Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

2012 First Round

2012 US Open Cup First Round: Reading United finally gets Open Cup win, downing NY Greek American Atlas 2-1 in delayed game

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Photo: Glenn Riegel | www.GRiegelPhoto.com

Reading United AC has had a heartbreaking track record in the U.S. Open Cup in recent years.

Losing a late lead to Harrisburg last year. Falling in double overtime to Real Maryland FC in 2010. In five years, Reading United has suffered five losses in the U.S. Open Cup.

However, this year is different.

Despite playing in just its second game of 2012,  the United got a goal and an assist from Ryan Finley and a clutch stop in stoppage time by goalkeeper Emmanuel Martin to defeat the USASA’s New York Greek American Atlas SC 2-1 on a rainy night at Fleetwood’s Ray Bus Stadium Tuesday night.

The win puts the United, the Philadelphia Union’s PDL affiliate, into the U.S. Open Cup’s Second Round, sending them to Blackbaud Stadium in South Carolina to face USL PRO’s Charleston Battery May 22, sandwiched three days before and after league games.

Finley set up the first United goal in the 37th minute, as a cross found Pedro Ribeiro, who slid his shot into the net for a 1-0 lead.

Finley struck for the second goal in the 55th minute, finishing a Steven Neumann free kick after former Philadelphia Union defender Christian Arrieta was booked for New York.

New York cut the lead in half in the 64th minute on a goal from Stephen Roche, assisted by Paul Shaw.

Two minutes later, the match was delayed by an hour and 15 minutes due to severe weather.

After the restart, New York nearly broke through, but Martin’s diving save at the end ensured that United would advance in the tournament for the first time in team history.

United, 0-0-1 in the PDL after a 1-1 tie with the New Jersey Rangers, will resume league play May 19 against the Long Island Rough Riders, another U.S. Open Cup first round winner.

The winner of the United-Battery match will face a yet-to-be-determined Major League Soccer team.

2012 US Open Cup First Round: Fresno Fuego stops Turlock Express in its tracks 2-0

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After playing at the home of the Fresno Fuego on their way to earning the first spot in the history of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for a US Club Soccer team, the Stanislaus United Turlock Express welcomed the Fuego to their home in Turlock, California in the First Round of the 2012 edition. The Fuego had not been in the Open Cup since their inaugural season in 2003, where a magical run saw them make it all the way to the Fourth Round and a date with the defending MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy. Fresno, led by Abraham Campos, made their triumphant return by defeating the Express 2-0 to advance to the Second Round.

The two clubs started off the game slow, with the first half ending scoreless. Soon after second half kickoff, Campos, the soon-to-be junior at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, scored in the 47th minute to give Fresno the 1-0 lead. In the 59th minute, midfielder Nehemias Blanco earned a red card to bring the Fuego down to ten men. That didn’t hamper Fresno down as the second-year midfielder Campos struck again, this time in the 70th minute. He received an assist from Paul Islas, the Fresno native who is set to enter his senior season at Fresno Pacific University.

The two goals by Campos would turn out to be enough as the Fresno Fuego move on to the Second Round for the first time since that 2003 run. They will now play on the road against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the NASL on Tuesday, May 22. Kickoff time is set for 7:30 PM ET.

Stanislaus United Turlock Express 0:2 Fresno Fuego
Academia Fields – Turlock, Calif.

FRE: Abraham Campos 47
FRE: Abraham Campos (Paul Islas) 70

Discipline
FRE: Nehemias Blanco – ejection 59

2012 US Open Cup First Round: Michigan Bucks steamroll Jersey Shore Boca 6-0

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A view from the press area at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas' main field. | File Photo: Josh Hakala

Being on the good side of the only rout of the First Round of the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the Michigan Bucks had no trouble piling onto their record for most US Open Cup wins by any amateur team in the Modern Era (1995-present). In the end, the USL Premier Development League squad took it to Jersey Shore Boca of the USASA, winning 6-0 at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac, Michigan (outside Detroit).

Trinidad national Stefan St. Louis scored twice in the first half, and Nermin Crnkic added two second half assists to his first half goal as the Bucks advanced to the Second Round of play in the 99th edition of the US Open Cup.

It was only the second match the Bucks had played this season, and the first official match other than an exhibition practice last Saturday. The team did look a bit rusty, according to head coach Gary Parsons, as Michigan had difficulty finishing.

