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Kansas City Brass

2011 US Open Cup qualifying (PDL Central): Real Colorado Foxes qualify; Chicago Fire Premier clinch via stoppage time goal to join MLS side

May 21, 2011 by Tavio Palazzolo

PDL Central logoUS 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.

The Central Conference has two divisions – the Great Lakes and the Heartland. The conference is dominated by three long-standing clubs: the Chicago Fire, the Des Moines Menace, and the Michigan Bucks. Between them they have reached the US Open Cup a total of 16 times. Des Moines made the trip last year as Heartland champions, but newcomer Dayton Dutch Lions (who are now in USL Pro) took control of the Great Lakes spot. This year, six returning clubs and two new ones are looking to match Dayton, dethrone the powerhouses, and make a run of their own.

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

Great Lakes Division
Final Results

Poised for a potential showdown of the perennial division powers on the final night of qualifying, the Chicago Fire Premier preempted that moment with a 1-0 win over the River City Rovers on Saturday, clinching the US Open Cup berth, their second in three years, via potential tiebreaker scenarios. While the Bucks made the most of their chance to possibly gain ground by posting a 4-0 win against visiting Indiana, it was Chris Estridge’s goal for Chicago in the first minute of stoppage time against the visiting River City Rovers that proved to be the deciding factor in who will advance.

GREAT LAKES DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA GF GD
Chicago Fire Premier 4 3 1 0 9 5 2 5 +3
Michigan Bucks 4 2 1 1 7 8 3 7 +4
Cincinnati Kings 4 1 1 2 5 8 9 8 -1
Akron Summit Assault 4 1 1 2 5 3 4 3 -1
Indiana Invaders 4 1 2 1 4 8 9 6 -1
River City Rovers 4 0 2 2 2 1 6 1 -4

Top team qualifies for the U.S. 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 14 Chicago Fire Premier 2:0 Akron Summit Assault 7:30
May 17 Akron Summit Assault 2:2 Cincinnati Kings 7:30
May 19 Akron Summit Assault 0:0 River City Rovers 7:30
May 21 Michigan Bucks 0:0 River City Rovers 7:00
May 21 Cincinnati Kings 0:2 Chicago Fire Premier 7:30
May 22 Indiana Invaders 0:1 Akron Summit Assault 7:00
May 23 Michigan Bucks 2:3 Cincinnati Kings 7:30
May 25 Cincinnati Kings 3:3 Indiana Invaders 7:30
May 28 Indiana Invaders 0:4 Michigan Bucks 12:00
May 28 River City Rovers 0:1 Chicago Fire Premier 7:30
May 30 River City Rovers 1:5 Indiana Invaders 7:30
May 30 Chicago Fire Premier 0:2 Michigan Bucks 7:30

Heartland Division
Final Results

The Real Colorado Foxes clinched their first US Open Cup spot after finishing qualifying 4-0. Perennial contender Des Moines Menace had a chance to qualify with a 3-0 start and a better goal differential, but failed in their last match as they lost 2-1 at the Kansas City Brass on May 25.

HEARTLAND DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA GF GD
Real Colorado Foxes 4 4 0 0 12 12 5 11 +7
Des Moines Menace 4 3 1 0 9 11 5 9 +6
Kansas City Brass 4 2 2 0 6 10 10 8 +0
St. Louis Lions 4 1 3 0 3 10 10 7 -2
Springfield Demize 4 0 4 0 0 4 17 4 -11

Top team qualifies for the U.S. 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 14 St. Louis Lions 1:2 Des Moines Menace 8:30
May 14 Kansas City Brass 1:4 Real Colorado Foxes 9:00
May 15 Kansas City Brass 2:3 Real Colorado Foxes 3:00
May 17 Des Moines Menace 3:0 Springfield Demize 8:30
May 21 St. Louis Lions 2:5 Des Moines Menace 8:30
May 21 Real Colorado Foxes 3:1 Springfield Demize 8:30
May 22 Real Colorado Foxes 2:1 St. Louis Lions 6:00
May 22 Springfield Demize 2:5 Kansas City Brass 8:30
May 25 Des Moines Menace 1:2 Kansas City Brass 8:30
May 28 Springfield Demize 1:6 St. Louis Lions 6:00

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2011 PDL Qualifying, 2011 US Open Cup qualifying, 2011 USOC Qualifying, Akron Summit Assault, Chicago Fire PDL, Cincinnati Kings, Des Moines Menace, Indiana Invaders, Kansas City Brass, Michigan Bucks, PDL, Real Colorado Foxes, River City Rovers, Springfield Demize, St. Louis Lions

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

April 20, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

PDL logoUS 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 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 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 Central Conference portion of the four-part series of breakdowns:

Central Conference Qualifying Breakdown

US Open Cup qualifying for the PDL Central Conference, the last conference to begin qualification play, opens with three games on May 14 and a fourth the following evening.

Great Lakes Division
Akron Summit Assault, Chicago Fire, Cincinnati Kings, Indiana Invaders, Michigan Bucks, River City Rovers

The two expansion sides Akron Summit Assault and River City Rovers make up a third of the six-team group in 2011, and Akron has quite the challenge ahead of it. The new club in Ohio will play host to the Chicago Fire (PDL) in the opening game of the group May 14 and is also in the division’s next two cup qualifiers as well, traveling to Cincinnati May 17 and River City May 19 for the Rovers’ debut.

The Open Cup has not been kind to the Cincinnati Kings. As a professional third division side, they entered the tournament three times (2005-07), but lost to amateur sides in each of those three years. Current division rivals, the Michigan Bucks, eliminated them 2-1 in the second round in 2007. But as a member of the PDL, the Kings have failed to qualify the last three years. The Indiana Invaders, from South Bend, have yet to qualify in their 13-year team history, despite holding one of the best overall records in the PDL over the last decade. That is because, historically, this grouping belongs to the Bucks and the Chicago Fire, who have a combined 11 trips to the tournament over the years.

The Fire and the Bucks, who rank No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in overall PDL records since 2003, will wrap up qualifying play with one of the two matches on the final night for the division Monday, May 30.

Last year, the Dayton Dutch Lions finished in the top spot, finishing one point ahead of Michigan and two in front of Chicago and Indiana. Dayton, however, will not be part of the picture as it has moved on to USL Pro and is returning to the tournament as an automatic entrant.

Over the last four years, the Bucks have boasted the best mark with only two losses in 16 matches at 12-2-2, qualifying twice. Chicago, meanwhile, was 9-3-4 and reached the tournament in 2009. Indiana is 5-6-5 in that time and Cincinnati has a record of 4-8-0 in its three PDL qualifying stints.

Looking at the upcoming schedule, it appears as though River City and Cincinnati drew the short straws as the duo is slated to play both Michigan and Chicago in their attempt to qualify. Indiana’s path may be its most opportune in years with both expansion sides and Cincinnati on the schedule along with a match against the Bucks.

Cincinnati and Michigan will both face all three of their veteran rivals in the division during qualifying, something the Kings are familiar with having played the trio of Michigan, Chicago and Indiana the past two years as well. The Kings won in Chicago last year and picked up a win at home against Indiana in 2009.

GREAT LAKES DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA GF GD
Akron Summit Assault 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Chicago Fire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Cincinnati Kings 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Indiana Invaders 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Michigan Bucks 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
River City Rovers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0

Top team qualifies for the U.S. 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 14 Chicago Fire at Akron Summit Assault 7:30
May 17 Akron Summit Assault at Cincinnati Kings 7:30
May 19 Akron Summit Assault at River City Rovers 7:30
May 21 Cincinnati Kings at Chicago Fire 7:30
May 21 Michigan Bucks at River City Rovers 7:30
May 22 Indiana Invaders at Akron Summit Assault 7:00
May 23 Michigan Bucks at Cincinnati Kings 7:30
May 25 Cincinnati Kings at Indiana Invaders 7:30
May 28 Indiana Invaders at Michigan Bucks 12:00
May 28 River City Rovers at Chicago Fire 7:30
May 30 River City Rovers at Indiana Invaders 7:30
May 30 Chicago Fire at Michigan Bucks 7:30


Heartland Division
Des Moines Menace, Kansas City Brass, Real Colorado Foxes, Springfield Demize, St Louis Lions

While the Great Lakes arguably closes with the showcase match of its qualifying phase, the Heartland Division opens with one of its as the Des Moines Menace play host to the St Louis Lions Saturday, May 14. The Menace ended a three-year absence by earning their fifth trip to the tournament a year ago, ending a two-year run by the Lions. The Menace directly contributed to the turn of events with a 2-1 victory over St Louis, who finished three points back of Des Moines and only one back of second.

Also on the first night of qualifying, the Kansas City Brass visit the Real Colorado Foxes in the first of back-to-back matches. The Foxes finished tied for second in the group last year while Kansas City finished with just one victory for the third consecutive year after earning the 2007 berth with the last 4-0-0 record to come out of the division.

St Louis holds the edge over Des Moines as the best team of the bunch with a 10-4-2 combined qualifying record in the past four years while the Menace are 9-5-2. Kansas City is an even 7-7-2 while Real Colorado has a winning mark of 4-3-1 in its two campaigns. The Springfield Demize bring up the rear with a 2-13-1 record over the last four years, last tasting victory with two wins in 2007.

The Demize are the lone team of the five that will be facing all four of their qualifying rivals, kicking off at home against Des Moines May 18 and playing on the road in the finale of the division’s slate May 28 in St Louis. Springfield was also the only team to have played all four of the other clubs in qualifying last year as well as in 2009.

HEARTLAND DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA GF GD
Des Moines Menace 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Kansas City Brass 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Real Colorado Foxes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
St. Louis Lions 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0
Springfield Demize 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0

Top team qualifies for the U.S. 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 14 St. Louis Lions at Des Moines Menace 8:30
May 14 Kansas City Brass at Real Colorado Foxes 9:00
May 15 Kansas City Brass at Real Colorado Foxes 3:00
May 18 Des Moines Menace at Springfield Demize 8:30
May 21 St. Louis Lions at Des Moines Menace 8:30
May 21 Real Colorado Foxes at Springfield Demize 8:30
May 22 Real Colorado Foxes at St. Louis Lions 6:00
May 22 Springfield Demize at Kansas City Brass 8:30
May 25 Des Moines Menace at Kansas City Brass 8:30
May 28 Springfield Demize at St. Louis Lions 6:00


Eastern Conference
(Inside Look +)

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
Northeast Division: MPS Portland Phoenix, Seacoast United Phantoms, Vermont Voltage, Western Mass Pioneers
South Atlantic Division: Carolina Dynamo, Fredericksburg Hotspur, Northern Virginia Royals, Real Maryland Monarchs, Virginia Beach Piranhas, West Virginia Chaos

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

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2011 PDL Qualifying, 2011 US Open Cup qualifying, 2011 USOC Qualifying, Akron Summit Assault, Chicago Fire PDL, Cincinnati Kings, Des Moines Menace, Indiana Invaders, Kansas City Brass, Michigan Bucks, Real Colorado Foxes, River City Rovers, Springfield Demize, St. Louis Lions

2007 First Round: City Stars remain unbeaten, hammer Kansas City Brass 4-0

June 12, 2007 by

The Cleveland City Stars continued their dream start to the 2007 season, remaining unbeaten on the year with a 4-0 victory over the PDL’s Kansas City Brass.

Cleveland struck first in the 19th minute off the foot of Ian Leibbrandt, with help from a John DeVae cross. The Stars nearly scored on three occasions following the goal, and finally put one in the back of the net just before halftime. Gerardo Alvarez sent a cross to Adam Moffat, who beat the Brass goalkeeper to give Cleveland a 2-0 lead going into the break.

Kansas City did have their chances, however. Keith Gorczyca had a couple of near misses, and Jordan Raybould forced City ’keeper Caleb Patterson to make a fingertip save in the 58th minute.

Cleveland got their third goal from the penalty spot, when Nigel Codrington’s shot found the hand of a Brass defender. Codrington stepped to the spot himself and scored to make the game 3-0. The Stars completed the scoring nine minutes from full time, as Liebbrant notched his second of the game.

With the win, Cleveland will travel to Richmond on June 26 for the Second Round, in a battle of the only undefeated team in the USL Second Division.

Scoring
(CLE) Ian Leibbrandt (John DeVae) 19’
(CLE) Adam Moffat (Gerardo Alvarez) 34’
(CLE) Nigel Codrington (PK) 63’
(CLE) Ian Leibbrandt (Luke Williams) 81’

Cleveland City Stars: Caleb Patterson, Jack Cummings, Jeremy Tolleson, Ian Leibbrandt, Adam Moffat (Luke Williams), Derek Potteiger, Nigel Codrington (Andrew Peterson), John DeVae (Dana McGregor), Mark Schulte, Anthony Stovall, Gerardo Alvarez (Chris Lemons)

Kansas City Brass: Kyle Schroeder, Calvin Clark, Josh Howard, Josh White, Kevin Shrout, Ali Dorri, Thomas Michael, Keith Gorczyca, Kevin Nekuda, Haggai Leboo, J.D. Warman

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2007 First Round, Adam Moffat, Caleb Patterson, Cleveland City Stars, Ian Leibbrandt, Kansas City Brass, Kyle Schroeder, Nigel Codrington

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