Meet the Underdogs

2023 Meet the Underdogs: UDA Soccer, a rare college team qualifies for US Open Cup

March 21, 2023 by Andrew Mosier

UDA Soccer celebrates after defeating Azteca FC 4-1 (after a 4-4 draw) in a PK shootout to qualify for the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Andrew Mosier

It’s been three months since UDA’s epic 2023 US Open Cup qualifying win over three-time Open Cup qualifier, Azteca FC 5280. But even now, UDA technical director and coach Tahlon Drake has a hard time containing his emotions when he talks about it.

“It’s games like that that remind us why we do this in the first place. To qualify our first time out, on the road, in the cold at altitude, to come back and tie the game twice after going down a man, it was truly something special,” Drake said of the 4-4 heavyweight slugfest that was ultimately decided at the penalty spot. “And then for our ‘keeper to step up and make three saves in the shootout. The whole thing was just incredible.”

2023 US Open Cup Qualifying: UDA Soccer vs. Azteca FC — Photo: Casey Morris | UDA Soccer

Drake leads the University Degrees Abroad men’s soccer academy program at New Mexico State University. UDA operates as New Mexico State University’s men’s soccer program, wearing both the UDA and NMSU crests when they play. But it is more than just a university club team. Based on the three UDA academies in England, UDA at NMSU is a European-style academy, training and playing year-round. It is the only one of its kind in the United States. The club currently fields three teams competing in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), college club leagues, elite youth leagues, the US Open Cup, and other competitions. Because UDA is a de facto college team, the team’s average age hovers around 20-years-old.

“All of our kids have to be enrolled in school,” Drake said. “We want to make sure we are changing lives through education. We’re not just a vessel on the football field. Ultimately, we want them to get an education, because the ball stops rolling for everybody at some point.”

UDA opens the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at home versus 2022 USL League Two Mountain Conference champions, Park City Red Wolves, on Wednesday, March 22 at the NMSU Soccer Athletic Complex.

In qualifying, UDA is only the second team in the Modern Era of the Open Cup (1995-present) directly affiliated with a college or university to qualify for the tournament proper. Teams from the University of Florida, Oklahoma University, Louisiana-Lafayette, and the University of Southern California have entered qualification in the past, but only Brigham Young University, which competed in the PDL—now USL League Two—from 2003-2017, qualifying for the Open Cup in 2006, 2007, and 2015.

What is UDA?

University Degrees Abroad was founded in 2018 at the University of Cheshire and has since expanded to eight universities in England and Wales offering foreign students a pathway to degrees from those institutions, with the University of Chester and University of Gloucestershire offering soccer academies through the universities. The initial success of the program UDA Program Director and former NMSW assistant woman’s basketball coach, Jeff Thompson, floated the idea of incorporating the UDA soccer academy model with an American university. NMSU seemed like the perfect partner, with first-class facilities in place for its NCAA Division I women’s program, a climate conducive to year-round play, and lots of local talent to help build the program.

“Because NMSU only had a woman’s program, we were able to go to them and say, ‘We want to be your men’s division one program, just not under NCAA rules,’” Drake said.

With the agreement with NMSU in place in 2019, Drake, Ordel, and a support staff began to build the program. Then COVID-19 hit.

“We didn’t even get to have a proper training session until 2021,” Drake said. “It wasn’t until then things really got started.”

In the spring of 2021, the club entered the first UDA team into competition, finishing a respectable 5-1-2, good for second place in the seven-team West Texas-New Mexico division of the UPSL. For the fall 2021 season, the club moved to the intensely competitive UPSL Arizona Division. UDA won the ten-team division, winning eight and drawing two. In the spring of 2022 UDA moved back to the West Texas-New Mexico division, going 6-2-2 to win the division and earn a berth in the UPSL post season tournament. They beat the San Antonio Surf in penalty kicks and the Arizona-based River Valley Bully’s 1-0 before falling to the Dodge City Toros 4-1 in the quarterfinals.

The quarterfinal appearance qualified UDA to play in the inaugural UPSL Champions Cup, featuring four of the top UPSL teams from the United States versus four top teams from the UPSL Mexican divisions. UDA finished winless in its group versus Mexican sides Deportivo Teziutlan and Altiplano FC, and Chicago Nation FC from the U.S.

