The 108th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup kicks off this week with 14 first round matchups featuring amateur teams from the fourth tier of the US soccer pyramid.
One hundred seven teams entered the Open Division Local qualifying tournament that wrapped up in mid-December. After four arduous rounds the field was whittled down to 10 teams. As US Amateur Cup winners, Bavarian United SC earned a berth into Round 1. Also entering the competition in this round are eight NPSL and 10 USL League Two sides. NPSL and USL-2 sides, which are Open Division National leagues, qualify based on the previous season’s record.
Most, but not all, of the opening round games will be streamed online. All links are available below.
Round 1 winners will face second and third division professional teams April 4-6.
The team that advances furthest in the tournament from each division receives $25,000.
TUESDAY, MARCH 21
Ocean City Nor’easters (USL-2)
3:1
West Chester United (USLPA)
YSC Sports – Wayne, PA
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Bleacher Report
By Josh Hakala
In the first contest of the 2023 US Open Cup, the Ocean City Nor’easters travel to West Chester United. The host side sits in fourth place currently in the United Soccer League of Pennsylvania season (3-1-0, 10 pts.). Ocean City’s USL League Two season won’t begin until May 20.
West Chester qualified with four road wins in the tournament’s Open Division Local qualifying tournament. They edged four-time champion Philadelphia Ukrainians, 2-1, followed by a 4-0 win over the United German Hungarians. They picked up another win over a Philly-area team with a rich history, with a 4-0 win over Vereinigung Erzgebirge. They punched their ticket to the tournament with a 2-1 win over Northern Virginia FC.
Ocean City qualified by winning the Mid-Atlantic Division with an undefeated regular season record (11-0-3). Three of those league wins were against West Chester United (2-1, 2-1, 2-0).
Three players to watch for West Chester are Ridge Robinson (6 goals – second in the league) and Finn Reese and Levi Maruca (both with 5 – tied for third in the league). Reese is a former Ocean City player.
Like a lot of USL League Two and NPSL teams, the Nor’easters largely rely on active college players to fill out their roster. This means, like last year, the team will likely construct a roster made up of former and local players. NCAA players are not available to play for summer league teams until May 1.
West Chester is competing for the third straight US Open Cup after qualifying last year after edging the Nor’easters for the Mid-Atlantic Division title. (They would later eliminate Ocean City in the USL League Two playoffs) In 2016 and 2019, United’s USL of Pennsylvania team qualified through the Open Division Local qualifying tournament. They have advanced twice out of the First Round with penalty kick shootout wins over Fredericksburg FC (NPSL) in 2016 and FC Baltimore Christos (NPSL) in 2019. But they are still seeking their first official “win” in the tournament.
Ocean City is making the club’s 11th appearance in the tournament, and is one of the most successful amateur sides of the Modern Era (1995-present). Only two amateur teams in the country (Flint City Bucks and the Des Moines Menace, both of USL-2) have more Open Cup wins (11) and professional team upsets (6) than Ocean City has as a USL-2 team. Of those six wins over professional opposition, five of them were shutouts in front of their home fans at Carey Stadium (“The Beach House”).
The Nor’easters have also reached the Third Round four times, including two games against Major League Soccer teams. In 2009, they narrowly lost to D.C. United 2-0 on the road, and in 2013, they put a scare into the Philadelphia Union but the MLS side scored a controversial 90th minute game-winner to avoid the upset.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Ocean City Nor’easters (USL-2)
11th US Open Cup appearance (1 as a pro team)
Overall: 12-8-2 (0-2 PKs)
Away: 8-4-1
vs. Amateurs: 6-1-1
Best finish: Third Round (2005, 2009, 2013, 2018)
West Chester United (USASA / USLPA)
4th US Open Cup appearance (3rd as local qualifier)
Overall: 0-3-2 (2-0 PKs)
Home: 0-1-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-1-2 (2-0 PKs)
Best finish: Second Round (2016, 2019)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22
Inter San Francisco (SFSFL) at El Farolito (NPSL)
Ohlone College Soccer Field – Fremont, CA
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Bleacher Report
By Rich Flemings
Fresno-area soccer fans will be treated to a gem of a matchup, as Ohlone College Soccer Field will be the site in which a tournament debutante, Inter San Francisco, takes the field against El Farolito, a club that won the US Open Cup in 1993 under the name CD Mexico.