They outshot Boca 28-6 in the first half, but only had 11 shots on net. “The finishing was frustrating,” Parsons said. “It would have been tougher if they had gotten us to halftime . When you don’t score like that, it does get frustrating. But we finally got one and another one. When that starts happening, it’s pretty much done.”

One contributing factor to the lopsided score was a red card in the 17th minute which sent off Jersey Shore defender Nick Tarquinio as the Bucks’ St. Louis drove in for what would have been a 1-on-1 goal scoring opportunity just outside the box. Player/coach Michael McCullion did not believe that Tarquinio deserved the booking, but admitted it did change the dynamic of the contest. “Getting a man down changed the whole game, especially the first ten to 15 minutes ,” he said. “We tried our best, but they are a great, fit club that is very athletic. We did our best; that’s what we came here to do.”

The Bucks ended the first half with a flurry of goals, scoring three within the span of seven minutes, with St. Louis bookending a goal by Crnkic. St. Louis’ second goal was a thing of beauty as he calmly back heeled the ball into the net .

St. Louis was happy with the result, but admitted they could have done more. “We just couldn’t get the ball into the net, which made the game a little more even,” St. Louis said. “We missed a couple early chances, but we finally scored and opened up the play. All the practice we have had paid off and it was good to play someone else.” Michigan lessened the pressure and added subs in the second half of the game, but scored three more goals in the final 16 minutes of the match.

Also scoring for the Bucks were Tom Catalano, Ethan Miller, and Bim Ogunyemi. Adam Grinwis finished with four saves for Michigan while Boca goalkeeper Bobby Feeney was busy, making 15 saves. “That was one of the best games I have seen Bobby Feeney play,” McCullion said. “He kept us in the game for the first 30 minutes, and even longer than that.”

The win gives the Bucks – who have been in the US Open Cup nine times in 16 years – their 10th overall win (10-7-1) in the Cup. They also improved to 7-4-1 at home. The Bucks head to Pittsburgh to take on the Riverhounds of the third division USL Pro league for the Second Round.

“We set a high standard with this team,” St. Louis said. “Whichever team it is, we go out and expect high performance and getting the win.”

Parsons expects upwards of six players to be able to join the squad for the Second Round of the US Open Cup. “That will make us stronger for next Tuesday,” he said.

McCullion said he expects Jersey Shore Boca to enter the tournament next year with even more confidence. “I think back home, this brings a little more credit to our club for getting players that want to compete at high levels,” he said.

NOTES: The Bucks have scored in 17 of 18 US Open Cup matches. … Catalano finished with a goal and an assist. … This was the third US Open Cup game played indoors. Michigan has hosted two of them and is 1-1 (lost 2-1 in the First Round in 2008 to the Cleveland City Stars). … The Bucks have tied the team record for most goals scored in a US Open Cup match with 6 (2000 First Round: 6-0 win over Jerry D’s).

Jersey Shore Boca 0:6 Michigan Bucks
Ultimate Soccer Arenas – Pontiac, Mich.

MIC: Stefan St. Louis (Matthew Banher) 31
MIC: Nermin Crnkic (Tom Catalano) 36
MIC: Stefan St. Louis (Steven Miller) 38
MIC: Tom Catalano (Thomas Schmitt) 74
MIC: Ethan Miller (Nermin Crnkic) 83
MIC: Bim Ogunyemi (Nermin Crnkic) 89

Discipline:
JSB: Nick Tarquinio – ejection 17

Saves: Michigan – 4 (Adam Grinwis); Jersey Shore – 15 (Bobby Feeney)
Corners: Michigan 9; Jersey Shore 5

2012 US Open Cup First Round: Chicago Fire PDL squeak by Croatian Eagles 1-0

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Photo: Chicago Fire

The first five minutes of the Chicago Fire’s PDL season couldn’t have gone much better Tuesday night.

Mark Blades came down the left flank and squared the ball to Isaac Kanneh for a tap-in and an early lead against the Croatian Eagles in a first-round match of the 99th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The rest of the night, though, was filled with things for coach Mark Spooner to work on with his team, which held on to that slim lead the rest of the way in a 1-0 victory at the Toyota Park Practice Field in Bridgeview, Ill.

“Obviously, I’m not going to complain about it – it was the goal that took us through – but I kind of felt that the goal kind of killed the game a little bit,” said Spooner, whose team had its first training session just five days earlier.

“We never really got into a flow, any rhythm of soccer. But we’ll take it. … We’re in the second round, and ultimately, that’s all that matters.”

