2012 Meet the USASA

Meet the USASA: Class of 2012

May 20, 2012 by J.T. Alwin

Nine teams from the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and one from United States Club Soccer have qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup this year.

Will a club imitate Dallas Roma FC’s famous run in 2006? Will our bonus feature, Stanislaus United Turlock Express, make a name for US Club Soccer? These questions are yet to be answered, but we can introduce you to the amateur sides that will be taking the field on Tuesday. Click on the links below to read about the clubs:

Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (Region I – DC/VA – Sterling, VA)

Greek American Atlas (Region I – East New York – New York, NY)

Jersey Shore Boca (Region I – New Jersey – Toms River, NJ)

Croatian Eagles (Region II – Wisconsin – Milwaukee, WI)

KC Athletics (Region II – Kansas – Kansas City, MO)

ASC New Stars (Region III – Texas-South – Houston, TX)

North Texas Rayados (Region III – Texas-North – Dallas, TX)

Cal FC (Region IV – Southern California – Thousand Oaks, CA)

PSA Elite (Region IV – Southern California – Irvine, CA)

BONUS: US Club Soccer

Stanislaus United Turlock Express (US Club Soccer – Turlock, CA)

2012 Meet the USASA: PSA Elite from Irvine, CA

May 15, 2012 by Tavio Palazzolo

Founded in 2002, PSA Elite is known as one of the premier amateur sides in Orange County, California. They are competing in their first Lamar Hunt US Open Cup this year as they travel to Portland to play the Portland Timbers U23’s. Despite this being their first trip to the national spotlight as a team, they are far from inexperienced.

Owner and executive director Alex Lujan is looking forward to the opportunity of competing in the US Open Cup this year. His club got their first taste of national competition last year, as PSA Elite competed in the 2011 USASA National Championships in Bowling Green, Kentucky. There, after defeating the Region III champion from Texas, they lost to a Chicago side from Region II by a score of 3-2 in the final.

Soon after the tournament, the option was presented to him to compete in the US Open Cup. It offered two things: being able to compete in the United States’ oldest national soccer tournament, and entering the amateur national championship. So he obliged and signed up to compete. He wanted to make sure that the team was prepared for the challenge, so out of the 17 players he is bringing to Portland, all but three of them were on the team last year. He wants to create continuity and a familiarity between the players.

The three players that were brought into the squad were midfielder Edwin Miranda, who came from the Los Angeles Blues of USL Pro, midfielder Miguel “Mikey” Lopez, who is entering his sophomore season at North Carolina this fall, and Miguel Ontiveros, who recently played with Premier Development League side Orange County Blue Star.

PSA Elite has no lack of talent, and plenty of players who have had professional experience. The aforementioned Miranda was drafted by the Dallas Burn in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft, was signed by the Portland Timbers, and later moved on to Puerto Rico, Miami, and Hollywood. He has spent the last eight years in the USL professional ranks. PSA Elite’s captain, Cameron Dunn, has played for the Timbers, the California Victory, and the Los Angeles Blues. He is known for having a strong presence in the back, and having excellent leadership. Also, John “Tre” Lee, a defender for the club, has suited up with the Cleveland City Stars.

The club is run very professionally, with the only caveat being that it is an amateur side, and that no players are paid. There is an extremely high talent pool in Orange County the team is drawing from, and it shows in the competition. The players are treated like pros, from the moment they lace up their cleats to the minute they finish the match and walk off the pitch. Everything from scheduling to laundry is taken care of in house by staff, so that the players can focus solely on playing at their best. Also, in the offseason, professional players spend time training with the club. Players known to appear include Sporting Kansas City striker Kei Kamara, Blake Wagner of the San Antonio Scorpions, and Toronto FC’s Eric Avila (whose brother, Adrian, is a current member of PSA Elite).

Facing off against the Portland Timbers U23’s is a good test for the club, says Lujan. Due to the multitude of players that have suited up for the Timbers in the past, they know what to expect going into Jeld-Wen Field. “The facility is amazing. The crowd is going to be loud and exciting.” He exclaims that the veteran presence on the club should help the younger players adjust to the atmosphere. They have to “make sure some of the younger guys play within themselves, and handle the adrenaline rush effectively.”

