Junior Lone Star

2018 US Open Cup qualifying: Daryl Kavanagh’s brace helps Lansdowne Bhoys qualify for second time

November 20, 2017 by Eugene O'Driscoll

Lansdowne Bhoys FC beat Junior Lone Stars U-23s to advance to qualify for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the second time in three years. The defending USASA Amateur Cup champions, playing in front of their home fans at Tibbetts Brooke Park in Yonkers, NY, won the game 3-1 to earn a spot in the 105th edition of the tournament next spring.

Irish forward Daryl Kavanagh, who spent time with numerous pro teams in his home country during his career, scored two of the three goals to lead Lansdowne to the win.

At the start, it was a very tense affair with both teams guilty of heavy touches and mishit passes. Lansdowne’s quality eventual shone through as the Bhoys started to grasp control of the game while Junior Lone Star looked dangerous on the counter. After a handful of chances for Lansdowne, Paco Navarro broke the deadlock after being slipped in from Lukas Zagres to give the Bhoys an early lead.

In the second half, the Bhoys tightened their grip on the game, coming close before a beautiful curling, left-footed Daryl Kavanagh effort gave them the second goal they were looking for.

Lansdowne Bhoys pose for a team photo before the club's 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against Junior Lone Star U-23s. Photo: Lansdowne Bhoys FC — Lansdowne Bhoys pose for a team photo before the club’s 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against Junior Lone Star U-23s. Photo: Larry Larkin | Lansdowne Bhoys FC

After that goal, it was generally one-way traffic and the Bhoys added a third as Kavanagh deftly flicked in an Andrew Sousa free kick. In the last ten minutes, Junior Lone Star had their best attacking spell of the game and were rewarded for their efforts as Momoh Dolley, a substitute, scored to ruin the shutout. For the Philadelphia-based Junior Lone Star, it would be the end to a rare qualifying run as the club’s senior team was eliminated in the opening round, while the Under-23s advanced all the way to the final round.

For the Bhoys, they qualify for the US Open Cup for the second time in club history. When they made their Open Cup debut in 2016, they made the most of it by defeating the Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) in the opening round before stunning the USL’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds on the road, 2-0. Their inaugural cup run would end with another road game, falling 2-0 at the Rochester Rhinos (USL).

Lansdowne manager Austin Friel was satisfied with the result and is looking ahead to the challenge that awaits his club when the US Open Cup begins next spring.

“I’m very happy to reach the first round,” Friel said with an eye toward the future and a reference to the past. “The next five months now is about preparing a squad to go as far as we can in the competition. We enjoyed our 2016 journey and want to go further this year.”

2018 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 2: Youth is served as Junior Lone Star U-23s eliminate UGH

October 25, 2017 by Michael Berton

Junior Lone Star U-23s (white) battle with United German Hungarians (red) in 2018 US Open Cup qualifying. Photo: Kari Berton

MORE: 2018 US Open Cup Qualifying Results/Schedule

The next US Open Cup Cinderella story might come out of Eastern Pennsylvania. The clock has not yet struck midnight for the young, but talented, Junior Lone Star Under-23s, who upset one of the oldest clubs in the United States in the second round of Open Cup qualifying.

Two-time US Open Cup runners-up, United German Hungarians (UGH), were favorites to win, hosting the developmental U23s. While the Junior Lone Star parent club made the Open Cup last year, the U-23s were entered into qualifying this year to just earn some valuable experience. The young team from Philadelphia showed that they are playing for more than just practice, beating UGH 3-2 at the home of the team that has been around since the 1920s.

The game was wide open from the start. Junior Lone Star was not afraid to attack, and UGH was more than happy to try to catch the U-23s on the counter attack. Ten minutes in, UGH threatened to open the scoring, but the Junior Lone Star keeper was up to the task, making two point blank saves in a row.

Just as the U-23s seemed to have control of the contest, UGH nabbed the opening goal. Jacob Mulinge crossed from the right, the ball was flicked on and John Gravelle, who played college soccer at La Salle, knocked it easily into the net.