The Fire will next face the Dayton Dutch Lions of USL Pro in the second round next Tuesday. The Eagles, meanwhile, were eliminated from their first Open Cup appearance since 2006.

Chicago had plenty of chances to put the game away but was stymied by Croatians goalkeeper Bryce Boyd.

“He played outstanding,” Eagles manager Alex Toth said of Boyd, who got the nod over former professional Ante Cop in a reversal from last month’s U.S. Adult Soccer Region II tournament.

“They had so much pace up top they were able to get behind us a couple times, and he was able to come up with some big saves that kept it at 1-0.”

Boyd stopped Chris Prince on a point-blank shot in the 13th minute and dove to deny Brady Wahl in the 34th, and stopped two 1-on-1 situations in the second half. Boyd finished with eight saves.

“I thought he was fantastic,” said Spooner, whose side advanced to the third round of the tournament in 2011 before losing to Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City. “We needed to take our chances, and the game really could have been dead and buried at halftime, and it wasn’t. Their keeper kept them in it and they pushed us towards the end.”

Croatians didn’t generate much going forward in the first half, with striker Aaron Lauber’s flick-header off a cross from Billy Von Rueden that went just over the crossbar in the 41st their only real scoring opportunity before the break.

But the Milwaukee club forced Fire PDL keeper Jordan Godsey into six of his seven saves in the second 45, including stops on Mohammed Sethi, Michael Narciso and Edison Crespo that held the Eagles off the scoresheet.

“The first half, I don’t think we played too well. The second half was better. And then the last 20, it was ours,” said Toth, who switched his team’s 4-5-1 into a 3-5-2 as it went in search of the equalizer. “We were able to put pressure on them, and they basically just held on to that game.”

Croatian Eagles 0:1 Chicago Fire PDL
Toyota Park Practice Field – Bridgeview, Ill.

CHI: Isaac Kannah (Mark Blades) 5

Discipline:
CRO: Andrew Wiedabach – caution 19
CRO: Mike Narciso – caution 29
CHI: Jacob Bushue – caution 32

Lineups:
CHICAGO FIRE PDL: Justin Godsey, Daniel Keller, David Tiemstra, Sean Totsch, Patrick Doody; Brady Wahl (Tyler Engel 87), Jacob Bushue (Chris Ritter 61), Harrison Shipp, Mark Blades; Isaac Kannah, Chris Prince (Javier Torres 78). Substitutes not used: Sam Euler (GK), Dan Figura, Luis Medina, Marco Gutierrez.

CROATIAN EAGLES: Bryce Boyd; Mike Narciso, Tony Patterson, Aaron Schroeder, Billy Von Rueden; Jason Willan (Mohammed Sethi 60), Andrew Wiedabach, Scott Suprise, Scotty Raymonds, Joe Anderson; Aaron Lauber (Edison Crespo 68). Substitutes not used: Ante Cop (GK), Aaron Cranfill, Ilya Ksenidi, Gustavo Mena, Lati Ziba.

Saves: CHI (Godsey) 7, CRO (Boyd) 8. Shots: Not available. Fouls: CHI 7, CRO 6. Corner kicks: CHI 9, CRO 2. Offsides: CHI 4, CRO 2.

2012 US Open Cup First Round: Des Moines Menace defeat Milwaukee Bavarians in game that didn’t want to end

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Des Moines Menace won a physical battle with the Milwaukee Bavarians en route to a 3-1 win. Photo: Nicole Haase

Playing most of the game two men down due to ejections proved too much for the younger Milwaukee Bavarians team as they fell to the Des Moines Menace in the First Round of the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The game was delayed in starting by 45 minutes due to inclement weather and delayed again at halftime for more rain and lightning. It also went into overtime and was delayed when the sprinklers came on before the OT period could begin. But the Menace didn’t let more than four hours at the fields deter them from their goal of advancing in the Open Cup.

For the Menace, it was their first win in the Open Cup since 2006, when they won three games in one of the more impressive tournament runs by an amateur club. It was also a rematch of sorts as the Menace lost their opening round game in 2003 to the Bavarians’ USASA club, 3-2 in extra time.

The Bavarians scored first on a brilliant cross from Chris Madsen that Cyril Simmons headed home in the 25th minute. Simmons might not score a goal that pretty again all season. It was textbook.

From there, the Bavarians fell into a more defensive stance and the Menace couldn’t quite seem to put it together.

Bavarians’ goalie Josh Rhode was shaky to start the game. He had trouble with his punts and goal kicks and misplayed a ball played back to him, almost leading to a Menace goal. But give credit to the Bavarians defense, who backed him up and never let Rhode’s unsteadiness shake their play.