For the past two years, Inter San Francisco has dominated the San Francisco Soccer Football League (SFSFL). En route to their US Open Cup qualification, Inter had to win four straight matches, culminating in a 5-1 win over BattleBorn FC on a snowy field in Minden, Nevada last December. This capped off a dominant Open Division Local qualifying tournament as San Francisco didn’t allow a goal until that “Win & You’re In” match against BattleBorn. They outscored their four opponents by a combined score of 19-1. This may be a dream come true for the young club, but they’ll work hard to extend their stay as they face off against a club with history in the tournament.
El Farolito, founded in 1985, has participated in the US Open Cup on three separate occasions during the Modern Era (1995-present). After being one-and-done in their first Modern Era appearance in 2017 with a penalty kick loss to Burlingame Dragons FC (USL League Two), the club picked up a win in their last appearance in 2019. They beat Academica SC (US Club Soccer) 2-1 before falling short to Fresno FC of the USL Championship. El Farolito has won the San Francisco Soccer Football League six times between 2007 and 2017, before joining the NPSL in 2018.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Inter San Francisco (USASA / SFSFL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
El Farolito (NPSL)
3rd US Open Cup appearance (Modern Era)
Overall: 1-1-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 0-1-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-0-1 (0-1 PKs)
Best finish: US Open Cup Champions (1993 as Club Deportivo (CD) Mexico)
NC Fusion U23 (USL-2) at Appalachian FC (NPSL)
Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex – Boone, NC
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Bleacher Report
By Jim Coppock
North Carolina Fusion U-23s will travel about two hours west to Boone, N.C. for a contest with Open Cup debutante side, Appalachian FC, in an all-North Carolina affair.
NC Fusion qualified for their 14th tournament (most of that history under the name Carolina Dynamo) through the USL League 2 qualification process, based on previous season’s finishing (1st place South Atlantic Division, 11-1-2). The team lost in the National Semifinal last year to the Long Island Rough Riders.
Three-year-old Appalachian FC qualified for their first Open Cup through the NPSL’s qualification process, based on previous season’s finishing (1st place Southeast Conference, 6-1-3). The team lost to eventual champions, FC Motown, in the Eastern Regional Final.
Last year’s Open Cup featured something uniquely Open Cup. NC Fusion U23s traveled to Columbia, S.C. to take on the SC United Bantams. What was discovered during the pre-game process was that SCU had only 10 Cup-eligible players on their roster. Instead of playing with 10 men, the teams agreed that SC United would forfeit and the teams would play an exhibition game. None of those almost 1,400 in attendance, or watching via YouTube, knew that it was an exhibition game. The Fusion won the exhibition, after extra time, 3-1. They then went on to defeat Charlotte Independence in Round 2 before falling to Richmond Kickers on a 118th minute game-winner in Round 3.
The Fusion open their USL League 2 season on May 10 at home against Charlotte Independence, while Appalachian’s first opponent in the NPSL is still to be determined.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
North Carolina Fusion U-23s (USL-2)
14th US Open Cup appearance (5 as pro team)
Overall: 11-12-1 (1-0 PKs) | 6-7-1 (1-0 PKs) as USL-2 team
Away: 2-9-0 | 0-4-0 as USL-2 team
vs. Amateurs: 7-2-1 (1-0 PKs) | 3-1-1 (1-0 PKs) as USL-2 team
Best finish: Quarterfinals (1996) (as pro team)
Appalachian FC (NPSL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Nona FC (USL-2) at Club de Lyon (NISAN)
Austin-Tindall Sports Complex – Kissimmee, FL
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Eleven Sports
By Rich Flemings
Two clubs new to the US Open Cup will face off at Austin-Tindall Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. Nona FC, competing in USL League Two since 2022 will line up against Club de Lyon, who is playing their first season in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA).
Nona FC, based in Orlando, started competing in USL League Two last season and didn’t skip a beat. In their first season, Nona FC won the Southeast Division by seven points, qualified for the playoffs, and lost in the Conference Quarterfinals. Last month, USL League Two announced the new division alignments, which placed Nona FC in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference. The club starts their pursuit of another division title on May 10th.
