Jersey Express

2016 US Open Cup Round 3: New York Cosmos begin Cup run with second straight shutout of Jersey Express

June 7, 2016 by Michael Anderer

Prior to the start of the 2016 MLS season, Jason Davis from Soccer Morning asked a variety of soccer reporters for their preseason predictions. One of the questions was, “Who’s going to win the Lamar Hunt Open Cup?” Brian Dunseth picked the NASL’s New York Cosmos. There are some members of the media who think that the Cosmos have bolstered their roster enough to make a run at the US Open Cup.

The Cosmos began their quest for the cup with a 2-0 Third Round win against Jersey Express on Wednesday at St. John’s University’s Belson Stadium in Queens, N.Y.

Despite being the favorite, the Cosmos did not take anything for granted playing a strong lineup including regular season starters like Carlos Mendes, David Ochieng, Ayoze, Danny Szetela, Ruben Bover and Sebastian Guenzatti. By all accounts, the decision to go with a balance of starters and reserve players proved pivotal. Jersey came out with a well organized defense that allowed the Cosmos to control the tempo and possession, but most of the chances from the home side were on crosses that were blocked or long range shots parried away by keeper David Greczek.

Jersey’s backline was anchored by solid play of both Chris Krez and Jonathon Onyeaka. An early yellow card to midfielder Pinto Goulart added extra stress for the visitors, but solid attacking play by Angser Otto would force the Cosmos to recognize how well these teams matched up to each other.

In the 35th minute, the Cosmos broke through on a fantastic free kick from Ayoze after Bover had been taken down just outside the eighteen-yard box. With a four-man wall in front of him, Greczek was completely screened. Ayoze’s placement and pace were perfect and the ball sailed into the upper corner to give the Cosmos a 1-0 lead.

That’s how teams would enter halftime after exchanging low percentage shots as both defenses set the tone for the match. The Cosmos thought they had another goal as Lucky Mkosana put a cross into the goal in the 54th, but the goal was offside. Feeling the pressure, Jersey made its first change bringing in Rajrir Khalon for Jack Ponce, but it would be Jersey’s second substitution that cost them. After a strong 66 minutes but still trailing by a goal, Jersey swapped Tyler Morris for Jonathon Onyeaka. Six minutes later, the long-awaited assurance goal for the Cosmos came as substitute Yohandry Orozco was left wide open on the back post for a simple tap-in header. With the second goal, Jersey was forced to press more and the tired legs could not keep the pace up. The Ayoze goal would stand as the game winner.

The Cosmos now set their sites on finishing up the Spring NASL in first place and then look ahead at a rematch of last year’s Open Cup derby with NYCFC.

“Our goal is to win every game, whether it be in the regular season, or in this competition, so obviously we are happy with the result and we can focus on the next opponent,” Mkosana said.

Cosmos Captain Carlos Mendes said that while it’s great to win the Open Cup game, the focus has to remain on the spring season, but he is excited to play against NYCFC later in the month.

Cosmos coach Gio Savarese was very pleased with the performance. He noted earlier in the week that the match was of the most difficult in the Open Cup format.

“It’s hard because some players and sometimes whole teams, overlook this round of the competition,” he said. “The players get soft mentally and think that they are better, and that’s dangerous. Jersey had a lot of good chances, more than we wanted them to have.”

Savarse calls the derby against NYCFC, the type of game that is really good at growing the sport with a lot of passion and drama.

The Cosmos will visit NYCFC on June 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Coffey Stadium at Fordham University.

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: Jersey Express take out another New York opponent, beat Clarkstown Eagles 2-1

May 14, 2016 by Craig Tower

The Premier Development League (PDL) got off to a good start against National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) competition early on in the First Round of the 2016 US Open Cup and Jersey Express did their part to contribute with a 2-1 win over Clarkstown SC Eagles.

Jersey Express were led by Romario Pinto Goulart, who earned not one, but two penalty kicks; one in either half. However, Romario did not convert either of the penalties he had earned. That honor went to Juan Correa, who scored twice instead. Almost unfairly, Romario not only didn’t get a chance to finish either penalty, but he was also substituted in the 65th minute.
But Express head coach Julian Richens felt his team’s victory was about more than just earning a couple PKs.

“We created chances throughout the 90 minutes,” said Richens, who also coaches at Saint Peters University. “Three of our back four were playing out of position so credit them for limiting any threat.

That makeshift defense had to work hard to secure the win though, because the Eagles did not go quietly. They managed to get one back in stoppage time, courtesy of Bljedi Bardic, but could not get the equalizer as they became one of six NPSL teams to be eliminated in the first six games of the First Round (Note: The league would later advance in seven of the next eight).

In the Modern Era, there have been 13 New York vs. New Jersey matchups, and with the Express winning, the state of New Jersey has won seven of them.

