Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Aegean Hawks

2012 US Open Cup qualifying: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks defeat Atletico VA to regain DC/VA title

by

The Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks are once again Open Cup champions of the Metropolitan DC-VA Soccer Association, taking another step to returning to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time since 2009. By a 3-1 scoreline, the Hawks defeated Club Atletico Virginia, the two-time defending DC/VA Open Cup champion in the championship game at Long Bridge Park in Arlington, Va on Sunday, Feb. 19.

First half substitute Ernesto Marquez scored twice and Sam Scales added another to return the trophy to the Hawks, who won four straight DC/VA titles between 2006-09 before CAV dethroned them in 2010 and won it again last year. The win clinches the Hawks a spot in the 2012 USASA Region I Finals, which will begin at a date yet to be announced.

The Hawks opened up the scoring in the 40th minute on a play that began out of the backline and pushed out to the attacking third, down the left wing. The ball was played to the top of the box which began a clever display of one touch soccer, with Michael Goldman touching it to Guilherme Fonseca, who laid it off to Marquez for the goal.

They continued the offensive pressure after halftime, adding a second on the counter attack in the 53rd minute. Scales, who was selected last year by Sporting Kansas City in the MLS Supplemental Draft, received the ball in the middle of the field and sent a looping ball out in front of Fonseca into the far corner. Fonseca tracked down the ball, crossed it into middle of the box where he found Scales who was had made a run. The former Ohio State Buckeye kept his eye on the cross and volleyed it out of the air and into the back of the net to make it 2-0 in the 47th minute.

Metro DC / Virginia Soccer Association

Marquez, who played his college ball at George Mason University, would add a third just six minutes later. Fonseca sent a through ball to the left midfielder who broke in behind the defense and calmly fired a shot past the CAV goalkeeper.

Atletico would pull one back in the 68th minute when John Carson fed Andrew Richardson for a shot on goal that was saved by Chris Fenner, but Richardson followed up on the rebound and put it in to make it 3-1.

The win on Sunday was a welcomed one for Hawks manager Jonathan Knight, helping the club get a monkey off their back, as he put it. Prior to the championship game, the Hawks had claimed victory just once in their last seven meetings with CAV.

“ have had our number,” said Knight. “It was definitely a satisfying win in what has become a fierce rivalry.”

After two years without advancing in Open Cup qualifying, Knight says his team is “hungry again.”

“We added a bunch of new players, and also sent the message to our whole team that they have to be more committed, and they’ve responded,” said Knight. “There’s a lot of potential with this group and I think we could make a run at qualifying for the Open Cup, as well as winning a national championship. But we still have a lot of work to do.”

2012 DC/VA Open Cup Final
February 19 – Long Bridge Park – Arlington, Va.
Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks 3:1 Club Atletico Virginia

Scoring Summary
AH: Ernesto Marquez (Guilherme Fonseca) – 40th minute
AH: Sam Scales (Guilherme Fonseca) – 47th minute
AH: Ernesto Marquez (Guilherme Fonseca) – 53rd minute
CAV: Andrew Richardson (Unassisted) – 68th minute

Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks lineup: Chris Fenner (GK), Alan Golden (Mateus dos Anjos – 60th), Pat Selwood, James Kpainay, Lonnie Carter (Michael Montross – 70th), Erwin Diaz (Ernesto Marquez – 30th), Michael Goldman, Sam Scales, Devlin Barnes, Guilherme Fonseca (Ricky Schramm – 75th), Scott Larrabee

Club Atletico Virginia lineup: Derek Biss (GK), John Bello (RB), Phil Purdy (CB), Tremaine Chinapoo (CB), Dave Leon (LB), Josh Dodds (RM), Javier Castro (CM), John Carson (CM), Andrew Richardson (LM), Yoni Berhanu (FWD), Billy Whittington (FWD)
Subs: Bryant Meckley (Josh Dodds), Stephen Macurdy (John Bello), Nolan Rodman (Andrew Richardson)

Recent DC/VA Open Cup champions:
2012: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks
2011: Club Atletico Virginia
2010: Club Atletico Virginia
2009: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks
2008: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks
2007: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks
2006: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks
2005: Lex United
2004: LCC International
2003: Dynamos FC
2002: LCC International
2001: Virginia Beach International
2000: LCC International
1999: Zorba FC
1998: LCC International

2011 US Open Cup qualifying: Maryland kicks off state tournament

by

After snow and ice delayed the opening of Maryland’s US Open Cup qualifying, the tournament got underway on Sunday with three teams advancing to the next round. Christos FC, Baltimore Kickers and the Maryland Bays will advance to the semifinals.

There are still two games to be played to complete the semifinals, because the play-in game between Magicmen and Inter AFC, originally scheduled for Feb. 6, had been postponed twice and the two teams are set to play on Feb 27, along with the semifinal match between the Maryland Bays and Christos FC. The winner of Magicmen/Inter AFC will take on Charm City FC at a date to be determined, with the winner of that match playing the Baltimore Kickers in the semis.

Play began on Sunday morning with AC Baltimore, a club formerly known as AEK Baltimore, taking on the Baltimore Kickers. Founded in 2006, AC Baltimore changed their club name last year but would suffer their first loss to the Kickers in three all-time meetings, by the score of 1-0.

Mother Nature cooperated just enough for the game to be played as snow still needed to be shoveled off the field before kickoff, leaving the pitch a little slippery for the players. It was an evenly played game that started off with a scoreless first half that saw Mario Inacio being carted off with an injury (replaced by Adeoluwa ‘Lulu’ Akerele). The Kickers would open the scoring in the 52nd minute when Jason Jannati sent a cross from the wing in what appeared to be a ball intended for a teammate at the far post. Regardless of the intent, the ball managed to curl toward goal and ended up just under the crossbar and into the back of the net.