United German Hungarians (red) celebrate a goal by John Gravelle against the Junior Lone Star U-23s in a 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Kari Berton

Junior Lone Star got the equalizer right after halftime. In the 50th minute, a long ball over the top found Elijah Ema, who calmly slotted the ball past the keeper into the net. Six minutes later, Junior Lone Star’s Opeyemi Amao made it 2-1 when he made a darting run from the left side into the box, then curled the ball around the keeper.

The U-23s got yet another goal in the 73rd minute on a free kick. The cross found the head of John Quaye, who made it 3-1.

It was a tense final few minutes for the young side from Philadelphia. The U-23s goalie made multiple saves to preserve the lead. UGH did get a second goal from Gravelle in second half stoppage time, but Junior Lone Star held on for the victory.

Junior Lone Star U-23s have a chance at a Cinderella story in the 2018 Open Cup. Now, they are just one win away from making that tournament. To get into the competition, they will have to overcome the reigning Amateur Cup champions on the road when they travel to New York City to face the Lansdowne Bhoys FC. A win, which would be considered an upset, would certainly solidify their Cinderellla status.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Ocean City Nor’easters beat Junior Lone Star 3-1 to reach double digit cup wins

May 14, 2017 by Zach Rayment

The Ocean City Nor'easters pose for a team photo at "The Beach House", their home field in Ocean City, NJ before their 2017 US Open Cup match against Junior Lone Star. Photo: Ocean City Nor'easters — The Ocean City Nor’easters pose for a team photo at “The Beach House”, their home field in Ocean City, NJ before their 2017 US Open Cup match against Junior Lone Star. Photo: Ocean City Nor’easters

The Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL) prevailed 3-1 in the First Round of the 2017 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup against Philadelphia’s Junior Lone Star (USASA). With the win, the Nor’easters will move on to host the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) in Round 2 on May 17.

The victory gives the Nor’easters 10 Open Cup wins as a franchise, nine of those coming as a member of the PDL. Nine wins ranks third among all amateur teams in the country in the Modern Era (Michigan Bucks 14, Des Moines Menace 12).

Ocean City started the game firing going ahead in the 4th minute through Fredlin Mompremier. Ignacio Tellechea collected the assist after sending the ball from the corner to the far post. Mompremier hit a first time effort under the keeper in the bottom corner.

It did not take long for the hosts to double their lead. In the 11th minute, English midfielder Tyler Collishaw tapped home an easy effort after a cross from Ismael Noumansana to give Ocean City the 2-0 lead.

The hosts were dominant in the first half and even looked liked they could have grabbed a third goal a few times, but Junior Lone Star goalkeeper, Prince Monyan played a huge role in keeping his team in the game headed into the break.

Junior Lone Star assistant coach, Charlie Flowe, said that they were a “second half team.” He praised their fitness and said that it kept them in the game.

That proved to be true as JLS started the second half with three players at the back as they brought on Joshua Chelleh to give the struggling Anthony Allison some help up top. This would change the match, giving the JLS a spark starting in the 48th minute. Allison hit a curling shot that nearly found the side netting, but later he was denied by the right post.

Junior Lone Star continued to create chances and it finally paid off in the 62nd minute as Koussai N’Guessan slotted home Yaya Fane’s cross to score the first Open Cup goal in club history.

They continued to fight for the equalizer but it was a second half sub that paid off for Ocean City’s first-year head coach John Thompson. After inserting Akeil Barrett, who helped the Swope Park Rangers win the USL title last year, he set up the clinching goal. Barrett made a run through the JLS defense and set up Collishaw for his second goal of the game in the 82nd minute. With the goal, Collishaw becomes the second Ocean City player in history to score multiple goals in a US Open Cup game.

Late in the second half, Junior Lone Star midfielder Zoncher Dennis, a former Ocean City player, was sent off for a second bookable offense which hurt their chances of a late comeback.

2017 Meet the Underdogs: Junior Lone Star’s unlikely journey from West Africa to Philly to US Open Cup

May 2, 2017 by Michael Berton

Junior Lone Star poses for a team photo before their 2017 US Open Cup qualifier against Brick Lions FC. Photo: Junior Lone Star

The US Open Cup is full of unlikely stories. The tournament’s popularity in a given year often hinges on those stories.