Lujan feels that the US Open Cup experience is going to help his club and his players, regardless of the outcome. “This is an absolute win-win for us. If we win, we play an NASL team (Carolina Railhawks). It’s a great experience for the guys. If we lose, the experience will be extremely rewarding. … We’re trying to give these guys experiences and opportunities to be seen and play in front of crowds on an amazing football field.”

Lujan sums up the whole opportunity by exclaiming the following statement: “I want to go out and win, but if we don’t, hopefully will make everyone better players.”

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

2012 Meet the USASA: Jersey Shore Boca of Toms River, NJ

May 15, 2012 by William Murphy

A club founded in 1978 and named after the famous Argentine club boasting a tremendously successful past in the state of New Jersey, you would be surprised to learn that Jersey Shore Boca has not only never played in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, but has not even applied to play in the tournament.

“When I first saw the opportunity to apply for the USOC qualifiers, I couldn’t believe that Boca never applied,” said player/manager Michael McCullion after the team touched down in Michigan. “I felt we had a strong enough side to take a shot, so I just went for it”

The Jersey Shore Boca men’s Open Cup team will add another chapter to the club history books during the First Round on May 15 as the men of blue-and-gold square off against the Michigan Bucks of the USL Premiere Development League in Pontiac, Michigan. It will be the first time in the club’s 34-year history that a Boca team will appear in the prestigious competition, and the first time in the Modern Professional Era (1995 to present) that team from New Jersey will make an appearance in the Open Cup via USASA Region I.

“We see this as a big step for both ourselves as a team and as representing the club.”

The timing was right, and McCullion’s decision had paid off. With the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup expanding to a field of 64 teams, the US Soccer Federation added a ninth berth to the USASA, expanding the Region I entrants to three due to its consistent number of entrants in recent years. It was a number that proved beneficial for Boca.

The team got its feet wet in the New Jersey semifinals, posting a 10-0 drubbing of Santorini with James Nelson scoring four times. Michael Pezza, Nick Tarquino and Simon Muckle each added two. Boca then proved their mettle in a showdown with the reigning three-time state champion Go Soccer FC, advancing in penalties after a 1-1 draw against the 2011 Region I semifinalists. Tomas Banionis tallied the equalizer in the 35th minute and Matt Heitmann made a save in the fifth round of the tiebreaker for the 5-4 decision from the spot.

They did not know it at the time, but that result was all they needed. Boca were paired up with another powerhouse in the Region I semifinals, and were unable to overcome their neighbors to the north, falling to New York Greek American Atlas, 2-0, on a pair of second half goals.

That left one apparent chance remaining to qualify, needing to win a consolation match with the Maryland Bays, who fell to Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks by the same score. The Bays, however, citing hardship from a combination of injuries and external player commitments were left with no choice but to forfeit their second chance to qualify, sending Jersey Shore Boca onto the prestigious national event.

Go Soccer were the state powers, and NY Greek American Atlas have a long history in the US Open Cup as four-time champions in the 1960-70s. But in the Michigan Bucks, Boca now face a club that has a history of success in the tournament’s Modern Era.

McCullion seemed reserved but quietly confident ahead of the match.

“Our main strength is our experience, both in the game and on this team. I personally have been with the club more than 10 years. We know each other well. That has always been a huge advantage to us on the field in big games, and for us, this is a big as it gets.”

That may come in handy as the Bucks are just coming together as a club for the PDL season, and are one of the three teams from the league (16 entrants total) that are entering the event without having played a regular season contest – a first that has been caused by the new schedule format of the Open Cup.

The Basics

Jersey Shore Boca is an amateur organization based in Lakewood NJ. Their men’s open team plays in the Garden State Soccer League. Boca fields teams from several age groups and both Men’s and Women’s teams, playing their home matches at John Patrick Sports Complex in Lakewood.

Jersey Shore Boca was founded in 1978 by Walt Pericciuoli and Phil Morretta, and promptly named after the very successful Argentine side Boca Juniors. Boca had just won its second Copa Libertadores and were crowned World Club Champions as well. The pair wanted to mimic both their style and success.

Boca started out with a U18 team that went undefeated in league play in each of its first two seasons. A second team was added in 1980 and the first and second teams finished one and two in the league. In 1990, the club grew with the addition of a semi-professional men’s team entered into the North East Super Soccer League (NESSL).

