Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Gerald Barnhart

UPDATED: US Open Cup Third Round Pairings Unveiled: 11 MLS clubs could travel for Round 3; 2 PDL clubs with shot to host

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UPDATES:
* The Atlanta Silverbacks/Seattle Sounders match, originally scheduled for Atlanta on May 30, has been moved to Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. (also on May 30).
*The potential Wilmington Hammerheads/Portland Timbers match has been moved from Wilmington to Portland and the date has changed to May 30, meaning the Timbers are guaranteed a home game in Round 3.
*The potential match between the New England Revolution and the Harrisburg City Islanders has been moved from Hersheypark Stadium to Skyline Soccer Complex in Harrsiburg.
*The Second Round match between the Ventura County Fusion and the Los Angeles Blues has been moved to Fullerton College.
* The Minnesota Stars’ home game against Real Salt Lake will now be hosted by RSL due to an arrangement made between the two teams.

The United States Soccer Federation announced the pairings and host scenarios Wednesday afternoon for the Third Round of the US Open Cup, featuring the entrance of the Major League Soccer clubs into the event. A dozen lower division clubs will have the opportunity to host an MLS club with a victory in the Second Round May 22, including the amateur USL Premier Development League sides Laredo Heat and Michigan Bucks.

Only five MLS participants are guaranteed a home fixture for the Third Round with Sporting Kansas City, Columbus Crew, FC Dallas, San Jose Earthquakes and Philadelphia Union welcoming Second Round winners.

The Houston Dynamo, who just opened the brand new BBVA Compass Stadium are the only club that will have to travel, though the trip will stay within Texas as they were paired with the Heat and expansion North American Soccer League San Antonio Scorpions.

Five NASL clubs and five members of USL Pro will have an opportunity to host an MLS team if they prevail.

Travel-wise, there are several pairings that could see extensive miles logged. Among them are Orlando City to Kansas City; Charlotte to Dallas; Fort Lauderdale to San Jose; Los Angeles Galaxy to Carolina; Colorado to Tampa Bay; and Seattle to Atlanta.

TheCup.us US Open Cup Bracket |  Details on Hosting Selection Process

LAMAR HUNT US OPEN CUP SECOND ROUND – Tuesday, May 22

Michigan Bucks (PDL) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO)
Chartiers Valley Stadium; Bridgeville, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET

Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO)
Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET

Cal FC (USASA) at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO)
Legion Sports Park; Wilmington, N.C.; 7 p.m. ET

Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Jacksonville United (NPSL)
Patton Park; Jacksonville, Fla.; 7 p.m. ET

Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Chicago Fire PDL (PDL)
Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill.; 7 p.m. ET

PSA Elite (USASA) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET

Fresno Fuego (PDL) at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL)
Lockhart Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET

KC Athletics (USASA) at Orlando City SC (USL PRO)
Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Reading United AC (PDL) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO)
Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA)
Maryland SoccerPlex Stadium; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Georgia Revolution (NPSL)
RYSA Soccerplex; Conyers, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) at Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO)
Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.; 7:35 p.m. ET

Ventura County Fusion (PDL) at Los Angeles Blues (USL PRO)
Hal Shurbeck Field, Fullerton College; Fullerton, Calif.; 8 p.m. ET

Laredo Heat (PDL) at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL)
Blossom Athletic Center; San Antonio, Texas; 8:30 p.m. ET

Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Des Moines Menace (PDL)
Valley Stadium; Des Moines, Iowa; 8:30 p.m. ET

Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at El Paso Patriots (PDL)
Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas; 10 p.m. ET

LAMAR HUNT US OPEN CUP THIRD ROUND – May 29 (except where noted)

Houston Dynamo (MLS) at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL): Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT
Chicago Fire (MLS) at Michigan Bucks (PDL): Ultimate Soccer; Pontiac, Mich.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Orlando City (USL PRO) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS): LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.; 7:30 p.m. CT
D.C. United (MLS) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO): Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; 7 p.m. ET
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Columbus Crew (MLS): Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio; 7:30 p.m. ET
Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at FC Dallas (MLS): FC Dallas Stadium; Frisco, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT
Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS): Cagan Stadium, Stanford University; Stanford, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT
Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) at Philadelphia Union (MLS): PPL Park; Chester, Pa.; 7:30 p.m. ET
New England Revolution (MLS) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO): Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET
New York Red Bulls (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO): Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Chivas USA (MLS) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL); TBD; Time TBD
Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL): WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET
Colorado Rapids (MLS) at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL): Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Cal FC (USASA) at Portland Timbers (MLS): JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.; 7:30 p.m. PT – May 30
Seattle Sounders (MLS) at Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL): Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.; 7 p.m. PT – May 30
Real Salt Lake (MLS) at Minnesota Stars FC (NASL): National Sports Center; Blaine, Minn.; 7:30 p.m. CT

TheCup.us Player of the Round: Cal FC’s Danny Barrera downs PDL champs to earn Round 1 honor

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Danny Barrera scored two in the First Round | Photo: PSA Elite

The 22-year-old Danny Barrera may be looking for a second chance. There is probably no better place to look for an example than the very team his two goals helped beat in the First Round, earning him TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for Cal FC’s 3-1 road win against the reigning PDL champion Kitsap Pumas.

The Player of the Round award is voted on by the staff of the definitive US Open Cup site TheCup.us and a select panel of members of the North American Soccer Reporters, which also selects the MLS Player of the Week.

Barrera scored the club’s first two goals in the contest, firing a low shot that the goalkeeper was unable to handle and ended up putting it into his own net trying to collect it. This gave the visitors the advantage a minute before the break.. The second goal came in the 66th minute when he twisted past a defender to double the advantage with what proved to be the game-winner.

Over the last five years Barrera has flirted with breaking through to the next level, playing for the United States at the 2007 Pan-American Games as well as briefly being a member of the U17 and U18 National Teams in the residency program. After finishing school at UC Santa Barbara, where he helped the Gauchos win the 2006 NCAA title, he went to Europe, signing with Serbian first division club FK Spartak Zlatibor Voda.

After playing in just one game, however, Barrera is looking for a second chance via a club built in the past year by former US National Team star Eric Wynalda, a team made for unknown players needing to be seen or players who deserve a second chance.

One great story of getting a second chance this past year, which actually made headlines these past few weeks, came through Kitsap, a team Barrera knows well. As a member of the PDL Ventura County Fusion, he helped lead the California club to the league championship in 2009 with a 2-1 win over the Pumas in the conference final, tallying an assist on the opening goal in the match held in Laredo, Texas.