Also based in the Orlando area, Club de Lyon was founded last year and will compete for the first time in 2023. The NISA Nation side earned their bid to the US Open Cup via an equalizer in the 91st minute and ultimately winning 2-1 over SC United Bantams in their last match of qualification. However, the situation took an interesting turn when the club decided to join the professional side of NISA. This means that as a pro team, Club de Lyon were automatically entered into the US Open Cup. But since their NISA Nation side had already qualified, they were also part of the tournament. The problem is, many of the players from CDL’s NISA Nation team are part of the pro team’s roster, but since they competed in the Open Cup qualifying tournament, they were cup-tied to the amateur team.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Nona FC (USL-2)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Club de Lyon (NISAN)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
FC Motown (NPSL) at Manhattan SC (USL-2)
Marillac Field (College of Mt. St. Vincent) – Bronx, NY
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: YouTube
By Rich Flemings
Marillac Stadium in the Bronx will see FC Motown, the top Open Division club from the 2022 US Open Cup, return to the tournament to face first-time competitor Manhattan SC in the First Round.
FC Motown is no stranger to the US Open Cup, competing in the tournament for the sixth time in club history. Founded in 2012, Motown won the 2022 NPSL Conference, Regional, and National championships. While competing in the Open Cup, Motown is 4-2-2 all time in the tournament. In 2022, the club won a pair of games, including a 1-0 extra time upset of AC Syracuse Pulse (NISA). They won $25,000 as a result of being the farthest-reaching Open Division team. They’ll face off against a newcomer to the Cup, Manhattan SC.
Based in the Bronx and founded in 1997, Manhattan SC has never played in the US Open Cup, but that hasn’t stopped the club from experiencing success in USL League Two. This will be Manhattan SC’s fourth year competing in USL League Two. In 2022, the club finished atop the Metropolitan Division of Eastern Conference and qualified for the playoffs, where the club lost in the Conference Quarterfinals. When the USL League Two divisions were announced last month, Manhattan SC found themselves placed in familiar territory, back in the Metropolitan Division. Their season starts on May 21.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
FC Motown (NPSL)
5th US Open Cup appearance (4th as NPSL team)
NOTE: Merged with Clarkstown SC Eagles after 2017 season, which had 2 appearances in 2016 and 2017)
Overall: 4-2-2 (0-2 PKs)
Away: 1-1-1 (0-1 PKs)
vs. Amateurs: 3-0-1 (0-1 PKs)
Best finish: Third Round (2022, farthest reaching Open Division team)
Manhattan SC (USL-2)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Des Moines Menace (USL-2) at Beaman United FC (UPSL)
Dean A. Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium (MTSU) – Murfreesboro, TN
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: YouTube
By Rich Flemings
Murfreesboro, Tenn. is the place to be on Wednesday as one current league champion, Beaman United FC, faces off against another club with its own history of league championships, the Des Moines Menace.
Despite having never played in the US Open Cup, Beaman United FC enters the match as the 2022 United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) runner-up. The club found their way into the tournament after a pair of road wins over fellow UPSL opposition. They beat Bowling Green FC (KY) 3-1, followed by a penalty kick shootout win over Kalonji Pro-Profile (after a 4-4 draw) and then a come-from-behind victory, involving two blocked penalties and two goals in extra time. That “Win & You’re In” 4-3 victory over D’Feeters Kicks (Dallas) took place in December and ensured their participation in the First Round of action for the first time. The team is headlined by a former pro Kwadwo Poku, who made a career for himself in the United States based on performances in the US Open Cup. He was discovered by Eric Wynalda and the Atlanta Silverbacks after a standout performance against them for NPSL side Georgia Revolution. Then signed with New York City FC of MLS.
Des Moines Menace is a club all too familiar with the US Open Cup, making their 15th appearance this year, which is tied with the Flint City Bucks for most by any amateur team in the Modern Era. Founded in 1994, the Menace have won their division in nine different seasons and took home the USL League Two championship twice (2005, 2021). Their best finish in the tournament came in 2005, when they made it to the Fourth Round. Among all the amateur teams in the Modern Era, only the Flint City Bucks have more tournament wins than the Menace (13) and professional team upsets (7).
