Tom Arnison

2026 National Amateur Cup: Chicago House wins Region II in Windy City PK shootout vs. RWB Adria

June 3, 2026 by Tom Arnison

Players from Chicago House AC celebrate after beating RWB Adria 3-2 in a PK shootout (after a 1-1 draw) in the 2026 USASA Region 2 Amateur Cup Final. Photo: Victoria Sanders | @veesanders

Chicago House AC defeated RWB Adria in PKs to win the Bill Davey Amateur Cup and advance to the USASA National Amateur Cup Finals. The win marks House’s first trip to the Finals in only their 5th season operating as an amateur side. The win is also House’s first over RWB Adria since their 2-1 victory on July 5, 2023 in Midwest Premier League play.

It was a back-and-forth affair between the two Chicago outfits. Former Las Vegas Lights and Inter Miami II forward Tyler Bagley would come close for Adria in the 6th minute with a glancing header straight into the hands of House keeper Ryan Grady. In the 27th minute, House captain AR Smith would attempt a cheeky chip from 30 yards out on the left sideline that would require a leaping parry by GK Jerry Perez to keep the match scoreless.

*Join our Patreon team!
* Full Amateur Cup coverage
* 2026 Amateur Cup Schedule/Results
* 2026 USOC Schedule/Results
* 2026 USOC Stat Leaders
* 2026 USOC Player of the Round winners

* Subscribe to our newsletter!
* Follow TheCup.us on X (@USOpenCup)
* Follow TheCup.us on BlueSky
* Follow TheCup.us on Facebook
* Follow TheCup.us on Instagram
* Contact us HERE

Adria would break the deadlock two minutes later as Luka Ivancic would deliver an early cross from the right sideline. Grady would come off his line and dive to punch the ball out of his area, only for it to land at the feet of Bagley who would place a calm 1-time shot into the now open goal. For Bagley, it was his fifth goal of the competition which ties him for the tournament lead with Donovan Carey (Tar Devils SC) and Derek Antonini (Vereinigung Erzgebirge).

Adria would take that 1-0 lead into the halftime break.

The second half would open with a slew of yellow cards – House’s AR Smith would be booked for a rough tackle in the 54th minute, followed by a booking to Adria’s Gerardo Sainz on a foul after the ensuing free kick was cleared. House substitute Aryan Kamdar would be booked from the bench in the following seconds for dissent. Adria’s Oscar Flores would cap off the 4th booking in four minutes after launching a shot after being called offside.

House would find the equalizer and final goal on the night in the 63rd minute. AR Smith’s low cross from the right side of the box would be cleared by an Adria defender, only to ricochet off a teammate and roll to the top of the 18 yard box. House midfielder Elias McCloud would deliver an in-step one-timer that would make its way through traffic and find the back of the net for his second goal of the tournament.

Two more bookings and several shots would be the only action prior to full-time.

In the fifth minute of extra time, Adria’s Cesar Correa would pick up a second booking and be sent off, providing House the opportunity to play up a man for the final 25 minutes. Tired legs and desperate football would see neither team able to capitalize, and ultimately the Region II Final would be decided by Kicks from the Spot.

Adria would kick first in the shootout. House goalkeeper Ryan Grady would save the first attempt, diving to his right. After AR Smith capitalized on his attempt, Adria would miss the target with their second kick, with Grady guessing correctly in a dive to his left. After Ismael Gomez converted House’s second, Grady would save Adria’s third attempt with a strong glove and dive to his right. Momentum would swing briefly as House would miss their next two attempts while Adria would convert both. However, Nico Williams would convert House’s 5th kick to secure his side the title.

Chicago House is seeking to win the club’s first Amateur Cup title, and to qualify for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time since 2024. House joins Tar Devils SC (North Carolina) in 2026 National Amateur Cup semifinals which will be held in Milwaukee the weekend of July 25-26. The winner of the 2026 National Amateur Cup will qualify for the 2027 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The Region I (Northeast) final is scheduled for June 6, while the Region IV (West) tournament will take place the weekend of June 26-28.

2025 US Open Cup Round 2: Burrito Boys of El Farolito stun Monterey Bay with chaotic game-winner

April 2, 2025 by Tom Arnison

A sparse but loyal crowd welcomed Monterey Bay FC (USL League One) and visitors El Farolito (NPSL) for the opening night of the Second Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. El Farolito entered the round as the sole-remaining club representing the National Premier Soccer League, as the other six were all eliminated in Round 1 by professional opposition.