That story is of goalkeeper Bryan Meredith, who stayed in the Seattle area after being drafted by the Sounders but going unsigned. He guided Kitsap to the PDL championship with an 11-1-3 record, nine shutouts and .535 goals-against average in goal. When the Sounders lost a back-up to injury last year, they added Meredith to the squad. He proved himself in training and at the beginning of the month when starter Michael Gspurning came out at halftime with a hip injury, Meredith made his MLS debut to finish the match for a shutout win against the Los Angeles Galaxy. He then went on to shutout Philadelphia and Dallas in the next two games.

With three professional clubs in the greater Los Angeles area and the contacts of Eric Wynalda, it not unreasonable to think a similar opportunity is within reach for Barrera.

HIGHLIGHTS: Cal FC vs. Kitsap Pumas

2012 US Open Cup First Round: El Paso Patriots down North Texas Rayados, 3-1, to advance

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El Paso Patriots News Release

Naoyas Aizawa sandwiched an assist between two goals, and while it wasn’t quite a feast for the El Paso Patriots, a 3-1 win over the North Texas Rayados was satisfying enough to whet their appetite for more in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

They’ll get all they can handle next Tuesday, May 22nd, when the Charlotte Eagles of the USL Pro division come calling.

Until then, Patriots’ fans can feel satisfied after watching Aizawa and fellow forwards David Salas and Michael Griego take bite after bite of the North Texas defense.

If there was disappointment, it was in squandered opportunities for more offense. Consistent in possession and dominant in midfield, El Paso found itself on the Rayados’ doorstep time-after-time Tuesday night, only to be turned away by the solid goalkeeping of Raul Herrera or by its own errant shots.

Griego has only been able to practice with the team twice, once again donning his hometown side’s jersey after completing the season as coach of his own young club team. The rust showed at times Tuesday night, but so did the solid positioning and passing.

Perhaps it was head coach Hugo Samano’s decision to go at North Texas with a 3-4-3 lineup, but it always seems El Paso’s offensive anemia is cured by the transfusion Griego brings. A team that scored only twice in its first two Premier Development League games suddenly scores three times.

It has been the same the last few years, as well.

Aizawa had a lot to do with the end result Tuesday, but Griego’s presence as a holding forward provides a fulcrum on which the rest of El Paso’s offense swings.

It was that solid build-up and some hard work on the wings by Aizawa’s fellow former CF Indios teammate, Sergio Villasenor, that put El Paso on the board in the 26th minute.

From Griego to Villasenor to the nimble feet of Salas to Aizawa, the Patriots danced into the Rayados area; Aizawa taking the final few steps that got him past his marker and got Herrera diving for the shot the forward didn’t take until the goalie was in the dirt.

As pretty as the first goal was, the second may have been the ugliest Griego has scored in his Patriots career. Stretching North Texas on the counter, Aizawa lasered a beautiful cross from the right wing. Griego only clipped the ball. Perhaps Herrera was surprised the ball actually kept moving…but it did, all the way into the net in the 61st minute.

Halftime substitute Raul Rodriguez got Rayados on the board in the 78th minute, blasting a 22-yard direct kick bomb past the Patriots’ wall and goalie Victor Rodriguez.

But as North Texas pushed for the equalizer, El Paso’s counterattack finished the game. No dancing from Aizawa this time, only a 20-yard blast from the top of the box that beat Herrera in the 84th.

The Patriots will hit the road this weekend for a pair of PDL away games against arch-rival Laredo Friday and Austin Saturday before returning home next Tuesday for the Open Cup’s second round against Charlotte.

After that much road food, the Patriots can only hope the home cooking is just as good next week.

2012 US Open Cup First Round: Cal FC knocks out PDL champ Kitsap Pumas, 3-1

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Photo: Madi Williamson

The reigning champions of the USL Premier Development League crashed out of the 99th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Tuesday evening at the hands of Cal FC, a one-year-old side built and managed by former US international striker Eric Wynalda. Former US youth international Danny Barrera scored twice for the California club in a 3-1 victory.

Cal FC becomes just the second USASA club from Southern California to win a US Open Cup game, joining Hollywood United, who memorably upset the Portland Timbers (then a 2nd Division pro club) in 2008. It was Kitsap’s first opening round loss since 2009, and the first time they have been defeated by an amateur club (2-1-1) in tournament play.

The visitors, managed by Nick Webster with Wynalda following from Germany on assignment for Fox Soccer, held the better of the play for much of the early going through a slow pace dictated by the heat. Kitsap would not find an opportunity until 24 minutes in only to see the ball cleared out from the six in the midst of a scramble.

At the half-hour mark Artur Aghasyan sent Cal FC’s best chance of the game toward goal, forcing a great save from Dustin Brim.

Photo: Jenni Conner

Barrera finally put one past Brim, firing a low shot on goal, forcing the goalkeeper to dive to his left. Brim was able to get a touch on it, but in the end, put it into his own net while trying to gather it. This gave the visitors the advantage a minute before the break.

Seven minutes into the second half Barrera nearly set Aghasyan up to double the advantage with a through ball only to see his effort lobbed over Brim from 23 yards clang off the crossbar.

Two minutes after entering the match, Samaniego scuffed a chance from four yards out in the 64th minute, but continued to liven up the contest. Just two minutes later Barrera twisted past defender Justin Robbins to notch his second of the evening.

With 18 minutes remaining the Pumas began to rally with Truax connecting with Friesen to cut the deficit in half.

The comeback, however, was crippled significantly in the 80th minute when Danny Medina was sent off for apparently stomping on Aghasyan.

Aghasyan would make no doubt of the outcome, chipping past Brim in the 86th minute to restore the two-goal advantage.

The US Adult Soccer Association’s Region IV runners-up advance to face USL Pro’s Wilmington Hammerheads, traveling to North Carolina for the Second Round contest next Tuesday. The pairing for the potential Third Round opponent from Major League Soccer is expected to be announced in the next two days by the US Soccer Federation.

Highlights

Cal FC 3:1 Kitsap Pumas
Bremerton Memorial Stadium – Bremerton, Wash.

CAL: Danny Barrera 44
CAL: Danny Barrera 66
KIT: Matt Friesen (Ben Truax) 72
CAL: Artur Aghasyan 86

Discipline:
KIT: Danny Medina – caution 50, Zack Sampson – caution 56, Medina – ejection 80

Lineups:
CAL FC: Carrillo; Espinoza Gonzalez, Navarro, Randolph, Arreola (Caceres 46), Danny Barrera (cap), Diego Barrera, Cruz (Samaniego 62), Manjivar, Aghasyan

KITSAP: Dustyn Brim; Danny Medina, Justin Robbins, Stephen Mohn, Matt Friesen, Christopher Bettencourt, Kyle Johnson, Ben Truax, Greg Miley, Daniel MacLeod (Daniel Fabian 46), Zack Sampson

2012 Meet The USASA: Eric Wynalda’s Cal FC from Thousand Oaks, CA

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Cal FC, wearing the Chicago Fire jerseys, reached the USASA Region IV Final and qualified for the US Open Cup in their first attempt. Photo: PSA Elite

Welcome to our continuing series of Meet the USASA features where we annually profile the clubs representing the United States Adult Soccer Association in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Advancing from the four regional tournaments, these often unknown clubs have great stories to tell and each year, our goal is to allow fans to get to know them as they attempt to become this year’s Cinderella story.

