The 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup concluded with Nashville SC beating Austin FC to become the first Tennessee club to lift the trophy. Prior to the Oct. 1 championship game, lower division clubs tried their best to be this year’s Cinderella story.
However, this was not the year of the underdog as 2025 marked just the third time in the Modern Era (1995-present) that the Quarterfinals did not have a single team from a lower division league. In fact, it was the first time in the Modern Era that only one lower division club (Pittsburgh Riverhounds – USL Championship) reached the Round of 16.
But despite a lack of late round representation, there were plenty of quality individual performances from those lower division clubs.
Since 2006, TheCup.us has selected a Player of the Tournament. In 2012, the award was expanded to honor the top individual performer among the competition’s lower division entries.
All of the awards are voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters, and select backers from TheCup.us’ Patreon. If you’d like to cast a vote for any of the awards, consider pledging $10 or more and help us continue our US Open Cup coverage and to research it’s long history.
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We encourage everyone to read over each players’ tournament resume and make your case for who you think should win the award in the comments or on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instragram).
Below are the list of finalists for the 2025 TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament:
Roberto Avila (El Paso Locomotive – USL Championship)
Round 1: Started, played 45 minutes and scored the opening goal in a 5-1 home win vs. Harpos FC (USSSA/CPL)
Round 2: Came off the bench in the 63rd minute, assisted on the third goal in a 3-0 road win over Ventura County FC (MLSNP)
Round 3: Did not play in a 2-2 draw (4-1 PK win) on the road vs. New Mexico United (USL-C)
Round 4: Started, played 70 minutes, scored two goals in a 3-2 road loss at Austin FC (MLS)
Osaze De Rosario (Tacoma Defiance – MLS NEXT Pro)
Round 1: Did not play in a 3-1 home win vs. Washington AC (USASA/SRATS)
Round 2: Started, played 45 minutes, assisted on the opening goal in a 2-1 extra time home win vs. Spokane Velocity FC (USL-1)
Round 3: Started, played 120 minutes, scored the game-winning goal in the 108th minute in a 2-1 extra time home win vs. Oakland Roots SC (USL-C)
Round 4: Started, played 90 minutes, scored a 48th min. goal in a 3-2 home loss vs. Portland Timbers FC (MLS)
Jerry Desdunes (AV ALTA FC – USL League One)
Round 1: Started, played 90 minutes, scored two goals (missed a late PK) in a 3-1 home win vs. Ventura County Fusion (USL-2)
Round 2: Came off bench in 73rd minute (played 47 minutes) in a 2-1 extra time home win vs. LAFC2 (MLSNP)
Round 3: Started, played 120 minutes in a 2-2 draw, 4-2 PK win at home vs. Orange County SC (USL-C)
Round 4: Started, played 90 minutes, assisted on lone goal (16’) in a 3-1 road loss at FC Dallas (MLS)
Babacar Diene (One Knoxville)
Round 1: Came off bench at halftime, scored a goal and had an assist in a 3-0 road win vs. Appalachian FC (NPSL)
Round 2: Came off bench in 67th minute, scored a late goal (90+5’) in a 3-1 road win at Greenville Triumph SC (USL-1)
Round 3: Started, played 71 minutes, scored the opening goal in a 3-2 extra time road loss at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C)
Ricarco Jerez (Chattanooga Red Wolves SC)
Round 1: Started, played 120 minutes, made 5 saves in a 2-2 road draw at New Jersey Alliance (UPSL). Played down a man after a 36th minute red card. Made 1 save and had 1 attempt missed in a 4-2 penalty kick shootout win
Round 2: Started, played 120 minutes, made 2 saves in a 1-1 road draw at Chattanooga FC (MLSNP). Made 1 save in a 5-4 penalty kick shootout win.
Round 3: Started, played 120 minutes, made 7 saves in a 2-2 road draw at Las Vegas Lights FC (USL-C). Made 2 saves in a 4-3 penalty kick shootout win.
Round 4: Started, played 90 minutes, made 2 saves in a 1-0 road loss at Nashville SC (MLS). Played last 10 minutes with 10 men after red card.
Juan Carlos Obregon Jr. (Westchester SC)
Round 1: Started, played 90 minutes, scored the lone goal (PK) in the 81st minute in a 1-0 road win at FC Motown (NPSL)
Round 2: Started, played 76 minutes, scored the opening goal (3’) in a 3-2 home win vs. New York Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA/APSL).
Round 3: Started, played 90 minutes, scored 76th minute equalizer in a 3-1 road loss at Detroit City FC (USL-C)