Florida

2016 Meet the Underdogs: APSL champ Boca Raton FC begin US Open Cup debut with rematch

May 6, 2016 by Marissa Blackman

Boca Raton FC is a relatively recent addition to the APSL (American Premier Soccer League). The APSL is a small league comprised of amateur clubs in Florida. Boca Raton FC is a completely amateur team boasting plenty of local high school and college talents in its roster.

The club first began competing in May of 2015. Within its first year of existence, the club earned two titles from two APSL competitions and broke APSL attendance records.

In the APSL’s most recent fall season, Boca ended on top of the table four points ahead of its closest contenders. The club achieved an undefeated record, consisting of five wins and two draws, and maintained a 2.57 goals per game average with 18 goals in seven games.

Although Boca Raton FC is in an amateur league, the club has plenty of professional connections. During preseason, the club scrimmaged against Ukrainian giants Shaktar Donetsk FC and local NASL club Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Colby Burdette and Gustavo Bergmann are two players that opposing teams should certainly keep an eye on. Burdette, a local soccer star, has been a dynamic force for teams around the city since high school. The 22-year-old has scored a career total of 12 goals for Boca Raton in league play. Bergmann has made contributions to the club with a total of eight assists.

This team has continued its record of trendsetting in open cup qualification. The club claimed the single APSL spot in the US Open Cup. In fact, Boca is the only amateur club in the state of Florida to advance past the qualifying rounds.

To qualify for round one, Boca Raton FC defeated fellow APSL competitors Real Miami Club of Football and Uruguay Kendall FC back in the fall of 2015. Boca defeated Miami 2-1 to kick off the competition, but drew 1-1 with Uruguay Kendall FC in the second round. This led to a thrilling 5-4 penalty kick shootout that would ultimately clinch a spot in the Open Cup for Boca for the first time.

The Open Cup journey continues for the club in a round one game against NPSL club Miami Fusion FC on May 11 at the North Miami Athletic Stadium. If Boca Raton FC advances, they will make a trip to the Carolinas to compete in the next round against USL side Wilmington Hammerheads FC. In between the two matches, the Floridian club will face its first match of the summer APSL season.

The biggest factor that will impeded progression for Boca Raton FC within the Open Cup is a lack of familiarity with its opponents. Most of the competition Boca Raton has faced has been amateur APSL clubs that compete against each other multiple times per year. Fortunately, at least for the first few rounds, many clubs will be facing unfamiliar opposition.

As explained by Boca Raton managing partner Douglas Heizer, the club has a round one advantage in this regard.

“We played in the fall tournament,” said Heizer. “We won all the times we played them.”

Although Miami Fusion is a NPSL club, the team also fielded a team in the APSL last season. In a semifinal match, Boca beat Miami 4-0. At the end of the season, Boca Raton finished seven points ahead of Miami. Heizer feels thise bodes well for his team’s Open Cup debut.

Miami Fusion FC boasts a better record within the NPSL. The club finished the 2015 NPSL season at the top of the Sunshine Conference with a 2.50 goal per game average and and 8-1-1 record. In only 10 regular season Sunshine Conference matches, the club scored 25 goals. The club went on to be knocked out of the NPSL playoffs during the southern semifinals. With two teams that score so often, the round one matchup could become a last goal wins situation.

HIGHLIGHTS: Boca Raton FC played an exhibition game vs. New York Cosmos

If Boca Raton advances to round two and faces the Wilmington Hammerheads, it will be defense rather than goal-scoring ability that will be put to the test. The USL club seems to be very skilled at keeping opposition out of the net in the early part of the league season this season with five goals allowed in the first six games.

Despite being rich with talent around the state, amateur teams from Florida have not performed well in the US Open Cup historically. Just one amateur team from the Sunshine State in the Modern Era (1995-present) has won multiple games in a single tournament. Orlando City U23s — now Kraze United — are the only team to advance beyond the Second Round when they reached Round 4 in 2014.