On Tuesday evening, the well-established reigning USL Premier Development League champion Kitsap Pumas will play host to an unknown club built by a famous face, a team about second chances. That team is Cal FC.

A lot of American soccer fans may picture Eric Wynalda as a brash, outspoken former US international star striker turned television personality. But in reality, he is a busy man these days.

Just take two weekends ago. On Friday and Saturday he was coaching the club team, Cal FC, that he has built over the past year as it was making its debut at the USASA Region IV tournament. On Sunday he had to turn the reigns over to his friend and assistant coach Nick Webster for the Final while he saw to his broadcast responsibilities.

When TheCup.us caught up with him Friday to discuss the development of Cal FC, he was in a cab, having just landed in Houston for the Dynamo stadium opening. On Tuesday, he will miss his club’s opening match of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup due to travel to Germany for the Champions League.

It’s not something you would expect from a head coach of elite caliber team or club, but Cal FC is not about the career of Eric Wynalda. The club is about finding and developing local talent, giving players that have been missed by the system a first chance or giving a select few a second or third opportunity to prove themselves. You could almost compare it to a handful of the reality talent competition shows on network television.

“If we get to August and all of these guys are still playing for me, I did something wrong,” he said.

Based out of Thousand Oaks, Calif. and playing in La Gran Liga (Oxnard), the club has been operational for about a year and things are going well, to say the least.

“We are doing pretty good. We went into the playoffs and fared well,” said the club’s President and manager Michael Friedman about the team’s league performance prior to the Region IV tournament. For the Open Cup process though, it is “a whole different squad, an ongoing process.

“We have a number of players that have been in the camps of MLS squads and Eric has been able to corral them into this squad and put together a pretty good team.”

And Friedman was not kidding. Among the notable names that traveled to Ontario for the USASA tournament included Pablo Cruz, Eder Arreola, Artur Aghasyan, Mike Randolph and the Barrera brothers Diego and Danny.

Cruz and the Barreras accounted for all four goals in the team’s most important win in the regional tournament, a 4-3 event-opening victory over the defending Region IV champion Doxa Italia, the only other competitive side in what turned out to be a three-team group with the fourth not arriving. Cal FC notched a 7-0 win and Doxa an 8-0 victory against The Internationalists.

A missed penalty kick and a Randolph red card started the club’s descent in the final, which was compounded by the injuries the side was taking on.

“I made a couple mistakes as a manager; I did not bring enough guys,” said Wynalda. “We took some injuries and ran out of gas. We played against Doxa tight, and it was a pretty good game.

“It was good for the guys; they felt what a loss feels likes it,” he added about the Final, a 2-0 defeat to PSA Elite, another area club with former professionals on the roster. “It was difficult. Not enough guys, key injuries; it is a testament that they qualified.”

Cal FC (red) vs. PSA Elite in the 2012 USASA Region IV tournament final. Photo: PSA Elite.

“We still haven’t got everyone on the team that we want,” added Wynalda. “Even if we lose, we are gonna continue to move forward.”

And by that, Wynalda is referring to its role of creating opportunities for players.

“The club started because Eric and I thought a few years back there could be something better,” said Friedman. “This team is mainly formed from this local area – Thousand Oaks – that went to college and came back. Then we held a tryout recently and the players that came out surprised us. The talent is really high. Eric put all of his resources to work to put this together.”

One of those resources is his other day job. Wynalda became the President of International Operations for Mexican club Murcielago (Spanish for bats), making him the technical director and chief scout looking for Mexican-American talent between Santa Barbara and San Diego. The club, formally known as Deportivo Guamuchil FC, was founded in 2008 and plays in the third-tier Segunda Division.

“This team defines the term unique,” said Wynalda.

“I basically called numerous high schools in the area and asked, ‘who’s your local legend?” They all knew of someone, but the hard part was finding them and trying to get them on a soccer field. Everyone has difficult challenges in life, some more than others. My challenge has been to discover these kids and invite them in and see what they’ve got. The process started a few years ago, and I am still tracking kids.

“During that process I brought in other players I was very well aware of, but for whatever reason it didn’t work out for them. Guys who tried out for Chivas or Galaxy and did not fit the mold. And, I guess I am the second chance for these guys.”

Eric Wynalda is an analyst for Fox when he's not coaching. Photo: Fox Soccer

And in a way, those players owe their second opportunities to Wynalda’s search for his own second chance after being rejected in bids to become the head coaches for the Chicago Fire and Chivas USA.

“I wanted the Fire and Chivas jobs, and didn’t get either. Partly, it was because I was not an assistant somewhere, but I felt I didn’t need to be an assistant anywhere.”

Wynalda had already experimented with the coaching life early after retiring, taking a position with the PDL Bakersfield Brigade, a club run by a longtime friend, in 2005. “I was aspiring to be a coach, and we talked about a lot of things. I just wanted to get my feet wet, but the television part of my life kind of took things over. I haven’t stopped coaching or being a part of the game.”

Although he will be halfway around the world when his team takes the field Tuesday evening in Bremerton, Wash. against the professional Kitsap Pumas, the reigning PDL champions, they still owe the opportunity to the National Soccer Hall of Famer.

“The ability and talent they have shown is pretty outstanding. I don’t know how far we’ll take it.” At this point for the team he says, “We are not trying to reinvent the wheel, just have fun.”

“We are really fired up about playing Kitsap. It will be a good test,” said Wynalda, who is a proponent of the tournament.

“As much as a coveted cup it has become, it could be better. As a tribute to Lamar Hunt and what that means – as a friend, – it means a lot,” commenting that it is a deserving recognition of the man’s contribution to the sport and that the tournament should keep his name forever synonymous with the event.

2012 Meet The USASA: ASC New Stars from Houston, TX

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Welcome to our continuing series of Meet the USASA features where we annually profile the clubs representing the United States Adult Soccer Association in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Advancing from the four regional tournaments, these often unknown clubs have great stories to tell and each year, our goal is to allow fans to get to know them as they attempt to become this year’s Cinderella story.

A year later, and a year wiser. Though the club, founded in1974, boasts a great amount of experience, it is not quite so cliché when it comes to the ASC New Stars of Houston, Texas. More importantly for the club, the format and draw of the tournament was a lot kinder a year later.