Jersey Express will once again travel north to New York on Wednesday, May 18 to take on three-time Open Cup champion New York Pancyprian Freedoms, who erased a 1-0 deficit to defeat the new York Red Bulls U-23 squad, 2-1. Richens likes his team’s chances to carry momentum into the next round and get another win; potentially starting deep run into the tournament.

“It’s very early in the season and we will be better than we were today. The performance levels will only increase, giving us a good chance to win the game.”

2013 US Open Cup Round 3: New York Cosmos dismiss PDL’s Jersey Express to set up NYCFC Round 4 match (video)

May 28, 2015 by Brian Venard

It’s always great to see a Cinderella story in the US Open Cup, but today at Belson Stadium, the sheer quality of the New York Cosmos ended one such storyline with a rout of the Jersey Express of the PDL.

From the start, the Cosmos dominated possession and continuously pressured the Express’ backline. The Cosmos high tempo offense led to many opportunities, three of which ended in the back of the net. Interestingly enough, the Cosmos accumulated 15 corners throughout the game, compared to Jersey’s zero. This stat barely shows the one-sided nature of the match.

The scoring started off in the 14th minute when Leo Fernandes blasted the ball into the back of the net off of a free kick and continued in the 40th minute when Guenzatti beat two defenders off of a brilliant pass by none other than Fernandes.

Throughout the match, it was quite obvious the Cosmos were playing an aggressive style of soccer, picking up four yellow cards and a red card. The red card in particular was very odd to see. In the 90th minute when the game was already sealed up, Samuel Caceres obtained a completely unnecessary second yellow card, leaving his team going into their Fourth Round match with NYCFC without him.

Even though the Express did not succeed on offense tonight, there were some fantastic saves by their keeper throughout the night. If not for Matthew Mahoney’s valiant effort in the net, the score could easily have been 6-0 or 7-0.

The hands down player of the match is the Cosmos’ Leo Fernandes, with a goal and an assist and a solid all around performance. Fernandes and the rest of his teammates will be looking forward to their June 12th match against NYCFC(MLS), the first meeting between the two New York sides will be very exciting to watch. After speaking with Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese, it is clear that while there is a different atmosphere around a derby match, the Cosmos will not get distracted and will continue to play their game regardless of the stature or location of their opponent. You can correlate this attitude towards the match to the “winning environment” Savarese is trying to create, where regardless of the importance of the match, you play to win.

This mentality will surely be important to the Cosmos in the short term, and will surely reap its benefits in the long run.

HIGHLIGHTS: Jersey Express at New York Cosmos

2015 US Open Cup Round 2: Jersey Express earn second straight shutout in 1-0 upset of New York Red Bulls 2 (video)

May 22, 2015 by J.T. Alwin

The Jersey Express defense held strong against New York Red Bulls 2 (USL) in the team's second straight shutout. Photo: Bob Larson | Stellar Performance Photography — The Jersey Express defense held strong against New York Red Bulls 2 (USL) in the team’s second straight shutout. Photo: Bob Larson

A bait and switch occurred on Wednesday evening at NJIT Stadium in Newark, NJ. Despite their canary yellow kits and the seven Brazilians in the starting lineup, the home team, in fact, was not the Brazilian National Team; and although the visitors wore red and white uniform with a Red Bulls logo in the middle of their jersey, they were not same New York Red Bulls 2 that had played this season in the USL.

The members on loan from the Major League Soccer Red Bulls did not dress for Red Bulls 2’s first-ever Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match. Instead seven players from the Red Bulls U-18 to U-16 development academy squads dressed for the club’s Second Round match against the Jersey Express of the Premier Development League (PDL). Two of those academy players – Derrick Etienne and Juan Sanchez – got the start.

MORE: Check out Bob Larson’s photo gallery from the match

Similarly to the Express’ first round Open Cup victory against the New York Greek American SC, a header near the hour mark proved to be the winner. Jersey took a lead in the 58th minute off a powerful header Chris Karcz from a Brayan Martinez corner. The Express would survive multiple close calls to earn a 1-0 victory and advance to Round 3.

That goal was Karcz’s second of this year’s Open Cup tournament and the third of his career. The clean sheet was second for goalkeeper Matthew Turner.

The Red Bulls had the more talented individual players, nevertheless their youth and lack of chemistry showed. Jersey replied heavily on good organization, maintaining their shape in the back, and their maturity. In the first half New York enjoyed much of the possession, but failed to produce a shot. In the first half, the Express took nine and forced New York’s keeper, Rafael Diaz, into three saves.

“I thought we were the better team in the first half, but that’s soccer,” said Red Bulls 2 head coach John Wolyneic, who scored three Open Cup goals in his playing career. “I think the best stretch that we had came five minutes before they scored.”