AC Baltimore lineup (5-3-2): Nick Affrunti (GK), Robbie O’Brien, Ryan Reif, Mike Murphy, Lanre Fasina, Casey Nemphos, Mario Inacio, Rafiq Gharbi, Ben Hernandez, Eric Mcphee, Ayuk “Ramdy” Ekiko (Team website)

The next game featured two of the stronger teams in the tournament with Christos FC and the Aegean Hawks FC doing battle. The Hawks had been regulars in the Metro DC/VA association since their founding in 1996, but defected to Maryland this year. “We just wanted to try something different,” said Hawks head coach Jon Knight. “We found out that competing in the Maryland tournament as an option and we heard it was very well run, so we took advantage of the opportunity.”

Christos FC, who fell one game short of the state championship game last year (falling 3-0 to Jilly’s Bar & Grill), broke the deadlock in the 65th minute. Both teams had played an even game to that point but a pair of Loyola University players connected for the game’s first goal as Mike Deasel sent in a cross to Glenn Leitch who headed it past an out-of-position goalkeeper. With the Hawks pushing everyone forward late in the game, Christos would put the game out of reach with another Loyola player making it 2-0. Vinnie Piscopo played a ball across to Danny Ankrah who slotted it home to make it 2-0.

Aegean Hawks FC lineup: Alex Fatovic (GK), James Kpainay, Alan Golden, Clayton Voss, Devlin Barnes, Seth C’deBaca (Ernesto Marquez – 55th), Michael Goldman, Watson Prather, Scott Larrabee, John Stephens (Erwin Diaz – 65th), Nate Burkey (Mateus dos Anjos – 45th)

Christos FC lineup (4-5-1): King (GK), Bissohong (Digbeu – 80th), Wells, J. Dipino, Mahon (V. Dipino – 45th), Tyrie (Piscopo – 75th), Deasel, Pennacchia (Muntz – 65th), Leitch, Ankrah, Skelton (Dwonzkowski – 70th)

For the second year in a row, Christos will meet another of Maryland’s top teams as they host the Maryland Bays who defeated Baltimore Bays Blue ’93, 3-1 in Sunday’s finale. Maryland, who won three MSSA championships last year, were the favorites against Baltimore who fielded an Under-18 team. Baltimore head coach Jim Fendryk got special permission to enter his U-18 side into the tournament in an effort to give his team some challenging games. The Bays scored 16 minutes into the match with Marco Mangione finding the back of the net, but Baltimore would hold strong until after halftime when Matt Beckman’s long-distance goal would make it 2-0. Maryland’s Chris Ports would set up Ryan Russell for the third goal  in the 77th minute, but the young Baltimore team would ruin the clean sheet in the 85th minute on a goal from Brandon Wilfong.

“Having personally played with some of the Maryland Bays players and having played for Coach Bryan Bugarin myself when I was younger, we knew coming in that this was going to be a difficult test for our young guys,” said Baltimore coach Jim Fendryk. “The Maryland Bays are a quality team who has had great success in the past few seasons, highlighted by last year’s national championship appearance.

“Our game plan focused on limiting space defensively, which we did well in the first half,” he added. “In the second half, we began to settle down and build into the game and created some good opportunities. Unfortunately we made some very poor and uncharacteristic mistakes and when you make mistakes against a team like the Maryland Bays they make you pay.”

“ was very qualified to play in the men’s Open Cup,” said Maryland coach Bryan Bugarin. “They played the entire game in a surprisingly physical manner.”

Maryland Bays lineup: Kristopher Ward (GK), Matty Beckman, Josh Taylor, Chris Williams, Phil Greatwich (Matt Beale), Chris Ports (Danny Poe), Nino Mangione (Kevin Gnatiko), Bryan Moffa (Dan Bulls), Timmy Lane, Marco Mangione, Jon Ports (Ryan Russell)

Baltimore Bays Blue ’93 lineup (4-5-1): Connor Kregecz (GK), Jon Grant (LB), Nick Clarke (CB), Kyle Westbrook (CB), Nick Liberto (RB), Joe Fili (CDM), Eric Borkowicz (CDM), Brandon Wilfong (CAM), Zach Stocksdale (LM), Matt Wilfong (RM), Yanni Sarioglou (CF)

Maryland US Open Cup qualifying results/schedule

Round 1
Magicmen vs. Inter AFC – Feb. 27 (Cedar Lane Regional Park in Harford, Md.)

Quarterfinals
Charm City FC vs. Magicmen/Inter AFC – Date/Location TBA
AC Baltimore 0:1 Baltimore Kickers
Maryland Bays 3:1 Baltimore Bays Blue ’93
Christos FC 2:0 Aegean Hawks FC

Semifinals
Baltimore Kickers vs. Magicmen / Inter AFC / Charm City FC – Date/Location TBA
Maryland Bays vs. Christos FC – Feb. 27 (Cedar Lane Regional Park in Harford, Md.)