“We played against a great team in the final and won the championship, I think the difference was experience we all had as a team from previous years over our opponent,” said head coach Majid Savadkoohi.

The third generation took Aria Soccer Club to new heights, reaching the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tournament for the third time in five years and finally claiming the elusive USASA Region III championship. But it is upsets in the Open Cup that makes the amateur teams memorable, and that has been a difficult task courtesy of the draws the team has faced.

As Region III runners-up in 2008, the New Stars were sent to South Carolina., where they were blanked 3-0 by the second division’s Charleston Battery. Last year, it was a trip to Orlando, Fla. where they lost 4-0 to eventual season and playoff champion Orlando City of the third division USL Pro.

This year if the club is successful, the New Stars would likely play three rounds in-state before having to leave Texas, possibly four. ASC were drawn against a Premier Development League power in the Laredo Heat, a club with which ASC has great familiarity with, and have a second round contest awaiting them with North American Soccer League expansion club San Antonio Scorpions. An upset against the second-tier pro club would most likely net them a match against either the hometown Houston Dynamo or their MLS rival FC Dallas, though the pairings have not been announced for the Third Round yet.

That is a nice bit of karma for the previous travel. They were even the hosts of the Region III tournament a few weeks ago as well.

“Since we don’t have to travel out of state and some of players have friends or relatives – and also some former ASC players that are playing for Laredo now – makes us feel more close to home,” said Savadhoohi. “I think we are going to do better this year.”

A former ASC player they may face come Tuesday night is Emmanuel Frias. Frias, who has played for ASC off and on before joining the Heat, saw action between the posts on six occasions for Laredo during the regular season last year, boasting a nice 0.386 goals-against average for a 3-1-1 record and four shutouts. He went on to start all four playoff matches, leading the Heat to the PDL championship before falling, 1-0 in the Final to the Kitsap Pumas. They will not, however, see Edward Estrada, who played for the New Stars at the 2010 Region III tournament. Estrada played 12 games in defense for the Heat last year with four more appearances in the playoffs, including three starts, but has moved to the IMG Academy in Bradenton where he is playing for the Academics in the PDL.

“Laredo Heat is a great team, I have a lot of respect for the players, coaches and management; and I think this will be a great game. We have a very good relationship with all of them, and I think it will be a friendly atmosphere in the game on Tuesday,” he added, concluding that, “We have to remember we have to think one game at a time and you know in cup games each game is a Final.”

Majid Savadkoohi

The humble Savadkoohi has plenty to be proud about with his club, though, too. The New Stars went into the Region III tournament as favorites. Veteran star Alex Bolan, who notched four goals and an assist in the 2011 Region III tournament, last year had 17 goals in the local HFA Premier League this season. In this year’s regional tournament, though, it was George Sangira, who scored once in the 2011 event, who had the winning touch, scoring five goals over the course of the championship run.

Savadkoohi said that all of his players had outstanding performances throughout the tournament, but “in the final match George Sangira was the player of the game.” He went on to say that his eight new players had performed well, including 19 year-old goalkeeper Jason Taffet, who allowed just two goals in the group phase, including a 2-0 shutout in the final over fellow Open Cup qualifier North Texas Rayados. The win in the championship game punches their ticket to the USASA Nationals which are being held in Bridgeview, Ill this summer.

Always extending his thanks to the players for their dedication and hard work, as well as the club’s co-founder and General Manager Tom Khalili, it is Savadkoohi that is the mastermind behind the success of the third generation, which appears to be transitioning to the fourth with the sizable injection of new talent.

“In 2003, after the previous coach retired, I became the head coach of the only premier team ASC had in the Houston Football Association,” said Savadkoohi a year ago. “I kept three players from his team and brought in young players ages 17-21 to build basically a new team, and changed the name to New Stars to fit the team’s character, which was made up of young and new players.”

That is when the domination of the HFA began. The New Stars have won the title now all eight years as well as claiming numerous cup titles.

To continue to challenge the team, the New Stars have had to step onto a more regional and national stage. The first time was in 2008 with limited success. After skipping the regional event in 2009, they returned in 2010 only to finish winless in group play. That made the 2011 Region III tournament about reclamation.

“After last year’s extreme disappointment we came into this year with redemption on our mind,” said Savadkoohi during the 2011 Region III tournament. “We just keep building positive momentum after each win along with improved chemistry and purpose.”

This year, it is all about looking forward.

MORE: History of ASC New Stars (2011 Meet the USASA)

MORE: Check out the rest of the 2012 Meet the USASA series

2012 US Open Cup First Round matches unveiled for May 15; Second Round pairings set

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Lamar Hunt US Open Cup logoMORE: 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup bracket

UPDATE: Cal FC (USASA Region IV) will play Kitsap Pumas and PSA Elite (USASA Region IV) will play Portland Timbers U23s in the First Round.

The United States Soccer Federation unveiled the draw for the First and Second Rounds of the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Tuesday in Chicago. The 32 First Round clubs will play in 13 states Tuesday May 15 with two contests each in California, Pennsylvania and Texas. The Second Round is set for Tuesday May 22.

Nineteen states will be represented in the opening round of the competition. California will have at least five and Texas four with the USASA Region IV tournament featuring seven California clubs and one from Texas yet to play. New York will have three representatives with two each hailing from Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The two clubs coming out of the Region IV tournament are among the three contests not yet set, though they will be heading to Portland and Kitsap. The third is the match between Ventura County Fusion (PDL) and Fullerton Rangers (NPSL).

The two games scheduled for Pennsylvania will see clubs from New York coming in for the First Round while the California and Texas matches will be in-state showdowns. Also featuring an in-state contest is Florida.

Click on the map for expanded view (With all the added teams this year, it's a little crowded)

Texas’ two games have some interesting storylines with ASC New Stars (USASA) not having to travel out of state after being sent to South Carolina in 2008 and Florida in 2011. Their host, the PDL Laredo Heat, are making only their second appearance, but looking for redemption after losing at home in an upset by USASA’s Dallas Roma in penalties after a 2-2 draw. The El Paso Patriots, finalists in 1995, are familiar with the role of host, having played at home in 14 of their 18 matches in the tournament.

First Round Matches – Tuesday, May 15 (with notes of interest)

1. Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) at GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL)
Memorial Field, Deering High School; Portland, Maine – 8 p.m. ET
While TheCup.us does not have a record of every game of the last 98 years of the US Open Cup (most of them, but not all) and there is no record of a team from Maine participating in the US Open Cup. The Italians are a two-time Open Cup champion (1979, 1991).

