Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Craig Tower

Craig Tower has been researching and writing for TheCup.us since 2013. As a cultural anthropologist and historian, he takes an interest in soccer in the United States both on and off the field

2023 US Open Cup Round 3: Ethan Zubak’s winner helps Nashville SC survive defending USL champs

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Ethan Zubak of Nashville SC celebrates his goal against San Antonio FC in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Nashville SC
Ethan Zubak of Nashville SC celebrates his goal against San Antonio FC in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Nashville SC

Nashville Soccer Club (MLS) prevailed over reigning USL Championship titlists San Antonio FC on their GEODIS Park home field in in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by a narrow 1-0 scoreline.

With a side consisting of only two starters from the previous weekend, Nashville labored in the first half against an energized San Antonio team.

Nashville and San Antonio traded point blank goal attempts in the 7th and 9th minutes, respectively. Elliot Panicco of Nashville, recording his first start of the season, continued to be the busier keeper in the first half. Eventually he finished the game with five saves, his first clean sheet for the Music City side.

In the 22nd minute Panicco couldn’t even get a finger on a fizzing shot fired by Kai Koreniuk at a narrow angle, skimming a yard off the face of his goal line only to roll harmlessly out of danger.

In the 1st minute of stoppage time before the half, NASC’s Jacob Shaffelberg hit a ball from 22 yards out, which deflected past the outstretched arms of SAFC keeper and wide of the right post. That effort was easily the home side’s most dangerous opportunity of the previous 40 minutes of play.

San Antonio had two good chances before the 60th minute. First, forward Ignacio Bailone struck a 53rd minute free kick struck on goal, earning another save for Nashville’s Panicco. .
Panicco earned his keep in the 57th minute, when Zico Bailey hit a sinking drive that the home keeper barely managed to deflect over the crossbar to preserve his cleansheet.

This was also the phase when the game began to get testy as Nashville felt the frustration of facing a lower division side which refused to be overwhelmed.

However, Nashville made their key substation in the 61st minute, bringing on Teal Bunbury. His size and aggressive play, combined with the wile of 45th minute sub Fafa Picault disrupted San Antonio’s defensive stance and created the opening needed to take the lead.

In the 71 minute, a SAFC defender was preparing to clear a hopeful ball up the right wing on the bounce, when Picault burst past him, controlling the ball with the outside of his right foot. He took one more touch and fired a decisive cross low to the ground, past the onrushing SAFC keeper. The cross found Nashville forward Ethan Zubar who redirected the ball past two lunging San Antonio defenders.

The goal was the last significant action beside some testy exchanges by both sides before the referee blew the game to a close at the end of 92 minutes.

SAFC head coach Alen Marcina took the match as a sign of his side’s quality, saying after the game “if people don’t know who SAFC is, I think if they watched that game they’re well aware that we’re a great team with great players and we’re gonna make some noise this year.”

Nashville will host another Texas side, FC Dallas, in the Fourth Round of the Open Cup on May 10 at 8:30 pm.

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: St. Louis City 2 wins debut at Indy Eleven

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Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium at IUPUI
Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium at IUPUI. Photo: St. Louis CITY 2

A visiting MLS Next Pro St. Louis CITY 2 team imposed itself with a goal in each half to knock hosts and USL Championship side Indy Eleven out of the US Open Cup with a 2-0 win in the Second Round of the US Open Cup.

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St. Louis CITY 2 ceded 64% of possession to its second division opponents, but outpaced them on shots 7-6 and looked the more dangerous team for all but 15 minutes after the half.

The visiting side is the sole incarnation of the club that will enter a side in MLS next year, and has several players who are being warehoused in the third division in anticipation that they may play next year. Still, the Indy Eleven side had to compete with them this year and may have expected to dominate. That never happened.

Indy dominated possession from the start, but St Louis’ press paid off in the 17th minute. A botched clearance by the Eleven ended up falling to Josh Yaro in the midfield, who pinged a neat on-time cross out of the air to Ezra Armstrong on the left wing, just inside the 18. Armstrong settled the ball with his thigh and half-volleyed the ball with his left decisively past the Eleven’s backup keeper, Tim Trilk, to open the scoring.

St. Louis continued to press, and looked close to scoring during stretches before the half hour mark and again around the 37th minute when Armstrong combined twice with Vitor Dias on two occasions.

After the half, Indy came out forcefully for the first 15 minutes, and pushed its attack down the left side of the visiting defense. The Eleven managed three menacing crosses in the 51st, 55th, and 58th from that side, but each was intercepted just off the goal line by St. Louis keeper, Michael Creek.

St. Louis countered around the 70th minute, pushing the hosts back on their heels, and in the 72nd minute Armstrong pinged a ball from the left wing to substitute Célio Martins. He controlled the ball and slipped it to Wan Kuzain who snuck the ball inside the far post with a low shot for the second-half goal.

St. Louis now advances to the Third Round of the US Open Cup with a possible opportunity to face a MLS squad. The draw for Round 3 will be announced on Friday at Noon ET.

2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Win & You’re In: Christos FC qualifies for third time in last four years

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Graphic by Harrison Huntley | @hhuntley17

Christos FC will return to the US Open Cup in 2020 thanks to a pair of goals from their talismanic goalscorer and a deflected cross which added up to a 3-2 victory over qualifying debutantes Steel FC.

With the win, Christos returns to the tournament after falling short of qualifying for the 2019 US Open Cup following back-to-back tournament berths in 2017 and 2018. They are most remembered for their magical debut run to the Fourth Round in the 2017  US Open Cup. After three straight shutout wins on the road, Christos scored the opening goal against D.C. United before falling to the MLS side, 4-1.

On a cold clear day at North County High School in Glen Burnie, a quarter mile from the liquor store whose name the team shares, Christos quickly showed their intentions when Pete Caringi III forced a point-blank save from the Steel keeper in the 2nd minute. Two minutes later, Caringi buried another point-blank chance to give the liquormen a 1-0 lead. Caringi, a graduate of Maryland-Baltimore County, played a big role in Christos’ run in the 2017 competition, as he was a finalist for that year’s TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament award.

The first half was clearly controlled by Christos, and Steel were at pains to get any clear shots on goal inside the 18.

In the 24th minute, a Christos corner saw Steel FC keeper Brendan Birmingham’s attempted clearance drop to the feet of Alexander Lee at the 18. Lee controlled the ball and directed to Caringi, who redirected it into the back of the net for a 2-1 Christos lead which they held until halftime.

The second half was more balanced than the first as the metalmen found their way back in the game in the 54th minute. Another goal box scramble led to a Ramsay Hartley goal with an assist by Max Flick as Christos struggled to clear.

Christos didn’t dominate possession as much in the second half, but they continued to have the better chances. A surging David Harris crossed the ball from the left endline in the 63rd minute, resulting in a Steel FC deflection on the near side that pinged into their own goal just inside the post, leaving Birmingham completely flat-footed.

Local fans were almost treated to a 74th minute home goal as a remarkable Caringi bicycle kick from six yards out looped onto the top of the crossbar and out of play.

The Pittsburgh-based side found their way onto the scoresheet again in the 83rd minute as Matthew McDyer scored from a corner kick from 18 yards out with an assist from Hartley. The visitors were energized, and a pair of corner kicks in the waning minutes of the game produced some scary moments for Christos, but the home team managed to escape with a 3-2 win and a ticket to the full tournament next spring.

#USOC2020 ESSENTIALS

Newtown Pride FC win first Amateur Cup, qualify for 2020 US Open Cup
2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Schedule / Results
2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 1 Game-By-Game Review
2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 2 Game-By-Game Review
2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Win & You’re In Weekend Game-By-Game Review
2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Goalscoring Leaders

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2019 US Open Cup Qualifying: Second Round draw released

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The Open Division Local Qualifying tournament for the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup kicks off on Sept. 22. Graphic by: Dallas Kreil
The Open Division Local Qualifying tournament for the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup kicks off on Sept. 22. Graphic by: Dallas Kreil

The draw determining opponents for the 28 games of the second round of Open Division Local Qualifying was held today, with matches to be played on October 20th and 21st. Fifty-six amateur clubs will battle for the right to move into the next round.

Four teams have yet to play their first round games due to weather events in Texas (Celtic Cowboys Premier vs. San Antonio Runners and Bay Area Oiler FC vs. Leon FC). The draw pitting the winning teams with their second round opponents will take place after their first-round games have been completed.