Maybe the story is an amateur team beating a pro team, or maybe a last-place Major League Soccer team winning the tournament. In 2017, one team might already be that unlikely story: Junior Lone Star FC.

The unlikely story of Junior Lone Star FC in the US Open Cup is 16 years in the making. The club was founded in 2001 by West African immigrants, most of them Liberians, who fled a series of brutal civil wars in their home country. All the club had at its beginning were 11 players and a name derived from the nickname of the Liberian National Team – Lone Star.

In 2010, Junior Lone Star FC took a major step forward as one of the founding members of the Philadelphia Premier Soccer League (PPSL). Having an established league with an affiliation with the United States Adult Soccer Association gave Junior Lone Star FC regular games, as well as the opportunity to compete in regional and national tournaments.

Just two years later, Paul Konneh III joined the club as its president and shepherded Junior Lone Star through its next big step forward, which was joining the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). For Konneh, joining the NPSL came with high aspirations.

“My goal was to create the brand ‘Junior Lone Star FC,’ a soccer club that won’t just be recognized in the African communities in the United States, but a club that will be respected by all in the United States and around the world,” Konneh said.

Remarkably, Junior Lone Star FC has achieved so much while fielding teams in both the NPSL and the PPSL. However, the US Open Cup always seemed to be out of reach as they entered every season, only to fall short in their opening game every year they entered except for 2013 when they lost in the state Quarterfinals.

In league play, they have claimed four of the seven PPSL titles and now their player base has grown to more than 70 players, despite struggling to find a place to call home.

The team trains at McCreesh Playground in Philadelphia but rarely ever plays its matches there. By his own admission, Konneh said the park is “dilapidated” and often “doesn’t even have lights when it’s dark.”

Browsing through the team’s home fixtures, one finds games at several different Philadelphia-area high and middle schools.

In attempting to qualify for the US Open Cup, Junior Lone Star FC also had to contend with the fact that much of Philadelphia’s recent history in the Open Cup and qualifying has not actually taken place in Philadelphia. Historic clubs like United German Hungarians and Vereinigung Erzgebirge play in the near-Philadelphia suburbs. Recent Open Cup participant West Chester United is a solid 30-45 minutes from the outskirts of the city. Even the city’s MLS side, the Philadelphia Union, does not actually play in the city, but instead in nearby Chester, Pa.

Because of this dynamic, for years Junior Lone Star FC has played nearly all of its Open Cup qualifiers on the road. This year was no different. In September 2016, the club “hosted” fellow PPSL side Rising Stars FC at YSC Academy Stadium, nearly an hour away from McCreesh. The “home” team won easily, 5-1.

Junior Lone Star defeated the Rising Stars FC 5-1 to advance in 2017 US Open Cup qualifying. Photo: Junior Lone Star

A month later, Junior Lone Star FC was truly the road team, traveling to New Jersey to take on Brick Lions FC. Twice the road side had to come from behind, getting goals from Anthony Allison, Ebere Goodluck and Josh Chelleh in a 3-2 victory.

“Our players admitted that the Lions were the toughest opponents we have ever faced up to this date,” said Konneh. “It was an exciting game from start to end and we worked very hard in that game to get the 3-2 victory.”

At that point, thinking they would have one more Open Cup qualifying match in 2017, the club went on a tear in Eastern Pennsylvania tournaments. Junior Lone Star finished 2016 by claiming Eastern PA’s Open and Amateur Cup tournaments, going 8-0 in the process. And yes, all eight games were on the road.

As happened before the 2016 US Open Cup, the US Soccer Federation canceled the last round of 2017 qualifying, meaning Junior Lone Star FC qualified for the tournament for the first time.

“This was a dream come true for these players,” Konneh said.

And so it should come as no surprise that this unlikely club from Philadelphia is ready and confident as it plays a Premier Development League side in a meaningful match for the first time. The Ocean City Nor’easters await in the First Round on May 10.

“We respect Ocean City Nor’easters a lot,” Konneh said. “We know that they have more experience in this tournament … however, we are going there to win and progress to the next round … Our guys are ready for this challenge.”

If Junior Lone Star FC can clear one more hurdle, the award that awaits is a meeting with professional club Harrisburg City Islanders. The Open Cup Second Round schedule currently has “To Be Determined” as the home site for that potential match-up. It might be the most unlikely of scenarios, but just maybe Junior Lone Star FC could find itself hosting a professional side in the second round of the oldest soccer tournament in the United States.

