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.
Amidst quite a bit of controversy and misunderstanding, the Dearborn Stars will participate in the 100th Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Don’t expect them to make any apologies.
In the 30-year-old club’s first attempt at qualifying for the Cup, the Stars earned the opportunity to represent the United States Adult Soccer Association’s (USASA) Region II. They took a first step toward clinching a berth with a 5-0 drubbing of the Cincinnati Saints at home and etched their spot in the tournament when the Kansas City Athletics couldn’t travel to a makeup game.
In the original contest between Dearborn and Kansas City in Kansas, the Athletics emerged victorious thanks to a late goal, but the Stars were playing the game under protest because the field was not regulation size. Region II ruled in favor of Dearborn, and the Athletics conceded the match when they couldn’t arrange last-minute transportation to the rematch in Chicago.
Dearborn became just the third team from the Michigan Soccer Association to qualify for the tournament in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present), joining Motor City clubs Detroit United (2010) and Chaldean Arsenal (2001).
The Athletics have voiced their frustration with the Stars and the way they were left out of the Open Cup both online and through the local media, Dearborn has put the off-field drama behind it and moved on.
“It was tough at the beginning because there was a negative vibe about us,” said coach Sam Piraine. “But we do belong, and we’re ready to prove that.”
Behind the veil of the controversial qualification, the Stars have a solid lineup that is highlighted by a prolific offense and a lockdown goalkeeper. Serbian native Miki Djeresilo played professionally in Europe when he was younger and joined Dearborn because he couldn’t let go of the game; he now leads the team in goals. Another standout is Hamoody Saad, who was a standout at the University of Michigan alongside his brother Soony Saad who currently plays for defending US Open Cup champions Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer. In goal is netminder Vito Lonigro who made several spectacular saves against Kansas City and Cincinnati in the qualifying rounds, an occurrence the Stars are very accustomed to.
“ is one of our standouts,” Piraine said. “He’s been put to the test before, and he’s answered the call.”
Dearborn is surely the underdog in its opening-round Open Cup contest against the Premier Development League’s Michigan Bucks, one of the best-known amateur teams in the country. The Bucks became the first amateur club in the country to topple two MLS teams, adding last year’s 3-2 extra time victory over the Chicago Fire to its historic defeat of the New England Revolution in 2000. Meanwhile, the Stars have never participated in the nationwide tournament and will play on the road at the Ultimate Soccer Arena in Pontiac, Mich. The contest will mark just the fifth game in the 100-year history of the tournament to be played indoors.
Because Dearborn regularly trains indoors and hosts official matches on artificial turf, Piraine expects that playing at Ultimate Soccer Arena won’t present too difficult a challenge. That experience will help the Stars avoid another controversy and focus solely on their opponents.
The Stars are hoping to ride the momentum of some recent victories into their Open Cup match on Tuesday. They defeated Zoo City FC in the state semifinals of the US Amateur Cup 3-1 last weekend with goals by Sam Seppo, Thiago Harris and Ahmad Jawad.
The US Open Cup gives even the smallest teams the chance to make a name for themselves on a national stage, and the Stars hope to do just that. After the negativity surrounding its qualification, Piraine wants people to remember Dearborn for its performance on the field.
“The guys are ready to prove themselves,” he said. “We were upset that we couldn’t re-play Kansas, but unfortunately, that’s how it happened. We have a tough task ahead of us but we’re ready to put on a good show. And anything can happen.”
Alejandro Zúñiga can be reached on Twitter