Of the teams playing in the second round, 18 received first round byes. Thirteen teams which would have played in the first round received byes for geographical considerations, and five were randomly selected to receive byes. Of the teams receiving byes, 8 were paired to play one another already and so were not part of the draw.

U.S. Soccer’s Open Cup Committee has not yet determined the number of qualifying rounds to determine the teams which will enter into the First Round of the 2019 U.S. Open Cup. Official reports project 3-4 qualifying rounds will be necessary to winnow the field down prior to the First Round in May. Winners in the second round can expect to play the third round on November 18th or 19th. The fourth round, should it be necessary, would not be played until March or April of 2019.

In a new twist for 2019, the 2018 U.S. Adult Soccer Association (USASA) National Amateur Cup champion Bavarian SC of Milwaukee will automatically advance to the First Round of the Open Cup in addition to the other amateur qualifiers.

The championship match of the 2018 competition will be played on Wednesday, Sept. 26. The 2018 Final pits the Houston Dynamo against two-time finalist Philadelphia Union (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2) as both clubs seek to win their first-ever Open Cup championship.

2019 U.S. Open Cup Open Division Local Qualifying Second Round Schedule

For a complete list of 2019 US Open Cup qualifying results and updated Round 2 schedule, click HERE

Northeast Region
Date Game (home team listed first) Time Venue
Oct. 20 Kendall Wanderers (Mass.) vs. GPS Omens (Mass.) 12 p.m. ET Danehy Park – Field 3; Cambridge, Mass.
Oct. 20 Safira FC (Mass.) vs. Boston City FC II (Mass.) 7 p.m. ET Dilboy Stadium; Somerville, Mass.
Oct. 20 Jackson Lions FC (N.J.) vs. New York Pancyprian Freedoms (N.Y.) 7:30 p.m. ET Jackson Justice Complex – Soccer Turf Field; Jackson, N.J.
Oct. 21 Ukrainian Nationals (Pa.) vs. West Chester Predators (Pa.) 2:30 p.m. ET Ukrainian American Sports Center – Field 1; North Wales, Pa.

Mid-Atlantic Region
Date Game (home team listed first) Time Venue
Oct. 20 Cville Alliance FC – Reserves (Va.) vs. World Class Premier Elite FC (Md.) 6 p.m. ET Charlottesville High School Stadium; Charlottesville, Va
Oct. 21 Christos FC (Md.) vs. Aegean Hawks (Md.) 3 p.m. ET Troy Park – Field 2; Elkridge, Md.
Oct. 21 Virginia United (Va.) vs. Super Delegates Football Club (Md.) 5 p.m. ET Howison Homestead Soccer Complex – Field 1; Manassas, Va.
Oct. 21 Rochester River Dogz (N.Y.) vs. Tartan Devils Oak Avalon (Pa.) 5 p.m. ET Basket Road Rectangle Field; Webster, N.Y.

Southeast Region
Date Game (home team listed first) Time Venue
Oct. 20 Florida Soccer Soldiers (Fla.) vs. Red Force FC (Fla.) 8:30 p.m. ET Kendall Soccer Park – Field 2; Miami, Fla.
Oct. 20 America Soccer Club (Fla.) vs. Central Florida FC Spartans (Fla.) 8:30 p.m. ET West Orange High School; Winter Garden, Fla.
Oct. 21 Sporting Orlando Soccer Club (Fla.) vs. Hurricane FC (Fla.) 10 a.m. ET Celebration High School Stadium; Kissimmee, Fla.
Oct. 21 Soda City FC Sorinex (S.C.) vs. Shahin Atlanta FC (Ga.) 7:15 p.m. ET Lexington County Soccer Complex – Field 10; Columbia S.C.

Central Region
Date Game (home team listed first) Time Venue
Oct. 20 FC Maritsa (Mo.) vs. FC Minnesota (Minn.) 7 p.m. CT Parkway North High School – Varsity Field; St. Louis, Mo.
Oct. 21 Aurora Borealis Soccer Club (Ill.) vs. Livonia City FC (Mich.) 4 p.m. CT Ohio Moose Sports Complex; Mooseheart, Ill.
Note: Games for remaining teams in Central Region (Motagua New Orleans (La.) and Texas teams Bay Area Oiler FC, Celtic Cowboys Premier, Leon FC, NTX Rayados and San Antonio Runners) will be determined following completion of two games from First Qualifying Round that were postponed due to flooded fields.

Mountain Region
Date Game (home team listed first) Time Venue
Oct. 21 FC Denver (Colo.) vs. Harpos FC (Colo.) 1:30 p.m. MDT Aurora Sports Park – Field 1; Aurora, Colo.
Oct. 21 Colorado Rovers (Colo.) vs. Gam United Football Club (Colo.) 3 p.m. MDT Broomfield Commons – Championship Turf; Broomfield, Colo.
Oct. 21 Boise Cutthroats FC (Idaho) vs. San Juan FC (Utah) 3 p.m. MDT Boise State Recreational Field; Boise, Idaho
Oct. 21 Sporting AZ FC (Ariz.) vs. Southwest FC (Texas) 7 p.m. MST John Riggs Stadium (Mesa Community College); Mesa, Ariz.

Southern California Region
Date Game (home team listed first) Time Venue
Oct. 20 Outbreak FC (Calif.) vs. Cal FC (Calif.) 7 p.m. PT Long Beach State University – George Allen Field; Long Beach, Calif.
Oct. 21 Buena Park FC (Calif.) vs. Real Sociedad Royals (Calif.) 3 p.m. PT Kennedy High School – Varsity Field; La Palma, Calif.
Oct. 21 Lionside FC (Calif.) vs. Santa Ana Winds FC (Calif.) 6 p.m. PT Lake Forest Sports Park – Field A; Lake Forest, Calif.
Oct. 21 California United FC II (Calif.) vs. Chula Vista FC (Calif.) 7 p.m. PT Orange County Great Park – Field 2; Irvine, Calif.

West Region
Date Game (home team listed first) Time Venue
Oct. 20 Oakland Stompers (Calif.) vs. Real San Jose (Calif.) 7 p.m. PT Raimondi Park; Oakland, Calif.
Oct. 20 Academica SC (Calif.) vs. Contra Costa FC (Calif.) 7 p.m. PT Academica Fields – East Field; Turlock, Calif.
Oct. 21 JASA RWC (Calif.) vs. Napa Sporting SC (Calif.) 5 p.m. PT Sequoia High School – Stadium Field; Woodside, Calif.
Oct. 21 IPS/Marathon Taverna (Ore.) vs. Nevada Coyotes FC (Nev.) 7 p.m. PT Rob Strasser Memorial Field; Portland, Ore.

2018 Meet the Underdogs: What will Christos FC do for an encore?

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Christos FC pose for a team photo after their 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against Phoenix SC. Photo: Christos FC
Christos FC pose for a team photo after their 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against Phoenix SC. Photo: Christos FC

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That could be the motto for Christos FC heading into their second straight Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Long a mainstay on the Maryland-DC soccer scene, the Cinderella team of the 2017 tournament has grown deeper roots in the area but hasn’t changed its approach because of, or in spite of, their recent success.

The Baltimore amateur side rode victories over Premier Development League (PDL) and United Soccer League (USL) squads in last year’s Cup to earn a shot at D.C. United of Major League Soccer (MLS). Christos ended up falling to their MLS foes in a thrilling match after drawing first blood and sending the Maryland Soccerplex crowd into a frenzy.

No Change in Attitude

How has the club changed?

“As a club we grew a little bit, we got more organized. We got deeper,” said head coach and club vice president Larry Sancomb.

Assistant coach and director of player personnel Andrew Dicea agrees: “We still expect to win, we try to play the best soccer we can, and most of the time we come out victorious.” He still says that there’s one difference – the opponents. “The only thing is that the bullseye on our back has gotten much larger. The attitude towards us is different – now we’re ‘the Christos from Baltimore.’”

Sancomb adds, “We’re gonna be a little bit better organized than we were last year … I think last year we were in five cars driving down, but I think this year we’ll have a team van to get there (to the Round 1 game against Reading United AC of the PDL).”

The team normally plays in the local Maryland Major Soccer League in the fall to avoid overload, according to Dicea.

“The cups are a bigger thing now. There are more teams in cups, out on social media more, people understand more what we’re doing. We could have had a team in the Majors, but it wouldn’t have been a Christos team. It wouldn’t be Christos quality.”