Photo: Bob Larson | Stellar Performance Photography — Photo: Bob Larson

The goal by Karcz was against the run of play as Red Bulls 2 turned up the pressure in the second half. Jersey was efficient in their second half chances. In one of the few times the Express got into New York’s third, Marko Drljic ripped a left footed shot from outside the box led to the eventual game-winning corner.

Minutes later, the Baby Bulls, as many refer to them as, nearly answered with their own set piece goal off a corner kick. Red Bulls centerback Konrad Plewa’s open header from the far post somehow fell just wide right of goal. It stood as the visitor’s best chance on goal in the match.

The Express’ backline hold on for the next 30 minutes as the Red Bulls continued to throw numbers forward. After being emotionally amped up in their first tournament game last week, the Jersey Express steadied themselves to play controlled and smart soccer for the full 90.

“This is not our first home game anymore. We took advantage of playing home,” said Jersey Express coach Francisco ‘Chiquino’ Da Silva Jr. “After a while we got used to it and they were just playing against another eleven.”

With this victory the Jersey Express move on to play the New York Cosmos on the road. Originally the Express were to host the Third Round match in Newark, but maintenance to the turf forced the match on Wednesday, May 27 to be played at Belson Stadium at St. John’s University in Queens, NY.

Full match replay: NY Red Bulls 2 at Jersey Express

2015 US Open Cup Round 1: Jersey Express shuts out 4-time champion Greek American SC, 3-0

May 19, 2015 by Jason Sieira

Jersey Express celebrate as they defeated New York Greek American SC 3-0 in Round 1. Photo: Bob Larson

A diving header in the 65th minute by midfielder Marko Drjlic put the Jersey Express into the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, leading to an eventual 3-0 victory over the New York Greek American SC at NJIT Stadium.

Alone at the far post Drljic finished a picturesque goal on a swinging cross from JP Correa that left Greek American’s goalkeeper Brian Edwards helpless.

Despite having the majority of possession the first half, the Express of the PDL looked as unpolished as a team playing their first match of the season would be expected.

The four-time Open Cup champion Greeks, the USASA Region I representative, played road tournament soccer, sitting back and waiting for the moment to counter.

Jersey coach Francisco Da Silva recognized his team’s nervousness associated with early season play.

“I know we had the game, but we just weren’t playing the way we do that practice,” Da Silva said. “All we needed to do to make a difference was calm down our play.”

The Greek Americans, frequent participants in the Open Cup with five appearances in the Modern Era, came out more aggressive in the second half, enjoying more possession especially in Jersey’s half.

In the 52nd minute, the Greek Americans nearly took the lead when Jersey keeper Matthew Turner misjudged an in-swinging cross, giving Detejl a clean header that found the net. As the ball dribbled over the goal line the assistant referee called Detejl offside.

The Greeks got another opportunity in the 62nd minute when Kevin Correa perfectly timed a run as he received a pass toward the right flank with loads of space.

Jersey’s central defender Sylvain N’guessa was able to close down the forward as Correa dribbled into the penalty area. Correa ripped a right-footed shot that cleared the bar.

Once Drjlic — who recently closed out his college soccer career at NJIT — broke the tie minutes later, the match was pried up and giving Jersey the advantage again.

“We were a little bit shaky in the first half because we didn’t want to make a mistake,” Drjlic said. “In the second half I thought the Greek Americans dropped a little bit down, we pressured them higher, that caused them trouble, and after that first goal thing got easier.”

In the 88th minute, Correa provided his second assist when Chris Karcz finished at close range past a small crowd in front of goal.

Correa came on at halftime to provide Da Silva’s squad a little more experience.

“We thought bringing JP in would give the team confidence to just play the ball on the ground,” Da Silva said.”He was very, very important in the change that we made.”

Late substitute Alex Biley put in the final goal in the 90th minute when the forward held off his defender with his back to goal.

Biley received the ball from midfield off a short bounce and slotted inside the left post past a frozen Edwards.

The victory is the first Open Cup win for the Express. Last year, they dropped a 4-2 decision to the Brooklyn Italians (NPSL).

In the Second Round, the Express will host the New York Red Bulls II of USL at NJIT Stadium.

Red Bulls II, who play their home matches less than 2.5 miles from NJIT Stadium at Red Bull Arena, are nearly a third of the way into their season.

Coach Da Silva knows a lack of early season game experience could be a challenge against the pros in Round 2.

“I’m glad we had this game before we play them, because the initial start is going to hurt a little bit. But I’m sure we’re going to do good.”

2014 US Open Cup Round 2: Brooklyn Italians rally to beat Jersey Express, earn date with New York Cosmos (video)

May 20, 2014 by Jason Sieira

The Brooklyn Italians opened the 2014 US Open Cup with a 4-2 road win over the PDL's Jersey Express. Photo: Bob Larson — The Brooklyn Italians opened the 2014 US Open Cup with a 4-2 road win over the PDL’s Jersey Express. Photo: Bob Larson

The NPSL’s Brooklyn Italians survived a slow start and advanced with a four-goal second half performance against the PDL’s Jersey Express at the J. Malcolm Simon Stadium on the campus of New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ.