They would keep their latest Cinderella run alive with a 2-1 win over Monterey Bay. The game was decided in dramatic fashion with an chaotic 84th minute goal by Edgard Kreye. With the win, the 1993 US Open Cup champions claimed their fourth upset of a pro team in the last two years.

“I am very proud of the team’s character throughout the game,” said El Farolito head coach Santiago Lopez. “We knew we were up against one of the best USL teams in the country but they showed no fear.”

The “Burrito Boys” entered the round having bested MLS NEXT Pro side Real Monachs 3-1 after extra time in Round 1 on the road.

Monterey Bay FC entered the night on a 4-game win streak, including their 4-0 opening round victory over International San Francisco (SFSFL).

El Farolito, unlike many amateur sides, has a much older group of players, with an average squad age of 28.5, The pros in the 18 for MBFC averaged just 25.5 years of age.

MBFC would start the match generally on the front foot, with El Farolito attempting long clearances and fast break attempts from early on in the contest.

In the 8th minute, El Farolito keeper Johan Lizarralde would attempt to spring his side on the attack with a quick punt that he harshly sliced into his team’s bench. This brought a round of ovation and several laughs from his teammates on the bench who were about to put on their raincoats just a few minutes later.

Lizarralde would make another mistake in the 18th minute when attempting to send the ball upfield from within his own 6 as pressure mounted on. The ball would travel just 30 yards and land at the feet of MDFC’s Xavi Gnaulati who dribbled forward and delivered a through ball into fellow midfielder Mobi Fehr who had his attempted cross snuffed out.

The next near miss would go through Gnaulati as well, who would pop the ball over El Farolito captain Johnatan Mosquera and deliver a volley from 8 yards into the glove of Lizarralde. The ball would trickle it’s way towards the goal line before being hacked away by Andres Zuluaga, only to be volleyed at goal again from the top of the 18, with a deflection up and off the crossbar, and down safely into the keeper’s hands.

Looking the more composed of the two sides through the first quarter of match, MBFC would win a penalty kick in the 27th minute of the match after a headed corner hit Dembor Benson’s arm on a bang-bang play at the near post.

Xavi Gnaulati would convert the kick for his third goal of the tournament, moving him temporarily into a tie at the top of the goalscoring list for the competition.

This is when the momemntum would change, however.

El Farolito started to command possession, and would dictate several attacks before the break, missing chances in the 35th minute but winning corner kicks.

Play would slow going into the break as Mosquera would have to exit the match in the 39th minute with an injury, being replaced by Omar Quiroga.

Rain would let up in the second half, but the field would remain slick, and El Farolito would show the few hundred in attendance that they knew how to manage a game going forward.

In the 54th minute, Johnatan Perez would deliver a cross into Benson who would show his special athleticisim with a leaping headed effort that would force a equally spectacular save MBFC’s GK Samuel Gomez.

In the 57th minute, Gabriel Arias would deliver a free kick deep to the back right post that would find Zuluaga ready to hack the ball again, this time into his team’s scoring goal.

With the game now level, El Farolito would not let their foot off the gas and nearly scored again two minutes later with Benson sliding into a Perez cross that would hit the wrong side of the post.

Winger Herlbert Soto would be the next to connect with with Benson in the 83rd minute, chipping a ball from the endline to the back right post. Benson would fail to convert with his head, forcing a brilliant reaction save from Gomez who would deflect the ball up and off the underside of crossbar. Perez woulld then deliver a left footed shot on the rebound, deflected back by a diving header from MBFC’s Joel Garcia Jr. The ball would then find Edgard Kreye twice: first, blasting the ball into the chest of another MBFC defender on the line, and then sliding the ball calmly past the two almost-hero defenders now in splits on the turf.

The match would end 2-1 giving the Burrito Boys another win over a professional opponent, and yet another upset on the road. MBFC head coach Jordan Stewart immediately went to shake hands with the El Farolito staff and players, and El Farolito players ended the night either dancing on the field, lying in star-pose, crying tears of joy, or carrying babies.