2017 US Open Cup Qualifying: Junior Lone Star lone Philly team left after win over Brick Lions FC

October 25, 2016 by Zach Rayment

Junior Lone Star advanced to the next round in the 2017 US Open Cup with a 3-2 win over New Jersey’s Brick Lions FC.

It was an exciting first half between Brick Lions FC and the Philadelphia-based Junior Lone Star at Pinewood Park in Brick, NJ. The action started early when BLFC took the lead in the 6th minute through Benji Vergara. Cody Calafiore whipped a dangerous cross to Chris Katona at the far post, who then headed the ball towards the top of the six yard box for Vergara to volley home.

About midway through the first half the visitors, Junior Lone Star, started to gain momentum. In the 26th minute Anthony Allison was brought down in the box, but no penalty was given. Three minutes later, Allison was taken out by the goalkeeper and this time the referee had no choice but to point to the penalty spot. The man who created the penalty stood up and hit it off the post and into the back of the net from 12 yards out to tie the game.

Brick were the better team for the majority of the second half. They took their second lead of the game in the 59th minute when Olsen-Barr headed a corner kick into the back of the net. Calafiore, who was involved in the first goal, got the assist.

Junior Lone Star kept the fighting spirit alive with Ebere Goodluck equalizing in the 74th minute. Goodluck gathered the loose ball in the box and finished impressively into the top right corner from a tight angle. The goalkeeper never had a chance to get to it. The Stars had been dominated in the second half, but found a way back in the match.

Joshua Chelleh is the star of the match after putting Junior Lone Star in front in the 82nd minute. He received the pass from Allison and quickly got the shot past the keeper to put his team in the next round.

Junior Lone Star Head Coach, Bobby Ali, praised his team’s “fighting spirit.”

Junior Lone Star has been a regular entry in US Open Cup qualifying since 2011, but has yet to qualify for the tournament. Last year, they fell short in the opening round of the open division tournament, losing an extra time match with West Chester United. With West Chester losing their second round match to Christos FC, JLS are now the last remaining Philadelphia-area club in the tournament.

2016 US Open Cup qualifying: West Chester United edge Junior Lone Star to continue Philly dominance

October 19, 2015 by Michael Berton

West Chester United prepares to face Junior Lone Star in 2016 US Open Cup qualifying.

West Chester United took a first step toward qualifying for its first Lamar Hunt US Open Cup by going on the road and defeating Junior Lone Star 2-1 on a frigid October night.

From 2011-2013, West Chester won the Eastern Pennsylvania qualifying tournament, but fell short of the US Open Cup with losses in the USASA Region I tournament. In 2014-15, United won their third straight Eastern Pennsylvania title, won the Region I championship for the first time, and even moved on to win the USASA national tournament, but a change in the qualifying format denied the team a spot in the 2015 US Open Cup.

This year, West Chester, who competes in the United Soccer League of Philadelphia, is determined not to let anything get in its way, including a fiery Junior Lone Star team that took the lead in the 47th minute. After a cagey first 45, Lone Star came out strong in the second half. Jerome Pour, a native of Liberia (as are many of Junior Lone Star’s players), hit a beautiful shot from 25 yards out into the bottom left corner of the West Chester goal.

But the road team equalized seven minutes later with a nearly identical effort. Eric Giovagnoli, an Eastern University graduate and 2015 NCAA Division III All-American hit a laser from distance that gave the Lone Star keeper no chance.

2016 US Open Cup qualifying: West Chester United vs. Junior Lone Star

Buoyed by strong home support, Junior Lone Star continued to press forward, but West Chester had the best chances as regular time came to a close.

In overtime, the game opened up and both teams had some incredible chances, but the focus at the end of the match would be on a referee decision. In the 115th minute, West Chester was on the attack, and the ball was played into the Junior Lone Star penalty area. After a Lone Star player made what seemed to be a normal clearance, the referee called him for a penalty, presumably for a dangerous play.