The 4-2 road victory earned the Italians the right to face the NASL Soccer Bowl champions New York Cosmos in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Brooklyn’s turnaround started early in the second half with a goal by Jiro Barriga, followed by a goal from a penalty kick by Salvatore Barrone, and two goals after the 80th minute by Yvener Guerrier.

Italians coach Lucio Russo, a former Jersey Express assistance coach, credited an increase in his squad’s intensity level for the reversal. “We had to match through intensity,” said Russo. “ came out really strong, knocking the ball around and we were basically just watching them.”

The first half belonged to the Jersey Express who looked the better side as they worked the ball up the right flanks and sent the occasional long ball to their target striker Joseph Ovenseri, who sat in the center channel looking to play off the center back’s shoulder.

The Brooklyn Italians are making their 5th straight US Open Cup appearance. Photo: Bob Larson

The Express had a few early chances and capitalized off of a set piece in the 12th minute. William Torreson Paulino’s free kick from the right about a yard outside the box found an unmarked Markus Hackett at the far post to open the scoring.

Brooklyn’s frustration seems to come out toward the end of the first half. Martin Williams was given a yellow card for a tactical foul in the 42nd minute, followed two minutes later by Ricardo Milano getting himself a yellow for a foul a few yards outside the top of the box. Jersey kept the pressure on through most of the first half, but several key saves by the Italians’ goalkeeper Sheldon Parkinson minimized the damage. The majority of Parkinson’s nine saves were in the first half and his performance allowed the Italians to get into the locker room only down 1-0 at the half.

In the second half, Brooklyn immediately looked like a different team. “We were better as far as collectively, defensively we really stepped it up a notch,” said Russo. “We were stealing some balls and we were kind of dangerous up top.”

In the 48th minute, Barriga found himself open in the box with a loose ball at his foot. Barriga, about two yards left of the spot, pushed a low shot to the opposite goal post passed a frozen keeper. Jersey answered with a goal by Chris Karcz off a shot near the top of the box. Karcz got to a free ball in space and hit it past the keeper. The Express appeared to be back in control with a 2-1 lead in the 62nd minute. However, 10 minutes later, a handball in the box gave the Italians a penalty kick. Express keeper David Greczek got a hand on Barrone’s hard and low shot to the right post, but the power of the strike was too much and the game was tied.

After that goal the Brooklyn supporters came alive, chanting and stomping on the metal bleachers. Brooklyn’s forward Guerrier scored the match-winning goal on a breakaway set-up by midfielder Karrem Joachim in the 81st minute. Guerrier outran the Jersey center backs and slipped the ball past an oncoming Greczek. Guerrier added a second goal from the spot in second half stoppage time after the Express defender Christopher Lebo denied a clear goal scoring opportunity in the 89th minute. Lebo was giving a red card by referee Neil Barbulescu for the take down just outside of Jersey’s box. The penalty kick goal by Guerrier was a low hard shot of the right post passed Express keeper Greczek. Again Greczek picked correctly, but could not make the save.

For Guerrier it gives him a brace in each of the club’s first three matches of the season. Italians coach Russo had high praise for his forward. “I believe he belongs at the next level, definitely with a USL team or NASL team,” said Russo. “He’s a force on top. He’s difficult to mark”

Russo realizes the challenge his amateur club faces in the next round. “We’re playing pro now, not to take nothing away from the Jersey Express because they are fantastic,” explained Russo. “But are pro, they do it all day long, and we are amateurs and we practice twice a week. A complete hours a day, to match up against a team like that is a great experience for these players.”

The Brooklyn Italians, making their fifth straight appearance in the tournament, improve to 2-4-0 in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present). This match was the first for the Jersey Express in the US Open Cup.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

2011 US Open Cup qualifying (PDL East): Reading & Western Mass qualify; Carolina Dynamo clinch via tiebreakers

May 21, 2011 by Tavio Palazzolo

US Open Cup qualifying for the Premier Development League is already underway for 2011 as the season began on April 30. It is arguably the most exciting portion of the event for the league as the task of qualifying can be more daunting than the professional opponents awaiting them in the tournament proper.

In the 2011 edition of the tournament, the PDL will be represented by a record nine clubs after seven consecutive years with eight representatives. With nine berths available, the league will send one from each division based on four league contests that will double as qualification matches – a format long established by the parent United Soccer Leagues.

For the first time since 2008, the Eastern Conference has three divisions – the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic, and the new South Atlantic (which last appeared in 2006). Four teams have a recent history with qualifying for the US Open Cup on multiple occasions. Two of them were last year’s representatives (Long Island Rough Riders, Reading United AC), and two more have qualified at least three times each from the PDL (Carolina Dynamo, Ocean City Nor’easters). A total of 18 teams are fighting for a record three spots from the East this year.