Final
Date/Location TBA

1. Charm City * ** –
8. Magicmen
9. Inter AFC
4. Baltimore Kickers Baltimore Kickers 1-0
5. AC Baltimore
2. Maryland Bays Maryland Bays 3-1 –
7. Baltimore Bays Blues ’93
3. Christos FC Christos FC 2-0
6. Aegean Hawks
02/27 02/13, *TBA 02/27, **TBA 03/21
Cedar Lane Park Western Regional Park Cedar Lane Park TBA

Open Cup qualifying: Only New York, Philly remain after USASA Region I quarterfinals

by

After a weekend of quarterfinal action, the USASA’s Region I, which covers the northeastern part of the country, has reached it’s final four. With victories on Sunday, May 1, three New York-based clubs and a Philadelphia team have put themselves one win away from qualifying for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The Brooklyn Italians defeated Go Soccer FC 1-0 and will face newcomers Fenerbahce USA in the semifinals. Fenerbahce survived a wild match with Danbury United and advance on penalty kicks. Meanwhile, the United German Hungarians defeated Charm City FC 3-1 to set up a match with the historic club, New York Pancyprian Freedoms. The Freedoms needed extra time to eliminate D.C.’s Aegean Hawks, 2-1. The semifinal matches are scheduled to be played on Sunday, May 23, with the winners qualifying for the US Open Cup. Fenerbahce USA is the only club of the four who has never qualified for the tournament, with the other three having either won the tournament (Brooklyn: 1991; New York: 1980, 1982, 1983), or finished as a runner-up (UGH: 1977, 1993; Brooklyn: 1979, 1981, 1990).

RECAPS:

GO SOCCER FC (NJ) 0:1 BROOKLYN ITALIANS (NPSL – NY)
John Dewey High School – Brooklyn, NY

The Brooklyn Italians moved one step closer to qualifying for the US Open Cup with a 1-0 win over New Jersey’s Go Soccer FC. JP Ahoua headed home the lone goal off a free kick in the 55th minute. The free kick was cleared out, but Brooklyn sent it back in where Ahoua nodded it past the keeper.

After the game, Go Soccer’s player/coach Dominic Paolella was proud of the way his team played. “It was a good game, though really tight the entire time,” said Paolella. “Our keeper Faouzi Bendaoud played a hell of a game. He made at least a dozen saves. I thought we did a good job against a very good NPSL team.” He added, “We made it one round further than we did last year, so at least we improved. We’ll be back next year for sure.”

Brooklyn is the NPSL representative in the Region I tournament, having just joined the league this past off-season, after decades in New York’s historic Cosmopolitan League. Brooklyn will travel to play at Fenerbahce USA on May 23 in the next round, however the site and time of the match are yet to be determined.

Go Soccer FC lineup:
GK: Faouzi Bandaoud
RB – Paul Racz
CB – Paul Breen (injured and subbed out 6th min)
CB – Dan Ryan
LB – Chris Tatro
RM – Steve Mellen
LM – Matt Connor
CM – Steve DeMatteo
CM – Dennis Maldonado
CM – Gary Gibbings
ST – Dominic Paolella (injured and subbed out in 60th min.)

sub – Matt Heitmann (6th min.)
sub – Matt Tatro (60th min.)

FENERBAHCE USA (EAST NY) 4:4 DANBURY UNITED (CT)
(Fenerbahce USA advances 4-3 on PKs)
Portuguese Cultural Center – Danbury, Conn.

Keith Detelj of Fenerbahce USA challenges for the ball against Danbury United. Photo: Gus Xikis

After a crazy back and forth match, it would take penalty kicks to separate Fenerbahce USA of Eastern New York and Connecticut’s Danbury United. Fenerbahce, competing in US Open Cup qualifying for the first time, would emerge victorious in the tiebreaker after finishing extra time tied at 4-4.

Fenerbahce USA scored two goals in the first ten minutes of the match, but before the game got out of hand, Danbury answered with two goals of their own before halftime. The two clubs couldn’t break the deadlock in regulation, but in overtime, it was the first half all over again. Fenerbahce scored twice, and it looked like they were going to walk away with the match, but, once again, the Connecticut club retaliated with two goals to tie the game back up in the final minutes of extra time to send the match into a penalty kick shootout.

Jose Batista scored two of the goals for Fenerbahce, with Keith Detelj and Frank Alesci adding one each.

Fenerbahce USA will host fellow New York club, the Brooklyn Italians, in a battle of the old and the new. Brooklyn won the tournament in 1991 and finished runner-up three times, while this is brand new to Fenerbahce, who was founded in 2001.

Fenerbahce USA lineup: GK: EJ Xikis (45th – John Sanfilippo), James Davis, Laurent Manuel, Alejandro Montanez, Diego Martinez, Mohammad Mashriqi, Torres Garcia, Christopher Alesci (75th – Deleon Herbert), Frank Alesci, Jose Batista, Keith Detelj

DULLES SPORTSPLEX AEGEAN HAWKS (DC/VA) 1:2 (AET) NY PANCYPRIAN FREEDOMS (EAST NY)
Belson Stadium – Queens, NY (St. John’s University)

Robby Wright of the Aegean Hawks, pictured above in pre-game warm-ups, scored the lone goal for the Hawks. Photo: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC

The New York Pancyprian Freedoms are through to the semifinals after being taken the distance by a shorthanded Aegean Hawks club from D.C. The Freedoms won the match 2-1 after extra time, but needed a late equalizer to survive into overtime against a team who had only brought 11 players up to New York.

The previous night, the Hawks had competed in the championship game of “La Super Copa” tournament, which was hosted by DC United of Major League Soccer. They won the game in a penalty kick shootout after a 3-3 draw but lost three key players to injury. Less than 24 hours later, the 11 players remaining drove up to Queens for Sunday’s quarterfinal match.

Predictably, the Hawks played a defensive game throughout, especially after striker Carlos Garcia suffered a hamstrong injury. Garcia played through the injury, but was largely ineffective throughout.

