year, they nearly picked up their second win, but Chattanooga FC scored an equalizer in the 87th minute, leading to penalty kicks where Ocala fell short, 5-3.
Kitsap Pumas (10-0-2, Northwest Division champions)
Other than the Charlotte Eagles, the only other undefeated team in the league this year was the Kitsap Pumas and they little trouble winning the Northwest Division title over the Portland Timbers U23s and the Seattle Sounders U23s who both tied for second place. The Pumas qualified in their first four seasons in the PDL, but fell short two straight years before returning in 2015. They cruised past NPSL newcomers FC Tacoma 253 in Round 1 before losing to the Seattle Sounders 2 (USL) in extra time.
FC Tucson (8-2-4, Mountain Division champions)
FC Tucson have qualified for the Open Cup for the third time in four years after a 4-1 road win over the Orange County Blues on the final day of the season clinched the Mountain Division title. They ended their season in the playoffs with a loss to the Sounders U23s, but not before Tucson ended the Kitsap Pumas’ undefeated season in the opening round of the league playoffs. After last year’s one-and-done loss to Chula Vista (USASA) in the Open Cup, they will hope to regain the magic from their Open Cup debut in 2013 where they upset in-state USL PRO club Phoenix SC, followed by another upset in Round 2 on the road against the NASL’s San Antonio Scorpions in penalty kicks. Their run ended with what every amateur club aims for, getting a shot at a MLS team. They fell to the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium, 2-0.
Burlingame Dragons FC (10-1-3, Southwest Division champions)
Last year, the Dragons made their Open Cup debut with a 2-1 extra-time loss at the Sonoma County Sol (NPSL) and they will be back for their second straight year after winning the Southwest Division title. It was a two-horse race for the division but the Dragons managed to clinch with a 1-0 win over the Ventura County Fusion on the second to last game of the season.
NATIONAL PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE (NPSL)
New York Cosmos B (11-0-1, North Atlantic Conference champions)
After finishing their inaugural season undefeated, the New York Cosmos B are expected to make their first Open Cup voyage in 2016. Led by head coach Alecko Eskandarian the Cosmos dominated their opponents this year, outscoring the opposition 49-7 with eight of the 12 matches ending in a shutout.
CD Aguiluchos USA (7-4-1, 3rd place in Golden Gates Conference)
Despite losing their last two regular season games and finishing third in the Golden Gates Conference, CD Aguiluchos USA advanced to the Quarterfinals of the NPSL playoffs to clinch their second Open Cup berth. The club was founded in 2013 and first qualified for the tournament the year after when they lost a 2-1 road decision to the PDL’s Ventura County Fusion in the First Round.
Indiana Fire (7-2-3, 4th place in Midwest Region)
The Indiana Fire put a fourth place finish in the Midwest Region behind them and advanced to the Quarterfinals, and later the Semifinals of the NPSL playoffs. Their journey doesn’t get any easier in the final four as they will travel to Tennessee to take on Chattanooga FC on Aug. 1. By reaching the Quarterfinals, the Fire will make their first appearance in the US Open Cup.
Chattanooga FC (8-1-1, Southeast Conference champions)
Chattanooga FC are back in the US Open Cup for the fifth time in the last six years trying to add to their tournament resume. The three-time NPSL runner-up, who have advanced to the league Semifinals for the fourth time, have made history the last two years. In 2014, Chattanooga became the first NPSL club to defeat a professional team when the club hosted and defeated the USL’s Wilmington Hammerheads 3-1 in Round 2. This year, after escaping the Ocala Stampede (PDL) in penalty kicks, Chattanooga earned a rematch with the Hammerheads in Wilmington. This time, the match went to penalty kicks and the amateur visitors prevailed. They remain the only NPSL club in 30 attempts to eliminate a pro team.
Clarkstown Eagles (7-2-1, Keystone Conference champions)
In the club’s third season in the NPSL (originally known as the Jersey City Eagles), they won their first conference championship this year. Once in the playoffs, they reached the Quarterfinals to earn their first-ever Open Cup berth. They fell 2-0 to the New York Cosmos B to end their season.
Sacramento Gold (7-3-2, 2nd place in Golden Gates Conference)
For the first time since their Open Cup debut in 2013, the Gold are back in the Open Cup. After a second place finish in the Golden Gates Conference, Sacramento defeated FC Tacoma 253 and the San Diego Flash in the playoffs to earn a spot in the round of eight and an Open Cup berth. In their only tournament appearance two years ago, they lost a 3-2 road decision to the Portland Timbers U23s (PDL).
Myrtle Beach Mutiny (10-1-1, South Atlantic Conference champions)
The Mutiny only lost one regular season game to earn the club’s first-ever conference title and its first Open Cup berth. The Mutiny’s only loss came against the Carolina RailHawks U23s in midseason, and it was a playoff win over FC Wichita that put them into the Quarterfinals (before losing to Chattanooga FC) and into next year’s tournament.
AFC Cleveland (8-2-2, 3rd place in Midwest Region)
Cleveland came into the Midwest playoffs as the third place team but surprised many by eliminating Detroit City FC and the Indiana Fire (who had upset the No. 1 seed Madison 56ers) to reach the Quarterfinals. Cleveland has qualified, but it is unclear if they will take part in the tournament for the first time. They were offered a spot in the tournament in 2013, but declined.