Here is the how the Eastern Conference is currently shaping up:

Northeast Division
Final Results

The Western Mass Pioneers qualified for the U.S. Open Cup with a 1-0 win over the MPS Portland Phoenix in a head-to-head match between the two Northeast Division group leaders to determine the berth. Halftime substitute Chris Roswess scored the game’s only goal in the 71^st minute when he hammered the ball into the net on a half volley from 18 yards out. “In the first half Portland controlled the majority of play and dictated the tempo of play,” Pioneers Head Coach Joe Calabrese said. “But in the second half we made a couple of substitutions and we thought those two changes had a positive impact on the game.”

An automatic entrant numerous times as a USL-2 professional third division club (now USL PRO), it is the first time in two years in the PDL that it has qualified, finishing third in its group at 2-1-1 last year. “For some of our collegiate players this is a dream come true,” Calabrese said. “Many of our college players will never aspire to be professional players. This is once in a lifetime for many of them. You don’t know when your career is going to end so it’s spectacular to have them get this experience.”

NORTHEAST DIVISION	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA	GF	GD
Western Mass Pioneers	4	3	0	1	10	7	3	6	+4
MPS Portland Phoenix	4	3	1	0	9	5	2	5	+3
Vermont Voltage	4	0	2	2	2	1	4	1	-3
Seacoast United Phantoms	4	0	3	1	1	3	7	3	-4

Top team qualifies for the US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 7	Seacoast United Phantoms	0:1	MPS Portland Phoenix	6:00
May 14	Western Mass Pioneers	2:1	Seacoast United Phantoms	4:00
May 14	Vermont Voltage	0:2	MPS Portland Phoenix	6:00
May 20	Seacoast United Phantoms	2:4	Western Mass Pioneers	7:00
May 21	MPS Portland Phoenix	2:1	Vermont Voltage	7:00
May 25	Western Mass Pioneers	0:0	Vermont Voltage	7:00
May 27	MPS Portland Phoenix	0:1	Western Mass Pioneers	7:00
May 28	Vermont Voltage	0:0	Seacoast United Phantoms	7:00

Mid-Atlantic Division
Final Results

Reading United continued to cruise through Open Cup qualifying with a 4-1 win over the Ocean City Nor’easters on May 20, to finish with a perfect 4-0-0 record. Even though it was Ocean City’s season opener, one loss eliminated them from contention, and it also knocked Long Island out of the running despite their 2-0-0 record. Based on the tiebreaking situation, even if Long Island were to win their final qualifier by three goals or more, they would still fall short in the goal difference tiebreaker. They clinched their place as the first team to qualify from the PDL as the Jersey Express fell to the Rough Riders 3-1. Reading has now qualified for the third straight year.

This marks the third year in a row that Reading has finished qualifying without a loss. When they were known as the Rage in 2009, they finished 3-0-1, and in 2010 they finished tied with the Newark Ironbound Express at 4-0-0. Unfortunately for the Express, Reading qualified based on a tiebreaker, having scored one more goal than Ironbound. This was an unfortunate bit of history for the Express as they became not only the third PDL team in the Pro Era (1995-present) to miss out after a 4-0-0 record, but they were the first team to register four straight shutout victories, and fail to qualify.

MID-ATLANTIC DIVISION	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA	GF	GD
Reading United AC	4	4	0	0	12	15	3	12	+11
Long Island Rough Riders	4	3	0	1	10	9	4	9	+5
Jersey Express	4	3	1	0	9	7	3	7	+4
Westchester Flames	4	2	2	0	6	9	11	7	-2
New Jersey Rangers	4	2	2	0	6	3	8	3	-4
Ocean City Nor’easters	4	0	3	1	1	3	8	3	-5
Central Jersey Spartans	3	0	3	0	0	2	6	2	-4
Brooklyn Knights	3	0	3	0	0	5	10	4	-5

Top team qualifies for the US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 7	Reading United AC	3:1	Brooklyn Knights	7:00
May 8	Westchester Flames	3:0	New Jersey Rangers	6:00
May 11	Long Island Rough Riders	2:0	Brooklyn Knights	7:00
May 14	Westchester Flames	0:3	Jersey Express	7:00
May 15	New Jersey Rangers	0:4	Reading United AC	6:00
May 18	Reading United AC	4:1	Westchester Flames	7:30
May 19	Central Jersey Spartans	1:2	Long Island Rough Riders	8:00
May 20	Ocean City Nor’easters	1:4	Reading United AC	7:30
May 21	Jersey Express	1:3	Long Island Rough Riders	7:30
May 22	Brooklyn Knights	at	Central Jersey Spartans	PPD
May 22	New Jersey Rangers	1:0	Ocean City Nor’easters	6:00
May 25	Central Jersey Spartans	1:2	New Jersey Rangers	8:00
May 27	Ocean City Nor’easters	0:1	Jersey Express	8:00
May 28	Brooklyn Knights	4:5	Westchester Flames	7:30
May 29	Long Island Rough Riders	2:2	Ocean City Nor’easters	6:00
May 30	Jersey Express	2:0	Central Jersey Spartans	5:00