D.C. United scored three late goals to pull away from Christos FC in the Fourth Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: D.C. United | Tony Quinn
D.C. United scored three late goals to pull away from Christos FC in the Fourth Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: D.C. United | Tony Quinn

Still, qualification out of the Maryland-DC area is no cakewalk, in Sancomb’s mind. Citing the play of local Majors rival Izee Autobody FC, the club VP said “if they were in some other states they’d be qualifying through. They’re really athletic, there are very good players on that team. We played them five times and four were championship games. We have to play through tough teams from D.C., too, so it’s a grind.”

To qualify this year, Christos shut out D.C. area power Aegean Hawks 3-0 in the opening round of the open division tournament. In Round 2, they needed extra time to get past the aforementioned Izee Auto FC, 1-0. They punched their ticket to the tournament with a 5-1 home win over Phoenix SC (Philadelphia area).

New Challenges Off the Field

The biggest opponent for Christos may be life outside of soccer. Anyone who read about Christos last year knows that this club, that gets its name from a local liquor store, are not over coached.

“We don’t practice, we’ve never practiced, we’ve never had a tryout,” says Dicea. “We rarely have a kick around. Our guy are all working guys, some work nights, some work days, some have families. Still, they’re all talented and they do play a lot soccer. They have leagues or they’re playing indoors 2-3 nights of the week.”

In spite of the obstacles to getting all of the players on the field at once, Christos is taking on other challenges to build soccer in their area.

Sancomb described the initiative this way: “We’re trying to build a rec program that’s super affordable to kids across the state, but mainly in the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County area for now. We made a connection with a little rec program out of the Annapolis area called Arden.

“We’re really gonna build that into a program. We’re not about going out and stealing kids, we’re about developing kids in these programs… Back in the day there were a lot of guys, we had to go to the Baltimore County area to play. We want to make it an elite thing for low-income and working class families to make it affordable.”

Christos FC poses for a team photo after winning the 2018 Maryland State Cup. Photo: Christos FC
Christos FC poses for a team photo after winning the 2018 Maryland State Cup. Photo: Christos FC

“A lot of us, I don’t think we would have been able to play soccer with the way the system’s set up now,” he added. “Christos isn’t looking to make money. If we make zero every year and the coaches are paid well and the kids are getting a lot out of it, I think it’s a success.”

New Faces on the Field

At the senior level, most of the players from the 2017 squad are returning, including forwards Pete Caringi III and Levi Houapeu, midfielder Mamadou Kansaye, and goalkeeper Phil Saunders – all of whom flirted with pro ball in the United States or Europe, though they’re not the only Christos players with that experience.

Caringi made a big impression in last year’s Open Cup when he scored all three goals for Christos in a 3-0 win over Fredericksburg FC (NPSL) and was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round for the opening round. The following round, Saunders was the Player of the Round when he made seven saves in a 1-0 road upset of the USL’s Richmond Kickers. Saunders also made a strong case for TheCup.us’ Lower Division Player of the Tournament, finishing third in the voting behind the FC Cincinnti duo of Mitch Hildebrandt (winner) and Djiby Fall.

Being in multiple cups at once was a challenge for the team last year, as players juggle work and family obligations in addition to soccer.

“We brought in some new guys. I think also we weren’t as deep as we needed to be – Petey (Caringi) got hurt in that game against D.C. and it really kind of affected us,” said Sancomb.

“I think we do set pretty high standards for the guys we accept for our club. We don’t accept just anybody,” said Sancomb. “There are some really good players that we could add that just don’t fit our mold.”

Character is a key qualification.

“I’m looking for a good guy that cares about the team more than they care about himself,” said Sancomb. “They can all play somewhere else and get more minutes, but they all sacrifice a little bit of their time for the next guy. We want those kind of characters.”

Phil Saunders of Christos FC makes one of his seven saves in a 1-0 road win over the Richmond Kickers. Photo: Jessica Hendricks | Richmond Kickers
Phil Saunders of Christos FC makes one of his seven saves in a 1-0 road win over the Richmond Kickers in Round 2 and was named TheCup.us Player of the Round. Saunders was a strong candidate for Lower Division Player of the Tournament in 2017. Photo: Jessica Hendricks | Richmond Kickers

Luckily for Christos, they have been able to find players that fit their mold in the run up to the 2018 US Open Cup.

“Losing Collin (Fisher) – he was a different kind of player,” Sancomb notes with some regret. But his replacement, Malcolm Harris, was offered a spot at the Bradenton Academy in Florida, according to Dicea. Sancomb adds, “he’s been at a lot of trials, trying to play overseas. He was on that Final Four team at .”

Chris Ports has also left the team. “He’s older,” Sancomb points out, “and his job at Under Armour has taken flight.”

Other new additions include Josh Patterson a Duquesne Unversity product who was selected in the MLS SuperDraft by the Vancouver Whitecaps. “He’s a strong kid and he’s helped us a lot,” said Sancomb.

Tyler Rudy, who scored a stunning free kick goal in Christos’ Nov. 19 Open Cup qualifier against Phoenix SC, one of the oldest active clubs in the country based in the Philadelphia area. “He played for the New England Revolution, Puerto Rico FC, Rochester Rhinos, and he was a four-year starter at Georgetown,” said Dicea.

Facing Reading United AC

“We know Reading will be young college guys with energy, and they’ll be athletic,” says Sancomb about his team’s First Round opponent, Reading United AC.

Dicea is cautious in discussing the game. “We have a game May 6 (the Werner Fricker USASA Open Cup Semifinal against Vereinigung Erzgebirge, another Philadelphia area team), so we’re not even thinking about May 9 yet.”

“It’s hard to prepare the team when you’re not seeing them but once a week, twice a week,” he adds. “Since we lost in the Amateur Cup (Quarterfinal) to West Chester United, we’re in just two cups (Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and the Werner Fricker Open Cup) instead of three. The message is just to keep mental stability, do the things you would have done in college to stay fit and be ready for the games.”

In the end, Sancomb is philosophical: “I think were gonna play Christos-style soccer and have a good time playing.”

2018 US Open Cup qualifying: Christos FC beats Phoenix SC to qualify, plans to “go farther” than last year

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Christos FC pose for a team photo after their 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against Phoenix SC. Photo: Christos FC
Christos FC pose for a team photo after their 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against Phoenix SC. Photo: Christos FC

Christos FC wore down their open division-qualifying visitors Phoenix SC on a sunny but windy day in Arnold, MD, taking the game 5-1 in front of approximately 50 fans. The hosts move on to the full Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the second year in a row, while Phoenix SC will try again next year to qualify, having last qualified in 2011.

Christos keeper Phil Saunders didn’t have much work during on the field, but in a pre-game interview he laid out his team’s challenges and strategies to a T. “Teams know our name and want to beat us, so we have to be extra good.” Still, he added, “our depth is unbelievable.”

It turns out that Christos were extra good on the day, and it was their depth that made the difference in defeating the storied Pennsylvania club.

Possession was relatively balanced at the start of the game, with both sides trading chances. Christos had the edge in chances created, but Phoenix left wing Dan Murtagh shaped a beautiful shot towards Saunders’s back post in the fifth minute, only to see it glance off the upper right corner of the goal.

Tyler Rudy put Christos on the board first with a beautiful 25-yard freekick that cleared the Phoenix wall before settling into the lower corner of Pratico’s goal in the 32nd minute. Christos kept the pressure on and found the goal again in the 38th minute when a cross by Cody Albrecht from the right found Daniel Baxter about 10 yards in front of goal. Baxter calmly settled the ball before shooting under Practico for the second goal.

Phoenix SC came out with renewed determination in the second half, but they weren’t able to conjure the kind of solid chances they’d seen at the beginning of the first half.

As Saunders predicted, the depth of the Christos side made the difference when Elton Joe subbed on for Caringi in the 69th minute, soon to be joined by Levi Houapeu and Christopher Panian. The pace of Joe and Houapeu caused Phoenix particular problems, but it was Joe’s blistering shot that drew blood in the 74th minute as he turned just inside the 18-yard box and rifled the ball into the upper right corner of the Phoenix goal. “Panian played it one time to me, and I just hit far post as hard as I could. It went there, exactly where I wanted it to,” Joe said after the game. Daniel Baxter pounced on a deflection off his own shot in the 78th minute to extend the Christos lead to four.

At that point, Phoenix SC started to lose control, registering yellow cards in the 78th (Joseph Brocker), 79th (Shane Kronick), and 80th minutes (Jamen Rowen) as they tried to halt the Christos attack.

Elton Joe was having none of it as he found himself behind the defense on a break in the 86th minute and settled the ball in the left corner after Pratico had saved a similar break by Joe in the 84th.