In 2001, Jersey Shore Boca became a member of the USL’s Super Y-League, and in 2002, the United Soccer Leagues awarded Jersey Shore Boca a Premier Development League franchise in 2003. The club, however, chose not to re-apply the following season.

There have been four senior National team players out of the club: George Gelnovatch, Ric Lansing, Dan McGuire and Ted Gillen. After a successful college and professional career, Gelnovatch is currently the head men’s soccer coach at the University of Virginia after serving as a former US Under-18 Men’s National Team Coach. Both Lansing and McGuire played professionally in Europe. Gillen achieved All-American status while at Penn State and played for the MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls) of during the first two seasons of Major League Soccer (1996-97).

Two members from the Boca 2006 U23 men’s team, Chris Konopka and Teddy Niziolek, were selected by the Kansas City Wizards and Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer in the MLS 2007 Supplemental Draft. Konopka’s career also took him to Europe, where he played in Ireland before coming back to MLS, spending time last season with the Red Bulls and Columbus Crew. His stint with the Crew included an appearance against the English Premier League’s Newcastle United in a friendly. He recently signed with the Philadelphia Union.

– Gerald Barnhart also contributed to this report

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

May 15, 2012 by Gerald Barnhart

cal-fc-vs-psa-elite-2012-region4 — 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

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.”

“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-fox-soccer — 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: KC Athletics from Kansas City, KS

May 15, 2012 by William Schulz

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

2012 Meet the USASA: Croatian Eagles from Milwaukee, WI

May 15, 2012 by Eric Anderson

When one of the oldest cup competitions in the world kicks off Tuesday night, one of the nation’s oldest clubs will be part of the action.

And the Croatian Eagles, formed in 1922, just might have the oldest player in the 99th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Jason Willan is expected to be in the lineup when the Croatians, based in the Milwaukee suburb of Franklin, face PDL side Chicago Fire Premier in a first-round match at the Toyota Park Practice Field in Bridgeview, Ill.

At 40 years old, Willan likely will be literally twice the age of some of the Fire Premier players.

“I do get a kick out of it – it has yet to rub me negatively, put it that way,” Willan said with a chuckle.

“But sometimes you get the comments on the field – you know, ‘Sit down, old man,’ stuff like that. You know what? I kind of swallow that, that’s fine, whatever. But don’t let me get the best of you. Watch your mouth if I go past you. It still makes it fun for me.”

This spring has been plenty of fun for the Croatians, who made the most of an unseasonably warm spring in Wisconsin and have been training and playing matches for two months. Conversely, the Fire Premier were scheduled to hold their first training session last Friday.

The Eagles blanked two of Illinois’ top amateur teams, fellow Croatian club RWB Adria and Polish side AAC Eagles, by identical 2-0 scores in the U.S. Adult Soccer Association Region II tournament April 14 and 15 in Bensenville, Ill., to earn their first Open Cup berth since 2006.

That year, the Croatians traveled to Iowa to face the PDL’s Des Moines Menace, falling 4-1 in the qualifying round. Willan scored the Eagles’ lone goal on a penalty kick in the 72nd minute after the home team had scored the first three goals of the night.

His only other Open Cup appearance came during his time with the Milwaukee Rampage of the A-League, a 2-1 home loss to the Orlando Nighthawks in a second-round match in 1998. Willan played six years with his hometown team before ending his outdoor career with the Minnesota Thunder in 2003 – he also played six seasons indoors, three each with the Detroit Rockers and Milwaukee Wave.

2011-12 Croatian Eagles results

Wisconsin Major League

Oct. 2 Milwaukee Kickers 1-0 W
Oct. 9 Milwaukee Sport Club 4-0 W
Oct. 16 at Madison United 2-1 W
Nov. 6 at Bavarian SC 1-1 T
Nov. 12 Club Latino 7-0 W
Nov. 13 Milwaukee Brewers FC 9-0 W
Nov. 20 United Serbians 2-2 T
April 29 at Milwaukee Brewers FC 6-0 W

Wisconsin Open Cup

Oct. 23 Semifinal – Bavarian SC 2-1 W
Oct. 30 Final – Milwaukee Kickers 2-2 T
(Croatian Eagles advance 5-4 on PKs)

USASA Region II Open Cup

April 14 Quarterfinal – RWB Adria (Ill.) 2-0 W
April 15 Semifinal – AAC Eagles (Ill.) 2-0 W

While Willan grew up playing for Milwaukee Sport Club, one of the Croatians’ rivals in the ethnic-dominated Milwaukee soccer scene, he said he started training with and playing for the Eagles between pro seasons about 13 years ago. He hasn’t left yet.