Will Boca Raton FC be the next small club to make it far, challenging professional teams, in this edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup? The bottom line is that in its short history Boca Raton has proven more than capable of scoring goals, and, needless to say, the team with the most goals wins. The beauty of the Open Cup is that anything can happen. Only time will tell.

2013 US Open Cup First Round: VSI Tampa Bay hangs on to win in PKs over Orlando City U-23

May 15, 2013 by Jim Robertson

VSI Tampa Bay (White) and Orlando City SC Under 23s played to a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes. Tampa Bay won the PK shootout, 5-3. Photo: Dave Williams | Orlando City SC

VSI Tampa Bay (USL PRO) won over the Orlando City U-23 (USL PDL) in penalty kicks Tuesday night 1-1 (5-3) at the Seminole Soccer Complex in Sanford, Fla. The first round match of the 100th U.S. Open Cup paired Tampa Bay in its first appearance in the US Open Cup against Orlando City U-23 in its sixth appearance. VSI Tampa Bay advances into the second round and will play the 2012 NASL Champions Tampa Bay Rowdies.

The match was hard fought and looked to be a win for Tampa, but Orlando was able to equalize in the 90th minute to send the match to two overtime periods. Orlando has never advanced beyond the first round, and was again unable to do so tonight. Orlando was one of four amateur teams to face a professional team opponent in the first round.

VSI Tampa Bay’s game experience as a team was apparent in the opening minutes. Tampa has already played seven matches to a record of 4-3 and sit in sixth place on the table. The ball control was crisp and they put immediate pressure on the Orlando City U-23 Lions. With the final seven players announced only four days ago, the Lions had less time to prepare for the match and it showed as they misconnected on key passes and in general looked like they were playing their first competitive match as a team.

Tampa took advantage when Andriy Budnyy scored seven minutes into the contest to give Tampa the 1-0 lead. Budnyy headed the ball in from the top of the goal box out of the reach of the Lion’s goalkeeper, Tomas Gomez. Alex Freitas was left alone on the left to serve the excellent cross and got the assist.

After that goal, the Lions settled down and played a much better match. Although Tampa was in the Lion’s half for most of the first 20 minutes, Orlando City players seemed to gel and find their stride.

“We haven’t been together long so I can’t fault their effort and work rate but I think overall we did well in our first competitive match,” said U23 coach Paul Shaw.

In the 25th minute, Orlando’s perseverance was almost rewarded as Tyler Blackwood got behind VSI’s defense and put a beautiful cross into the goal box but Tampa was able to clear. The remainder of the first half continued with exciting play from both teams as each pressed forward and created changes. Tampa’s Tony Dontelli had an opportunity near the 40th minute but his shot went right to the hands of Gomez.

The play in the second half was similar to the end of the 1st half with the Lions and VSI controlling the ball equally well with neither team clearly superior in time of possession or completing their chances. Both made substitutions to keep fresh legs in the game as Tampa brought in Chad Burt (61′) and Sebastien Thureire (77′) while Orlando brought in Tom Skelly (57′) and Daniel Barboto (67′).

Orlando’s last substitution, Ian Svantesson (77′) would turn out to be key, as he broke free of several defenders in the box and shot what looked to be the game winner in the 90th minute. However, Tampa’s goalkeeper Dave Martin came up with a fantastic save. The rebound came near Orlando Captain Nic Russo who was crashing the goal area and he headed the ball home to equalize the match and forcing overtime.

The extra time brought plenty of exciting plays as both teams moved the ball quickly through the midfield and pressed the fowards into the final third. Both goalkeepers were kept busy but additional goals eluded both teams. In the second overtime period, tired legs began to take their toll from the fast paced match and the teams remained tied.

The first three rounds of shots from the mark were even as each team’s representative seemed to score easily. In the 4th round, J.T Noone of Tampa shot the ball past Gomez, but the shot by Orlando’s Nick Sowers was saved by Martin, giving Tampa the 4-3 penalty kick advantage. The final round came to a close as Tampa’s Mauricio Salles sent his shot past Gomez to give VSI the victory.