2. N.Y. Greek American Atlas (USASA) at Reading United AC (PDL)
Shirk Stadium, Albright College; Reading, Pa. – 7 p.m. ET
The Greeks are a four-time US Open Cup champion (1967-69, 1974) and are back in the tournament for the first time since 2005. Reading United, who are making their fourth straight tournament appearance and sixth overall, are looking for their first Open Cup victory. United has also not left the state of Pennsylvania for an Open Cup game since 2003.

3. Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) at FC Sonic (NPSL)
Ulrich Sports Complex, Lehigh University; Bethlehem, Pa. – 7:05 p.m. ET
Long Island returns to the Keystone State for the first time since losing to the Harrisburg City Islanders in the Second Round of the 2010 tournament. This match marks the first time in the Modern Pro Era (1995-present) that the city of Bethlehem, PA, home of the five-time tournament champion Bethlehem Steel, has hosted an Open Cup game.

4. Jersey Shore Boca (USASA) at Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Ultimate Soccer; Pontiac, Mich. – 7:30 p.m. ET
Since 2000, the Bucks have hosted all but one game (6 of 7 games) against non-MLS opposition (Richmond Kickers, 2007). They have also never lost to an amateur club.

5. Carolina Dynamo (PDL) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA)
Maryland Soccerplex Stadium; Boyds, Md. – 7:30 p.m. ET
The Dynamo are on the road for only the third time in 10 games since Macpherson Stadium opened in 2002. It is the first home game for the Hawks in three appearances.

6. Jacksonville United (NPSL) at Orlando City U-23s (PDL)
Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla. – 7 p.m. ET
Orlando, formerly the Central Florida Kraze, are making their third straight appearance in the Open Cup and are still seeking their first tournament win against the defending NPSL champion, who has a number of players from Lynch’s Irish Pub, a 3-time Open Cup qualifier.

7. Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) at Georgia Revolution (NPSL)
RYSA Soccerplex; Conyers, Ga. – 7:30 p.m. ET
In the First Round’s battle of the two most inexperienced teams, Mississippi lost in their only Open Cup appearance in 2009 (vs. USL First Division’s Austin Aztex) and the Revolution are making their debut.

8. Croatian Eagles (USASA) at Chicago Fire PDL (PDL)
Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill. – 6 p.m. CT
Surprisingly the Fire have had only two home game in their 10 Open Cup matches, playing on the road for the last four since hosting Bavarian SC in the First Round of 2009. Chicago and Wisconsin clubs have met six times in the Modern Pro Era, with Chicago teams leading the series split with 3 wins each (Milwaukee clubs are 2-2-0 vs. Chicago clubs).

9. Des Moines Menace (PDL) at Milwaukee Bavarians (NPSL)
Bavarian Soccer Park; Glendale, Wis. – 7 p.m. CT
Home field is a consolation prize for the organization that had it’s USASA club miss out on Open Cup qualifying because the state association lost their paperwork last year. Now, the Bavarians’ NPSL team are in the tournament for the first time, hoping to carry on the Milwaukee club’s tradition against the Des Moines Menace, one of the elite PDL teams. This game marks the first road game for the Menace against an equal or lesser division opponent, including a 2003 loss, 2-1, to the USASA’s Bavarian SC in sudden death overtime.

10. KC Athletics (USASA) at Real Colorado Foxes (PDL)
Colorado School of Mines Soccer Stadium; Golden, Colo. – 7 p.m. MT
The Athletics are back in the tournament for the second time in three years, while Real Colorado are making their second straight appearance, having won in their debut last year at home against DV8 Defenders from the USASA, before losing at the Kitsap Pumas in Round 2.

11. ASC New Stars (USASA) at Laredo Heat (PDL)
Texas A&M International University; Laredo, Texas – 8:15 p.m. CT
ASC New Stars are making their second appearance in a row and their third in the last five years and will shoot for their first tournament win in their first game against an amateur opponent. Laredo hasn’t qualified since making their debut in 2006, when they nearly kept the historic run of Dallas Roma FC from ever happening. They were eliminated by the USASA club (who moved on to become the first USASA club to upset an MLS club) in penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw.

12. NTX Rayados (USASA) at El Paso Patriots (PDL)
Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas – 8 p.m. MT
The Rayados, making their first appearance in the tournament out of USASA’s Region III will face a club with a rich history in the competition at multiple levels. The Patriots were a professional team from their founding in 1991 until 2004 when they joined the PDL. During their time as a PDL club, they have qualified five times and have moved beyond the opening round three times, including a penalty kick upset of the USL First Division’s Miami FC in 2007.

13. Fresno Fuego (PDL) at Stanislaus United Turlock Express (US Club Soccer)
Academica Fields; Turlock, Calif. – 7 p.m. PT
The Fuego have been one of the better PDL teams over the last decade, but have only qualified once. They accomplished that in their inaugural season in 2003, and what a run it was, winning three games, upsetting two professional teams (Utah Blitzz of the PSL and the El Paso Patriots of the A-League) before falling 3-1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Home Depot Center. The Fuego are one of just three PDL teams to ever reach beyond the Third Round (Carolina Dynamo, Des Moines Menace). They will face off against the Stanislaus United Turlock Express (no relation to the Stanislaus United Cruisers who qualified in 2000), who are the first US Club Soccer team to compete in the Open Cup.

14. Ventura County Fusion (PDL) vs. Fullerton Rangers (NPSL)
Santa Ana Stadium;  – Santa Ana, Calif. – 7 p.m. PT
This is the third straight Open Cup appearance for the Fusion, who have hosted all three of their tournament games at Ventura College. The Rangers emerged from the NPSL qualifying tournament to make their first appearance in their inaugural season.

15. PSA Elite (USASA) at Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL)
Jeld-Wen Field; Portland, Ore. – 7:30 p.m. PT
The Timbers PDL square are making their first appearance in the US Open Cup after missing out last year despite finishing qualifying with an undefeated record (3-0-1). Rather than going through a tiebreaker, they decided to have the Kitsap Pumas and the Timbers U23s use their regular season game on double as a play-in game. Kitsap Pumas won the game 3-2. PSA Elite are making their first appearance in the tournament after emerging from the USASA Region IV tournament.

16. Cal FC (USASA) at Kitsap Pumas (PDL)
Bremerton Memorial Stadium; Bremerton, Wash. – 7:15 p.m. PT
This is the fourth consecutive year that Kitsap will kick off the tournament at home. USASA Region IV qualifier Cal FC are led by a mix of young players and former professional players and their manager, former US international Eric Wynalda.