“There’s a lot of quality history to the club,” Willan said of the Croatians, who also played in the National Challenge Cup – which was later re-named the U.S. Open Cup – in 1943 and ’45.

“The club is quality, the organization from top to bottom, they just take a little more pride than some other clubs. And the players get treated well for the amateur level – that’s a big part of it. For me, seeing the professional side of it, you know this club is not far off from treating their players the same way. … You feel comfortable at the club.”

And despite his age, Willan still feels comfortable in his attacking midfield role in the Croatians’ 4-5-1 formation.

“He still has the drive, and he brings a really nice settling presence to the team when he’s on the field,” Eagles manager Alex Toth said of Willan. “He was considering retiring (during the winter), but he still has that drive and he’s a huge asset for us. That experience and the way he strikes the ball, his vision, it works well.”

Willan acknowledges that he’s had to adjust his style as he’s gotten older.

“Let’s face it, most sports nowadays are a bigger, better, faster type of thing. For me, it’s a way of thinking, it’s a different style. I think I’ve changed,” he said. “Speed of play is such a huge part of soccer. … I think it’s a matter of being smarter and reading things and angles.”

He’s also become a leader for a team with a diverse roster of young and old. Willan wears the captain’s armband and refers to himself as a “mini-adviser” for Toth, while “still trying to lead by example – but sometimes the body doesn’t agree with that.”

What hasn’t changed is his commitment, to train and stay fit and to compete at the highest level possible. “I’ve got to say, at the age of 40, I’ve got no problem getting fired up,” he said with an edge of excitement in his voice. “There’s still a lot of passion.”

He’s especially fired up about playing Fire Premier. Not because he wants one more shot at playing a pro team – the winner will face the Dayton Dutch Lions of USL Pro in the second round on May 22 – but because he loves to match wits against new opponents and thinks that this Croatian Eagles team could surprise some people.

“At this age, I have nothing really personal to shoot for,” Willan said, “but I’m involved with a team and we can do things, stuff that’s not expected of us. As long as I’ve been around, I’m not going to say this is the best team I’ve played with, but there’s a lot of depth to this team and a lot of balance, and balance meaning the experience, the youth, and college players coming and filling voids that we had.”

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

Meet the first-ever US Club Soccer team in the US Open Cup: Stanislaus United Turlock Express

May 14, 2012 by Robert Jonas

For the first time in the long history of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a team from U.S. Club Soccer has qualified for the tournament proper. Based in the vast central valley of California, Stanislaus United Turlock Express defeated the Bay Area Ambassadors in a play-in game by a score of 3-0 to secure their ticket to the big dance. Up next for the Express is a date with the Fresno Fuego of the PDL this Tuesday.

Founded in the early 2000s as an organization dedicated to making high-level organized soccer available to the less well heeled in its community, the Express offered mainly the children of agricultural workers and other related fields an opportunity to play futsal, or indoor soccer. One of the chief architects of the club was current technical director of soccer Antonio Reis, who recognized that vastness of the talent in his community and wanted to provide them an avenue to perhaps play professionally.

“We have a community based club that caters to the local kids. We don’t charge to play, so many of our players stay with us a long time, even after returning from going to college.”

Reis is proud of all the players that have come through his system, and he embraces the father figure role he takes on for many of his former and current players.

“They are all my sons and they are all very good. Some of the kids have been with me since they were 7 years old. Many kids grew up in our club playing futsal, and some have gone on to play in Fiji, and Mexico, and in Germany. Today, many of our kids travel throughout our area and to the Bay to play with other clubs and in tougher leagues.”

A deep appreciation for the success of the Express warms Reis, and he is quick to point out that despite the minimal coaching and training resources the club can provide, the players have grown into a tight knit group of young adults.