Arguments ensued, but that did not faze Giovagnoli, who stepped up and scored his second to give United the lead. Junior Lone Star pushed everything forward to no avail, not able to convert on two opportunities as the game came to a close.

“We are familiar with the Junior Lone Stars squad,” said head coach Blaise Santangelo. “We came in expecting a very physical battle. They took advantage of a mistake and scored on a ball from distance but once we started linking up on the carpet and running at the backline, we created scoring chances. Our quick ball play paid off.”

With the victory, West Chester United moves on to the second round against Salone, a team that plays in the same league as Junior Lone Star, the Philadelphia Premier Soccer League. Salone defeated Eastern Penn. heavyweight Vereinigung Erzgebirge 1-0 earlier in the day. Salone will host West Chester on Nov. 15, scheduled for 4 p.m. at Marcus Foster in Philadelphia.

MORE: Ten teams advance to Round 2 in opening weekend of 2016 US Open Cup qualifying

2013 US Open Cup qualifying: Eastern PA final four set after clean sheet-filled quarterfinal round

December 5, 2012 by Josh Hakala

cavalla-salone-2013-east-pa-qualifying — Salone FC (blue) and Cavalla FC battle for the ball in their Eastern Pennsylvania Open Cup quarterfinal match. Photo: Jeff Livezey

Michael Berton and Jeff Livezey contributed to this report

One of the biggest state qualifying tournaments for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, which began with 13 teams, is now down to the final four.

West Chester United and Cavalla FC will meet in the semifinals after earning 4-0 quarterfinal wins. United knocked off Quakertown while Cavalla, playing on the road, defeated Salone.

One of the most storied teams in Eastern Pennsylvania, United German Hungarians, continued on to the semis with a 3-0 win over Junior Lone Star. UGH will face off with the Predators in the next round, who advanced 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout over Nether United after finishing in a scoreless draw.

Cavalla FC 4:0 Salone FC

Cavalla FC may have defeated Salone FC 4-0, but the game was not as one-sided as the scoreline would suggest. Cavalla led throughout the game, but didn’t put the game out of reach until late in the second half.

Cavalla started off with being awarded a penalty kick in the 8th minute that Oliver Quiah converted to put CFC up 1-0. Already down by a goal, Salone’s comeback chances took a hit when Dero Muttabah was sent off on a red card after a hard challenge that put Salone FC down to ten men before the halftime break. At the start of the second half, Cavalla’s Gerald Saydee dribbled through two Salone defenders and buried his shot past the goal keeper to give the visitors a two-goal cushion.

Despite being down a man Salone FC showed alot of fight, and nearly leveled the match, but Abdul Sesay and Idrissa Kone both had shots rattle off the post.

In the 82nd minute, the game started to unravel for the shorthanded Salone FC as Cavalla’s Peter Jarbo caught Salone goalkeeper Ralph Jacobs off his line and put a chip shot in the back of the net making it 3-0. Three minutes later, another Salone FC player was sent off when Fatoma Turay came in with a hard challenge. The game wrapped up in the final minute when Robinson Barclay was sent through on a breakaway and he slotted the ball past the goalkeeper.

This is the first entry into the Open Cup tournament for Cavalla FC, while Salone was the runner-up last year

Predators 0:0 Nether United (Predators advance 5-4 in PKs)

After finishing regulation scoreless, the Predators advanced to the semifinals of the tournament, winning the penalty kick shootout, 5-4 over Nether United.

“It was a very well-played game,” Predators coach Blaise Santangelo said. “Our goalie just made a couple more saves.”

Jason Kustka scored the final kick for Predators, who are an over-30 club that, according to team officials, is “not affiliated with West Chester United.” Predators had reached the quarterfinals by beating Vereinigung Erzegebirge 1-0 in Round One.

Nether United defeated 2010 and 2011 state champion Phoenix SC on penalties in the first round, but could not replicate that feat in this round. United player/coach Scott Spangler finished the game ruing missed opportunities.

“Both teams had chances,” he said. “We just didn’t finish the opportunities that came about.”

With the victory, the Predators move on to the semifinals where will take on the United German Hungarians at UGH Field in Oakford, Pa. next Sunday. The time of the match has not been announced.