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Des Moines Menace (USL-2)
15th US Open Cup appearance (13 as USL-2 team)
Overall: 13-12-3 (2-1 PKs)
Away: 5-7-0
vs. Amateurs: 7-2-1 (1-0 PKs)
Best finish: Fourth Round (2005)
Beaman United FC (UPSL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Bavarian United (MWPL) at Chicago House AC (MWPL)
Langhorst Field (Elmhurst University) – Elmhurst, IL
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Bleacher Report
By Adam Uthe
It’s a Midwestern version of the Old Guard vs. the New Kids on the Block. Bavarian United returns for the ninth time in the Modern Era and will travel to Chicago to face off with first time qualifiers Chicago House AC.
Bavarian United is actually the result of a merger between Bavarian SC and Inter Northshore FC. Bavarian SC, a team that dates back to the 1920s, reached the peak of their powers in the early 90s when they were semifinalists in 1993 and then runners up in 1994. The 2023 version of Bavarian United qualified by winning the the 2022 USASA Amateur Cup back in August. Patrick Coleman’s goal was enough to see them life the trophy over Northern Virginia FC.
Chicago House AC, meanwhile, are making their Open Cup debut. They took a different, but no less difficult path to the 2023 tournament. Two of their three qualifying victories had to come via penalty shootouts. Their Round 4 qualifying win came after nine rounds of penalties in conditions so dark, the officials had to have discussion before deciding to proceed with the shootout. Not only that, but they were visiting Brockton FC United over 1,000 miles from home in Massachusetts. It was the fifth-longest distance traveled by a team since the new qualifying format began in 2015.
Chicago House AC began playing in NISA in the 2021 fall season, but left the league after that first season due to a dispute between team owners and league officials. As a result, House were voted out of the league and left unable to participate in the 2022 US Open Cup. The team spent 2022 playing in the Midwest Premier League. The club’s CEO is Peter Wilt, a man who won multiple US Open Cup titles as general manager of the Chicago Fire (MLS).
The winner of this one will travel to Madison, Wisconsin to take on USL-1 side Forward Madison FC.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Bavarian United (MWPL)
9th US Open Cup appearance (Modern Era)
Overall: 3-8-0
Away: 1-6-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-3-0
Best finish: 1994 Runner-Up
Chicago House AC (MWPL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Brazos Valley Cavalry (USL-2) at Tulsa Athletic (NPSL)
Hicks Park – Tulsa, OK
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: YouTube
By Jordan Beech
Hicks Park in Tulsa, Okla., will play host to the US Open Cup First Round matchup between Brazos Valley Calvary of USL-2 and Tulsa Athletic of NPSL. While both teams have a limited history in the knockout tournament, both teams will be looking to make their mark in 2023.
Brazos Valley is returning to Open Cup action for the first time since 2019 when they fell to NPSL side Laredo Heat, 1-0. The Calvary qualified after dominating the Lone Star Division of USL-2 with an 11-2-1 record, securing a division title and a ticket to the USL-2 playoffs. A win on Wednesday would be the first in club history for Brazos Valley.
Under a new manager in Jason Rogers, Tulsa Athletic have a chance to make the Second Round for the second time in as many years and third all-time. The A’s were a dominant force in the NPSL last season, posting a 9-2-1 record, a Heartland Conference title, and a spot in the NPSL national semifinals. Tulsa will look to build off their first ever win in Open Cup action – a 3-0 win over the UPSL’s Azteca FC – and make it two straight for the NPSL over Brazos Valley.
The winner of Wednesday night’s affair will move on to face USL Championship side FC Tulsa on Wednesday, April 5.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Brazos Valley Cavalry FC (USL-2)
2nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-1-0
Away: 0-1-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-1-0
Best finish: First Round (2019)
Tulsa Athletic (NPSL)
5th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-3-1 (0-1 PKs)
Home: 1-1-1 (0-1 PKs)
vs. Amateurs: 1-1-1 (0-1 PKs)
Best finish: Second Round (2014, 2022)
Park City Red Wolves (USL-2) at UDA Soccer (UPSL)
New Mexico State Soccer Field – Las Cruces, NM
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: YouTube
By Andrew Mosier
It has been eight years since a college or university affiliated team qualified for the US Open Cup. Brigham Young University was the last—and only in the Modern Era of the Open Cup—in 2015. In three tries, BYU never made it out of the First Round.