“They are all a big part of our local culture. We have the clown, the leader, the serious guy, the excitable guy, we have all of that. But what makes us good is the teamwork and the overall belief the kids have for one another.”

Reis may often refer to his players as kids, but the team that will play in this week’s Cup match against Fresno Fuego has a maturity built from age and experience. The bulk of the current team won a U-18 California state title four years ago, and the nucleus of the side knows what it means to be successful. The team captain is Gerardo Ramirez, who Reis credits as the cohesive force that keeps the young group of men together as a unified squad.

“Ramirez is the leader and keeps the spirit high and he helps out the guys when they make mistakes. He helps keep a nice atmosphere around the guys and they are all great friends.”

The team’s goalkeeper, Javier Rosales, was instrumental in the Express weathering an opening match salvo from the Ambassadors, and still being able to regroup for the historic win. A long time member of the club, Reis marvels at how far Rosales has come despite the long odds of success.

“He has been very good for us. Sometimes we wish he had better days, and sometimes he saves our butt. We try to have excellent coaching at all levels, but we don’t have enough to really train these guys completely. He is definitely a hard worker and is doing great with the limited amount of goalkeeping coaching we can provide.”

Reis leads the team into training four times a week, and is often flooded with requests from local players wanting to join the club. Part of that enthusiasm to represent the Express comes from the low fees to play, but much of it is a product of that familial environment that Reis has instilled in the club. From youth teams on up to the senior U.S. Club Soccer team, players don’t often stray from the opportunity to play the game they love. And even with the odds clearly stacked against his team this Tuesday, Reis knows his players will enjoy every moment of their US Open Cup experience.

“I think we will provide a nice game. Our players are very excited to play Fresno. Now, we aren’t going in there thinking we can kick their butts, but we also don’t think we are going to get out butts kicked!”

Robert Jonas writes for Centerline Soccer and you can follow him on Twitter @RobertJonas.

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

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

May 14, 2012 by Gerald Barnhart

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.”

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 Meet the USASA: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks from Washington D.C.

May 13, 2012 by Josh Hakala

The Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks are back in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the third time in the last six years. If you think the team name is a mouthful, you’re right, but as the club’s manager Jon Knight is quick to point out, the Hawks wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for their main sponsor that supports his pay-to-play club from the Washington DC area.

After qualifying for the Open Cup for the first time in 2007, the Hawks nearly folded, but were brought back from the brink by the folks at Dulles Sportsplex (Sports Management Group). While the bulk of the team’s finances are provided through financial support of their sponsors, the players all pay season dues as a central philosophy of the team to shoulder the burden of the team’s obligations.

“Recently we have adopted the motto of Scotland’s Queen’s Park FC, ‘Ludere Causa Ludendi’ (to play for the sake of playing), because it perfectly encapsulates the essence of our team,” said Knight. “The fact that we are hosting a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match shows how far we have come from our first appearance in 2007.”

The Hawks are hosting the PDL’s Carolina Dynamo at the Maryland Soccerplex in Boyds, MD (7:30 p.m. kickoff), aiming for their first Open Cup win. Their previous two appearances they found themselves playing road games against third division professional teams. In 2007, they lost 4-0 to the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) and two years later, they lost a lightning-shortened 1-0 decision to the Real Maryland Monarchs.

The Hawks have been the dominate team out of the Metro DC/Virginia Soccer Association for the last seven years, including their three Open Cup appearances in 2007, 2009 and this year. They have represented DC/VA in the USASA Region I tournament every year they have entered the state tournament since 2006 (In 2011, they entered the Maryland qualifying tournament). In addition to their impressive Open Cup resume, they have a laundry list of trophies, highlighted by their 2009 USASA Amateur Cup national title.

The team was founded in 1996 by a group of Greek and Cypriot University students in the D.C. area, and is named after a Greek Army helicopter. As the years passed, most of the players who founded the team either stopped playing or went back to their homelands, and the name was kept out of respect for the founders.

“Often people have asked why I have never changed the name of the team since all the original Greek and Cypriot founders and players are no longer with the club,” explained Knight. “My response to them is that they still are, very much, with the club both in spirit and with support. This was their team I inherited in 2002 and it already had a good local tradition, which I knew as a player for the Hawks since 1998.”