Scoring Summary
VSI: Budnyy (Freitas) 7th minute
ORL: Russo (Svantesson) 90th minute

Penalty Kick Summary
X – VSI – Donotelli (1-0)
X – ORL – Clowes (1-1)
X – VSI – Hoffer (2-1)
X – ORL – Blackwood (2-2)
X – VSI – Burt (3-2)
X – ORL – Russo (3-3)
X – VSI – Noone (4-3)
_ – ORL – Sowers (4-3)
X – VSI – Rife (5-3)

Lineups
VSI Tampa Bay FC Dave Martin, Richard Dixon, Kyle Hoffer, Josh Rife, Alex Freitas, Joseph Noone, Darren Toby, Shawn Chin (Mauricio Solles 90th), Tony Donotelli, Douglas Dos Santos (Sebastien Thureire 77th), Andriy Budnyy (Chad Burt 61st)

Orlando City U23s Tomas Gomez, Evan Greenbaum (Ian Svantesson 77th), Kyle Fisher, Cole Seiler, Stewart Abrahart (Tom Skelly 57th), Itode Fubara, Troy Peterson (Daniel Barboto 67th), Paul Clowes, Tyler Blackwood, Nick Sowers, Nicolas Russo

Discipline
ORL – Nick Sowers (95′) Yellow
TPA – Sebastian Thuriere (97′) Yellow
ORL – Itode Fubara (107′) Yellow

Attendance: 535

2013 Meet the USASA: Newcomers from Florida, Red Force, bring experienced players to US Open Cup debut

May 10, 2013 by Jim Robertson

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.

The most compelling thing about the Red Force is not their impressive championships from the last two years but how Coach Gabriel Vega has managed to grow a successful and competitive team that started with his sons and their friends as a youth team. This year’s squad has a mix of veterans and promising youth. The Red Force are competing in their first Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and will open the 100th edition of the tournament against the PDL’s Ocala Stampede at Florida International University.

The Red Force were the only team that entered Open Cup qualifying from the state of Florida and therefore earned a bye into the USASA Region III tournament where they were able to secure a spot in the US Open Cup. When discussing the team’s participation in the Cup, Vega said “ fantastic feeling… The satisfaction of seeing them win was amazing. We are a like a family. We play a very nice soccer.”

Red Force cruised through the Region III tournament, winning three straight games including an Open Cup-clinching 2-0 win over the ASC New Stars, who were attempting to qualify for the third year in a row.

The Red Force began its adult incarnation in the 2008 season when they began competing as an independent team in the SSM Premier League which they have won three of the last four years.

Young stars

Life for Vega and the Red Force started much earlier than that when Vega was coaching his son as a youth. The commitment to the team is infectious as Coach Vega excitedly talks about the players that played for the Red Force in their younger days. Coach Vega quickly rattles off the names and colleges and accomplishments of many former members of the Red Force squad.

“Some of those players come to our matches and help us in training,” Vega mentions. This legacy of playing with the club as a youth continues with the team today as six players from the Under-18 team that played together are currently on the squad. At least eight former Red Force players are now or have played in the past for college soccer programs on scholarship. Vega counts this as one of his most important accomplishments as coach for the Red Force.

Growing a competitive team

From that core youth team staying together after their teammates went to college, Coach Vega has added many impressive players. These players that have joined the Red Force and made them a formidable team in Southeast Florida. With professional experience both in the United States and abroad these players understand how to play in a “big game.”

Daniel Gomez

C.A. River Plate

Fluminense of Puerto Rico

Richard Perdomo

Carolina Railhawks

Miami FC

Platense

Kevin Nylen

Wilmington Hammerheads

Charleston Battery

Ryan Solle

Raleigh CASL Elite

Carolina Dynamo

New England Revolution

Carolina Railhawks

Wilmington Hammerheads

David Holguin

America de Cali

Hernan Acosta

Joan Carvajal

Creighton University

North Carolina Tarheeels

Alan Sanchez

Carolina Dynamo

Cary Clarets

Real Maryland Monarchs

Charlotte Eagles

Coach Vega also played in Argentina before coming to the United States and has been coaching since 1997. The team is also excited to be hosting the match.