The Hawks held off the New York attack, but it was the visitors who scored the first goal. Watson Prather sent a penetrating ball into John Stephens who flicked a layoff to Robby Wright, who was making a secondary run. Wright dodged a defender at the top of the box, then hit a looping left-footed strike into the top left corner of the goal.

Just when it looked like the Hawks were going to pull off an improbable upset, New York’s Joel Gustafsson saved the Freedoms with a goal in the 86th minute. The match went into extra time and the Hawks would run out of gas. The Freedoms Stelios Andreou would find Julio Cesar DoSantos for the game-winning goal.

For a full report of this match by Dylan Butler of the New York Post, click HERE.

New York will host the United German Hungarians (East PA) in the next round on May 23.

Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC lineup: Alex Fatovic (GK – Long Island University), Eddie Thurston (Brown), Devlin Barnes (UMass), Karsten Smith (American University), Alan Golden (William & Mary), Michael Goldman (George Washington University), Watson Vaughan-Prather (Univ. of Wisconsin), Robby Wright (Virginia), Erwin Diaz (U of Maryland), John Stephens (James Madison), Carlos Garcia (William & Mary)

CHARM CITY FC (MD) 1:3 UNITED GERMAN HUNGARIANS (EAST PA)
UGH Field – Oakford, PA

The United German Hungarians are now one step away from qualifying for the US Open Cup for the first time in over a decade after a 3-1 win over Charm City FC. The representative from Maryland got an early goal in the fifth minute and held on to the lead until halftime, but the second half was taken over by the hosts. Jeremy Ortiz tied the game in the 51st minute and David Castellanos gave UGH the lead nine minutes later. Andrew Weyershaeuser would put the game away in the 83rd minute to put the 100-year old club into the semifinals to face the New York Pancyprian Freedoms.

Scoring Summary:
CHA: Unknown goalscorer – 5th
UGH: Jeremy Ortiz – 51st
UGH: David Castellanos – 60th
UGH: Andrew Weyershaeuser – 83rd

UGH lineup: Eric Talbot (GK), Jason Karasow (c), Ryan Tadley, Will Thornton, Jeremy Ortiz, Brian Blesi, Ben Marucci, Tony Rod, Ryan Moseley, Blair Carson, Dave Castellanos | Subs: Andrew Weyershaeuser, Brian Bowers, Jimmy Bradley, Kevin Sherry | Coach: Mike Curley

USASA Region I quarterfinals results
(All games are Sunday, May 2)

Fenerbahce USA (East NY) 4:4 Danbury United (CT) (Fenerbahce USA advance 4-3 on PKs)
Aegean Hawks FC 1:2 (AET) NY Pancyprian Freedoms
Charm City FC 1:3 United German Hungarians
Go Soccer FC 0:1 Brooklyn Italians
Go-Soccer FC vs. Emigrantes Das Ilhas *Emigrantes Das Ilhas disqualified*

USASA Region I semifinals schedule
(All games are Sunday, May 23 – All times Eastern)

Brooklyn Italians at Fenerbahce USA – Park Stadium (Franklin Square, NY) | 5 p.m.
United German Hungarians at NY Pancyprian Freedoms – Belson Stadium (St. John’s University) | 4 p.m.
*Semifinal winners will qualify for the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2010 US Open Cup qualifying: Region I down to 14 teams as tournament begins this weekend

by

The USASA Region I tournament gets underway this weekend, the beginning of what will eventually send two clubs to the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The opening round kicks off with a game on Saturday, April 10, with the rest of the round to be played Sunday, April 11, followed by the quarterfinals on May 2, and the semifinals on May 23. The two teams that emerge victorious in the semifinals will both be awarded a spot in the US Open Cup, and if the format remains true to recent form, they will be matched up with either a second division or a third division side. Major League Soccer teams will not enter the competition until the third round.

The 2010 edition of the tournament was expanded to 16 teams, but it wasn’t meant to be as two teams were forced to drop out. Athletic Club, the lone entry from Western Pennsylvania, had their main sponsor abandon them, thus making it impossible for them to cover their travel expenses to Maryland to take on Charm City FC.

The other team that won’t be competing is the Erie Admirals of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). A combination of injuries and a lack of player availability left them without a full roster for their game against Fenerbahce USA, the Eastern New York runner-up.

The two teams who benefit from the forfeits, Fenerbahce USA and Charm City FC, will both move on to the quarterfinals where they will be forced to play on the road.

The rest of the games on the opening round schedule feature a number of intriguing matchups.

Boston Olympiakos has been a regular in Open Cup qualifying, but has only reached the Region I tournament twice. In 2004, they lost in the semifinals and in 2008, they defeated Danbury United from Connecticut in the group final to punch their ticket to the Open Cup. Those two teams will meet again on Sunday at the Portuguese Cultural Center. Danbury qualified for the Open Cup in 2007, but lost that deciding game against Boston in 2008 and last year to Emigrantes Das Ilhas, another Massachusetts team.

That win over Danbury last year was the first trip to the Open Cup for Emigrantes. Repeating will be a challenge as they will travel to New York to take on the Brooklyn Italians. The two-time Open Cup champions (1979, 1991) just joined the NPSL after decades as a member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.

On Saturday, Olympia Stamford from Connecticut will begin their quest to qualify for the Open Cup for the second time in a decade when they open up against Go-Soccer FC from New Jersey. Olympia last made a trip to the big dance in 2001 when they had a one-and-done Cup run, falling to the PDL’s Seattle Sounders Select.

The Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks, complete with their committed sponsor, are aiming to be a Region I finalist (and thus, an Open Cup participant) for the third time in four years, a rare feat among USASA clubs. They will begin at home against one of the Maryland co-champions Jilly’s Bar & Grill, who highlighted the opening round of the Maryland Open Cup tournament with a 10-0 thrashing of and knocked out the defending state champions, Christos, by a score of 3-0.

Phoenix SC of Eastern Pennsylvania will have the task of facing the New York Pancyprian Freedoms, a club that not only plays in the ultra-competitive Cosmopolitan Soccer League, but they also boast the greatest Open Cup pedigree of any club in the tournament. The Freedoms have qualified for the Open Cup three times in the Professional Era (1995-present) and prior to that, they won the competition three times (1980, 1982, 1983) and are the last team to ever repeat as champions. Phoenix SC is making their first appearance in the tournament after beating the United German Hungarians (UGH) 2-1 in overtime in the Eastern PA final.

With the expansion of the Region I finals, that made room for UGH as Eastern PA runners-up and they will take on Club Atletico Virginia. The champions of the DC/VA Open Cup championship, beat the Aegean Hawks for the first time in nine tries, denying the Hawks their fifth straight DC/VA title. The Washington Premier League club will take on UGH who have not qualified for the Open Cup since 1999 when they upset the Staten Island Vipers of the D3 Pro League. UGH have finished runners-up in the Open Cup twice (1977, 1993).

2010 USASA Region I tournament – first round schedule:
(All times Eastern)

Boston Olympiakos (MA) at Danbury United (CT) – 2 p.m. at Portuguese Cultural Center
Erie Admirals (NPSL) at Fenerbahce USA (East NY) – Erie forfeits (Injuries/Not enough players available)
Olympia Stamford (CT) at Go-Soccer FC (NJ) – Sat. April 10, 5:30 p.m. at Torpey Athletic Complex
Emigrantes Das Ilhas (MA) at Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) – 3 p.m. at John Dewey High School
Jilly’s Bar & Grill (MD) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA) – 2 p.m. at Denison Nursery
Phoenix SC (East PA) at NY Pancyprian Freedoms (East NY) – 2 p.m. at Belson Stadium (St. John’s Univ.)
Athletic Club (West PA) at Charm City FC (MD) – Athletic Club forfeits (Loss of sponsor)
Club Atletico Virginia (DC/VA) at United German Hungarians (East PA) – 2 p.m. at UGH Field

Quarterfinal schedule (May 2)

Fenerbahce USA at Danbury United/Boston Olympiakos
Go-Soccer FC / Olympia Stamford vs. Brooklyn Italians / Emigrantes Das Ilhas – Site TBA
Aegean Hawks FC / Jilly’s Bar & Grill vs. NY Pancyprian Freedoms / Phoenix SC – Site TBA
Charm City FC at United German Hungarians / Club Atletico Virginia

Bracket

First Round (April 11) Quarterfinals (May 2) Semifinals (May 23) Final (June 27)
Danbury United (CT)
Boston Olympiakos (MA)
Fenerbahce USA (E NY) Fenerbahce USA (E NY)
Erie Admirals (NPSL) (forfeit)
Go-Soccer FC (NJ)
Olympia Stamford (CT)
Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)
Emigrantes das Ilhas (MA)
DS Aegean Hawks (DC/VA)
Jilly’s Bar & Grill (MD)
NY Pancyprian Freedoms (E NY)
Phoenix SC (E PA)
Charm City FC (MD) Charm City FC (MD)
Athletic Club (W PA) (forfeit)
UGH Majors (E PA)
Club Atletico (DC/VA)

Atletico Virginia denies Aegean Hawks a 5th straight DC/VA Open Cup title

by

Metro DC / Virginia Soccer Association
Metro DC / Virginia Soccer Association

For the first time in nine tries, Club Atletico Virginia (CAV) finally broke through against their Washington Premier League (WPL) rivals, the Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks. And they couldn’t have picked a better time to do it. At George Mason High School in Falls Church, Va., CAV defeated the Aegean Hawks 2-0 in a rain-soaked DC/Virginia Open Cup Final to punch their ticket to the USASA Region I tournament.

The two teams last met in league play almost two months ago, in a game that finished in a 1-1 draw. Coming into the match, the Hawks had won the last four DC/VA Open Cup championships and held a 6-0-2 advantage in the all-time series, outscoring Virginia 28-7 in those matches. However, it was clear that CAV brought a stronger team to the rematch of last year’s one-sided Open Cup Final (Aegean Hawks won 9-0).

The opening 30 minutes was a battle with each team creating solid chances.

In the 11th minute, the Hawks looked to test the Atletico defense by establishing the long range shot.  Center back Alan Golden’s 30 yard strike ricocheted off an Atletico defender and into the path of Hawks holding mid Michael Goldman, whose booming shot sailed ten feet over the crossbar from 20 yards out.

2010 DC/VA Open Cup Final Video Highlights
Club Atletico Virginia vs. Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks
(Video courtesy of Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks)

Atletico pressured in the 15th minute when outside midfielder Matt Miller’s cross was headed down into the penalty area to midfielder John Carson, whose running half-volley header lacked the snap to pose much of a challenge to Hawks goalkeeper, Alex Fatovic.

Club Atletico Virginia
Club Atletico Virginia from Metro DC/Virginia

The deadlock would be broken in the 30th minute when Atletico defender Ben Mortimer struck a dangerous 20-yard volley destined for the upper corner that was somehow kept out with an outstanding save by Fatovic. On the corner kick that followed, midfielder John Carson lofted an accurate ball to the far post that was met by a clinical header by Victor Krasij that beat the diving keeper from close range.