The Hawks began their journey to the tournament by defeating their rivals Club Atletico Virginia 3-1 to capture their sixth DC/VA Open Cup title in the last eight years. Guilherme Fonseca assisted on all three goals, two of them by Ernesto Marquez and the other by Sam Scales.

The opening game of the Region I tournament against Eastern Pennsylvania champion West Chester United went the same way as the last one. The Hawks scored the first three goals, and held on to win the game 3-1. Fonseca assisted on two more goals and the third was an own goal.

They would punch their ticket with a 2-0 win over the Maryland Bays in the Region I semifinals with a first half goal by Watson Vaughan Prather and a late unassisted clincher by Fonseca.

Fonseca, as evidenced by his performances in qualifying is the team’s No. 10 in midfield. The Brazilian spent time in the Santos Academy where he played with AC Milan star Robinho

In midfield, Fonseca is flanked by two players with major conference experience in their college days. Former Ohio State Buckeye Sam Scales and local product, and former Maryland Terrapin, Erwin Diaz. His fellow central midfielder Watson Prather played for Wisconsin.

The backline is full of experience for the Hawks, featuring a couple of former USL players on the outside with Mateus Dos Anjos and Devlin Barnes. The middle of the defense is anchored in the middle by Pat Selwood, who played his college ball at Bucknell University.

Up top, one of their top forwards is Ernesto Marquez who led George Mason in scoring during his senior season in 2010. Marquez was coached at GMU by Greg Andrulis, who led the Columbus Crew to the 2002 US Open Cup title.

The team will be without a key player on Tuesday as captain, and George Washington alum, Michael Goldman will miss the game due to a red card he received back in 2009 when the Hawks lost to Real Maryland in the First Round.

“This year’s team is different,” said Knight, who returns just two starters from their first Open Cup run in 2007. “The defining characteristic of this team remains the willingness to compete for each other. We still pride ourselves on being a ‘Band of Brothers’ and it’s a close knit group. There are no superstars on this team, and there is a very good balance.
“We’re a little banged up right now, particularly in our front and back lines, but this equals opportunity for some of the other players in our pool to step up to the challenge,” said Knight. “With so many Cup games recently, we’ve made sure that our entire roster pool has gotten a crack at contributing and getting playing time in our Washington Premier League matches.”

On Tuesday they will open the tournament against the Carolina Dynamo of the Premier Development League who have been competing in the Open Cup since 1996, both as a pro and an amateur franchise. They are making their second straight appearance and have been very successful since joining the PDL in 2004. They have qualified four times as a PDL team and have a 5-2-0 record, including their historic run to the Fourth Round in 2006 where they upset the Richmond Kickers (3rd Division) and the Seattle Sounders (2nd Division) before falling to the Houston Dynamo of MLS, 4-2.

“We have the talent and the capacity to get the result on May 15, but know that it will be a tremendous challenge,” said Knight. “The Carolina Dynamo are a strong PDL side and we know we’ll be up against a talented team chock full of top ACC stars. But playing at home will be a huge boost to us and allow several players that would otherwise not be able to attend, to figure in the match.”

Knight clearly values the tournament, something that hasn’t been lost on his players.

I think the Open Cup is great for the American game as a whole and is certainly a testament to the vision of Mr. Lamar Hunt,” said Sam Scales, who helped Ohio State reach the College Cup Final in 2007. “It honors what the sport has grown to become in the US and I am honored to be partaking in the Cup with the Hawks.”

“This tournament represents the most exciting opportunity for a men’s amateur team,” added Knight. “We want to push ourselves to play at the highest level we can, because we love the game and it still gives back to us.Nobody on this team is playing pro anymore, for some it’s in their future, for others it’s in the past. Most of us never had a chance. But this tournament allows a team like ours to dream big, set a goal and go after it, together.”

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

2012 Meet the USASA: Four-time US Open Cup champion New York Greek American Atlas SC

May 11, 2012 by J.T. Alwin

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

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.