2024 US Open Cup Round 1: Jordan Adebayo-Smith’s hat trick carries Minnesota United reserves past Chicago House

March 22, 2024 by Tom Arnison

Jordan Adebayo-Smith of MNUFC2 takes a shot against Chicago House AC in the First Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: MNUFC2

MNUFC2 handled last year’s Cinderella from the Midwest on a cold night in Elmhurst, Ill.

435 fans showed up on the night at Elmhurst University, mostly in support of Chicago House AC, the amateur side from the Midwest Premier League. Although there were a few Minnesota United scarves scattered throughout.

Full highlights from:

"The Jordan Game"#MNUFC2 | #USOC2024 | #MINvCHAC pic.twitter.com/GgZWnMHfYO
— MNUFC2 (@mnufc2) March 21, 2024

Jordan Adebayo-Smith, Minnesota’s lone first team player, scored all three goals for his side, all in the second half to give United’s reserve side a 3-0 win.

“Super happy for Jordan to get a hat-trick on the night,” said MNUFC2 head coach Justin Ferguson after the match. “I think it’s a great opportunity for us to get some young players some minutes as well. Super happy for all of the academy kids that could make their professional debuts tonight.”

Adebayo-Smith’s first goal in the 52nd minute was assisted by 18-year-old academy graduate Keith “Kage” Romanshyn Jr., who rounded House’s centerback Cesar Murillo 45 yards from goal on left, before advancing and delivering a slight through pass to his striker who settled and finished the ball calmly into the bottom right corner.

Adebayo-Smith’s second goal three minutes later was less calm. Loïc Mesanvi, the 20 year-old right winger from Togo, collected a weighted ball from the midfield at the top corner of the 18. After a couple touches to the inside, Mesanvi fed the ball square to his striker at the top of the 18 who settled to his right and finished with a rocket over an outstretched Halterman.

Live from Chicago, it's Wonderwall#MNUFC2 | #USOC2024 | #MINvCHAC pic.twitter.com/tKaTS1kve8
— MNUFC2 (@mnufc2) March 21, 2024

Chicago House AC’s manager, Matt Poland knew it was time for a change and began bringing in fresh, offensive legs in the 61st, 77th, and 82nd minutes. In 2023, it only took the House 15 minutes to solidify a comeback against USL League One professional side Forward Madison, but no comeback of the sort was in the cards tonight.

In the fifth and final minute of added time, MNUFC2’s 17-year-old and second half substitute Dominic Mawing cleared a ball from the back that was collected by Adebayo Smith at the left side of midfield. Adebayo-Smith would turn on the jets to secure his hat trick, leaving both House’s right and center backs in the dust before rounding Halterman to put a cap on the night.

Adebayo-Smith joins a select group of players from Minnesota-based pro teams to score a hat trick in the tournament: Johnny Menyongar (Minnesota Thunder, 2000 & 2002), Melvin Tarley (2005) and Angelo Rodriguez (Minnesota United FC, 2019).

“This is the oldest soccer tournament in the country, it’s an honor to be a part of it. I think that (the academy kids) should be excited that they get to make their professional debut, but also to get a chance to play in a tournament like (this) is class. I am glad the organization believes in young players and gives them the opportunity to do that.”

2020 US Open Cup Qualifying: In honor of Colin Clark, Colorado Rush win red card-shortened OT battle

September 25, 2019 by Tom Arnison

Players from the Colorado Rush pose for a team photo before their 2020 US Open Cup qualifying match against Club El Azul. Photo: Colorado Rush

It took a spirited extra time effort from the Colorado Rush to defeat Club El Azul in the first qualifying round of the 2020 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The Rush edged Club El Azul 3-2 in a match that had to be ended early due to a flurry of red cards.

The Rush came to their home field at Addenbrooke Park with heavy hearts. Colin Clark, a local legend played eight seasons in Major League Soccer — five of them with the Colorado Rapids — and also played for the Rush in recent years. Clark passed away suddenly from a heart attack on Aug. 26. Clark had also spent a lot of time teaching the game to the next generation, including a stint as the director of coaching with the Rush. His memorial service was held earlier in the week.

“You are so emotionally drained” said Rush’s 43-year-old ‘utility player’ Adam Hudson. “But, you can either take that and totally fold up, or you can take it and turn it into a positive thing which is probably what anyone like Colin would want anyway.”