South Atlantic Division
Final Results

The West Virginia Chaos finished their qualifying slate with a 3-1 win over the Virginia Beach Piranhas May 21, leaving them in a wait-and-see situation as the Carolina Dynamo and Real Maryland Monarchs could pull level or move past them. They got some help the following night as the Dynamo slipped up in a 1-0 road loss to the Northern Virginia Royals, creating the possibility of a three-way tie at 3-1 after the final weekend. With Real Maryland set for its finale Monday, the Monarchs were awaiting good news that would not come as Carolina blanked the visiting Virginia Beach Piranhas 3-0 Saturday evening, clinching the top spot in the division and berth to the US Open Cup via tiebreaker scenarios.

SOUTH ATLANTIC DIVISION	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA	GF	GD
Carolina Dynamo	4	3	1	0	9	7	1	7	+6
Real Maryland Monarchs	4	3	1	0	9	8	2	8	+6
West Virginia Chaos	4	3	1	0	9	10	4	9	+5
Northern Virginia Royals	4	2	2	0	6	5	6	5	-1
Virginia Beach Piranhas	4	1	3	0	3	3	9	3	-6
Fredericksburg Hotspur	4	0	4	0	0	1	12	1	-10

Note: Carolina qualifies based on head-to-head tiebreaker vs. Real Maryland & West Virginia

Top team qualifies for the US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 7	Fredericksburg Hotspur	0:2	Virginia Beach Piranhas	7:00
May 7	Northern Virginia Royals	1:3	West Virginia Chaos	7:00
May 14	Real Maryland Monarchs	3:0	Virginia Beach Piranhas	5:30
May 14	West Virginia Chaos	0:2	Carolina Dynamo	7:00
May 15	West Virginia Chaos	4:0	Fredericksburg Hotspur	2:00
May 15	Northern Virginia Royals	0:2	Real Maryland Monarchs	4:00
May 21	Carolina Dynamo	2:0	Real Maryland Monarchs	7:00
May 21	Virginia Beach Piranhas	1:3	West Virginia Chaos	7:30
May 22	Carolina Dynamo	0:1	Northern Virginia Royals	7:00
May 28	Virginia Beach Piranhas	0:3	Carolina Dynamo	7:00
May 29	Fredericksburg Hotspur	1:3	Northern Virginia Royals	7:00
May 30	Real Maryland Monarchs	3:0	Fredericksburg Hotspur	5:00

Breakdown for 2011 USL PDL US Open Cup Qualifying: Eastern Conference

April 15, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

The 2011 US Open Cup qualifying process for the Premier Development League begins April 30 when the Central Florida Kraze play host to Fort Lauderdale Schulz. The match marks the beginning of what is arguably the most intense opening to any league season, making it the most pressure-packed portion of the PDL schedule league-wide. The task of qualifying can be more daunting than the professional opponents awaiting them in the tournament proper.

In the upcoming edition of the tournament, the PDL will be represented by a record nine clubs after seven consecutive years with eight representatives. With nine berths available, the league will send one from each division based on four league contests that will double as qualification matches – a format long established by the parent United Soccer Leagues.

Here is the Eastern Conference portion of the four-part series of breakdowns:

Eastern Conference Qualifying Breakdown

US Open Cup qualifying for the PDL Eastern Conference, the lone conference with three divisions and berths, opens with four games on May 7 and a fifth the following evening.

A year ago, this conference, which spans the Atlantic coast from Maine to North Carolina, was basically evenly split with nine and eight-team groups. By carving out a third division, the balance has been eliminated. The new ‘metro’ Mid Atlantic division with eight teams in the greater New York City / New Jersey area and an exception from Pennsylvania has twice as many teams as its Northeast Division counterpart, which has four, and is two more than the South Atlantic, which is at six.

The most stunning result of the shifting is arguably the competitive imbalance between the divisions as the Mid Atlantic has five teams with impressive winning records over a four-year Open Cup qualifying span while the other two divisions have a combined two teams with winning records.