When the UDA soccer academy at New Mexico State University—UDA at NMSU, or just UDA for short—hosts the Park City Red Wolves, they hope to build upon the foundation BYU laid for college affiliated teams in the Open Cup.
UDA operates as New Mexico State University’s men’s soccer program, wearing both the UDA and NMSU crests when they play. To be part of the academy players must be enrolled in school—either MNSU, its affiliated community college working towards transferring to MNSU, or a local high school. But it is more than just a university club team. Based on the three UDA academies in England, UDA at NMSU is a European-style academy, training and playing year-round. It is the only one of its kind in the United States. The club currently fields three teams competing in the United Premier Soccer League, college club leagues, elite youth leagues, the Open Cup, and other competitions. Because UDA is a de facto college team, the team’s average age hovers around 20-years-old. The program began playing in 2021 and entered Open Cup qualifying for the first time in 2022.
In the spring of 2021 UDA at NMSU entered its first team into competition, finishing a respectable 5-1-2, good for second in the seven-team West Texas-New Mexico division of the UPSL. For the fall 2021 season, the club moved to the intensely competitive UPSL Arizona division. UDA won the ten-team division, winning eight and drawing two. In the spring of 2022 UDA moved back to the West Texas-New Mexico division, going 6-2-2 to win the division and earn a berth in the UPSL post season tournament and in the inaugural UPSL Champions Cup, featuring four of the top UPLS teams from the United States versus four top teams from the UPLS Mexican divisions.
This is the second consecutive Open Cup appearance for the Park City Red Wolves, which are loosely affiliated with the USL League One Chattanooga Red Wolves. The Red Wolves qualified for the 2022 Open Cup as USL-2 Mountain Division champions, losing 3-2 at Las Vegas Legends (NPSL) in Round 1.
Founded in 2018, the Red Wolves began play in the 2019 USL-2 season, finishing third in the Mountain Division. After the 2020 season was cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic, the club moved operations to nearby Salt Lake City but kept the Park City moniker. They won the 2021 Mountain Division going 5-2-3 in the regular season, losing to the Portland Timbers U23s in penalty kicks after playing to a 3-3 draw in the Western Conference finals, automatically qualifying them for the 2022 Open Cup.
In 2022 the Red Wolves repeated as Mountain Division champions, going 8-2-2 in the regular season, losing 3-1 to the Southern California Seahorses in the Western Conference semifinals. That division title was enough to give them a berth in the 2023 US Open Cup.
UDA started their qualifying journey in Round 2 with a 4-0 win over Coronado Athletic Club (UPSL), followed by a 3-1 extra time win over Olympians FC (UPSL). They punched their ticket to the tournament with a dramatic 4-4 draw vs. Azteca FC, which resulted in a 3-1 penalty kick shootout win.
MORE >> Meet the Underdogs: UDA Soccer, a rare college team qualifies for US Open Cup
Crossfire Premier (NPSL) at Project 51O (USL-2)
Ohlone College Soccer Field – Fremont, CA
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NO
By Adam Uthe
Two west coast Open Cup debutants will square off in Fremont, Calif. when NPSL side Crossfire Premier visit USL-2’s Project 510.
Crossfire Premier did qualify once previously for the 2020 Open Cup, but that tournament was never played due to the COVID-19 outbreak so 2023 will mark their official debut. Project 510 is the developmental side for USL Championship side Oakland Roots SC. They qualified by finishing first in the 2022 Southwest Division of USL-2 in their inaugural season.
The winner of this one will have a tall task ahead of them as they travel to the California capital to take on 2022 Open Cup runners up and USL Championship side Sacramento Republic.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Crossfire Premier (NPSL)
1st US Open Cup appearance (Qualified for canceled 2020 tournament)
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Project 51O (USL-2)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Capistrano FC (NISAN) at Ventura County Fusion (USL-2)
Ventura College Sportsplex – Ventura, CA
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Bleacher Report
By Adam Uthe
Two southern California sides will go head-to-head when Open Cup first timers Capistrano FC (aka Capo FC) travel to the Ventura to face Ventura County Fusion of USL-2.
Capo FC are not only making their Open Cup debut, but 2023 will be the inaugural season playing in the National Independent Soccer Association Nation (NISAN). Their road to the 2023 tournament crossed all four rounds of qualifying, but they did catch a break as two of their four wins came via forfeit. Their Round 4 victory over the UPSL’s Orange County FC was hard fought though – they managed to win the penalty shootout by narrow 3-2 margin after the first 120 minutes of the march finished scoreless.