“We have a great relationship with , so they are letting us use their fields.”

Despite being in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time, the Red Force are not unfamiliar with big matches and taking on opponents who are expected to beat them. Before attending the Region III qualifying tournament, the Red Force faced the Venezuela Under-19 World Cup team in Miami and played them to a 1-1 draw at halftime. The game was close throughout the match, and as Vega says, the Venezuelan team outlasted them because they were “basically so incredibly fit. In the last minute they scored two goals and we lost 3-1.”

Other notable Red Force accomplishments include being a semifinalist in Copa Latina 2011, a finalist in the Region III finals, champion of the Hiatian Cup in Miami and a two-time champion of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers open tournament (2011-2012).

Vega and his players are ready and excited for the challenge of competing in The Cup and plan on this being only the first appearance of many.

“We are training hard to compete. I always believe in my team always. The Red Force never give up.”

2011 US Open Cup qualifying: Royal Eagles Earn Florida Open Cup Title, top Florida Gators 3-2

April 11, 2011 by Nicholas Murray

A pair of long-range strikes by Kirk LaBusch and Mark DeBolla lifted the Royal Eagles to a 3-2 victory against the Florida Gators to win the Florida Open Cup title at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon.

With the game tied 1-1 at halftime, LaBusch gave the Royal Eagles the lead four minutes into the second half, a left-footed drive from 30 yards out burying itself into the bottom-left corner of the Gators’ net.

Debolla then added the Royal Eagles’ third in the 68th minute, driving a high shot from 25 yards out on the left into the net.

The Gators had chances to get back into the game, but weren’t able to pull a goal back until there were five minutes to go. A deep cross from the right found Emiliano Ramalho at the back post, and he wove past three defenders before finishing from close range. But Florida wasn’t able to muster another clear opportunity before the final whistle went as the Royals Eagles slowed the tempo of the game.

On balance of play, the result was a fair one. The Royal Eagles controlled the bulk of possession for most of the first 20 minutes, but weren’t able to find a telling finish. Ivan Arias saw a good cross flash across goal from the left without a finishing touch being applied and Josh Garbee had a good effort from 25 yards that went just over the crossbar.

But the Gators, who kept their defensive shape well to withstand the early pressure, were able to find the breakthrough in the 21st minute. Jimmy Merritt had the Gators’ first opportunity in the 18th minute, only to be denied, but Shuji Fujimaru made no mistake three minutes later as he headed home at the back post off a corner from the right.

Florida built on their goal, Kevin Lefkovic having a well-driven shot saved, but the Royal Eagles were able to find an equalizer just before halftime as Shawneil Samuels scored from close range on a low cross from the left.

That gave the Royal Eagles momentum into the break, and in sweltering conditions they took advantage in the second half to earn the title.

“We’ll focus on getting some guys healthy and making sure we have a full roster for the Region III tournament in May,” said Gators club V.P. Brian Roberts. “I really believe we can go far. If the Royal Eagles are one of the best teams in the region, we can play with anyone.”

Both teams will now advance to the Region III Championships in Tuscaloosa, Ala. over Memorial Day weekend. Should either advance, they would become the third Florida team in the last four years, following Lynch’s Irish Pub (2009) and the Clearwater Galactics (2008), to reach the US Open Cup’s first round.

Nicholas Murray is the communications coordinator for United Soccer Leagues and was formerly was a writer and assistant editor for the Tampa Tribune. You can follow him on Twitter at @NJEMurray.

2011 US Open Cup qualifying Florida Open Cup championship
Florida Gators 2:3 Royal Eagles
Lake Myrtle Sports Complex (Auburndale, Fla.) – April 10, 2011

Scoring Summary
FLA: Shuji Fujimaru – 21st minute
ROY: Shawneil Samuels – 42nd minute
ROY: Kirk LaBusch – 49th minute
ROY: Mark DeBolla – 68th minute
FLA: Emiliano Ramalho – 85th minute

Royal Eagles lineup: Clint Harris, Jake Howard, Wolfe Ryan, De La Fuentes Arturo, Campos Gus, Labusch Kirk, Castano Mauricio, Garbee Josh, Russo Tony, Samuels Shawneil, DeBolla Mark, Araque Leo, Arias Ivan, Butler Keith, Prevost Andrew, Innis Reyan, Pervan Asmir, McKean Evan, Marin Elkin, Potter Seth.