SECOND ROUND– Tuesday, May 22

17. Jersey Shore Boca (USASA)/Michigan Bucks (PDL) Winner at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO): Chartiers Valley Stadium; Bridgeville, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET

18. Long Island Rough Riders (PDL)/FC Sonic (NPSL) Winner at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO): Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET

19. Cal FC (USASA)/Kitsap Pumas (PDL) Winner at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO): Legion Sports Complex; Wilmington, N.C.; 7 p.m. ET

20. PSA Elite (USASA)/Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL) Winner at Carolina RailHawks (NASL): WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET

21. Fresno Fuego (PDL)/Stanislaus United Turlock Express (US Club Soccer) Winner at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL): Lockhart Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET

22. K.C. Athletics (USASA)/Real Colorado Foxes (PDL) Winner at Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO): Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET

23. N.Y. Greek Americans (USASA)/Reading United AC (PDL) Winner at Charleston Battery (USL PRO): Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET

24. Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)/GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL) Winner at Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO): Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.; 7:35 p.m. ET

25. Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Jacksonville United (NPSL): Patton Park; Jacksonville, Fla.; 7 p.m. ET
OR
Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Orlando City U-23s (PDL): Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 1 p.m. ET

26. Carolina Dynamo (PDL) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO): Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; 7 p.m. ET
OR

Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA): Maryland SportsPlex Stadium; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET

27. Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Georgia Revolution (NPSL): RYSA Soccerplex; Conyers, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) at Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL): Atlanta Silverbacks Park; Atlanta, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET

28. ASC New Stars (USASA)/Laredo Heat (PDL) Winner at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL): Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT

29. Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Chicago Fire PDL (PDL): Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill.; 6 p.m. CT
OR
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) vs. Croatian Eagles (USASA): TBD

30. Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Des Moines Menace (PDL): Valley Stadium; Des Moines, Iowa; 7:30 p.m. CT
OR
Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Milwaukee Bavarians (NPSL): Bavarian Soccer Park; Glendale, Wis.; 7 p.m. CT

31. Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at NTX Rayados (USASA): Richland College; Dallas, Texas; 8 p.m. CT
OR
Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at El Paso Patriots (PDL): Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas; 8 p.m. MT

32. Ventura County Fusion (PDL)/Fullerton Rangers (NPSL) Winner at Los Angeles Blues (USL PRO): Titan Stadium, Cal-State Fullerton; Fullerton, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT

–

2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup review

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Photo: Steve Olson | SoccerSTL.net

2012 US Open Cup bracket [+]
2012 US Open Cup results [+]
2012 US Open Cup goalscoring leaders [+]
2012 US Open Cup participant map [+]
Meet the USASA: Class of 2012 [+]

2012 US Open Cup Final recap

In a frantic finish at the end of regulation and a dramatic, and controversial, penalty kick shootout, Sporting Kansas City won their second US Open Cup title and deny the Seattle Sounders an unprecedented fourth straight championship. Eddie Johnson sent his penalty kick attempt high over the bar to give Kansas City a 3-2 shootout victory after the match finished tied at 1-1 after 120 minutes.

The match was played in front of a sold-out LiveStrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan. The announced attendance was 18,863, which ranks fourth-best in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present).

A rather defensive match came to life late when Kei Kamara put the home team ahead in the 83rd minute when he converted a penalty kick after a cross inadvertently struck the arm of Seattle defender Zach Scott, making his first appearance in the tournament final despite 11 years and 25 tournament previous games played with the USL/MLS Sounders, inside the box. The goal was Kamara’s second Open Cup tally of his career, previously scoring in a 3-0 win against the Chicago Fire PDL last year.

With the crowd still buzzing, however, Scott redeemed himself by heading home from 13 yards a free kick by Mauro Rosales two minutes later to equalize. It was the third career tournament goal for the Hawaiian, who scored twice as a USL Sounder in 2007 and 2008.

Sporting Kansas City: 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup champions. Photo: Steve Olson | SoccerSTL.net

The 2012 Final was the first to go into extra time since 2004, when Kansas City (then known as the Wizards) lifted the trophy on a golden goal by Igor Simutenkov in the 95th minute against the Chicago Fire at Arrowhead Stadium.

The match was the first US Open Cup Final to be decided by penalty kicks since 1997 when the Dallas Burn defeated DC United. Despite losing the shootout, the match is officially a draw, therefore the Sounders keep their Modern Professional Era record unbeaten streak intact at 22 games.

The penalty kicks proved to be the most dramatic, back-and-forth portion of the contest that was particularly slow in the second half before the pair of goals in the final six minutes.  Kamara and Brad Evans converted the opening attempts before things got interesting. Roger Espinoza, freshly back with KC after a standout performance for Honduras at the Olympics, saw his effort in the central portion of the goal stopped by Michael Gspurning, allowing Marc Burch to give the Sounders the advantage. The tables turned in the third round, however, with Matt Besler scored for Sporting and Osvaldo Alonso, a regular penalty taker for Seattle, sent his well over the goal to tie things up at 2-2.

Eddie Johnson of the Seattle Sounders reacts after missing a penalty kick that clinched the 2012 US Open Cup championship for Sporting Kansas City. Photo: Steve Olson | SoccerSTL.net

The fourth round was one both sides wanted to forget. Graham Zusi attempted attempted to chip the keeper, much like Andrea Pirlo in the Euro championships, but he sent his shot over the crossbar. After that, Jimmy Nielsen bailed out Zusi by stopping Seattle newcomer Christian Tiffert with a diving save to his right.

Then came the most dramatic moment with Gspurning stopping Paulo Nagamura initially only to have the attempt retaken as the keeper was a foot off his line before the kick was taken. Nagamura, who lost to Chicago in the 2006 Final as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy, buried his second effort with Eddie Johnson’s skied effort coming shortly after, sending the hosts and their fans into a frenzy. Nagamura was the only player on the squad who had previously played in a US Open Cup Final.

The result, in some fashion, was redemption for the Sporting, who were eliminated at home by the third division Richmond Kickers, 2-0, in a quarterfinal contest that was interrupted by a lengthy delay for a thunderstorm. Wednesday night’s contest was delayed prior to kickoff for 45 minutes to due a storm that included hail during what should have been pregame warm-ups.