Now with a 1-0 deficit to overcome, the Hawks stepped up the possession and the pressure, and came close to equalizing when midfielder Watson Prather’s shot hit the crossbar from 30 yards out. The rebound fell to Hawks striker Ricky Schramm, who chested the ball forward and off the arm of Atletico center back Tremaine Chinapoo before being cleared to safety. The center referee John Schmitz did not see the infraction and the game continued.

With two minutes left before the halftime break, CAV doubled their lead. Following an interception in midfield, Carson received the ball with some space and played a perfectly weighted pass to striker Billy Whittington. Hawks defender Alan Golden then brought Whittington down in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot.

Carson coolly deposited the spot-kick in the lower right corner to give CAV a 2-0 advantage going into halftime.

Any attempt for the Hawks to get back into the game was dealt a major blow in the 53rd minute when midfielder Michael Goldman was shown a straight red card. Goldman was sent off  for a late knee-high tackle on Dave Leon, leaving the defending champs down to 10 men for the remainder of the match.

The CAV defense, led by goalkeeper Matt Scheer, were able to keep the shorthanded Hawks off the scoresheet and snap their eight-game winless streak against them.

With the win, Club Atletico Virginia qualifies for the USASA Region I Finals, which, if they emerge victorious, will advance to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks Lineup:
GK: Alex Fatovic, Alan Golden, John Stephens, Devlin Barnes, Corey Curnutte, Watson Prather, Mike Goldman, Nidhal Charfi (Nate Bukey – 60′), William Fierro (Anders Kelto – 55′), Erwin Diaz, Ricky Schramm
Subs Not Used: Jon Knight

Club Atletico Virginia Lineup:
GK: Matthew Scheer  RB: Benjamin Mortimer  CB: Tremaine Chinapoo  CB: Cooper Bryant  LB: Phillip Purdy (Jordan Cullinane ‘65)  RM: Andrew Richardson  DCM: Matthew Davis (Matthew Carlson ’45)  DCM: Victor Krasij  LM: Matthew Miller (David Leon ’45)  AM: John Carson  STR: Billy Wittington (Nico Ojeda ’85)

Meet the USASA: Class of 2009

by

USASA logoDulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (Region I)
DC-based club has learned from their inaugural Open Cup berth in 2007

Emigrantes Das Ilhas (Region I)
“Immigrants of the Islands” making their first US Open Cup appearance

402 (Region II)
New Nebraska team has familiar names excited to play in Minnesota

Bavarian SC (Region II)
Milwaukee club making amateur-record sixth appearance in Pro Era

Atlanta FC (Region III)
The second year NPSL franchise adds first Open Cup berth to list of early success

Lynch’s FC (Region III)
Jacksonville club has plenty of changes coming, they hope one will be winning an Open Cup game

Arizona Sahuaros (Region IV)
On hiatus from the NPSL, the Sahuaros are back in the Open Cup for the third time in four years

Sonoma County Sol (Region IV)
Three-time cup participants are a family affair, on and off the field

2009 Meet The USASA: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks

by

dulles-sportsplex-aegean-hawksDulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks manager Jonathan Knight brings his club, new sponsor and all, into the 2009 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a better view of their situation than in 2007. “You can’t measure the power of that experience.” Knight says of their 2007 trip to Harrisburg, which ended in a 4-0 loss for Hawks.

“I think in 2007 there was an unstated belief, a naiveté that we would get to this level every year.” The Hawks missed out on the 2008 Cup with a 3-2 loss to New York Pancyprian Freedoms in the USASA Region I semifinals, but now that they are back and more prepared for their 2009 trip to nearby Rockville, Maryland to face Real Maryland FC Knight says the Hawks’ road to this point has prepared them better for what lies ahead. “Now we’ve been to this point before and had more games against quality opponents. Our preparation leading up to the regional qualification process has been much more thorough.” Knight says.

The club’s quest for a berth in this year’s Cup nearly ended right where it began. On January 18, a combination of injuries and miscommunication left the team able to field only 10 men for their opening round match in the D.C./Virginia qualifiers versus World Bank. In the 35th minute an injured player stepped on the field to bring the lineup to 11, but the Hawks eventually found themselves down 1-0 with just two minutes remaining. The tying goal began off the foot of Knight, who was pressed into emergency service. Knight, playing outside back, passed to midfielder Watson Vaughan-Prather, who then found Mike Minai in the penalty area to draw the match level. An own goal off a corner kick in extra time put the Hawks up 2-1, and Minai netted the clincher from another assist by Vaughan-Prather.

”I don’t think that there was ever any doubt in the players’ minds that we would find a way, but as the game approached the end of regulation, you couldn’t help but think that the Cup run could have been over,” Knight says. Head Coach Doug Homer perhaps sums up the Hawks drive best. “No one player has overlooked the cold training sessions in January and February or the scrimmages on the road at Delaware and James Madison to visualize success against a professional side in the US Open Cup.” Homer continues “If dedication and commitment could be tattooed on all of our players, I’d bet you’d see 24 guys with this on the arms come June 9th.”