Ben Castor of the Phoenix registered a consolation goal in the 88th minute to ruin the Christos shutout.

After the game, Joe echoed Saunders on the strategy of bringing Joe off the bench: “The message from the coach coming off the bench was to come on the pitch and take over – or at least to close the game out.” Joe was confident about the prospects for Christos in 2018, having marched to the 4th round in the 2017 tourney before dropping a heartbreaking decision to DC United by a deceiving 4-1 scoreline. “We’re trying to come this year very strong. We’re definitely going to go farther than we went last year. That’s the plan.”

2018 US Open Cup qualifying draw unveiled with record number of amateur teams

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Phil Saunders of Christos FC made seven saves in a 1-0 road win over the Richmond Kickers (USL). Photo: Jessica Hendricks | Richmond Kickers
Phil Saunders of Christos FC made seven saves in a 1-0 road win over the Richmond Kickers (USL). Photo: Jessica Hendricks | Richmond Kickers

The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) announced that 108 amateur clubs from 35 different leagues have entered the qualifying tournament for the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. This breaks the record set last year when 64 teams entered.

This is the third year in a row that the federation has utilized a single qualifying tournament for all amateur clubs that are not part of a national league. Prior to 2016, amateur teams that did not belong to the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) or the Premier Development League (PDL) had to enter a state or regional qualifying tournament organized by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). Ahead of the 2016 US Open Cup, the USSF announced that they would take control of the amateur qualifying process and launched a single-elimination tournament open to all teams from across the country.

The draw for the opening round of the tournament was announced on Tuesday night with 102 teams taking part and four teams receiving byes into Round 2.

Earlier this year, underdogs Christos FC of Baltimore earned nationwide attention when they advanced from the local qualifying group of 64 teams to the full US Open Cup. Their run continued as they became just the 13th amateur club in the Modern Era (1995-present) to reach the Fourth Round where they gave MLS side D.C. United a run for their money before falling, 4-1. They earned a $15,000 cash prize for the amateur team that advanced the furthest in the competition. Christos FC are back for 2018 (they will face Open Cup regulars Aegean Hawks FC in Round 1) along with 107 other teams hoping to be this year’s underdog story.

This part of the competition, otherwise known as Open Division Local Qualifying, will start the weekend of Sept. 23-24. Teams entering in the first qualifying round must win three straight matches to enter the first official round of the US Open Cup which will start in the spring of 2018. Draws were assigned to minimize travel time and cost, ensuring most teams will play against other local competition. Where possible, for example in areas with several local entrants, random selection was used to determine match-ups. Draws will be played as single-game, knockout matches, with home teams selected via a coin flip.

La Maquina (left) vs. LA Wolves in the Third Round of 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Joe Walsh
La Maquina (left) vs. LA Wolves in the Third Round of 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Joe Walsh

After each of the three local qualifying rounds, another draw will be held to determine match-ups in the next round. The second local qualifying round is scheduled for Oct. 21-22, and the third is scheduled for Nov. 18-19.

The first qualifying round will be played the weekend after the 2017 Final pitting three-time champion Sporting Kansas City against the New York Red Bulls on Sept. 20.

States with the most teams entering were California (30), Colorado (14), Florida (12), Pennsylvania (9), and Massachusetts (8). Twelve states entered a single team. There will be plenty of new faces as 14 leagues are entering teams for the first time in this edition of the tournament.

Sixty-four teams are entering the competition for the first time and two of them have won the tournament before. El Farolito, who qualified for last year’s tournament won the Open Cup in 1993 under the name CD Mexico while the New York Pancyprian Freedoms have lifted the trophy three times (1980, 1982, 1983).

While 2012 Open Cup darlings Cal FC will not be a part of this year’s competition, there are plenty of regulars who will look to join the 105th edition of the Open Cup. After reaching the Third Round last year, GPS Omens (Mass.) is looking to qualify for the fifth time in six years. One of the oldest clubs in the country, Phoenix SC (Est. 1926 in Philadelphia area) will look to return to the tournament for the first time since 2011. Another pair of historic Philly clubs will square off when Vereinigung Erzgebirge (Est. 1969) take on the United German Hungarians (Est. 1910). Another Philadelphia side, Junior Lone Star made their Open Cup debut last year and this year they will enter two different teams.

Harpo's FC celebrates a league game against FC Denver at Avery Brewing Co. in Boulder, Colo. Photo: Harpo's FC
Harpo’s FC celebrates a league game against FC Denver at Avery Brewing Co. in Boulder, Colo. Photo: Harpo’s FC

The Lansdowne Bhoys made a splash in their Open Cup debut in 2016, upsetting the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on the road, but after missing out in 2017, they will be back for the 2018. The Bhoys, who won the USASA Amateur Cup, will travel to New Jersey to take on first-timers Jackson Lions FC.

The North Texas Rayados have qualified for every US Open Cup since 2012 (although they were disqualified just before the 2016 tournament), and they will be on the road to face Central Texas Lobos. Red Force will represent South Florida after qualifying for the third time in 2017.

Out west, 44 of the 108 (41%) entries are from California (30) and Colorado (14). There are some Colorado teams with some recent experience that are looking to qualify in 2018. Harpo’s FC (2015, 2016) are back after missing out in 2017, and the Colorado Rovers (2013, 2014) are looking to get back after falling short the last few years. The Colorado Rush and Azteca FC, who both made their first appearance in 2017, will look to punch their ticket for the second straight year.

California is littered with talented clubs highlighted by 2016 Cinderella story La Maquina FC, two-time qualifiers Chula Vista FC (2015, 2017) and the LA Wolves FC (2016, 2017) who made a strong showing in their first two Open Cup entries.

2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Open Division Local Qualifying Schedule

First Qualifying Round
(All Times Eastern)
UPDATED after Sept. 24 games

Northeast Region

Date Game (home team listed first) Time Venue
Sept. 23 Unations FC (Mass.) vs. Safira FC (Mass.) 10 a.m. Burncoat High School; Worcester, Mass. Safira wins 5-1
Sept. 23 Kendall Wanderers (Mass.) vs. Boston Siege FC (Mass.) 2 p.m. Danehy Park; Cambridge, Mass. Kendall wins 5-2
Sept. 23 Lynn United (Mass.) vs. GPS Omens (Mass.) 3 p.m. Manning Stadium; Lynn, Mass. GPS Omens wins 8-3
Sept. 23 Southie FC (Mass.) vs. Mass United FC (Mass.) 4 p.m. Medford High School; Medford, Mass.  Mass U wins 4-3 in PKs
Sept. 23 Salone FC (Pa.) vs. Junior Lone Star U23s (Pa.) 4:30 p.m. West Chester United Turf Field; West Chester, Pa.  JLS U23s win 3-1
N/A Carpathia FC (Mich.) vs. Ann Arbor FC (Mich.) N/A N/A  Ann Arbor FC advances via forfeit
Sept. 23 West Chester United (Pa.) vs. Junior Lone Star FC (Pa.) 7:30 p.m. West Chester United Turf Field; West Chester, Pa.  WCU wins 4-2
Sept. 23 Aurora Borealis Soccer Club (Ill.) vs. United Serbian Soccer Club (Wis.) 8:30 p.m. N/A  Aurora Borealis SC advances via forfeit
Sept. 24 New York Pancyprian Freedoms (N.Y.) vs. Newtown Pride FC (Conn.) 12 p.m. Belson Stadium (St. John’s Univ.); Jamaica, N.Y.  New York wins 2-1
Sept. 24 NLS Graduates (Md.) vs. Izee Auto FC (Md.) 1 p.m. Banner Field at Latrobe Park; Baltimore, Md.  Izee Auto wins 3-1 (AET)
Sept. 24 Christos FC (Md.) vs. Aegean Hawks FC (Md.) 1 p.m. Troy Park – Field 4; Elkridge, Md.  Christos wins 3-1
Sept. 24 Phoenix Soccer Club (Pa.) vs. Upper Darby (Pa.) 2:30 p.m. Phoenix Sports Club; Trevose, Pa.  Phoenix SC wins 3-0
Sept. 24 Vereinigung Erzgebirge (Pa.) vs. United German Hungarians (Pa.) 4 p.m. Vereinigung Erzgebirge Clubhouse; Warminster, Pa.  UGH wins 2-1 (AET)
Sept. 24 Tartan Devils Oak Avalon (Pa.) vs. Rochester River Dogz (N.Y.) 4 p.m. Rooney Field (Duquesne Univ.); Pittsburgh, Pa.  Rochester wins 2-1
Sept. 24 Jackson Lions FC (N.J.) vs. Lansdowne Bhoys FC (N.Y.) 7:30 p.m. Jackson Justice Complex; Jackson, N.J.  LBFC wins 2-1
N/A Santa Fe Wanderers KC (Kan.) vs. Stegman’s Soccer Club (Minn.) N/A N/A  Stegman’s SC advances via forfeit