Florida Gators lineup: Jimmy Merritt (GK), Alex Fink, Kevin Lefkovic (Patrick Dube – 60th), Emiliano Ramalho, Tyler Bowes (Nelson Arnez – 60th), Shuji Fujimaru, Mike Hill, Brian Roberts, Mauricio Vargas, Michael Ioppolo, Jon Lenart

Past USASA Region III representatives from Florida

2011: Royal Eagles SC (Champion) / Florida Gators
2010: Lynch’s Irish Pub / Brazil Soccer Academy (Note: Brazil Soccer Academy qualified as the Copa Latina champion, but didn’t show up at Region III tournament)
2009: Lynch’s Irish Pub
2008: Clearwater Galactics / Lynch’s Irish Pub (Note: Honduras Five Star qualified as the Copa Latina champion, but dropped out. Lynch’s replaced them)
2007: Wolfpack FC / Lynch’s Irish Pub
2006: DS United / Lynch’s Irish Pub
2005: DS United / Miami Tango
2004: DS United / Sunrise & OES
2003: DS United
2002: DS United
2001: Uruguay SC
2000: Uruguay SC
1999: Uruguay SC
1998: No information available
1997: No information available
1996: McCormick Kickers
1995: McCormick Kickers

Lynch's F.C. - 2009 USASA Region III champions — Lynch’s FC – 2009 USASA Region III champions

The third trip to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for Lynch’s FC will mark the end of an era for the club. While the club shows no signs of slowing down, they will be without general manager Robert Apunte, who is hanging up his clipboard after 11 years with the club. During that time, he has helped Lynch’s (under four different names) become one of the top clubs in the state of Florida, and certainly one of the most consistent. In those 11 years, the Lynch’s FC resume includes two USASA Region III championships (2003, 2009) out of their 10 trips to the tournament, seven Beaches Adult Soccer League titles and more Professional Era US Open Cup appearances than any Florida amateur club (3).

While retiring to “spend more time with my family” has become a cliché over the years, Apunte means it. Even with the help of fellow club manager KC Braun, who handles all of Lynch’s behind the scenes work, all of the travel, practices and tournaments, not to mention a full-time job, can really take a toll.

“A club like this is a lot of hard work,” said Apunte, “All the travel, the practices, the tournaments … it can be hard sometimes.”

Apunte moved to New York City from Ecuador as a teenager in 1981. There he joined the Norwegian club Sporting Club Gjoa, a club founded in 1911 and still competes in the famed New York Cosmopolitan League. It was there he was inspired to manage his own club. After spending a year with the Brooklyn Italians, he went off to college and then returned to Ecuador to play soccer. His path led him to Jacksonville, Florida where he settled down, started a family and continues to call it home to this day. What he learned from his experience at SC Gjoa he applied to his management of DS United, and he attributes that education to the club’s current success.

Lynch’s F.C. will be without one of their bright young stars in their First Round U.S. Open Cup game against Miami F.C. But he has a good excuse. Nurdin Hrustic recently signed with Vfl Bochum of the German Bundesliga. Nurdin played club ball at Lynch’s F.C. and the Jacksonville Jaguars Soccer Club and also attended Jacksonville University. Photo: Beaches Adult Soccer League — Lynch’s FC will be without Nurdin Hrustic, one of their bright young stars, in their First Round US Open Cup game against Miami FC because he signed with Vfl Bochum of the German Bundesliga. Nurdin played club ball at Lynch’s FC and the Jacksonville Jaguars Soccer Club and also attended Jacksonville University. Photo: Beaches Adult Soccer League

The club was founded in 1999 as DS United and over the last 20 years the club has been known as “Sunrise,” “Lynch’s Irish Pub” and the team’s current name Lynch’s FC In 2003, they qualified for the first time as DS United and lost 4-1 to the Raleigh CASL Elite of the Premier Development League in their opening game. Four years later, they entered the 2006 Open Cup as Lynch’s Irish Pub and met their first professional team, the Charlotte Eagles of USL-2, but lost 2-0 in the First Round.