Penalty Kick shootout (GolTV)

Kei Kamara penalty kick (GolTV)

Zach Scott equalizer (GolTV)

Sporting KC post-game interviews

Sigi Schmid post-game interview

Zach Scott post-game interview

Michael Gspurning post-game interview

NOTES:

Patrick Ianni’s red card was the 7th handed out in the Modern Pro Era and the first since Josh Wicks of DC United in 2009 (vs. SEA)

1995 – Kevin Scott (Richmond Kickers vs. El Paso Patriots)
1995 – Hector Cervantes (El Paso Patriots vs. Richmond Kickers)
2001 – Jay Heaps (New England Revolution vs. LA Galaxy)
2002 – Chad McCarty (Columbus Crew vs. LA Galaxy)
2006 – Diego Gutierrez (Chicago Fire vs. LA Galaxy)
2009 – Josh Wicks (DC United vs. Seattle Sounders)
2012 – Patrick Ianni (Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting KC)

2012 – Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) 1:1 (2:3 PKs) Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
August 8, 2012 | LiveStrong Sporting Park – Kansas City, Kansas

Scoring Summary
SKC:  Kei Kamara (PK) – 84th minute
SEA: Zach Scott (Mauro Rosales) – 86th minute

Penalty Kick Shootout
SKC: Kei Kamara (GOAL – upper left)
SEA: Brad Evans (GOAL – bottom left)… 1-1
SKC: Roger Espinoza (SAVED – center)
SEA: Marc Burch (GOAL – upper center)… 2-1
SKC: Matt Besler (GOAL – upper right)
SEA: Osvaldo Alonso (MISS – high)… 2-2
SKC: Graham Zusi (MISS – high)
SEA: Christian Tiffert (SAVED – bottom right)… 2-2
SKC: Paulo Nagamura (GOAL – bottom left)
SEA: Eddie Johnson (MISS – high)… 2-3

Sporting Kansas City: Jimmy Nielsen (GK); Chance Myers, Lawrence Olum, Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic; Paulo Nagamura, Julio Cesar, Roger Espinoza (Michael Harrington 100), Graham Zusi; Teal Bunbury (C.J. Sapong 89), Kei Kamara.
Not used: Eric Kronberg, Neven Markovic, Jacob Peterson, Michael Thomas, Soony Saad

Cautions: None

Seattle Sounders: Michael Gspurning (GK); Zach Scott, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Leo Gonzalez; Mauro Rosales, Osvaldo Alonso, Andy Rose (Brad Evans 69), Alex Caskey (Christian Tiffert 69), Fredy Montero (Marc Burch 106), Eddie Johnson.
Not used: Jeff Parke, Steve Zakuani, Sammy Ochoa.

Cautions:
Osvaldo Alonso (yellow, Dissent) – 4th minute
Mauro Rosales (yellow, Tactical Foul) – 57th minute
Patrick Ianni (yellow, Tactical Foul) – 74th minute
Zach Scott (yellow, Tactical Foul) – 93rd minuet

Ejections:
Patrick Ianni (2nd yellow, Red, Tactical Foul)

Stats
Shots – SEA 8:18 SKC
On Goal – SEA 2:6 SKC
Saves – SEA 5:1 SKC
Fouls – SEA 19:16 SKC
Corners – SEA 3:4 SKC
Offsides – SEA 2:0 SKC

Attendance: 18,863 | Referee – Ricardo Salazar | Linesmen – Corey Rockwell, Peter Manikowski  | 4th Official – Michael Kennedy
Weather: Rain, 87 degrees (45 minute delay due to lightning)

2012 US Open Cup qualifying: NY Greek American Atlas, Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks emerge from USASA Region I

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UPDATE (4/27/12): The Maryland Bays have withdrawn from the third place match that (for the first time) will act as a “Win & You’re In” match for the US Open Cup. Because of the forfeit, Jersey Shore Boca become the first New Jersey club from the USASA to qualify for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Although there was a safety net with a second chance to qualify in the consolation contest next weekend, the USASA Region I Semifinals presented the four remaining clubs with a chance to claim their berths into the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with just one final victory. And experience won out on the day as the veteran Open Cup sides Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks and NY Greek American Atlas both posted 2-0 victories over clubs new looking to advance for the first time.

In a pair of border contests, the DC/Virginia champion Hawks blanked the Maryland Bays at the Maryland Soccerplex and the Greek Americans topped Jersey Shore Boca. Boca and the Bays were scheduled to determine the region’s third Open Cup berth with a third place match the following weekend, but Maryland withdrew due to injuries and lack of player availability. Jersey Shore become the first USASA club from New Jersey to qualify for the Open Cup in the Modern Pro Era (1995-present).

The Hawks continue to be one of the powers of the region, remaining the only club from Virginia to qualify for the tournament more than once, reaching the Open Cup for the third time now in six years (2007, 2009).

Heavy rains forced a back-and-forth contest between the two sides that proved to hold even until a 40th minute corner kick. Sam Scales found Watson Vaughan Prather for a point-blank header to give the Hawks the lead. It was Prather’s second strike in as many games, tallying the second goal in the Region I First Round contest, a 3-1 victory over West Chester United three weeks ago. Scales previously scored himself in the team’s 3-1 victory over Club Atletico Virginia in the state championship.

Play opened in the second half and both clubs continued to have chances, including Maryland on set pieces that came agonizingly close to equalizing, particularly a ripped 35 yard shot that narrowly missed the post with 15 minutes remaining. As the Hawks began to transition to a conservative posture to hold the advantage, the Maryland pressure continued to increase only for naught.

With six minutes left second-half sub Gui Fonseca secured the victory with a brilliant individual effort. He took the ball 18 yards out and drove past two Maryland defenders before dancing along the end line and poking a shot past the keeper at the near post. Though he was a reserve on the night, Fonseca has been a star for the team in the qualifying campaign. He notched assists on all three goals in the state championship victory and added two more in the win in the Region I opener over West Chester United.

“This is an incredible achievement for us,” said Hawks manager Jon Knight. “We’re a pay-to-play organization and not many teams like us make it this far, so it says a lot about our team. We’re looking to get into the Second Round  this year, and I think we’re going to be tough to beat.”

On Randall’s Island in New York City, the New York Greek American Atlas, who have four US Open Cup titles to their credit (1967, 1968, 1969, 1974), returned to the tournament for the first time since 2005, with their win over Jersey Shore Boca.

The two teams battled to a scoreless draw at the half, but right out of the gate, the Greeks broke through in the 48th minute when Joe Ruesgen’s corner kick was volleyed in by former UMass player Ben Arikian to give the home team the lead.

New York Greek American Atlas: 4-time Open Cup champions (1967, 1968, 1969, 1974)

Later, around the 70th minute, New York would add a second when Chris Megaloudis, a Puerto Rican international who spent time with the New York Red Bulls, found Paul Shaw to make it 2-0. Shaw sent a through ball to Megaloudis in the corner, who then beat his defender, found space and crossed the ball back to Shaw, who put the ball into the back of the net at the six-yard box.

Shaw, who began his career in England with Arsenal in the early 90s, and playing for a number of European clubs before joining FC New York as a player/manager last year. In January, he accepted an assistant coaching job at Adelphi University.