Ventura County Fusion are no strangers to the Open Cup as they make their 9th appearance in club history. Their best finish came in 2012 when they advanced to Round 3 and they’ll be looking to carry over the positive momentum of their 2022 USL-2 Southwest Division second place finish.
The winner of this one will travel to Irvine, Calif. to take on USL Championship side Orange County SC. If Ventura County advances, it will be the fourth time the two teams will have met in Open Cup play.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Capistrano FC (NISAN)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Ventura County Fusion (USL-2)
9th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 6-7-2 (1-1 PKs)
Home: 3-5-2 (1-1 PKs)
vs. Amateurs: 4-3-2 (1-1 PKs)
Best finish: Third Round (2012)
THURSDAY, MARCH 23
Lionsbridge FC (USL-2) at Cleveland SC (NPSL)
North Olmsted High School – North Olmsted, OH
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Eleven Sports
By Jake Sillick
In one of the longer road trips of the round, Lionsbridge FC of Newport News, Va. travels all the way to the Cleveland suburb of North Olmstead to face Cleveland SC. Lionsbridge finished with the top regular season record of all USL League Two teams last season, going undefeated and winning 12 of 14 matches with a 12-0-2 record. That easily won the Chesapeake Division in the league. They would be stopped in the playoffs in the first round by Vermont Green FC though. This is their first US Open Cup appearance.
Cleveland SC continues their streak of qualifying for the Open Cup this season after another stellar NPSL season performance last season. Cleveland SC just pipped the Rust Belt championship over Pittsburgh Hotspurs by one point. Their qualification though would come down to Midwest Region playoff performance though, where they defeated Pittsburgh Hotspurs and Med City FC to secure their spot in the Midwest Region Final, where they would lose to Muskegon Risers. The regional final performance was enough secure their place. In the Open Cup last season in their first appearance, the club defeated Chicago FC United 2-1 in extra time before falling to Forward Madison of USL League One in the second round 3-0.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Lionsbridge FC (USL-2)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Cleveland SC (NPSL)
2nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-1-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2022)
Miami United FC (NSL) at Jacksonville Armada FC U-23 (NPSL)
Hodges Stadium – Jacksonville, FL
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: YouTube and Twitch
By Jake Sillick
A pair of Florida clubs will face off for the right to go up against Miami FC in the Second Round. Jacksonville Armada have competed in this tournament from many divisions, pro and amateur, but have been a NPSL side for the last few years. Last season the Armada went all the way to the South Region Final which earned their spot in the competition after a stellar run through the Gulf Coast Conference, winning the regular season and playoff titles. The Armada have been tight to the chest on what their roster will look like, but there will be some players available from their NPSL team, and they have a relationship with the local academy Jacksonville FC, who play in UPSL, making a Round of 16 run in the most recent national playoffs over the fall and winter.
They’ll face familiar opposition in Miami United FC. This iteration of United qualified from the National Soccer League and going through local qualifying last fall. Miami United defeated Florida Brothers, International Soccer Association, City Soccer, and Naples City, scoring at least two goals in each match en route to qualifying. Miami United have also qualified from NPSL and have even been in the same division as Jacksonville in some seasons. Miami United also defeated a Jacksonville Armada team in the Third Round of the 2018 tournament 2-0.
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Miami United FC (NSL)
5th US Open Cup appearance (1st as local qualifier)
Overall: 6-4-0
Away: 3-3-0
vs. Amateurs: 6-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2018)
Jacksonville Armada FC U-23 (NPSL)
4th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-3-0
Home: 1-1-0
vs. Amateurs: 2-1-0
Best finish: Second Round (2012, 2014, 2017)
Lansdowne Yonkers FC (EPSL) at Hartford City FC (NPSL)
Trinity Health Stadium – Hartford, CT
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Bleacher Report
By Andrew Mosier
If there is one thing we know going into this 2023 US Open Cup First Round match between Lansdowne Yonkers FC and Hartford City FC is that Lansdowne Yonkers FC can score goals.