The Rush, who wore black arm bands in honor of their fallen teammate, would see the majority of the chances on goal in the first half. But in the opening 20 minutes, Club El Azul of the Colorado Premier League would take the lead against the run of play and force the Rush onto the back foot. The teams would see out the half with even possession.

In the second half, In the 65th minute, Rush winger Alex Olivera found a space at the top of the box and hit a dangerous ball with his left that looped over Azul’s keeper and into the back of the net. Only Alex knows if the ball was a shot or a cross.

“We needed some luck tonight,” said Hudson. “Alex is not a left-footed player. Colin was.”

Rush’s keeper Luke Heaton would make a spectacular top-corner save off of a blast from a Azul corner kick to keep his team in the game.

A rejuvenated Rush side would force the game to extra time.

In the 91^st minute, Hudson entered the game wearing the No. 11 shirt formerly worn by his close friend Colin Clark. Shortly thereafter, luck would lend itself to the Rush again as an Azul player would receive a second yellow after he pushed a Rush player to the ground in frustration right in front of the fourth official.

Going into the second period of overtime, and with the man advantage, target forward Fabricio Barancoski would give the Rush the lead by redirecting a goal-bound header from Nick Hartman over the keeper and into the top of the net.

The Rush would double the lead after Barancoski would work a 2-on-1 break with Omar Sandoval who would take the end line and send the ball back across the goal for Barancoski to finish clinically.

Club El Azul fought back immediately with a laid off shot from the top of the box that would find its way under Heaton’s outstretched arm.

With about five minutes left, trailing by one, Azul would not prove strong enough to finish out the game after a second player was sent off for a bad tackle. This decision outraged Club El Azul so much so that three players were sent off, including their head coach. This left them with six players, one fewer than the minimum required, so the referee called for the game to come to an end with a few minutes left on the clock.

The Rush, who qualified for the US Open Cup for the first time in 2017, advance to Round 2 where they will take on FC Boulder Harpos on Oct. 20.

“Colin loved the Open Cup,” said coach Joe Rush after the game. “This run, this season, it is all dedicated to Colin.”

“When you play for a person that you loved and looked up to in the soccer sense, playing professionally the way he did … it kind of helps you,” said Hudson. “Some don’t know the impact he had on our lives and on the field.”

Newtown Pride FC win first Amateur Cup title, qualify for 2020 US Open Cup

August 5, 2019 by Tom Arnison

Newtown Pride FC celebrate after winning the 2019 USASA Amateur Cup championship in River Grove, IL. Photo: Newtown Pride FC

After years of falling short of qualifying for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Newtown Pride FC finally found a way to get in.

On Saturday in the Chicago suburb of River Grove, Newtown defeated Horizon FC, 4-0, to win the 2019 USASA Amateur Cup championship. It was the first Amateur Cup title for the Connecticut-based club, and it also earned the club a spot in the 2020 US Open Cup. This will mark the second year in a row that the United States Soccer Federation awarded an Open Cup berth to the Amateur Cup champion. Last year, it was Bavarian SC (Milwaukee) that used the Fritz Marth Trophy to punch their ticket to the US Open Cup.

Players from Newtown Pride FC and Horizon FC battle for the ball during the 2019 USASA Amateur Cup Final. Photo: Newtown Pride FC

“It means the world to us to qualify for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup,” said Newtown player/general manager/co-founder Matt Svanda. “It represents everything that football at our level of the US Soccer pyramid is about. It shows that right now we have truly earned it on the field. The players earned it and we are so excited for them.”

After a 2-0 win over the Chicago-based RWB Adria in Friday’s Semifinal, Newtown advanced to the championship game where they met Horizon FC. The Houston-based club had edged Meso America FC (Los Angeles), 2-1 in their Semifinal matchup. Both teams were both seeking their first Amateur Cup and their first trip to the US Open Cup.

It was a tightly contested final. For a while.

Newtown’s Tavoy Morgan would make a habit of getting behind Horizon’s high back line and rounding their keeper. He would do it first in the 8th minute but would miss his shot from a tight angle. However, winger Chris Sylla would recover the ball near the corner flag and cross to the head of Mauro Dos Santos who opened the scoring.

Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “We Want The Cup” shirt in your team’s colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP to pick one up today!

Horizon FC, the USASA Region III champion from Houston, would not back down and would control much of the play over the next 20 minutes. Horizon’s use of a “false-9” attack would be troublesome for Newtown, however they were unable to capitalize on their nine shots in the first half with only one of them being on target.

In the 32nd minute, Sylla would be dragged down in the box and Lucas Sousa would double Newtown’s lead from the penalty spot. Newtown would hold their 2-0 lead firmly into the break.

In the 49th minute, Sousa would serve a long ball into the box for Sylla who would put away a much-deserved goal. Down by three, Horizon needed to press further up to try to get a response, but Morgan would round the keeper for the second time in the 70th minute, but this time he would not miss.

In the 76th minute, Shaquille Sanchez would be ejected for violent conduct against a Horizon FC defender. This was the lone blip on the night for Newtown as they would emerge as National Amateur Cup champions with a 4-0 and would secure qualification for the 2020 US Open Cup.

Newtown, who competes in the Connecticut Soccer League, has seen other amateur teams mark their mark in the US Open Cup and now they have a chance to create their own legacy next year.

“Teams before us have really captured our imagination and inspired the kid in us,” said Svanda, who founded the team with his father Mike, who is the head coach. “Teams like Christos , Lansdowne , Orange County FC , and the Laredo Heat and many more. It also give us the opportunity to bring something very special to our local community and the state of Connecticut.”

Newtown first attempted to qualify for the US Open Cup back in 2013, back when Open Division Local teams had to get in through USASA state and regional tournaments. After losing their opening match with the New York Pancyprian Freedoms, they had their controversial protest upheld and a replay was ordered. Newtown would win the replay in a penalty kick shootout, but would lose the “Win and You’re In” match that followed, 6-0 to Mass Premier Soccer (now GPS Omens). After not qualifying in 2014, they returned in 2015 and lost their opening match to Lansdowne Bhoys. When the USSF began their current Open Division qualifying tournament, the Pride have struggled, losing their opening round game in each of the last four years.

So after seven failed attempts, the Pride are Amateur Cup champions and have qualified for the US Open Cup. Combined with Hartford Athletic (USL Championship), this will mark the first time since 2001 that multiple Connecticut-based clubs will participate in the tournament. Newtown will be the sixth Open Division Local team to qualify from the Nutmeg State.

2018 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Chicago Fire back in Semifinals after convincing 4-0 win over Louisville City

July 19, 2018 by Tom Arnison

What started as a close affair in Bridgeview, Ill. ended in a rout as the Chicago Fire defeated Louisville City FC, 4-0, to advance to their all-time record 13th Lamar Hunt US Open Cup semifinal. Aleksandar Katai set up Nemanja Nikolic for the opening goal in the 16th minute, then Katai got one of his own 16 minutes later as the Fire held on to their lead throughout the game. Once the 90th minute hit, the four-time US Open Cup champs tacked on two late goals to send most of the 3,322 in attendance — Louisville City fans were well-represented — home happy. The Fire extended their home unbeaten streak in the US Open Cup to nine games and improve their impressive all-time home record in the tournament to 26-1-2 (1-1 PKs).

The Fire move on to play against the Philadelphia Union in the Semifinals. The date and location of the game will be determined on Thursday when the US Soccer Federation performs the draw to determine the hosts for the Semifinals and the hosting priorities for the Final. This will take place at 1:45 p.m. ET.

Chicago opened the scoring in 16th minute off a quickly-taken free kick near the Louisville City bench. Having caught the Louisville players off guard, midfielder Brandt Bronico played a ball down the left side of the goal box to Katai whose weighted cross found the head of Nikolic to make it 1-0 Fire.

Chicago’s confidence only grew from there. Katai continued to inspire the home side with quick one-two passing and flicks with teammate Bastian Schweinsteiger up and down the left side of the pitch.

In the 32nd minute, Katai put the Fire on the break from his defensive third by bridging two Louisville players on his way to the opposing 18. After a blocked shot, Schweinsteiger fed the ball into the box and Katai finished into the upper left of the goal.

The workhorse for Louisville City in the match was Brian Ownby, who was named TheCup.us Player of the Round for his performance in City’s upset of the New England Revolution in Round 4. The former University of Virginia standout played a full 90 minutes and continuously ran at the Chicago defense. Brandon Vincent and company did their job to frustrate the attacker and force Louisville into low percentage efforts. The Fire defense held Louisville to just 10 total shots and only three of them made it on target, all of which goalkeeper Richard Sanchez handled to earn his second straight clean sheet in the tournament.

Los Morados (one of Louisville’s nicknames) would keep the game close in the second half, up until the 84th minute when midfielder Kyle Smith saw a straight red for what was judged as a dangerous tackle. With the man advantage, the Fire put on the pressure and put the game away as Diego Campos pounced on a back pass to Louisville goalkeeper Tim Dobrowolski. Dobrowolski, who played his college ball at nearby Loyola University Chicago (LUC), took one touch of the pass but Campos was already on top of him and it was too late. Campos stole the ball and slid it into the empty goal from close range. Later in injury time, Elliot Collier, also an LUC grad, took the ball to the endline and 5-hole Dobrowolski for the Fire’s fourth and final goal of the match. Frustration boiled over after the fourth goal as Louisville City substitute Magnus Rasmussen was sent off after for an altercation with Collier.

In the post-match press conference, Fire coach Veljko Paunovic was quick to dismiss the accomplishment of advancing to the Semifinals, knowing there’s more work to be done.

“We advanced… but still we haven’t done anything ,” said Paunovic.

With the win, the Fire add to their Modern Era (1995-present) record with their 42nd tournament win. Louisville City’s Cup run ends, but as the USL team that advanced the furthest in the tournament, their consolation is $25,000 in prize money.

Plenty of highlights from this one #USOC2018 #cf97 pic.twitter.com/SOwO9KcUea

— Chicago Fire (@ChicagoFire) July 19, 2018

2017 US Open Cup Round 3: Christos FC, last amateur team, win to earn $15K, date with D.C. United

June 1, 2017 by Tom Arnison

Christos FC continued its Cinderella run in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a narrow 1-0 road win over the PDL’s Chicago FC United.

By the end of the night, Christos FC was the last amatuer team still standing in the tournament, which earns them a $15,000 cash prize. The win also makes them the 13th amateur team in the Modern Era (1995-present) to reach the Fourth Round, where they will play D.C. United of Major League Soccer on June 14.

“It was a great team effort from all the players and coaches,” said Christos FC founder and general manager Jody Haislip. “Couldn’t have envisioned a better start to the game but sometimes that bites you in the ass. You kind of want to sit back and rest on the lead but the guys didn’t do that and we still generated a few solid opportunities.”

Christos FC opened the scoring in the first minute off a throw-in from the right corner. The long throw found the head of Peter Caringi, who won TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for his hat trick in Round 1 against Fredericksburg FC (NPSL). Caringi flicked the ball to the back post where Levi Houpeau was able to force the ball into the back of the net.

Houpeau, who was a Third Round MLS SuperDraft pick by the Philadelphia Union out of Maryland-Baltimore County, scored his first career US Open Cup goal, and it proved to be the difference.

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

The first half was a very physical affair with fouls from both sides disrupting the flow of play. In the 32nd minute, Caringi would muscle off a defender before curling a shot around the keeper and into the net, only to be ruled offside by the assistant referee.

Mark Segbers would be the lone attacking threat for Chicago FC United in the first half, working his way into the box from the left side to generate two shots on goal, but he was unable to beat Phil Saunders, last round’s top performer.

Momentum would switch in the second half when United midfielder Chris Mueller would hit a dipping shot from the top of the box that Saunders would nudge just over the bar. From that point on, United would keep the ball in the offensive half for most of the match, forcing Christos to rely on the long ball. Segbers and Mueller would generate several chances through link-up play, but only to be turned away by Saunders time and time again.

After 90 minutes of play, a visibly exhausted Christos side would weather the storm from United and advance 1-0.

After three straight road wins in the club’s first-ever trip to the tournament, they will play a fourth road game in Round 4. Although, fortunately, that road game will be in their home state when they face D.C. United at the Maryland Soccerplex in Boyds, Maryland.

For Christos, the fact that they started the day one win away from a game against a Major League Soccer team was a little hard to ignore.

“When the Fourth Round draw was announced it definitely was a ‘wow’ moment,” said Haislip, who started the club back in 1997. “It just had to be D.C. . If it were the Union or another club it would still be the biggest game of our lives but to go up against them will be what Baltimore soccer needs and wants. The entire city of Baltimore and surrounding areas will be behind us and we will put an forth an effort that they will be proud of win or lose.”