Mid Atlantic Division
Brooklyn Knights, Central Jersey Spartans, Jersey Express, Long Island Rough Riders, New Jersey Rangers, Ocean City Nor’easters, Reading United AC, Westchester Flames

kevin-curran-vs-boyzz-kuhmalo-dcu-barons — The Ocean City Nor'easters (shown here playing against DC United in the Third Round of the 2009 US Open Cup) have qualified four times in the last seven years. They have four professional team upsets to their credit, second-most of any PDL franchise (Michigan Bucks - 7) | Photo: Bill Pellegrino, Ocean City Nor'easters

With three teams from New York and four from New Jersey, the eight-team grouping’s lone outsider is Reading United AC. The club also happens to be the side which advanced from this particular group the past two years, although the Mid Atlantic division has previously been largely comprised of teams from what is now the South Atlantic. Most of the current composition was primarily in what was then the Northeast, which sent Ocean City as its representative two years ago.

Reading leads what could be considered part of the quintet of power teams among the division with the two recent trips to the tournament and a four-year record of 11-2-3 in qualifying that hit its peak with a 4-0-0 effort last year. Matching that record were the Long Island Rough Riders, who qualified last year out of the Northeast. The five-time tournament entrants from New York also qualified in 2007 with a perfect 4-0-0 record. Last year’s two qualifiers, however, are not slated to face one another in qualifying this year in what would have been a marquee match-up.

The other three power teams are the Ocean City Nor’easters (9-2-5), Jersey Express (8-2-2) and Brooklyn Knights (7-5-4). The trio of New Jersey, Central Jersey and Westchester has just a combined seven wins between them over the past eight qualifying campaigns (last four years) as the first two are recent expansion sides.

Of the power five, the fourth-year Express are the only club that has not yet qualified for the tournament. The other four have reached the US Open Cup on 13 combined occasions.

Reading and Brooklyn kick off the division’s qualifying slate with the lone match May 7. After that, both clubs will only face one more team from the power quintet as Brooklyn takes on Long Island and Reading closes against Ocean City. Jersey also were fortunate to only find two power teams on the fixture list with games against Long Island and Ocean City, who will both have to face three of their power peers.

MID-ATLANTIC DIVISION	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA	GF	GD
Brooklyn Knights	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Central Jersey Spartans	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Jersey Express	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Long Island Rough Riders	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
New Jersey Rangers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Ocean City Nor’easters	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Reading United AC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Westchester Flames	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0

Top team qualifies for the US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 7	Reading United AC	at	Brooklyn Knights	7:00
May 8	Westchester Flames	at	New Jersey Rangers	6:00
May 11	Long Island Rough Riders	at	Brooklyn Knights	7:00
May 14	Westchester Flames	at	Jersey Express	7:00
May 15	New Jersey Rangers	at	Reading United AC	6:00
May 18	Reading United AC	at	Westchester Flames	7:30
May 19	Central Jersey Spartans	at	Long Island Rough Riders	8:00
May 20	Ocean City Nor’easters	at	Reading United AC	7:30
May 21	Jersey Express	at	Long Island Rough Riders	7:30
May 22	Brooklyn Knights	at	Central Jersey Spartans	4:00
May 22	New Jersey Rangers	at	Ocean City Nor’easters	6:00
May 25	Central Jersey Spartans	at	New Jersey Rangers	8:00
May 27	Ocean City Nor’easters	at	Jersey Express	8:00
May 28	Brooklyn Knights	at	Westchester Flames	7:30
May 29	Long Island Rough Riders	at	Ocean City Nor’easters	6:00
May 30	Jersey Express	at	Central Jersey Spartans	5:00

Western Mass Pioneers logo — The Western Mass Pioneers have competed in the US Open Cup six times since they were founded in 1998.

Northeast Division
MPS Portland Phoenix, Seacoast United Phantoms, Vermont Voltage, Western Mass Pioneers

The combined win total of the last four years of PDL qualifying for the division – 10 – falls short of two individual teams in the Mid Atlantic. In this grouping everyone is basically on equal footing as no team has more than three PDL qualifying campaigns in the past four years.

MPS Portland Phoenix was an expansion team a year ago while the Western Mass Pioneers were playing their first season in the league having dropped down from the professional third division. The move down was one that the Seacoast United Phantoms (formerly New Hampshire Phantoms) had made two years prior. The Vermont Voltage, longtime PDL members, were making their return after a year’s absence from play.

The veteran trio is familiar with one another from their extensive USL history, but the Pioneers, Phantoms and Voltage have limited history meeting on competitive terms like this.

Kicking off the group’s schedule is a May 7 contest between host Portland and the Phantoms, who played to a 1-1 draw in last year’s qualifier in New Hampshire. Portland , however, would later win at home in dominating fashion, 5-0, in league play.

The smallest fixture list among the nine groups with only eight games comes to a close May 28 when the Phantoms play host to the Voltage, who swept the season series a year ago with two victories – neither of them qualifiers.