The one thing that hasn’t changed much from 2007 is the core roster of the club. Leading the squad are two players with professional experience, Carlos Garcia (William & Mary, Virginia Beach Mariners, Montreal Impact, Baltimore Blast) and Anders Kelto (Brown/Michigan State, New England Revolution) as well as team center midfield co-captains Mike Goldman (George Washington) and Watson Prather (Univ. of Wisconsin). Mike Minai (St. John’s/Temple), Ricky Schramm (Georgetown, Richmond Kickers, New York Red Bulls), Erwin Diaz (Univ. of Maryland), Corey Curnutte (Bucknell), Andrew Loia (Bucknell), Clayton Voss (William & Mary), Nidhal Charfi (American), Luis Martinez (American), Nick Carlin-Voigt (Kalamazoo), Alex Fatovic (LIU), and Nate Adams (West Virginia-bound) have all been welcome additions to the squad since 2007. Other players who played in the 2007 cup run are Alan Golden (William & Mary), Ricardo Valverde (VCU), Eddie Thurston (Brown), Nick McMorris, John Stephens (James Madison), Alex and Andreas Nydal (JMU, William & Mary), Trevor Martin (George Washington), Justin Bodiya (Duke), Andy Zayas (Philadelphia U), Bryan Vitagliano (Univ. of Maryland), William Fierro (St. Leo), and Geoff Thompson (Old Dominion).

One factor Knight hopes to improve upon from 2007 is the team’s fitness and stamina. The Harrisburg match in ’07 was still 0-0 after sixty minutes, but the City Islanders scored four times in the final half hour once the Hawks players began to tire. “They were a special team that went on to win the 2007 USL-2 championship, so we had nothing to be ashamed of,” Knight says of their 2007 opponents. As for their 2009 opponents, the Hawks are quite familiar with Real Maryland, having played them in two friendlies in February and March. Knight notes that much has changed since then. “That was an entirely different team that bears little resemblance to the Monarchs of today. We really respect what Coach Hudson is doing with that organization. I think the progress they’ve made in the last six months is immeasurable.”

An aspect of the team that is markedly different from 2007 is the name of the team. Now known as the Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks, the partnership was born in January 2008. At the time Doug Homer, coach of the US Maccabi in 2007 & 2008, worked with the Hawks to develop his training sessions for the Maccabi squad. Barry Gudelsky, one of the partners of Sportsplex Management Group, which owns Dulles Sportsplex and two other multi-sport facilities in the region, had been a long time Maccabi participant and supporter. Gudelsky had already sponsored a couple of the players on the Hawks for the Maccabi games, so he was familiar with the team. Doug and Barry both liked what they saw in the Hawks, in particular the commitment of the players to play for the love of the game and the high level of the team. Homer coaches with the Hawks as much as his schedule allows, and Gudelsky and his partners at Sportsplex Management Group have supported the team financially since January 2008. The team still asks for membership dues from the players, but without the financial support of Sportsplex Management, the Hawks would not likely be able to consistently pursue their team goals of a USASA amateur championship and Open Cup participation.

Above all else, Knight and his team will not take their Open Cup participation for granted. “Most of all, we know how hard it is to get these moments back.” Knight says.

2009 First Round recap: Favorites survive first day, Barons pull off upset, Hawks just upset on day 2

by

2009 U.S. Open Cup First Round
(Home team listed on right)
June 9
Orange County Blue Star 2:5 Sonoma County Sol
Carolina RailHawks 2:1 Richmond Kickers
Western Mass Pioneers 3:2 (aet) Emigrantes Das Ilhas
Wilmington Hammerheads 2:0 Charlotte Eagles
Rochester Rhinos 1:1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Rochester advance on penalities, 4-2
Cleveland City Stars 3:0 St. Louis Lions
Chicago Fire (PDL) 3:1 Bavarian SC
Harrisburg City Islanders 4:1 Reading Rage
Minnesota Thunder 3:2 402
Charleston Battery 2:0 Atlanta FC
Miami FC Blues 2:1 Lynch’s FC
Austin Aztex 2:0 Mississippi Brilla
El Paso Patriots 2:1 Arizona Sahuaros
Kitsap Pumas 0:3 Portland Timbers
June 10
Real Maryland Monarchs 1:0 Aegean Hawks FC
(Match stopped in 74th minute)
Crystal Palace Baltimore 0:3 Ocean City Barons
——————————————————————
Player of the Round: Byron Carmichael (OCB)
Some things you should know about the First Round
Notable upsets in the First Round of the Open Cup

If seeing the underdogs prevail is your thing, then you went to sleep disappointed last night.

Of the fourteen matches first round US Open Cup matches last night, only one was won by a team from the lower division, and even that wasn’t much of an upset.

The evening began with the lone “upset” of the day, as the NPSL’s Sonoma County Sol, perhaps the hottest team of the 32 set to play in the First Round, defeated the PDL’s Orange County Blue Star 5-2. Shawn Percell scored twice and Trevor Hurst, Eric Lafon, Eric Larson added the others for the Sol. The Sol are 12-0-1 in all matches played in 2009.

The most dramatic game of the night was in Rochester, as the Rhinos needed a stoppage time equalizer and penalties to overcome the USL-2 Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Trailing 1-0 for much of the game, the Rhinos forced extra time when Tai Atieno knocked in a corner kick in second half stoppage time. Atieno then missed a potential game winning penalty kick with two minutes left in overtime, but Rhinos goalkeeper Scott Vallow came up with two saves in the penalty shootout to see his club through to the Second Round.

Two matches were postponed and were moved to the following day. Ocean City and Crystal Palace Baltimore was put off early in the day when heavy overnight rains left the Barons’ home field, Cary Stadium, flooded. The Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks and Real Maryland Monarchs were forced to set their game back a day when heavy thunderstorms rolled through the Rockville, Md. area.