Southeast Region

Date Game (home team listed first) Time Venue
Sept. 23 Central Texas Lobos (Texas) vs. NTX Rayados (Texas) 6 p.m. Gregg-Clarke Park; Kyle, Texas  NTX wins 2-0
Sept. 23 Austin Real Cuauhtemoc (Texas) vs. Celtic Cowboys Premier (Texas) 7 p.m. McMasters Athletic Complex; Georgetown, Texas  Celtic wins 3-2
Sept. 23 Hurricane FC (Fla.) vs. Boca Raton Football Club (Fla.) 7:30 p.m. Seacrest Soccer Complex – Field 1; Delray Beach, Fla. BRFC wins 4-3
Sept. 24 FC Ginga (Fla.) vs. Red Force FC (Fla.) 10 a.m. Barry University; Miami Shores, Fla.  Red Force wins 8-1
Sept. 23 Majestic Soccer Club (Ga.) vs. Lowcountry United (S.C.) 3:30 p.m. Emory University; Atlanta, Ga. Majestic SC wins 2-0
Sept. 24 South Florida FC (Fla.) vs. Miami United FC U23 (Fla.) 6 p.m. Brian Piccolo Park; Cooper City, Fla.  South Florida wins 3-1
Sept. 24 Orlando Storm (Fla.) vs. InterUnited AC (Fla.) 7 p.m. UCF Soccer & Track Complex; Orlando, Fla.  Orlando advance 4-3 in PKs (0-0 draw)
Sept. 24 Gaffa FC (Miss.) vs. Motagua New Orleans (La.) 7 p.m. Freedom Ridge Stadium; Ridgeland, Miss. Motagua wins 4-1
Sept. 24 Miami Wolves FC (Fla.) vs. Miami Nacional SC (Fla.) N/A N/A Miami Nacional advance via forfeit
Sept. 24 Leu Blacks FC (Fla.) vs. FC Kendall (Fla.) 8 p.m. Amelia Earhart Park Field 5; Hialeah, Fla  FC Kendall wins 11-0

First Round Bye: Cajun Soccer Club (La.), Nashville United (Tenn.)

Mountain Region

Date Game (home team listed first) Time Venue
Sept. 23 Gam United FC (Colo.) vs. FC Denver (Colo.) 6:30 p.m. Aurora Public Schools Stadium; Aurora, Colo. FC Denver wins 3-0
Sept. 23 Azteca FC (Colo.) vs. Denver Metro FC (Colo.) 9 p.m. Aurora Public Schools Stadium; Aurora, Colo.  Azteca wins 2-0
Sept. 23 Chiapas FC (Ariz.) vs. Inter EmpireWorks FC (Ariz.) 10 p.m. Desert West Sports Complex – Field 1; Phoenix, Ariz. Inter wins 9-0
Sept. 23 Ojuelos Jalisco (Ariz.) vs. ALLSTARS SC (Ariz.) 10 p.m. Desert West Sports Complex – Synthetic Field; Phoenix, Ariz. Ojuelos Jalisco wins 4-0
Sept. 24 FC Boulder (Colo.) vs. Harpo’s FC (Colo.) 5 p.m. Fairview High School; Boulder, Colo.  Harpo’s advance 6-5 in PKs (2-2 draw)
Sept. 24 Colorado Springs FC (Colo.) vs. Colorado Rovers (Colo.) 6:30 p.m. Grace Center for Athletics; Colorado Springs, Colo. Colorado Springs win 2-0
Sept. 24 Indios Denver FC (Colo.) vs. FC Union Jerez (Colo.) 5:45 p.m. Englewood High School Stadium; Englewood, Colo. Indios Denver win 6-2
Sept. 24 Colorado Rush (Colo.) vs. Club El Azul (Colo.) 7 p.m. Shea Stadium; Highlands Ranch, Colo. Colorado wins 2-1 (AET)
Sept. 24 Fort Collins United (Colo.) vs. FC Greeley (Colo.) 8 p.m. Loveland Sports Park; Loveland, Colo. Fort Collins wins 5-1

First Round Bye: Galati FC (Ariz.), Sporting AZ FC (Ariz.)

Pacific Region

Date Game (home team listed first) Time Venue
Sept. 23 Davis Legacy SC (Calif.) vs. Western Nevada Futbol Club (Nev.) 8 p.m. Davis Legacy Soccer Complex; Davis, Calif.  Davis wins 2-0
Sept. 23 Valley United SC (Calif.) vs. Los Angeles SC (Calif.) 8:30 p.m. Heritage High School; North Hills, Calif. Valley United SC advances via forfeit
Sept. 23 Academica Soccer Club (Calif.) vs. Oakland Pamperos (Calif.) 10 p.m. Academica Fields; Turlock, Calif. Academica wins 1-0
Sept. 23 Dynamos FC (Calif.) vs. El Farolito (Calif.) 10 p.m. Dougherty Valley High School; San Ramon, Calif. El Farolito wins 3-0
Sept. 23 Las Vegas Mobsters FC (Nev.) vs. Pacific Side FC (Calif.) 10 p.m. Kellogg-Zaher Soccer Complex; Las Vegas, Nev. Las Vegas wins 3-2
Sept. 23 Santa Ana Winds FC (Calif.) vs. Outbreak FC (Calif.) 10 p.m. Lake Forest Sports Park; Lake Forest, Calif. Santa Ana wins 5-2
Sept. 23 IPS/Marathon Taverna (Ore.) vs. Boise FC Cutthroats (Idaho) 10 p.m. Rob Strasser Memorial Field; Portland, Ore. IPS wins 3-2 (AET)
Sept. 24 San Pedro Monsters FC (Calif.) vs. Fontana International SC (Calif.) 9:30 p.m. Banning H.S. Soccer Stadium; Wilmington, Calif. San Pedro wins 4-0
Sept. 23 Bell Gardens FC (Calif.) vs. La Máquina FC (Calif.) 10:30 p.m. John Anson Ford Park; Bell Gardens, Calif.  La Maquina wins 5-0
Sept. 23 Real San Jose (Calif.) vs. Cal Victory FC (Calif.) 10:30 p.m. PAL Stadium; San Jose, Calif. Cal wins 3-2
Sept. 23 Vanquish FC (Calif.) vs. C.F. Cachorros USA (Calif.) 11 p.m. Great Park, Main Stadium; Irvine, Calif. Vanquish wins 3-2 (AET)
Sept. 24 UFA Hawks L.A. (Calif.) vs. Santa Clarita Storm (Calif.) 8:10 p.m. Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles, CA Santa Clarita wins 5-0
Sept. 24 Buena Park FC (Calif.) vs. Newport FC (Calif.) 6 p.m. John F. Kennedy High School; La Palma, Calif. Buena Park wins 3-0
Sept. 24 SFV Scorpions (Calif.) vs. AC Brea Steaua United (Calif.) 7 p.m. Alemany High School; Mission Hills, Calif. SFV wins 3-1
Sept. 24 Newcastle United FC (Calif.) vs. Del Rey City SC (Calif.) 8 p.m. SilverLakes Sports Complex; Norco, Calif. Newcastle wins 13-0
Sept. 24 Strikers FC South Coast (Calif.) vs. Chula Vista FC (Calif.) 10 p.m. Lake Forest Sports Park; Lake Forest, Calif. Chula Vista wins 5-1
Sept. 24 L.A. Wolves FC (Calif.) vs. Real Sociedad Royals (Calif.) 10:30 p.m. John Anson Ford Park; Bell Gardens, Calif. LA wins 6-1

Second Qualifying Round: Oct. 21-22
Third Qualifying Round: Nov. 18-19

2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

Open Division Teams Entering via the Local Qualifying Track

Listed by State and League (Sanctioning Body) Affiliation

Arizona (6 teams) 
Arizona Champions League (Arizona State Soccer Assn./USASA)
ALLSTARS SC; Phoenix, Ariz.
Chiapas FC; Phoenix, Ariz.
Galati FC; Phoenix, Ariz.
Ojuelos Jalisco; Phoenix, Ariz.

United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
Inter EmpireWorks FC; Scottsdale, Ariz.
Sporting AZ FC; Scottsdale, Ariz.