In this year’s opening round, Lynch’s FC will travel to Ft. Lauderdale to take on Miami FC of the USL First Division in the First Round. The winner will take on the team that emerges from the Charleston Battery (USL-1) and Atlanta FC (USASA – NPSL) match.

This year’s berth in the tournament was a thrilling one for the Jacksonville-based club. Heavy rain and waterlogged fields caused the event to move from Eagle Harbor Soccer Complex in Orange Park, Fla. to a turf field at Fruit Cove Middle School in St. Johns.

After a 2-2 draw in the opening game against the NPSL’s Pumas SC and a forfeit by the Greenwood Wanderers from South Carolina, Lynch’s FC had a big hole to climb out of in the final game against the Baton Rouge Classics. In their previous game, Baton Rouge received three red cards and lost to Pumas SC 5-0. Entering the final group game, Lynch’s and Pumas were tied with four points. Pumas was guaranteed a victory in their final match because they were scheduled to play Greenwood. That meant that not only would Lynch’s have to win, but they would have to top Pumas’ 5-0 result against Baton Rouge in order to advance to the Region III title game and earn a berth in the Open Cup.

Even with Baton Rouge playing without three of their best players, the goal of scoring six looked like an impossible task as the two teams were scoreless at the halftime break. However, it was a 17-year old who would provide the spark they needed off the bench. Tony Kattreh, only a junior in high school, came in as a sub just after halftime and made an immediate impact. He set up the first goal and scored the second to get the Lynch’s offense rolling. Ramak Niakan scored a pair and Pat Cannon also scored to give the club the 5-goal cushion they needed. Kattreh, the soccer and track star at Fletcher High School in Jacksonville, would score the sixth goal in the 89th minute to send Lynch’s to their third US Open Cup.

The club changed their name from DS United to one of their sponsors, a prominate pub in Jacksonville, FL. — The club changed their name from DS United to one of their sponsors, a prominate pub in Jacksonville, Fla.

Kattreh is just one of the club’s young talented players. Unfortunately for Lynch’s, their top young defender Nurdin Hrustic is unavailable for their Open Cup run because he recently signed with German Bundesliga club Vfl Bochum. Another young player from the club has moved on to bigger and brighter things is Tony Taylor, who is in the process of training with the US Under-20 National Team, and could be available for the Miami FC game.

The rest of the roster is made up of local players who have either gone to college or high school in the area. Some of the veterans on the club could be joining Apunte in “retirement” after this season. Midfielders Pat Cannon and Sean Steed, defenders Steve Command and Justin Lloyd and goalkeeper Greg Williams have played over seven years with the club and could make way for younger players next season.

Like most teams, Lynch’s FC is always looking to improve. While Beaches Adult Soccer League is a “very competitive league,” according to Apunte, the club is exploring their options for possibly joining the USL or the NPSL in the coming years. Apunte is confident that the club will continue to thrive after he and the veteran players are gone. The man who will play a major role in keeping the club rolling will be head coach Moses Williams who is also the director of coaching for the Jacksonville Jaguars Soccer Club (Note: The Jaguars club predates the NFL team with the same name). Williams is a talented coach who is always restocking the Lynch’s roster with local talent.

Modern technology has helped sports, especially for USASA clubs, like Lynch’s, who have a USL First Division opponent in front of them. All of Miami’s games can be viewed for free on USLLive.com, but Apunte says that they haven’t used the website all that much.

“We haven’t really watched a lot of film on them,” said Apunte. “We don’t worry about scouting too much. We know that they have a lot of good players and we’re just going to come out and play our game and see how it goes.”