NORTHEAST DIVISION	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA	GF	GD
MPS Portland Phoenix	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Seacoast United Phantoms	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Vermont Voltage	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Western Mass Pioneers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0

Top team qualifies for the US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 7	Seacoast United Phantoms	at	MPS Portland Phoenix	6:00
May 14	Western Mass Pioneers	at	Seacoast United Phantoms	4:00
May 14	Vermont Voltage	at	MPS Portland Phoenix	6:00
May 20	Seacoast United Phantoms	at	Western Mass Pioneers	7:00
May 21	MPS Portland Phoenix	at	Vermont Voltage	7:00
May 25	Western Mass Pioneers	at	Vermont Voltage	7:00
May 27	MPS Portland Phoenix	at	Western Mass Pioneers	7:00
May 28	Vermont Voltage	at	Seacoast United Phantoms	7:00

South Atlantic Division
Carolina Dynamo, Fredericksburg Hotspur, Northern Virginia Royals, Real Maryland Monarchs, Virginia Beach Piranhas, West Virginia Chaos

This grouping may be a new creation, but for four of these clubs, they are no strangers to one another. What is new is the addition of expansion Fredericksburg Hotspur and former professional third division club Real Maryland Monarchs.

The Monarchs are the newest club in this group to make the transition to the PDL. The only other two teams of the six with US Open Cup tournament experience are also former professional clubs. Along with the Carolina Dynamo and Northern Virginia Royals, the three have 12 appearances in the tournament, but only a pair of trips by the Dynamo in 2004 and 2006 came via qualifying out of the PDL. Carolina played in the tournament five times before joining the league in 2004 and Northern Virginia twice before the switch in 2006. Real Maryland has been an automatic entrant as a pro team the past three years.

Despite last qualifying for the tournament in 2006, the Dynamo have been in the running the past four years with a combined record of 9-4-2, never suffering more than one loss in each of their efforts. Located centrally along the Atlantic coast, Carolina has found itself also shifting divisions and conferences, having previously been a member of the Southeast group prior to 2008.

Carolina’s success overshadows that of its three group-mates with PDL experience as the trio of Northern Virginia, Virginia Beach and West Virginia have fewer wins combined (7) over the last four years than the Dynamo. Carolina, though, will have to play the four experienced clubs in the group with the expansion side missing from its slate. The first contest comes May 14 at home against West Virginia.

The opening night of qualifying, though, is heavy on the Virginias with all four clubs hailing from the two states as Fredericksburg visits Virginia Beach and West Virginia plays host to Northern Virginia May 7. But while Fredericksburg may have avoided drawing Carolina in the fixture list, the new club will have a difficult task at the finish with back-to-back games on the road against Northern Virginia and at home versus Real Maryland.

SOUTH ATLANTIC DIVISION	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA	GF	GD
Carolina Dynamo	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Fredericksburg Hotspur	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Northern Virginia Royals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Real Maryland Monarchs	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Virginia Beach Piranhas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
West Virginia Chaos	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0

Top team qualifies for the US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 7	Fredericksburg Hotspur	at	Virginia Beach Piranhas	7:00
May 7	Northern Virginia Royals	at	West Virginia Chaos	7:00
May 14	Real Maryland Monarchs	at	Virginia Beach Piranhas	5:30
May 14	West Virginia Chaos	at	Carolina Dynamo	7:00
May 15	West Virginia Chaos	at	Fredericksburg Hotspur	2:00
May 15	Northern Virginia Royals	at	Real Maryland Monarchs	4:00
May 21	Carolina Dynamo	at	Real Maryland Monarchs	7:00
May 21	Virginia Beach Piranhas	at	West Virginia Chaos	7:30
May 22	Carolina Dynamo	at	Northern Virginia Royals	7:00
May 28	Virginia Beach Piranhas	at	Carolina Dynamo	7:00
May 29	Fredericksburg Hotspur	at	Northern Virginia Royals	7:00
May 30	Real Maryland Monarchs	at	Fredericksburg Hotspur	5:00

Central Conference (Coming Soon)

Great Lakes Division: Akron Summit Assault, Chicago Fire, Cincinnati Kings, Indiana Invaders, Michigan Bucks, River City Rovers
Heartland Division: Des Moines Menace, Kansas City Brass, Real Colorado Foxes, Springfield Demize, St Louis Lions

Southern Conference (Inside Look +)

Mid South Division: Baton Rouge Capitals, Chivas El Paso Patriots, Laredo Heat, New Orleans Jesters, RGV Grandes FC, West Texas United Sockers
Southeast Division: Central Florida Kraze, FC Jaxy Destroyers, Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy, IMG Bradenton Academics, Mississippi Brilla, Nashville Metros

Western Conference (Coming Soon)

Northwest Division: Kitsap Pumas, North Sound SeaWolves, Portland Timbers U23, Tacoma Tide, Washington Crossfire
Southwest Division: BYU Cougars, Fresno Fuego, LA Blues 23, Los Angeles Legends, Ogden Outlaws, Orange County Blue Star, Southern California Seahorses, Ventura County Fusion