United German Hungarians 3:0 Junior Lone Star

The United German Hungarians, who are likely the only team who have been around longer than the US Open Cup (founded in 1910), who will try to qualify for the tournament this year, punched their ticket to the final four with a 3-0 win over Junior Lone Star. UGH, who have not won the state championship since 2008, got two goals from Elsion Pajolarri, and another from Uche Onyeador to put them back in the semifinals for the fifth year in a row.

Pajolarri, who played his college ball at Penn State-Abington, opened the scoring in the 24th minute off a free kick from former Temple University standout Joe Brocker. Just after halftime Onyeador, a former Georgetown Hoya, made it 2-0 on an assist from LaSalle alum John Gravelle. Any hope of a comeback was squashed when Pajolarri added his second of the day, unassisted, in the 73rd minute.

UGH will host the Predators on Sunday, Dec. 9 trying to reach the final for the fourth time in six years.

West Chester United 4:0 Quakertown FC

The defending state champion West Chester United got their title defense off on the right foot with a 4-0 win over Quakertown FC. This was the first game of the tournament for West Chester who received a first round bye.

United carried the majority of the play in the opening half and started out with their first scoring chance 14 minutes into the match. Andrew Kummerer served a corner kick that was headed by Bill Brown but right at the Quakertown goalkeeper. Moments later, Kai Kasiguran created space around a defender and got a quick, low shot off that the keeper saved.

The early chances gave West Chester confidence as they started to pick up the pace. Justin McCall and Omar Salmon worked a pretty give-and-go 24 minutes in and deep in the Quakertown half but McCall was too fast and offsides as a result. Central defender Chris Amato was solid defensively all game and got involved in the offense multiple times including a 70-yard run following a steal in his defensive third. However, by the time he got within range of the goal, it was easily swallowed by the keeper.

Just a minute later, in the 27th, Dave King found McCall all alone in the area. He served a ball from the right flank toward the back post that found McCall’s head for the opening goal. West Chester continued to take the game to Quakertown, who didn’t register a shot until the 30th minute. In the 35th minute, Kummerer slipped a throughball to Salmon who hip faked the keeper to the far post and slid the ball toward goal with the outside of his left foot, and kissed it off the near post and in for a 2-0 lead.

Neema Mohajery found an opportunity to get into the offense and found himself about 8 yards out when the ball made its way to him. The ball came in on a little hop and was too much to handle and he shot it high over the bar.

The second half continued the same as the first with West Chester creating more of the chances. In the 57th minute, McCall worked his defender deep on the far side. West Chester was able to move the ball to the near side to King at the top of the box who dribbled his man, created space to his right and hit a low, far-post shot beyond the keeper for an unassisted goal and a 3-0 lead. Two minutes later, Chulick was forced to make his most challenging save of the match when Quakertown countered. The attacker never got entirely free but Chulick came off his line to slide and gather the ball. Three minutes later, McCall touched the ball through the defense to second half sub Scott Patrick who did well to make a lateral run and score the fourth and final goal.

2013 Eastern PA Open Cup Tournament
(home team listed second)

First Round (Nov. 11) [+] Recap
Cavalla FC 1:0 Ukrainian Nationals (Oct. 28)
Quakertown 3:2 Colonial Ultras
Junior Lone Star 6:0 Mayfair Celtic
Nether United 1:1 Phoenix SC (Nether United advances, 7-6 in PKs)
Predators 1:0 Vereinigung Erzgebirge

Quarterfinals (Dec. 2)
Quakertown 0:4 West Chester United
Cavalla FC 4:0 Salone
Junior Lone Star 0:3 United German Hungarians
Predators 0:0 Nether United (Predators advance 5-4 in PKs)

Semifinals (Dec. 9 – 2 p.m.)
Cavalla FC at West Chester United
Predators at United German Hungarians

Final (Dec. 16)
Cavalla FC/West Chester vs. Predators/UGH

Past Eastern PA Open Cup champions:
1997: United German Hungarians
1998: United German Hungarians
1999: United German Hungarians*
2000: United German Hungarians
2001: DiPasquale’s
2002: Vereinigung Erzgebirge*
2003: Ukrainian Nationals
2004: Lighthouse SC
2005: Ukrainian Nationals
2006: Ukrainian Nationals
2007: Vereinigung Erzgebirge (Runner-up Ukrainian Nationals also qualified for Region I Finals)
2008: United German Hungarians
2009: Vereinigung Erzgebirge
2010: Phoenix SC
2011: Phoenix SC*
2012: West Chester United Predators

* Qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2013 US Open Cup qualifying: Eastern Pennsylvania quarterfinal field complete (video)

November 16, 2012 by Josh Hakala

Thanks to Michael Berton, Jeff Livezey and William Murphy for contributing to this report.