In four rounds of local qualifying wins, Lansdowne banged in 14 goals, winning 5-0, 3-0, 4-1, and 2-0 to qualify them for the Open Cup a second year running. Shawn Genus led scoring for Lansdowne in qualifying with five goals over three games including a Round 1 hat trick and a Round 3 brace. Seven different players scored goals for Lansdowne in qualifying. And they are just as impressive in early Eastern Premier Soccer League play, putting 14 past opposing goalkeepers in three games for 4-0, 6-1, and 4-0 wins. Shaquille Sanchez tallied twice in the club’s 4-0 league win on Saturday.
Considerably less is known about Lansdowne’s First Round host, Hartford City FC. As NPSL North Atlantic Conference regular season winners, Hartford earned one of eight automatic berths awarded to the NPSL, which sits on the fourth tier of the US Soccer Pyramid, the same as Lansdowne. Hartford City have not played a competitive game since losing 2-0 to the New York Shockers in the North Atlantic Conference playoff in July. Returning from last year’s Open Cup squad are captain Mark Grant and defender Andrew Geres, along with a spate of returning college players from the squad that went undefeated in NPSL regular season play including defenders Larson Richards (Eastern Connecticut State), Taj Salawu (Holy Cross); forwards Tremaine Bryan (University of Hartford), Khalid Rose (Central Connecticut State); midfielders Alex Clarke (Bucknell University, and Hikaru Jujiwara (New England Revolution II).
This is both team’s second consecutive trip to US Soccer’s big dance. In 2022, Hartford City received one of NPSL’s automatic berths in its debut Open Cup appearance, losing 3-0 at home to Oyster Bay United (UPSL) in the first round. Lansdowne qualified for the 2022 tournament as U.S. Amateur Cup winners. They played the Ocean City Nor’easters (USL-2) to a 1-1 draw in the opening round, advancing on penalty kicks (4-3), then falling to Rochester New York FC (MLSNP) 1-0 in round two.
Coincidently, Lansdowne beat Hartford City’s 2022 Open Cup opponent, Oyster Bay United FC, 4-1 in the final round of qualifying this year.
Lansdown Yonkers was founded in 1997 as Lansdowne Bhoys FC, based in Yonkers, just north of New York City. They played in the historic and highly competitive Cosmopolitan Soccer League, the premier league for teams from in and around New York City since 1923, winning four consecutive league championships (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17).
The club changed to its current name in 2019, when the Cosmopolitan Soccer League and Maryland Major Soccer League partnered to form the elite Eastern Premier Soccer League. The EPSL now features teams from Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Teams are promoted and relegated up and down the EPSL tier system based on league performance. Lansdowne Yonkers FC won the league inaugural championship in 2020-21.
The club has two U.S. Amateur Cup titles: the first as Lansdowne Boys FC in 2017, beating the Milwaukee Bavarian SC. The second came in 2021, as Lansdown Yonkers FC, beating Cal FC for the title.
Lansdowne has appeared in four Open Cups: 2016, 2018, 2022, 2023. As local qualifiers in 2016 the club beat the Long Island Rough Riders (USL-2) 2-1, then upset second-division Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-C) before falling to the Rochester Rhinos (USLC) 2-0 in the Third Round. It was the club’s best performance. In 2018, again as local qualifiers, the club beat the Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) 2-0 in the opening round before losing to North Carolina FC (USLC) 3-0. As U.S. Amateur Cup champions in 2021, the club qualified automatically for the 2022 Open Cup where they slipped past the Ocean City Nor’easters on penalty kicks in round one before losing 1-0 to Rochester New York FC (MLSNP).
Hartford City FC was founded in 2015 but did not begin competing until 2017, when it joined the fourth-tier National Premier Soccer League. In 2021 it won its conference title, advancing to the regional semifinal, and earning the club an automatic bid to the 2022 Open Cup. The club was eliminated in the first round of its Open Cup debut, 3-0, by Oyster Bay United FC (UPSL).
US OPEN CUP HISTORY
Lansdowne Yonkers FC (EPSL)
4th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 3-3-1 (1-0 PKs)
Away: 3-2-1 (1-0 PKs)
vs. Amateurs: 2-0-1 (1-0 PKs)
Best finish: Third Round (2016)
Hartford City FC (NPSL)
2nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-1-0
Home: 0-1-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-1-0
Best finish: First Round (2022)