The next day, the Ocean City Barons became the first PDL team to beat a USL professional squad in the 2009 tournament, winning a 3-0 decision over Crystal Palace Baltimore of the USL Second Division.

Byron Carmichael opened the scoring in the 7th minute, with an assist from Neal Melchionni. Carmichael struck again in the 33rd minute with an unassisted goal to gibe the Barons a 2-0 halftime lead.

With 12 minutes remaining, JT Noone left no doubt as to who the winners were with a Ryan Richter-assisted goal. The game had been postponed on Tuesday due to a flooded field from heavy overnight storms.

In Rockville, Maryland, the Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks were done in by Mother Nature on Wednesday night, as their opening round game versus the Real Maryland Monarchs was halted in the 74th minute after an hour and a half lightning delay, giving the USL-2 club a 1-0 win. The only goa,l of the match game from Ryan Cordeiro in the 14th minute, with an assist from Gary Brooks. Soon after, the Hawks were reduced to 10 men when Michael Goldman was shown a red card.

Hawks manager Jonathan Knight was understandably upset that the game was called. We have been told there was a 10 pm deadline, which is when the stadium lights had to be shut off (presumably by a city ordinance), and the game was official called at 10:18 pm. The game had to be rescheduled for tonight due to severe thunderstorms on Tuesday night.

This is the second year in a row weather has played a part in Real Maryland’s First Round Open Cup game. Last year their gasme against NY Pancyprian Freedoms was moves back three days after severe storms prevented play on the original date. Maryland won the rescheduled game 3-2 in extra time.

Ocean City will host Real Maryland next Tuesday in the Second Round.

2009 US Open Cup Round 1: Real Maryland wins weather-shortened match with Aegean Hawks

by

Richard Montgomery High School – Rockville, Md. | 7 p.m.
MATCH STOPPED IN 74TH MINUTE DUE TO LIGHTNING
1
74’
 0

Ryan Cordeiro (Gary Brooks) 14’
 16’ Michael Goldman RED CARD

In Rockville, Md., the Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks were done in by Mother Nature on Wednesday night, as their opening round game against the Real Maryland Monarchs was halted in the 74th minute after an hour and a half lightning delay, giving the USL-2 club a 1-0 win. The only goal of the match came from Ryan Cordeiro in the 14th minute, with an assist from Gary Brooks. Soon after, the Hawks were reduced to 10 men when Michael Goldman was shown a red card.

Hawks manager Jonathan Knight was understandably upset that the game was called, saying that the officials called the game too soon. According to Knight, the game needed to be restarted before a 10 pm local deadline and despite the fact that there was no lightning, the game was officially called off at 9:50. The game had to be rescheduled for tonight due to severe thunderstorms on Tuesday night.

This is the second year in a row weather has played a part in Real Maryland’s First Round US Open Cup game. Last year their game against New York Pancyprian Freedoms was moved back three days after severe storms prevented play on the original date. Maryland won the rescheduled game 3-2 in extra time.

Real Maryland travel to “The Beach House” in Ocean City, NJ to take on the Barons for their Second Round match next Tuesday.

2007 First Round: City Islanders shoot down Aegean Hawks in Cup debut

by

The Harrisburg City Islanders opened up their first-ever US Open Cup campaign with a convincing 4-0 win over Washington DC-based USASA club Aegean Hawks. After half-hour, play was stopped due to lightning in the area, and a delay of almost 90 minutes followed. When the game was allowed to continue just before 9:30 p.m., both teams played the remaining fifteen minutes and finished the first half scoreless.

Early in the second half, Aegean goalkeeper Anthony Perers stopped a 20-yard drive from Chad Severs, but failed to keep the Adam Clay header out of the net in the 56th minute, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead. The City Islanders tripled their lead by the 69th minute, on goals from Mo Odour and David Schoefield. The Hawks nearly pulled one back in the 82nd minute, when Watson Vaughan-Prather pounded a shot from the top of the penalty area, but was denied by goalkeeper Dave Kern. Harrisburg finished the game with a counter attack goal, scored by Steve Fisher from David Schofield’s centering pass.

With the win, Harrisburg will travel to face the PDL’s Ocean City Barons in the Second Round on June 26.

Scoring
(HCI) Adam Clay (David Schofield) 56’
(HCI) Mo Oduor (Ryan Pierce) 68’
(HCI) David Schofield Chad (Chad Severs) 69’
(HCI) Steve Fisher (David Schofield) 87’

Lineups

Aegean Hawks – Anthony Peters, Eddie Thurston, Ricardo Valverde, Nick McMorris, Trevor Martin, Michael Goldman, Justin Bodiya (Alex Nydal 70), Alan Golden (Robby Wright 69), Watson Vaughan-Prather, Rich Ryan (Andreas Nydal 67), Carlos Garcia (Geoff Thompson 69)

Harrisburg City Islanders – Dave Kern, Ryan Pierce, Dustin Bixler, Tim Velten (Mike Lookingland 67), Anthony Calvano, Chris Morman (Nate Baker 63), Mo Oduor, Adam Clay, David Schofield, Brian Ombiji (Matt Tanzini 60), Chad Severs (Steve Fisher 70)

Shots: AEG 3, HAR 17
Corners: AEG 7, HAR 7
Fouls: AEG 13, HAR 15
Cautions: AEG Bodiya 19’, HAR Morman 28’, HAR Velten 64’, HAR Pierce 67’
Goalkeepers: AEG Anthony Peters L, 0-1-0 (6 saves), HAR Dave Kern W, 1-0-0 (1 save)
Attendance: 874

Copyright © 2026 • Built by Jacob Martella Web Development