While the name Greek American Atlas has not been seen in the US Open Cup in seven years, the club is very intertwined with the competition’s history. Founded in 1941, the club from New York City has won the Cup four times, including a three-peat from 1967 to 1969, making them one of four clubs to do so (Fall River/New Bedford 1930-32, Stix, Baer, and Fuller 1933-35, Seattle Sounders FC 2009-11). The club is also successful on the homefront, winning their division of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League 10 times since joining in 1994, including this season. The team also captured the Dr. Manning Cup in 2009, the main cup tournament for the Eastern New York Federation.

Atlas’ path to the Open Cup began with a satisfying 4-0 win over archrival New York Pancyprian-Freedoms in the Eastern New York Federation’s Open Cup, ending Pancyprian’s two-year run of USOC qualification. They were also authoritative in the USASA’s Region I qualifying tournament, notching 2-0 wins against Massachusetts’ Battery Park Gunners and eventual qualifier Jersey Shore Boca. This will be the fourth appearance in the Pro Era for Greek American, their other appearances resulting in a 2-0 forfeit to Western Mass Pioneers in 1998, a 4-1 loss to Cape Cod Crusaders in 2004, and a 3-0 loss to Ocean City Barons in 2005.

1969 NY Greek American — Greek American SC team in 1969. Photo: Bill Graham Guide | National Soccer Hall of Fame

The club recognizes this history, as General Manager George Mellis explains. “Our clubhouse is like a museum, so that everyone who comes in knows about the honor and tradition when they put on a Greek American jersey.” “We are all honored to be playing for such a great club that is rich in history,” concurs player/manager Michael Todd.

However, the club also has to deal with the present. Some of the players split time between Greek American Atlas and the Long Island Rough Riders, and with both teams participating in the Open Cup, a compromise had to be made. “We let our members who also play for the Rough Riders play with them, and they will let them be available to us for the Amateur Cup…. Our goal has been for the to be the national champion, though realistically we have a better shot in the amateur cup than the professional cup.”

2011-12 NY Greek American Atlas season

Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Sep. 11 ’11 – Win, 4-1 vs. NY Croatia
Sep. 17 ’11 – Win, 3-0 vs. NYC Albania
Sep. 25 ’11 – Win, 3-0 vs. Central Park Rangers Whites
Oct. 2 ’11 – Win, 6-0 vs. Manhattan Kickers
Oct. 9 ’11 – Win, 2-0 vs. Polonia FC
Oct. 16 ’11 – Win, 5-1 vs. United FC
Nov. 6 ’11 – Win, 4-0 vs. Clarkstown FC
Nov. 21 ’11 – Win, 2-0 vs. NY Pancyprian-Freedoms
Nov. 27 ’11 – Tie, 1-1 vs. Lansdowne Bhoys
Dec. 11 ’11 – Win, 3-1 vs. NYAC
Mar. 22 – Tie, 2-2 vs. Polonia FC
Apr. 3 – Win, 2-0 vs. Barnstonworth Rovers
Apr. 17 – Win, 1-0 vs. NY Pancyprian-Freedoms
May 6 – Win, 4-0 vs. NY Croatia
May 8 – Win, 4-1 vs. Manhattan Kickers

USASA Region I Open Cup tournament
Apr. 1 – Win, 2-0 vs. Battery Park Gunners (MA)
Apr. 22 – Win, 2-0 vs. Jersey Shore Boca (NJ)

That does not mean they will be without capable weapons, by any stretch of the imagination. Chris Megaloudis has paced the team in goals through an undefeated regular season this year, and brings experience to the team having played with Red Bull New York. Captain Josh Trott has led the team in goals the past five years until Megaloudis took the crown this year. “Josh is one of the most dominant soccer players on the amateur scene,” states Todd. “His hard work and dedication is one of the platforms for the team’s success.”

Todd also has some history with Greek American Atlas, scoring a goal against his current team while while playing for the Ocean City Barons in 2005. “Our General Manager has not forgot nor forgiven me for it,” Michael recalls. However, Mellis shows that this history doesn’t matter in picking players or managers: “Once we saw Michael play with St. John’s , we knew we wanted him in a Greek jersey, and we finally got our wish. We are very happy to have him here.”

Greek-American Atlas takes on Philadelphia Union-backed Reading United AC at 7 PM on May 15th, but they will not lay down for their opponent, with history on their side, and their minds on the present as well as the future.

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