California (30) 
LIGA NorCal (US Club Soccer) 
Academica Soccer Club; Turlock, Calif.
Davis Legacy; Davis, Calif.

Los Angeles Municipal League (Calif. State Soccer Assn.-South/USASA) 
Los Angeles SC; Agoura Hills, Calif.

San Francisco Soccer Football League (Calif. Soccer Assn.-North/USASA) 
El Farolito*; San Francisco, Calif.

SoCal Premier League (Calif. State Soccer Assn.-South/USASA)
AC Brea Steaua United; Brea, Calif.
Buena Park FC; La Palma, Calif.
Chula Vista FC*; Chula Vista, Calif.
Outbreak FC*; Long Beach, Calif.
Real Sociedad Royals; Bellflower, Calif.
San Pedro Monsters FC; Wilmington, Calif.

United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
Bell Gardens FC; Bell Gardens, Calif.
C.F. Cachorros USA; Santa Ana, Calif.
Cal Victory FC; Petaluma, Calif.
Del Rey City SC; Culver City, Calif.
Dynamos FC; San Ramon, Calif.
Fontana International Soccer Club; Fontana, Calif.
L.A. Wolves FC*; Bell Gardens, Calif.
La Máquina*; Santa Ana, Calif.
Newcastle United FC; Norco, Calif.
Newport FC; Newport Beach, Calif.
Oakland Pamperos; Oakland, Calif.
Pacific Side FC; Bakersfield, Calif.
Real San Jose; San Jose, Calif.
Santa Ana Winds FC; Lake Forest, Calif.
Santa Clarita Storm; Santa Clarita, Calif.
SFV Scorpions; Mission Hills, Calif.
Strikers FC South Coast; Lake Forest, Calif.
UFA Hawks L.A.; Los Angeles, Calif.
Valley United SC; North Hills, Calif.
Vanquish FC; Irvine, Calif.

Colorado (14) 
Colorado Premier League (U.S. Specialty Sports Assn.)
Azteca FC*; Aurora, Colo.
Colorado Rovers; Broomfield, Colo.
FC Denver; Aurora, Colo.
FC Union Jerez; Broomfield, Colo.
Harpo’s FC; Commerce City, Colo.

United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
Club El Azul; Westminster, Colo.
Colorado Rush*; Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Colorado Springs FC; Colorado Springs, Colo.
Denver Metro FC; Englewood, Colo.
FC Boulder; Boulder, Colo.
FC Greeley; Greeley, Colo.
Fort Collins United; Loveland, Colo.
Gam United FC; Aurora, Colo.
Indios Denver FC; Englewood, Colo.

Connecticut (1) 
Connecticut Soccer League (Conn. State Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Newtown Pride FC; Newtown, Conn.

Florida (12) 
American Premier Soccer League (Florida State Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Boca Raton Football Club*; Pembroke Pines, Fla.
FC Kendall; Miami, Fla.
Hurricane FC; Delray Beach, Fla.
InterUnited AC; Davenport, Fla.
Miami United FC U23; Miami, Fla.
Red Force FC*; Miami, Fla.
South Florida FC; Cooper City, Fla.

Central Florida Soccer League (Florida State Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Orlando Storm; Orlando, Fla.

National Soccer League (U.S. Specialty Sports Assn.)
Miami Nacional SC; Miami Gardens, Fla.

United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
FC Ginga; Miami Shores, Fla.
Leu Blacks FC; Miami, Fla.
Miami Wolves FC; Miami Beach, Fla.

Georgia (1) 
Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League (Georgia State Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Majestic Soccer Club; Atlanta, Ga.

Idaho (1) 
United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
Boise FC Cutthroats; Boise, Idaho

Illinois (1) 
Premier League of America (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.) 
Aurora Borealis Soccer Club; Mooseheart, Ill.

Kansas (1) 
Kansas City Kansas Soccer League (Kansas State Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Santa Fe Wanderers KC; Olathe, Kan.

Louisiana (2) 
Gulf Coast Premier League (Louisiana Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Cajun Soccer Club; Lafayette, La.
Motagua New Orleans; New Orleans, La.

Maryland (4) 
Maryland Major Soccer League (Md. State Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Christos FC*; Elkridge, Md.
Izee Auto FC; Baltimore, Md.
NLS Graduates; Baltimore, Md.

Washington Premier League (Md. State Soccer Assn./USASA)
Aegean Hawks FC; Boyds, Md.

Massachusetts (8) 
American Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.) 
Mass United FC; Sommerville, Mass.

Bay State Soccer League (Mass. Adult State Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Global Premier Soccer (GPS) Omens*; Boston, Mass.
Kendall Wanderers; Cambridge, Mass.
Southie FC; Medford, Mass.
Unations FC; Worcester, Mass.

New England Over-The-Hill Soccer League (Mass. Adult State Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Safira FC; Sommerville, Mass.

United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
Boston Siege FC; Boston, Mass.
Lynn United; Lynn, Mass.

Michigan (2) 
Ann Arbor Premier Development League (Michigan Soccer Association/USASA) 
Ann Arbor FC; Ann Arbor, Mich.

Premier League of America (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
Carpathia FC; Auburn Hills, Mich.

Minnesota (1) 
Minnesota Amateur Soccer League (Minnesota Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Stegman’s Soccer Club; Minneapolis, Minn.

Mississippi (1) 
Gulf Coast Premier League (Louisiana Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Gaffa FC; Ridgeland, Miss.

Nevada (2) 
United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
Las Vegas Mobsters FC; Las Vegas, Nev.
Western Nevada Futbol Club; Sparks, Nev.

New Jersey (1) 
Garden State Soccer League (New Jersey Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Jackson Lions FC; Jackson, N.J.

New York (3) 
Cosmopolitan Soccer League (Eastern New Youth State Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Lansdowne Bhoys FC; Yonkers, N.Y.
New York Pancyprian Freedoms^; Jamaica, N.Y.

Rochester District Soccer League (Western New Youth Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Rochester River Dogz; Spencerport, N.Y.

Oregon (1) 
Oregon Premier Soccer League (Oregon Adult Soccer Assn./USASA) 
International Portland Select (IPS)/Marathon Taverna; Portland, Ore.

Pennsylvania (9) 
Greater Pittsburgh Soccer League (Pa. West Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Tartan Devils Oak Avalon*; Pittsburgh, Pa.

Philadelphia Premier Soccer League (Eastern Pa. Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Junior Lone Star FC*; Drexel Hill, Pa.
Junior Lone Star U23s; Drexel Hill, Pa.
Salone FC; Drexel Hill, Pa.
Upper Darby FC; Drexel Hill, Pa.

United Soccer League of Pennsylvania (Eastern Pa. Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Phoenix Soccer Club; Trevose, Pa.
United German Hungarians; Oakford, Pa.
Vereinigung Erzgebirge; Warminster, Pa.
West Chester United; West Chester, Pa.

South Carolina (1) 
Charleston Soccer League (South Carolina Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Lowcountry United; Charleston, S.C.

Tennessee (1) 
Middle Tennessee Soccer Alliance (Tennessee State Soccer Assn./USASA) 
Nashville United; Nashville, Tenn.

Texas (4) 
Austin Men’s Soccer Association (U.S. Specialty Sports Assn.) 
Celtic Cowboys Premier; Austin, Texas
Central Texas Lobos; Kyle, Texas

North Texas Premier Soccer Association (North Texas Soccer Assn./USASA) 
NTX Rayados*; Balch Springs, Texas

Texas Premier League (US Club Soccer)
Austin Real Cuauhtemoc; Georgetown, Texas

Wisconsin (1) 
Wisconsin Soccer League (Wisconsin Soccer Leagues/USASA) 
United Serbian Soccer Club; Milwaukee, Wis.

* Advanced to 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
^ Three-time U.S. Open Cup Champion (1980, 1982-83)

 

2017 US Open Cup Round 2: Phil Saunders of Christos FC named TheCup.us Player of the Round

by

Phil Saunders of Christos FC makes one of his seven saves in a 1-0 road win over the Richmond Kickers. Photo: Jessica Hendricks | Richmond Kickers
Phil Saunders of Christos FC makes one of his seven saves in a 1-0 road win over the Richmond Kickers. Photo: Jessica Hendricks | Richmond Kickers

To casual soccer fans, the 2017 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup run of Christos FC may seem like an interesting anomaly for the Baltimore amateur side. But for Phil Saunders, TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Second Round, it says a lot about where he grew up and learned to play.