Boca put on the pressure in the final 20 minutes, but the Greeks’ defense held on the clean sheet, led by former Harrisburg City Islander goalkeeper Tommy Booth, who currently coaches at LIU-Brooklyn.

“We are delighted to be back in the US Open Cup,” said Greek Americans player/manager Michael Todd.

New York advances to the Open Cup for the fourth time (1998, 2004, 2005, 2012) in the Modern Pro Era, and puts an Eastern New York team in the tournament for the third straight year and the sixth time in the last nine seasons (New York Pancyprian Freedoms 2008, 2010, 2011).  The Greeks emerged from the Eastern New York tournament, defeating the 4-time defending champion Pancyprian Freedoms in the final by a score of 4-0. New York then defeated Massachusetts champion Battery Park Gunners 2-0 with late goals from Megaloudis and Keith Detelj to reach Sunday’s match against Boca.

NY Greek American Atlas (East NY) 2:0 Jersey Shore Boca (NJ)
NY: Ben Arikian (Joe Ruesgen) – 48th minute
NY: Paul Shaw (Chris Megaloudis) – 70th minute

New York Greek Americans lineup:
Tommy Booth (GK), Danny Kramer, Tom Wharfe, Billy Hole, Joe Ruesgen (Diego Velasquez – 72′), Gary Flood (Michael Todd – 42′), Ben Arikian, Josh Troff, Arman Osooli, Chris Megaloudis, Keith Detelj (Paul Shaw – 65′)

Jersey Shore Boca lineup
Bobby Feeney (GK), Vasili Foukarakis, Andrew Cotrell, Tomas Banionis, John Carrozza (Christian Pontier – 80′), Andrew Hawtin, Dane Hodge, Ryan Sherman, Joe Selitto (Dan Pires – 45′), Simon Muckle (Chris Beekman – 45′), Michael Pezza (Nick Tarquino – 60′)

Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks 2:0 Maryland Bays
AH: Watson Vaughan Prather (Sam Scales) 40
AH: Gui Fonseca (Unassisted) 84

Aegean Hawks lineup:
Chris Fenner (GK), Mateus dos Anjos, Pat Selwood, James Kpainay, Devlin Barnes, Michael Goldman, Watson Vaughan Prather (Danny Irizarry – 65th), Sam Scales, Ernesto Marquez (Lonnie Carter – 75′), Scott Larrabee, Matt Ney (Gui Fonseca – 70′)

2012 USASA Region I Open Cup tournament

Round 1 (April 1)
Battery Park Gunners (Mass.) 0:2 NY Greek American Atlas (East NY) [+] Recap
West Chester United Predators (East PA) 1:3 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA) [+] Recap

Semifinals (April 22)
Jersey Shore Boca (NJ) 0:2 NY Greek American Atlas (East NY)
Maryland Bays (MD) 0:2 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA)
NY Greek American Atlas, Aegean Hawks both qualify for 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

Third Place Game (April 29)
Maryland Bays (MD) at Jersey Shore Boca (NJ)
John Patrick Sports Complex – Lakewood, NJ – 2 p.m.
Winner qualifies for 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2012 US Open Cup Qualifying: Aegean Hawks open Region I tourney with 3-1 win over West Chester United (Video)

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Hawks move onto cup-clinching semifinal contest
The Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks, champions from Metro DC/Virginia, began their quest to qualify for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for a third time in six years with an opening round victory Sunday in the USASA Region I tournament, downing  West Chester United Predators of Eastern Pennsylvania, 3-1.

It was a big victory for the Hawks, who will now host Maryland Bays on April in a “Win & You’re In” semifinal contest April 22. The club, which previously reached the Open Cup in 2007 and 2009, is one of three clubs from DC/VA that has qualified for the tournament a total of four times during the Modern Pro Era (1995-present). The others were Spartans SC (1995, Fairfax) and Mo’s Sport Shop (1996, McLean).

Maryland Bays will be looking to reverse their recent regional fortunes. They also won the Maryland Open Cup titles last year but were unable to qualify for the Open Cup. The state hasn’t had a representative in the tournament since 2006 (Allied SC).

Sunday’s match went into the second half still deadlocked at zeros until the 58th minute. A throw-in made its way to Gui Fonseca, who delivered a through ball for David Rosenbaum, who drove toward the keeper and blasted a shot to his right.

“Scoring first was important in this game,” said Hawks manager Jon Knight. “They would have been difficult to break down had they gone ahead, so Rosenbaum’s strike was critical.”

Back-to-back goals in three minutes gave the Hawks firm control with 15 minutes remaining.

Sam Scales, coming up the right wing, delivered the ball inside to Fonseca, who laid it off to Watson Vaughan-Prather. Noticing the keeper was off his line, Vaughan-Prather struck a dipping shot into the upper right corner to double the advantage in the 73rd.

Two minutes later an own goal pushed West Chester’s deficit to three. Crashing in on goal, Erwin Diaz sent a ball across the goal to an onrushing teammate. A Predators defender got to the ball first, however, his slide tackle attempt to intercept the pass sent the ball into the net instead.

In the 79th minute West Chester would spoil the shutout when Dom Popolizio finished off a play that began with a free kick at midfield with a looping shot over the keeper.

“I don’t think we played that well; and there is a lot of room for improvement before we face the Bays, who took two of three from us last year,” concluded Knight. “We have to be better in transition on both sides of the ball. Being one step away from the Open Cup will be taken very seriously and we’ll make sure we are ready.”

2012 USASA Region I Open Cup – First Round
Maryland Soccerplex (Field #8) – Boyds, Md. – 2 p.m.

West Chester United Predators 1:3 Aegean Hawks

AH: David Rosenbaum (Gui Fonseca) – 58th minute
AH: Watson Vaughan-Prather (Gui Fonseca) – 73rd minute
AH: Own goal – 75th minute
WU: Dom Popolizio – 79th minute

LINEUPS:
Aegean Hawks: Chris Fenner; Devlin Barnes, Mateus Dos Anjos, Pat Selwood, James Kpainay (Alan Golden 40); Mike Goldman, Watson Vaughan-Prather, Sam Scales, Erwin Diaz; Scott Larrabee (Dave Rosenbaum 55), Gia Fonseca (Jordan Evans 75)
West Chester: Not Available

2012 USASA Region I Open Cup tournament

Round 1 (April 1)
Game 1: Battery Park Gunners (Mass.) 0:2 NY Greek American Atlas (East NY)
Game 2: West Chester United Predators (East PA) 1:3 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA)

Semifinals (April 22)
Jersey Shore Boca (NJ) at NY Greek American Atlas (East NY)
Maryland Bays (MD) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA)
Semifinal winners qualify for 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

Third Place Game (April 29)
Semifinal loser vs. Semifinal loser
Winner qualifies for 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

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