The Eastern Pennsylvania Open Cup qualifying tournament is under way after five first round games are in the books. Cavalla FC, Quakertown, Junior Lone Star, Nether United and the Predators all advanced to the Quarterfinals which will take place Dec. 2. Those teams will join the West Chester Majors, Salone, and United German Hungarians, a two-time runner-up in the tournament (1977, 1993) who all received byes.

The state association has only had three teams qualify for the Open Cup in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present), and two of those teams were eliminated in Round 1.

Nether United 1:1 Phoenix SC
(Nether United advance 7-6 on PKs)

Nether United took on Phoenix SC on a picturesque fall afternoon in Wallingford, Pa. The teams took full advantage of the weather, playing 120 minutes and penalty kicks. United came out the victors, winning 7-6 in penalties after playing to a hard-fought 1-1 draw.

“Both teams played very hard on a pitch that was still very slippery from Hurricane Sandy,” Nether United player/coach Scott Spangler said after the game.

United did not have to try very hard to score their first goal, with Matt Poole chipping the Phoenix keeper after just a minute of play. They had to try a lot harder after that, though, as Phoenix bossed much of the rest of the first half, which led to a tying goal from Jared Goldberg in the 18th minute.

In the second half, Nether United keeper Dan Spangler put in a man of the match performance to keep his team in the game. He stopped several shots and relied on his post to stop one more before things started to go poorly for Phoenix.

Phoenix, who qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in 2011, had just one substitute available, which it used in the 43th minute. So, when a player had to leave due to injury in the 78th, Phoenix had to play down a man. Things got even worse in the 82nd when a Phoenix player picked up a straight red card for dissent, meaning they had to play 9-on-11.

“The referee changed the whole game,” Phoenix coach Blair Thomson said. “I don’t know how he gave him a straight red.”

Phoenix was able to hold on though, which sent the game into overtime. Both squads had chances, but could not convert. In the 120th minute, a Nether United player picked up his second yellow, which meant only 19 out of the original 22 players would be available to take part in penalty kicks.

In penalty kicks, both teams remained perfect through the first six rounds. Dan Spangler made a save in the seventh round for United, which opened the door for the game-winning kick to win the game.

“We’re very excited for the next round,” Spangler said. “We’re just men living the dream, and we’ll take this as far as we can.”

Junior Lone Star 6:0 Mayfair Celtic

Junior Lone Star, a team comprised of mostly West African refugees who fled brutal civil wars in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Guinea didn’t waste much time in their opening round match against Mayfair Celtic. They scored their first goal in the 7th minute after Ebere Goodluck set up a breakaway goal by Moses Jackson. Goodluck added a second in the 30th minute with a nice shot in the bottom left hand corner with Jackson returning the favor.

In the 35th minute, Mike Lindemann had a cracker of a shot on goal for Celtic that was denied by a diving save from Lone Star goalkeeper Prince Monyan. Mayfair Celtic had other chances in the opening half off of set pieces but the Lone Star defense stood tall to keep the score 2-0 at halftime.

The floodgates opened just after the break when Jackson added his second of the game thanks to another assist by Goodluck. Joe Joe Jappah scored a pair of goals in the 52nd and 65th minute to make it 5-0. Goodluck would add his third assist of the game, setting up Mitchell Torh who made scored on a skillful shot in the 85th minute.

Highlights: Junior Lone Star vs. Mayfair Celtic

Quakertown 3:2 Colonial Ultra

The Quakertown men’s soccer team advanced to the quarterfinals with a 3-2, come-from-behind victory over Inter-County League rival Colonial Ultra at the Quakertown Sports Complex.