“I feel we’ve always had a lot of talent coming out of Baltimore, but we have a tough time getting seen, or getting opportunities,” said Saunders. “I think it’s shown the talent that’s coming out of this city.”

Saunders was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round for his performance against the USL’s Richmond Kickers, where he made seven saves and notched a shutout to carry his side to a 1-0 victory and a trip to the next round. Other players who received strong consideration were Charlotte Independence’s Enzo Martinez and Jose Angulo of Saint Louis FC.

TheCup.us Player of the Round is voted on by TheCup.us staff, and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters. With Christos FC forward Pete Caringi III winning last round, this marks just the fourth time since 2006 that a team has won back-to-back awards prior to the Semifinals. (Cal FC, 2012 / Seattle Sounders, 2007 / Dallas Roma FC, 2006)

Saunders started making waves long before 2017 in his hometown where he was an award-winning field player before racking up an NCAA semifinal appearance and championships in the Under-19 Maguire Cup, the amateur national championship and the Amateur Open Cup.

In high school, his Perry Hall team played in the state finals his junior year with him between the sticks. By his senior year, Saunders had already committed to play for the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) when he graduated.

MORE >> 2017 Meet the Underdogs: After 20 years, amateur power Christos FC makes US Open Cup debut

“The other was Zach Kane who ended up going to Loyola , so we ended up having two Division I keepers at Perry Hall. I played the field growing up, so I said I’d be willing to play center back my senior year … and ended up getting All-State center back.”

The success continued for Saunders after high school. After his freshman year at UMBC, he rejoined his teammates on the Baltimore Bays for the Maguire Cup Under-19 US Youth Soccer National Championships. Saunders talked about that experience casually, saying simply “when we were 19, we got the team together and ended up winning nationals. So that was pretty cool.” He humbly doesn’t mention that he was awarded the Golden Glove award for his performance in the tournament.

His success continued in college, as UMBC topped the America East table in 2012 and 2013, and won three successive tournament titles from 2012 and 2014, moving on to the NCAA tournament each time. During their first two trips, the Retrievers fell in penalty kicks in the Second Round – first to Virginia, then to UConn. In 2014, though, the team thrilled tournament watchers with a run to the Semifinals, during which they took the scalps of a Who’s Who of college soccer powerhouses – Wake Forest, Maryland, Louisville, and Creighton – before falling to Virginia.

“I had a great career at UMBC,” said Saunders. “The coaching staff was great and they do everything for you.”

MORE >> 2017 US Open Cup Round 2: Caltabiano’s late heroics propel Christos FC to upset of Richmond Kickers

That’s when things got interesting for Saunders.

“Post-college, I didn’t get picked up by any MLS team, and I didn’t know a whole lot about going pro. But my dad’s from England, so I had dual citizenship,” said Saunders.

He ended up having a tryout with Crewe Alexandra in League One, but didn’t get an offer.

“I went to a few combines, and then I went to the Atlanta combine for Soccer Viza, and had few offers from a couple different countries,” Saunders explained. “Joe Funicello sort of took me under his wing and I had a trial in Iceland and it went well. I ended up playing there in the second half of the 2014 season.”

His team in Iceland, Bi/Bolungarvik, signed him again for 2015.

Phil Saunders of Christos FC made seven saves in a 1-0 road win over the Richmond Kickers (USL). Photo: Jessica Hendricks | Richmond Kickers
Phil Saunders of Christos FC made seven saves in a 1-0 road win over the Richmond Kickers (USL). Photo: Jessica Hendricks | Richmond Kickers

“It was a great experience, the level’s really good,” said Saunders. “We had ex-Premier League players on our team, guys from Scotland, England, France, they’re kind of from all over … It’s a summer season, it’s about 5 or 6 months long. There’s a winter league, but a lot of the international guys go home.”

The Icelandic First Division was pretty different from Baltimore, though.

“The practice field is right up next to the side of a mountain. The views were insane,” Saunders described. “It was definitely an awesome experience living there for two years. There’s only about 2,000 people in the town. I think there’s only about 300,000 people in Iceland overall, and most of them are in Reykjavik.”

Injuries that Saunders picked up in Iceland and while playing for the MISL’s Baltimore Blast convinced him to retire after the 2015 season. That’s when he decided to join Christos FC (the team is named after their main sponsor, a Baltimore County liquor store).

MORE >> Christos FC reaches Third Round of US Open Cup but why are they asking you for money?

“All the guys either played for the Bays or other teams in the area, like DC United Academy, or University of Maryland, UMBC, Towson,” said Saunders, who is also the head coach of the Community College of Baltimore County in Catonsville, Md.

In fact, some, such as Pete Caringi III, Levi Houapeu, and Mamadou Kansaye, flirted with MLS or USL. But the coaches at Christos kept tabs on Saunders, and “they said if I was done playing pro I could just come over.”

He adds matter-of-factly, “last year we won the amateur nationals and Amateur Open Cup nationals. Winning two national championships in a year was cool.” To Saunders, winning is almost secondary to the team experience, saying “it’s like a family. We all call each other ‘brother.’”

Phil Saunders of Christos FC made seven saves in a 1-0 road win over the Richmond Kickers (USL). Photo: Jessica Hendricks | Richmond Kickers
Phil Saunders of Christos FC made seven saves in a 1-0 road win over the Richmond Kickers (USL). Photo: Jessica Hendricks | Richmond Kickers

Coach Andrew Dicea doesn’t mince words when he talks about Saunders’ important role on the team.

“Phil’s like the heart and soul,” said Dicea. “He’s saved our behinds on many occasions. He’s the backbone of our defense. He’s the leader, and he was with us from Day 1.”

Phil showed that in the game against Richmond, but he almost focusses more on the experience the team had on the road.

“First of all, it was a great experience. We met up at a Park and Ride and took a van down,” Saunders explained. “There’s no pressure on us, there’s no reason for us to be beating a pro team, so we just had a good time driving down. We had the same 20-minute warmup we always do. It was definitely one of the coolest things I’ve had in my soccer career, just going down there with a bunch of buddies and beating a pro team. It was a really, really cool experience.”

MORE >> 2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Peter Caringi’s hat trick delivers Christos FC its first US Open Cup victory

Coach Dicea saw the game a little differently.

“We were up 1-0 and they started throwing the kitchen sink at us. made a save on an upper 90 shot that he pushed out for a corner kick – there aren’t many people who are amateur who could do what he does. ”

Saunders did mention one unusual aspect of the Kickers game, that made Christos’ defensive effort even more impressive.

“The other crazy thing is that we didn’t even have two true center backs. One of them had a bad head injury a couple weeks ago. And the other guy had work. So we had a couple holding midfielders playing center back, but they did great in front of me.”

Coach Dicea has started thinking about their opponents in the Third Round, Chicago FC United (PDL).

“They beat the Riverhounds, that’s a feat in itself,” Dicea said. “It’s gonna be a tough match, but if we go out there and play our game we can beat anybody. If we go out there and play their game, from what I’ve seen on YouTube, they could put a waxing on us.”

“We’re flying out on a Tuesday,” Saunders said of the upcoming match Third Round match against Chicago FC United. “It should be another awesome experience going out there with the guys… We know if we go out there and play like we can play, we give ourselves a chance to win the game. I don’t think anything really changes. It’s not like we’re starting to practice or anything. It’s just the same old Christos.”

MORE >> 2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Pete Caringi of Christos FC spaces out hat trick to earn TheCup.us Player of the Round

Still, this Baltimore team is quietly seeking to make a point. Jody Haislip, the founder and general manager of Christos, mentions the fact that Baltimore lacks a pro team, though he is holding out hope for a USL team in the near future.

“Each of these guys if they were in the right situation … would be able to play in USL or NASL,” said Haislip. “We need that rumor to become true and get a USL team here in Baltimore. That would help these local guys out.”

Saunders is understated when asked about the team’s prospects, but is embracing the club’s underdog mentality.

“It’s a great tournament,” he said. “We’re just staying humble, keeping that chip on our shoulder, and seeing where the ride takes us.”

2017 Meet the Underdogs: FC Motown went from coed team to US Open Cup in four years

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FC Motown pose for a team photo before a match against Lansdowne Bhoys on Oct. 17, 2016. Photo: FC Motown
FC Motown pose for a team photo before a match against Lansdowne Bhoys on Oct. 17, 2016. Photo: FC Motown

In four short years, New Jersey’s FC Motown went from co-ed team to a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The New Jersey club’s meteoric rise began in 2012 and its success has been a surprise. Even to themselves.

Even FC Motown co-founders Scott Kindzierski and Dan Karosen didn’t imagine this when they started the team in Morristown, N.J., the town where they both went to high school.

“The two of us are real competitive guys, having played collegiately, and we wanted to put a team together and have control over and just see what we could do,” said Kindzierski. “The vision at the time was just to get guys who played in college and give them an avenue to play soccer after their college careers had ended.”

The team proved to be successful, making a deep run in the 2016 USASA Cup, but they followed a somewhat unorthodox path. Forget the images of players training long, lonely hours together long after dark.

“At the time we weren’t having trainings, we just showed up on game day,” said Kindzierski.

Things changed during that run and after the season.

FC Motown logo“We took the approach that training was gonna be an integral part not only of the success of our team but the success of the players so they can be ready when their numbers are called,” said Kindzierski. “It’s really payed dividends this year and we’ve taken it to another level, and we’ve allowed guys to be ready and get signed to USL contracts. Now we’re playing 3-4 nights a week.”

The team has higher ambitions now.

“We are in negotiations to take over a smaller youth club of about 10 teams,” said Kindzierski. “We want to try to team up with a MLS team to be a feeder system for them and be in the USL or affiliated with a USL club. We have some good connections with New York City FC. is something that they don’t have right now, so we brought that to the table, but it’s something that we envision.”

That ambition and effort has paid off in their USOC qualifying run, which was not without wrinkles, like a rare no-show by the four-time US Open Cup champion Greek American SC from New York City’s Cosmopolitan League.

“ had 3-4 players show up the day of the game and I got a call 15 minutes before game time saying they weren’t gonna have enough guys show up for the game,” said Kindzierski. “I think they were having problems with their roster but it’s such a great tradition with that team. They’ve won it before.”

Training with Mehdi BallouchyThat forfeit did little to prepare FC Motown for their next challenge, against the Landsdowne Bhoys, also in the Cosmopolitan League.

“It’s a New York – New Jersey rivalry first of all. And the Cosmopolitan league is a very physical league,” said Kindzierski. “We’re more of a finesse type of team with a lot of Latin and South American players.”

A quick start put FC Motown ahead 2-0, but that didn’t last as the Bhoys broke the shutout before the end of the first half. With about two minutes to go, the Bhoys converted a penalty kick to tie the score.

“It was pretty deflating for our guys, and if it had gone into overtime I don’t think we would have won it. But we had a set piece with about a minute into extra time, and we scored. Literally right after they kicked off again, the whistle blew. They didn’t expect that, especially after their big run last year.”

Kindzierski attributes a big part of their success to their coach, Sacir Hot, a former New York Red Bulls and US youth international who joined FC Motown as a player-coach.

“That was the hardest thing at first,” said Kindzierski. “He didn’t want to go the pro route anymore. He was the third homegrown player for the Red Bulls, played on the first team, trained on Borussia Dortmund, so he has a really high pedigree. So he started coaching for us as a player manager and he said it was just too hard to coach and play at the same time, so he decided to give up his playing career and coach full time.”

Hot brought with him not only a professional mindset, but an impressive Rolodex.

“He’s gotten us some very good players as well because he’s really hooked into the soccer world,” said Kindzierski. “It’s been a who’s who of players who’ve come to trainings – we’ve had Mehdi Bellouchy, Giuseppe Rossi came and trained with us when he was home, Matt Miazga, so it’s a who’s who.”

The team has already produced professional players from its ranks, like Cristiano Francois, who signed with D.C. United in 2014 and now plays with the Rochester Rhinos of the USL.

“Cristiano Francois has a great pedigree. He has one of the highest workrates I’ve ever seen. He played on the Haitian National team, he played in the CONCACAF Cup last year.”

The team still has talent without Francois.

“Marcus Hackett is probably our most dynamic player. He used to play football and could have gone to Division I if he was a little bit bigger,” said Kindzierski. “He’s probably our best athlete. He went to William Patterson and was the player of the year there, he was an All-American there for four years.

“We have another dynamic player, Andres Barriel, he’s a difference maker who can give a USL team trouble with his style of play. He’s a very unique player. He’s got a lot of speed and he’s a magician on the ball.”

The team enters US Open Cup play red hot in the Garden State Soccer League. The Celtics are currently 12-0 heading into Wednesday’s match against New Jersey Copa FC (NPSL).

What does Kindzierski expect from his club in its Open Cup debut?

“We’ve got a good chance. We started training in January. I think we’ll be training as much as USL teams. I think we’re as talented as any USL team out there, it’s just a matter of executing our game plan and scoring our goals. But we have a fighting chance against all of them and hopefully it’ll be our day.”

2016 US Open Cup Round 3: Wilmington Hammerheads strike early, hold off Miami FC, 2-1

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Justin Moose of the Wilmington Hammerheads scored what would prove to be the game-winner against Miami FC in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Miami FC- Orovio Photography
Justin Moose of the Wilmington Hammerheads scored what would prove to be the game-winner against Miami FC in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Miami FC- Orovio Photography

Playing at home in their ninth competitive match, Miami FC fell by a 2-1 score to the USL Wilmington Hammerheads. Miami (1-3-4 in the NASL) hoped to build on Saturday’s first-ever franchise win over FC Edmonton, but the Hammerheads, coming off of their own 3-1 victory against Toronto FC II, ended up notching their second in a row instead.

The Hammerheads (3-4-3 in USL play) came ready for action and took the lead in the 2nd minute when Michael Lahoud of Miami FC coughed up the ball to Mathew Barnes-Homer in central midfield 35 yards from his own goal. Homer found the feet of Jeff Michaud, and with no pressure on the ball from Miami, the midfielder trapped the ball and took a touch to his right, into the center of the Miami defense. He lashed a dipping right-footed shot from 25 yards out to the near post, beating Miami keeper David Sierra for the lead, silencing the faint cheers from the stands of the Florida International University stadium.

The sparse home crowd soon fell into an even deeper funk. A normally harmless Wilmington throw-in taken inside the visitor’s own half, was tipped back by Miami’s Hugo Leroux, straight into the path of a charging Justin Moose on the left side of the Miami defense. The midfielder drove in diagonally from the touchline, battling off a Miami FC challenge. Moose found himself loose in the Miami box. Sierra rushed unafraid into the path of the charging Moose, only to see the Hammerhead’s shot from 12 yards out sail low to his right and inside his far post.

Punch-drunk, Miami only recorded one shot on goal during the first half, and only began to string together passes in the midfield with five minutes remaining until the break.

At halftime, Miami made two changes. Jaime Chavez came in for Dane Richards, and Dario Cvitanich entered for Pablo Campos.

The newcomers made a significant impact on the game. Cvitanich initiated the most dangerous offensive movements for Miami in the second half, and Chavez was on the end of many of them.

Miami’s Martinez saw his low 25 yard drive in the 49th minute deflected to the left of the Wilmington goal by Eric Ati. Less than a minute later, Chavez found himself pursuing a chipped ball into the box, and barely missed to the same side with a looping ball over the keeper’s outstretched arms.

In the 52nd minute the Floridians broke through on a long ball from defender Adailton from 10 yards inside his own half. The ball arced over the center of the Wilmington backline and into the path of Chavez, who took the ball 30 yards away from the Wilmington goal. He took a shot from about 16 yards out, the ball flew over the keeper’s hips as he dove towards his near post.

Miami continued to press, and were dominating the game. In the 64th minute, Wilmington’s Tom Parrat charged into the outstretched leg of Cvitanich to draw the game’s first yellow card. Miami’s Lahoud followed with his own when he dropped a streaking Austin Martz before the Hammerhead could escape his own half on a breakaway.

Miami had a golden chance to tie the score in the 79th minute when Cvitanich’s chipped pass in to the box found Chavez, who was caught by Eric Ati after he tipped ball over the keeper’s right shoulder and towards the far post. Ati felled Chavez, and the referee decided that Ati should receive a yellow card and Miami a penalty kick.

Cvitanich took the kick, cooly driving it with his right foot to the keeper’s right post. Ati read the kicker’s intentions and dove with conviction, parrying the kick harmlessly past his post.

Miami seemed deflated after the setback, and lost their patience during the rest of regular time. In the 88th minute Adailton drew his own yellow for tripping a Wilmington player on his way into the Miami half.

With the win, Wilmington secures their first win over a Division 2 team in regulation since 2006.

Miami registered one more shot on goal during four minutes of added time, but it was a weak toe poke by Chavez that Ati collected easily.

Wilmington will go on to the next round where they face MLS side Real Salt Lake.

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