Defense is a strength of this Bavarians team. Des Moines failed to put together a credible threat throughout the first sixty minutes of the ball game because the Milwaukee defense stopped them cold before they could get close to the net. The Menace came out of the back or midfield multiple times with threatening-looking plays that would fizzle before they became dangerous. Credit a steady, stout Bavarians defense for that.

The tenor of the game changed just before half. In an already physical game, there was pushing and shoving on the far touchline that ended up with an upset scorer’s table. No foul was called and the Bavarians had a shot on goal. The resulting corner kick was a scramble in front of the net and when the melee cleared, a Menace player was on the ground and Andrew Stone was booked with a red card for elbowing him in the face. Chris Madsen was booked shortly thereafter with a yellow card, presumably for dissent.

And that’s how the half ended.

Madsen had a change just a few minutes into the first half that Bavarian coach Andreas Davi said he thought would have completely changed the game. Madsen came in off the right side and ended up one on one with the keeper, but his shot went wide.

For Davi, making it a 2-0 game would have all-but guaranteed his team a win and he put the missed shot down to his team’s youth and inexperience. As the Bavarian team is made up entirely of college players, they have not spent a lot of time together yet – they had one player still taking final exams today.

“If Madsen makes it 2-0, we don’t even go into OT. This is where the kids have to learn. He has to ask the keeper ‘left, right or nutmeg’ and you put that ball in the corner. And then you play with nine guys in the back and you win that game.”

After the second rain delay, the Menace came out with a new look, moving players around to better maximize the effectiveness of Lebogang Moloto. Moloto’s pace was apparent early in the game, but the Bavarians were able to contain him. Now that Milwaukee was down a man and up a goal, Des Moines coach Laurie Calloway made some adjustments.

“We made a couple of changes strategically with (Lebogang) Moloto and took out (Philip) Da Silva and brought in Luis Piffer who I thought added something to us and sort of a combination of some of those things. At half time I wasn’t really happy with the performance and let them know that and it was just a couple of changes that led us to dominate in the game a little bit more.”

Des Moines received a penalty kick in the 57th minute when Luis Piffer went down in the box, but Logan McDaniel’s shot hit the post. The missed opportunity, however, seemed to drive the Menace. A beautiful cross was headed into the crossbar just a few minutes later. In all, Des Moines’ shots hit the post or crossbar four times in the second half and overtime.

Bavarians David Caban received his second yellow of the game and was sent off in the 66th minute. Down two men, fatigue started to become a factor for the Bavarians as they had more field to cover and the pace of Moloto was becoming more and more apparent in the re-vamped front for Des Moines.

Husref Jubic scored on a cross from Luis Piffer and coach Calloway’s change in strategy paid off just 20 minutes into the second half.
Offensive chances became few and far between for the Bavarians, as they struggled to cover the whole field. Even if a player got the ball in the offensive zone, he didn’t have anyone to support him or to pass to. The Menace defenders swarmed and the threat was over.

The Bavarians did muster one final offensive push and appeared to score in the 72nd minute. Kelmend Islami carried the ball through the midfield, beat his defenders and ended up one on one with the Menace keeper. A perfectly-placed half volley into the net seemed to give the Bavarians the lead, but it was called back for offside

The Bavarians seemed to deflate even more after the goal was waived off and they failed to put together any more credible offensive threats in regulation.

Where Rhode was shaky early in, he kept his team in the game as the second half wore on. He made more than one remarkable save, including one in the final minutes that looked to be a sure Menace goal.

The ball was pinballing around the six-yard box and Rhode made a save near the far post. As the ball fell to the Menace on the near post, Rhode came diving across to make the save on the goal line. The play was so close that some Menace players were calling that the ball had gone in.

The half ended much like the first, as Des Moines Jubril Lawal was sent off with a red card for a dirty slide tackle. More yelling and pushing and shoving ensued, but the game headed to overtime tied at one.

The start of the overtime period was delayed about eight minutes as the automatic sprinklers made an appearance on the field and the Bavarians’ grounds crew had to figure out how to turn them off and have the sprinkler heads retreat back into the ground.

It was probably only a matter of time before the pace of Moloto became too much for the fatigued Bavarian defense. That breakthrough came in the 102nd minute when Moloto just out-ran the tired Bavarians back line, taking it one-on-one to the box and beating Rhode. The Menace were up 2-1 with about 18 minutes left of overtime play.