Souderton High School standout and former Indiana University player Ian Clair netted the game-winner on a penalty kick late in the second overtime period to help Quakertown win a match they trailed 2-0 in the first half.

Pennridge High school grad and former Marywood University player Kyle Hill fed forward and team captain Neil Stoddart, who was fouled just inside the box, earning Quakertown and Clair the chance to put the game away just minutes before the final whistle.

Stoddart, a former Sunderland Youth Academy player and multiple-year all PSAC selection at Bloomsburg University, had a strong game in the center of the park for Quakertown; tying the match in the second half with his volley off a cross from Hill.

Former West Chester University player Frank Demas provided Quakertown’s first goal of the game, a right-footed curler from just outside the 18-yard box that rattled the post before going in.

It was a slow start and the resulting defensive lapses that plagued Quakertown during a first half when they fell behind by two goals. Quakertown’s back four of Brendan Ackley (Boyertown High School/Reading Rage developmental program), Dave Keller (Pennridge High School /Slippery Rock University), Andy Trauger (Pennridge High School), and Lou Williams (Bloomsburg University) tightened the screws during the second half and overtime; allowing only one legitimate scoring opportunity during that time, a breakaway shot that glanced off the post.

Also making appearances for Quakertown were goalkeeper Nick Lipinski (Quakertown High School), midfielder Darin Rittle (Quakertown High School), midfielder Kevin Petzold (Pennridge High School) and forward/midfielder Chris Wellington (Delaware Valley College).

These two teams know each other well and both reside in the top three spots of the Inter-County League’s top division. Quakertown also came away the winner of the two team’s last meeting, a 2-1 decision on Oct. 14.

The Quakertown team, which was founded by Hill in 2008 and won the Inter-County League’s Premier division in 2009, has been slowly acquiring talented players and climbing the Inter-County League tables since inception. They currently sit tied for first in the league’s top division after six games played.

Quakertown also advanced to the second round of the Amateur Cup tournament with a 3-2 win over the Ukrainian Nationals of the United Soccer League on Nov. 4.

Predators 1:0 Vereinigung Erzgebirge

The Predators, a club that is, according to team officials, “not affiliated with West Chester United,” edged Vereinigung Erzgebirge 1-0 to reach the round of eight. Pat Stanco scored the lone goal in the 75th minute on an assist by Tomasz Fryzel. VE hasn’t qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup since 2002, but they won the state title in 2007 and 2009. The Predators are on the opposite end of the bracket as West Chester United, will take on Nether United in the quarterfinals.

Cavalla FC 1:0 Ukrainian Nationals (Oct. 28)

Two weeks before, another past state champion was upset in Round 1 as Cavalla FC knocked off the Ukrainian Nationals 1-0 back on Oct. 28. The Nationals, who were Eastern PA champions in 2003, 2005 and 2006, were eliminated by Cavalla, who are making their first Open Cup qualifying appearance. Cavalla will take up last year’s state runner-up, Salone FC, in the next round.

2013 Eastern PA Open Cup Tournament
(home team listed second)

First Round (Nov. 11)
Cavalla FC 1:0 Ukrainian Nationals (Oct. 28)
Quakertown 3:2 Colonial Ultras
Junior Lone Star 6:0 Mayfair Celtic
Nether United 1:1 Phoenix SC (Nether United advances, 7-6 in PKs)
Predators 1:0 Vereinigung Erzgebirge

Quarterfinals (Dec. 2)
Quakertown at West Chester United
Cavalla FC at Salone
Junior Lone Star at United German Hungarians
Nether United vs. Predators

Semifinals (Dec. 9)
TBD

Final (Dec. 16)
TBD

Past Eastern PA Open Cup champions:
1998: United German Hungarians
1999: United German Hungarians*
2000: United German Hungarians
2001: DiPasquale’s
2002: Vereinigung Erzgebirge*
2003: Ukrainian Nationals
2004: Lighthouse SC
2005: Ukrainian Nationals
2006: Ukrainian Nationals
2007: Vereinigung Erzgebirge (Runner-up Ukrainian Nationals also qualified for Region I Finals)
2008: United German Hungarians
2009: Vereinigung Erzgebirge
2010: Phoenix SC
2011: Phoenix SC*
2012: West Chester United Predators

* Qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup