William Schulz

2017 US Open Cup Round 2: Kondrakhin’s brace helps Tulsa Roughnecks cruise past OKC Energy U-23s

May 21, 2017 by William Schulz

The Tulsa Roughnecks of the United Soccer League took a commanding lead in the first half and took care of business at home the rest of the way with a 5-3 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup win over the Oklahoma City Energy U23s on Wednesday night.

Pavel Kondrakhin scored twice for the Roughnecks in the victory.

The University of Tulsa found itself host to the US Open Cup for the second time in as many weeks for OKC Energy U23s vs. Tulsa at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Complex. Both teams came into the match fresh off of weekend victories.

Oklahoma City began the first half unafraid of the Roughnecks, and both sides came out swinging. All that changed when Jaime Ayala scored the opener in the 8th minute. From that point on, Tulsa sat firmly in the driver’s seat, doubling their lead within five minutes thanks to Christian Mata.

Oklahoma City found themselves without meaningful possession for long periods during the rest of the first half, only managing to break into the final third on breakaway counters that came to nothing. Tulsa scored a third in stoppage time thanks to a lovely one-two play from Christian Mata finished by Kondrakhin.

The second half started in much the same way the first had, with both teams playing aggressively and openly culminating in a Roughnecks goal for Kondrakhin. This time, however, the Energy came charging back with a vengeance. Suddenly Oklahoma City had the lion’s share of possession and the better of the scoring chances. The Energy finally got on the scoreboard thanks to Mark Lindstrom, and they kept the pressure high.

Within the next 15 minutes, Oklahoma City managed to force an own goal and score again via Christian Okeke. The match also turned physical during this stretch, with four yellow cards shown between the two clubs.

In the end, Tulsa held on to emerge victorious by a score of 5 to 3. The Tulsa Roughnecks will go on to host San Antonio FC on Wednesday, May 31. The winner of that match will take on the defending US Open Cup champion FC Dallas (MLS) in Round 4.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: OKC Energy U23s eliminate Tulsa Athletic, earn date with Tulsa Roughnecks in Round 2

May 12, 2017 by William Schulz

First-time US Open Cup entry Oklahoma City Energy U23s moved on to the Second Round of tournament play with a 4-2 penalty kick victory over Tulsa Athletic after a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night at the University of Tulsa’s Hurricane Track & Soccer Complex.

Oklahoma City’s Matt Puig scored in regulation and in penalty kicks, but it was Tulsa goal scorer Declan Fitzpatrick that saw his chance in kicks sail high to end the game.

The first half was an open-ended and exciting affair, as both teams hit the ground running. Oklahoma City maintained a slim edge over Tulsa for most of the half. Both clubs played a physical first half, with Oklahoma City’s Noah Keats earning a yellow card for a piece of physical play. Tulsa came back with a surge of offense, but were unable to capitalize thanks to some fantastic goal keeping by OKC’s Eric Dick. Tulsa’s goalkeeper Michael Kluver was also in top form, making several important stops. Oklahoma City eventually found the back of the net near the end of the first half through Matt Puig, who scored an unassisted goal in the 44th minute of play.

The second half began with a much slower pace as Oklahoma City sat back in possession and Tulsa seemed unwilling to push. As time marched on, Tulsa slowly found their feet and by the middle of the second half they were knocking on the door for an equalizer.

Dick was an absolute beast in the second half, making numerous saves to deny Tulsa the goal they so desperately craved.

Eventually Tulsa found a crack in OKC’s defenses and managed to score a tremendous equalizer from Fitzpatrick. After the equalizer, the game accelerated to a frantic pace, but neither side was able to push ahead.

Both clubs spent all their substitutions during regulation, so a slowing of pace was perhaps inevitable as the rain came down on extra time. Tulsa’s Gustavo Vargas earned the first yellow card of extra time as tempers began to wear thin. Tulsa looked the more aggressive side, but neither were able to break through during the first half of extra time. The second half of the period proved to be a muddy and slog-filled with cramps and missed opportunities. This match would be decided by penalty kicks.

The rain stopped falling as though in recognition of the gravity surrounding the moment. The Energy were first up, and Jacob Van Compemolle scored the first goal. Tulsa’s Santiago Riveros attempted to answer, but Dick proved the better man once again by saving the shot. Caio Ruiz doubled OKC’s penalty lead, but this time Tulsa answered back through Rollie Rocha to make it 2-1. Noah Keats netted penalty number three for the Energy, and Joe Garcia did the same for Tulsa to make it 3-2.

Puig, the Oklahoma City goal scorer, stepped up to score penalty number four. In an almost poetic fashion, Tulsa’s Fitzpatrick stepped up to take Athletic’s fourth penalty. Fitzpatrick buckled under the pressure, sending his penalty well above the target.

The Oklahoma City Energy U23s will face the Tulsa Roughnecks on May 17.

2014 US Open Cup Round 2: Oklahoma City Energy beat Tulsa Athletics as tournament returns to Oklahoma (video)

May 17, 2014 by William Schulz

In the first all-Oklahoma Open Cup match in decades (possibly ever), expansion teams Tulsa Athletics (green) battled the Oklahoma City Energy. Photo: Tulsa Athletics

A cool May afternoon served as the backdrop for the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in Tulsa, Okla. In front of 3,834 fans (the highest attendance of the round), the Tulsa Athletics of the NPSL were hosting the Oklahoma City Energy FC (USL PRO) for the very first time as both teams made their Open Cup debuts.

It was the first Open Cup game held in Oklahoma since 1997 when Los Lobos (USASA) welcomed the Central Jersey Riptide to Tulsa for a first round game (Riptide won 1-0). 17 years later, the tournament has returned to the Sooner State.

In the end, it was the professional expansion team, Energy FC, who were too much for the amateur side as Dave Leichty and Cyprian Hedrick scored a goal in each half to win the game 2-0. The Energy now earn a spot in the Third Round where they will travel to Peoria, Ariz. to take on fellow USL PRO team Arizona United SC on May 28.

Tulsa started the match by attempting to outrun Oklahoma City, and earned themselves some solid early possession. All that possession fizzled out when the Athletics reached the attacking third of the field however, as Tulsa only managed to get one shot on goal through the entire first half.

3,834 fans showed up to watch the Tulsa Athletics and the Oklahoma City Energy play their first US Open Cup game. Photo: Tulsa Athletics

Leichty broke the deadlock in the 10th minute on OKC’s first shot of the match. From there, Tulsa’s composure began to waiver and the fouls became more common. The increased physicality of the first half culminated in the first two yellow cards of the match, issued to Kevin Howard and Ray Saari in the 26th and 38th minutes, respectively.

Tulsa began the second half with the substitution of Dave Leung for Levi Coleman and a more focused plan of attack. Physicality remained a part of Tulsa’s play, quickly earning them several fouls. Unfortunately, as in the first half, Tulsa just didn’t have any idea ideas in the final third.

Oklahoma City doubled their lead in the 68th minute when Hedrick fired home a Kyle Miller free kick. Tulsa’s composure crumbled following the goal, their play becoming even more physical and desperate.

The physicality of play intensified on both sides until the 76th minute when Dave Leung was issued a straight red after a vicious tackle. Things spiraled out of control for Tulsa from that point on, until Stephen Brocks was issued a straight red card for a challenge on OKC’s keeper while the keeper was on the ground in possession of the ball.

The match ended 2-0 in Oklahoma City’s favor, ending a 4-game losing streak in all competitions. The loss was Tulsa’s first of the year, and surely contains some hard lessons for the team of youngsters. Oklahoma City Energy FC will travel to fellow USL Pro team Arizona United SC in Round 3 on May 28.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

FULL MATCH REPLAY

2012 US Open Cup First Round: Georgia Revolution edge Mississippi Brilla, 1-0 in OT

May 16, 2012 by William Schulz

Two southern soccer clubs took their time deciding a winner Tuesday evening as the host Georgia Revolution of the NPSL claimed a 1-0 decision over Mississippi Brilla of the PDL at the RYSL Soccerplex in Conyers, Georgia. After testing one another throughout, the goal would come in the 105th minute of the overtime affair.

The two clubs primarily played it safe in the early stages of the match, not committing too many men forward. However, the two keepers, Mississippi’s Phil Boerger and Georgia’s Zach Schultze, were forced to make saves during a fast-paced passage of play in the seventh minute. Boerger was called into service again two minutes later, and soon after would pluck a dangerous Revolution cross from midair.

Brilla, in their second tournament appearance, would only manage to create a handful of chances to score as the first half wore on, including a missed bicycle attempt. A more promising opportunity came in the 37th minute, as Chris Oeching and Filipe Silva combined for a clever play resulting in a Silva shot saved by Schultze.

The Revolution, making their Open Cup debut, had a similar number of chances in the opening 45, though one could argue Georgia’s chances were of better quality. Sean Grisham sent a header high after finding himself unmarked on the end of a well-placed cross. Grisham would get another opportunity to score as a series of headed balls at the top of the Brilla box culminated in a shot that was saved by Brilla’s Boerger.

The second half opened with three shining chances for Brilla FC to grab the first goal of the match, but all were dealt with by Schultze.

From that point on, play became a little more open than it had been in the first half. Georgia would have a dangerous loose ball situation in front of their goal, and Georgia’s Peter Vania received the match’s first yellow card as punishment for a late tackle.

The late stages of the second half proved just as open with each side having several opportunities to score. Brilla’s best opportunity came from a corner kick that was headed just wide, and Georgia’s Kwadwo Poku had a shot blocked inside the Brilla penalty area.

The first period of extra time was largely uneventful as both goalkeepers proved too much for either side’s attackers.

However, that all changed when Hailab Habtom, who had come on a substitute in the 62nd minute, broke the deadlock in the 105th minute with a well-placed header.

The second fifteen minutes of extra time were much livelier than the first, as Brilla FC pushed forward with all they had left in a desperate attempt to equalize. The Mississippi club would have numerous crosses and free kicks, but never really came close to the goal needed to survive.

The Georgia Revolution advance to the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, where they will host the NASL’s Atlanta Silverbacks. The match will take place on Tuesday, May 22, 2012.

Georgia Revolution 1:0 ( AET) Mississippi Brilla
RYSL Soccerplex – Conyers, Georgia

Scoring Summary:
GA: Hailab Habtom 105

Discipline:
GA: Peter Vania – Late Tackle, Kwadwo Poku – Dissent, Michael Nwiloh – Time Wasting

2012 Meet The USASA: KC Athletics from Kansas City, KS

May 15, 2012 by William Schulz

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.

After a one season’s absence, the Kansas City Athletics will once again represent the United States Adult Soccer Association’s (USASA) Region II at the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

For the last three years, KC has benefitted as the only entry from the state of Kansas, therefore not having to play a state qualifying tournament and getting a bye into the regional tournament. They are the only USASA club from Kansas to qualify for the Open Cup in the Modern Pro Era (1995-present).

In the 2010 tournament, the Athletics were eliminated in the first round by the NSC Minnesota Stars by a result of 4-2. Player/coach Kyle Perkins believes the game was much closer than the score line indicates, as one goal was scored via penalty kick and another the result of “an unlikely goalkeeper error.”

Since their elimination from the 2010 U.S. Open Cup, the Athletics have been playing in the Kansas Soccer Association League, and against some local colleges in the spring.

In 2011, the club’s qualification hopes were dashed by the Iowa Menace. A combination of overconfidence and only having ten players available doomed Kansas City to a crushing 7-1 defeat. The Athletics struck first, but Iowa seized the lead before halftime and never relented.

In their final qualifying match for the 2012 edition of the Open Cup, Kansas City again were forced to play with only ten men. The club only had the budget to send eleven players to the Bensenville, IL tournament, and at the last moment a player was called to train with the MLS side Sporting Kansas City. It was the luck of the draw for the Athletics because thanks to a blind draw conducted by Region II officials, it was determined that their game against the Cincy Saints would be a “Win & You’re In” match, with the other four entries playing off for the second Open Cup berth. Fortunately for the Athletics, their opponents, the Saints, had only eight players make the journey. KC won the match 10-2, and became the first Region II club to qualify for the tournament.

Regarding the victory, Perkins said, “Even with ten we would have been able to compete against a full eleven and scrap out a win. If we didn’t believe that we wouldn’t have shown up. All we could do was play against the team we drew.”

Kansas City will face the Premier Development League’s Real Colorado Foxes at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Co on Tuesday, May 15. Despite having a history of playing shorthanded, Perkins expects the Athletics to have a full-strength starting eleven and substitutes ready to go on match day. “We are a solid team who loves to play attacking soccer,” said Perkins, “So I am sure there will be some goals this week.

“Our goal every year is to go as far as we can in the Open Cup and win our regional final in June,” Perkins added. “It’s one step at a time for us.”

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