Des Moines put the game away for good with another Moloto goal in the 108th minute, this time on a pass from McDaniel. Moloto was unmarked in front of the net and McDaniel placed a cross perfectly at his feet.

Up next for Des Moines is more league play, that Calloway stressed as important as his team had stumbled early in the season. They will then face the Minnesota Stars of the North American Soccer League in the Second Round of the US Open Cup next Tuesday.

Davi said that while a victory would have been nice, a game like this one will do a lot to bond his team together as they start their NPSL league play this weekend. He also stressed that this was likely the biggest game any of his players had ever played in. And while they’re thankful for the chance to play in the Open Cup, they’re an NPSL team and they earned their place in the Cup because they won the Midwest Region – and that’s their goal again.

2012 US Open Cup First Round
Des Moines Menace (PDL) 3:1 Milwaukee Bavarians (NPSL)
May 15, 2012 – Bavarian Soccer Club, Glendale, WI

Scoring Summary
MKE – Cyril Simmons (Chris Madsen) – 25th min.
DSM – Husref Jupic (Luis Piffer) – 70th min.
DSM– Lebogang Moloto (Brent Kallman) – 102nd min.
DSM– Lebogang Moloto (Logan McDaniel) – 108th min.

Booking Summary
MKE – David Caban (Yellow) – 18th min.
MKE – Andrew Stone (Red) – 45th min.
MKE – Chris Madsen (Yellow) – 45th min.
MKE – David Caban (2nd Yellow=Red) – 66th min.
MKE – Kelmend Islami (Yellow) – 73rd min.
DSM – Taylor Diem (Yellow) – 80th min.
DSM – Jubril Lawal (Red) – 90th min.

Des Moines lineup: Brian Billings (GK), Risto Laetti, Javier Lopez, Taylor Diem, Jubril Lawal, Lebogang Moloto, Logan McDaniel, Brandon Fricke, Benito Armaral, Husref Jupic, Philip Da Silva
Subs: Brent Kallman, Luis Piffer, Carlos McCrary

Milwaukee lineup: Josh Rhode (GK), Andrew Stone, Luke Goodnetter, Sam Krenzien, Ryan Whitehead, Charlie Hoover, Kelmend Islami, Amilcar Herrera, Chris Madsen, David Caban, Cyril Simmons
Subs: Robbie Boyd, James Weber, Dustin Page

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 US Open Cup First Round: Long Island Rough Riders blank FC Sonic Lehigh Valley 2-0

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Neither gloomy weather nor a change in venue could keep the visiting Long Island Rough Riders of the PDL from earning a comfortable 2-0 victory over FC Sonic Lehigh Valley of the NPSL in the opening round of the 2012 US Open Cup.

Goals from Thomas Wharf and Shaun Higgins in the first half were enough to propel the Rough Riders into a second round matchup against USL Pro side Harrisburg City Islanders. The Rough Riders will be looking for some revenge, as Harrisburg knocked them out of the tournament in 2010 by a score of 1-0.

Unlike Long Island, FC Sonic had no prior Open Cup experience. They finished second in the NPSL Keystone Division last year, but qualified for the tournament when division champion Erie Admirals decided not to participate.

Instead of being held at the normal home field of FC Sonic at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., strong rains forced the game to be moved to a turf field at Whitehall High School several miles away. However, the change did not affect the visitors, as it was Long Island with the first chance of the game in the 10th minute. After FC Sonic replied with a shot of its own, the Rough Riders took control of the game.

In the 19th minute, Wharf got his head on a free kick and put it in the back of the net. Just three minutes later, Long Island doubled its lead when Higgins got on the end of a cross from James Mulligan. The 30-year-old Higgins’ goal gave the Rough Riders a 2-0 lead that FC Sonic could not overcome.

With neither team being able to make a breakthrough in the second half, both coaches decided on a change of emphasis. FC Sonic coach Dave Weitzman opted for a more attacking approach, bringing in two forwards in for two defenders. Long Island coach Paul Roderick, on the other hand, brought on two defenders in exchange for a forward and a midfielder.

In the end, the changes made little difference, and FC Sonic could muster only one real chance toward the end of the game. Long Island earned its fourth Open Cup victory and improved to 3-2-0 against amateur clubs all-time.

Scoring Summary:

Long Island – Thomas Wharf (Assist?) – 19
Long Island – Shaun Higgins (James Mulligan) – 22

Lineups: N/A

Discipline: FCS – Brandon Turner (caution, 23)

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

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