The 2025 National Amateur Cup kicked off with eight games across the Northeastern United States on Sunday. Four former champions and plenty of new faces took part in USASA Region I’s Amateur Cup tournament. Round 1 splits the bracket between North and South, with most games being reasonably distanced between one another.
There were blowouts, one extra time game, and one that some would consider an upset in the early stages of the 101st National Amateur Cup tournament.
Christos FC (MD, APSL)
2:1
Colonial SC (PA, USLPA)
Bryn Athen College – Bryn Athen College, PA
USASA Region I regulars and 2016 National Amateur Cup champions Christos FC advanced past Colonial SC, 2-1. The Pennsylvania side scored a late goal to keep things interesting but it turned out to just be a consolation prize.
Goal scorers
Christos:
- Ron Chesney
- Ed McCue
CSC:
- Vito Vincent (Assist: Justin Jaime) 87’
KO Elites FC (CT, APSL)
1:3
Loco Gunners (MA, BSSL)
Madison Park High School – Boston, MA
Loco Gunners came out on top over KO Elites thanks to a late goal by Arsen Melkumyan that put the game away for the home side. The Gunners took a first half lead thanks to a long shot by Justin Freitas that caught the KO keeper standing still. Freitas doubled the lead in the second half but DeAnte Anderson of KO Elite cut into the deficit with just over 20 minutes to play.
Loco Gunners has history with the National Amateur Cup, having won the national title in 2012 under the name “Battery Park Gunners” over Chicago area powerhouse RWB Adria. Coincidentally, the team wore those 2012 championship kits on Sunday.
Goal scorers
KO:
- DeAnte Anderson 68’
LG:
- Justin Freitas (Asst: Tim Ritter) 37’
- Justin Freitas 58’
- Arsen Melkumyan 87’
Goal Highlights:
37’ GOAL @locogunners Justin Freitas from Tim Ritter pic.twitter.com/TIGDsx2Uqx
— MASS Soccer (@MASS_Soccer) April 6, 2025
58’ Freitas scores again!! @locogunners up 2-0 pic.twitter.com/URITFiDNSN
— MASS Soccer (@MASS_Soccer) April 6, 2025
68’ KO Elites scores. Currently down 1-2. pic.twitter.com/CbixaMAt2w
— MASS Soccer (@MASS_Soccer) April 6, 2025
87’ @locogunners Arsen Melkumyan nets a 3rd goal. pic.twitter.com/veyNwEUREU
— MASS Soccer (@MASS_Soccer) April 6, 2025
NY Pancyprian Freedoms (NY, APSL)
6:0
Hermandad Connecticut (CT, APSL)
Waterbury Municipal Stadium – Waterbury, CT
The defending National Amateur Cup champions rolled through their first game as the New York Pancyprian Freedoms knocked off fellow American Premier Soccer League side Hermandad Connecticut, 6-0. The three-time US Open Cup champions graced the historic venue, with Municipal Stadium having a history of National Challenge Cup games since its opening in 1930. The home side, which is making its APSL debut this Spring, was completely overpowered.
Goal scorers
NYPF:
- James Thristino (x3)
- Junior Rosero (x2)
- Sebastian Ruiz Restrepo
West Chester United SC (PA, USLPA)
7:0
Das Bierhalle FC (MD, MSSL)
Milford Mill Academy – Windsor Mill, MD
After a fun match against Loudoun United FC in the First Round of the 2025 US Open Cup, West Chester United SC got back into its winning form over the weekend. The side beat Maryland outfit Das Bierhalle FC, 7-0, with braces from Ayoub Mouhou and 19-year-old Dylan Lacy. West Chester qualified for the tournament by winning the Eastern Pennsylvania Soccer Association’s Bill O’Neill Amateur Cup, the team’s fourth straight year capturing the title.
West Chester is seeking its first-ever National Amateur Cup title, having been runner-up in 2018 to Milwaukee Bavarian SC.
Goal scorers
WCU:
- Own goal 9’
- Ayoub Mouhou (Assist: Kenneth Roby) 23’
- Ridge Robinson (PK) 39’
- Dylan Lacy (Assist: Ayoub Mouhou) 60’
- Kenneth Roby (Assist: Dylan Lacy) 65’
- Ayoub Mouhou (Assist: Dylan Lacy) 69’
- Dylan Lacy (Assist: John-Austin Ricks) 88’
Game Broadcast
Yinz United (D.C., APL)
1:3
Alexandria Reds (VA, NPSL)
Ben Brenman Park Turf Field – Alexandria, VA
National Premier Soccer League side Alexandria Reds earned its first-ever Amateur Cup win on Sunday. The team beat Yinz United, 3-1, to reach the regional Quarterfinals. The Reds made their NAC debut last year but lost in a thriller to Christos FC via a penalty kick shootout.
Goal scorers
Yinz:
- Fares Tello (Assist: Connor Wharton)
Reds:
- Cole Hellert
- Ronaldo da Silva
- Rowen Choi
Atletico Boston (MA, BSSL)
3:2
Ironbound SC (NJ, GSSL)
After Extra Time
Eddie Moraes Stadium – Newark, NJ
Despite having the longest travel of the round, Atletico Boston came away with the win over Ironbound SC, 2-1 after extra time. Both teams traded goals in the first half, with Ricardo Oliveira giving the home side the lead before Alex Kadelliu responded with a counter-attack goal off the restart. Kadelliu notched a brace in stoppage time to put Boston ahead. Right off the start of the second half, Nicholas Neme tied the game again and it would remain that way until the verge of penalty kicks. Instead, a corner kick by Atletico caused chaos in the box and the side judge whistled for a handball against Ironbound, causing an uproar by the home side. Bruno Coccia calmly converted to put the away side through.
Of note, both goalkeepers played excellently. Luis Rivera of Ironbound and former New England Revolution academy and Vermont Green keeper Tristan Stephani of Atletico kept each of their teams in the match with great performances.
Goal scorers
Boston:
- Alex Kadelliu 30’, 45+1’
- Bruno Coccia (PK) 119’
Ironbound:
- Ricardo Oliveira 28’
- Nicholas Neme 47’
Game-winning penalty kick highlight
West Chester United SC (PA, NPSL)
0:3
Club Atlético Los Toros (VA, APL)
Nike Park – Great Falls, VA
While the state league West Chester team sailed through Round 1, the NPSL side flamed out against Club Atlético Los Toros, 3-0. The defending Metropolitan DC-Virginia Soccer Association (MDCVSA) state cup champions advanced thanks to a brace from former Puerto Rico and Bolivia pro Jeymer Diaz, along with three assists from Franco Castillo Garcia.
West Chester, which qualified as an NPSL team based on its performance in the 2024 season, most likely struggled due to cup-tied players. A majority of the organization’s best players were already locked onto the USLPA team that won earlier in the day.
Goal scorers
Toros:
- Jeymer Diaz (Assist: Franco Castillo Garcia) 13’
- Fredy E. Jovel (Assist: Franco Castillo Garcia) 21’
- Jeymer Diaz (Assist: Franco Castillo Garcia) 55’
Match Broadcast
Match Highlights
SC Vistula Garfield (NJ, APSL)
0:4
Lansdowne Yonkers FC (NY, ASPL)
Tibbetts Brook Park – Yonkers, NY
The two-time National Amateur Cup champion Lansdowne Yonkers FC (2017, 2021) beat their APSL Metropolitan Conference rival SC Vistula Garfield, 4-0, in Yonkers on Sunday. The last game of the night was one sided as the home side scored twice in each half. Former Irish first division player Séamas Keogh scored beauty of a long distance shot early in the second half to all but seal the result.
Goal scorers
LYFC:
- Liam Salmon 21’
- James Boote (PK) 45+2’
- Séamas Keogh (Assist: James Boote) 46’
- Carlyle Smart (Assist: Liam Salmon) 84’
Match Broadcast