“It was a learning experience for all of us,” Drake said. “We grew a lot as a team and as an organization during that time. Our program is about so much more than just getting the immediate result.”

Entering the fall 2022 UPSL season, UDA moved back to the West Texas-New Mexico division. For the first time the club fielded two teams. UDA Crimson finished second in the division going 5-3-0. UDA White finished at the bottom of the five-team table going 1-7-0.

“We put a lot of energy and effort into qualifying for the Open Cup,” Drake said. “Maybe at the expense of league play. But it paid off in the end.”

How They Got Here

With first round byes for both clubs, UDA opened 2023 Open Cup qualifying at home versus UPSL side Coronado Athletic from Sierra Vista, Ariz. UDA had little trouble, cruising to a 4-0 win over the Coronado club that finished in the middle of the table for the fall 2022 UPSL Arizona division. Mattias Cavallo put UDA up in the 15th minute followed by a second-half brace by captain Eric Gomez-Silva the capper by Marco Millan with fifteen minutes to play. Next up was fall 2022 Arizona division and UPSL national champion Olympians FC.

“We had played Olympians before,” Drake said. “We knew it was going to be a difficult game. “They made it incredibly tough for us to play. I was incredibly proud of the way our boys handled themselves. Of the 18 cards shown in that game, we only received four of them.”

UDA played much of the game down a goal after 19-year-old goalkeeper Mario Castillo was caught off his line with a ball hit from near midfield. The game became a chippy, choppy affair. The tide turned in the 75th minute when Olympians were reduced to 10 men. UDA’s Jay Mustielis leveled the score in with just three minutes to play in regulation. In the second period of extra time Olympians went down another player making way for Keane Garcia to get on the end of Will Hanes cross to put UDA up 2-1. Alan Gudino put the game out of reach at 3-1 just before the final whistle.

The Fourth Round draw sent UDA to face Denver-based Azteca FC 5280, on one of the surrounding fields of Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, home of the Colorado Rapids (MLS). A massive storm had blown through earlier in the week dumping more than a foot of snow that had been plowed into piles at each end of the synthetic field.

Going into the match, Drake said the conditions were going to be a factor.

“Some of our guys have never even seen snow before,” he said before the match. “The cold and altitude are going to make things interesting for us.”

For the better part of the last decade, Azteca FC 5280 has reigned as one of Colorado’s top amateur sides, playing in the incredibly competitive Colorado Super League, qualifying for the Open Cup three times (2017, 2018, 2022). Azteca failed to advance beyond the first round in all three Open Cup appearances.

“We knew Azteca was going to be good,” Drake said. “They qualified for the Open Cup in 2022. We knew they were very dynamic up front. But we have never been the kind of team to change the way we did things based on an opponent. That is one of the things we try to instill from the beginning. We play the way we play. Let everyone else adapt to us, not the other way around. We want to play thorough our attacking mids, with our number 10 stepping high and go at ‘em.

‘Go at ‘em’ is exactly what UDA did in what would become a qualifying match for the ages. UDA landed the first punch in the 14th minute when Gudino combined with Jose Rivan down the left flank resulting in an easy tap in from close range to put the visitors up 1-0.

Azteca responded immediately, leveling the score in the 20th minute, then smashing in a second at the 36th minute mark to go up 2-1. Then Daniel Ruiz Galan pulled UDA level just before the halftime whistle, slotting a Lucas Burch cross to the far post from close range.

After a hectic start to the second half, Azteca took the lead for a second time, going up 3-2, when a controversial penalty was given in the 63rd minute. Drake was shown a red card for his vociferous protests of the penalty call from the bench and will watch his club’s inaugural Open Cup match from the stands.

More importantly, UDA will also be without midfield lynchpin and captain, Gomez-Silva, who was shown a second yellow card with less than ten minutes to play in the Azteca match. Gomez-Silva was one of UDA’s top recruits, having spent time in the system of La Liga club Real Sociedad.

“Eric is tough to replace. He sees the game so well; he is so good on the ball. He is the leader,” Drake said. “We are going to miss his presence, his experience, everything a player of his quality brings. But we have someone we believe can step up do all the things Eric does so well.”
With time running out UDA began to throw numbers forward, almost making it look like Azteca was the team playing short-handed. Then Alfredo Villescas got on the end of a corner kick to pull the game level again, at 3-3, forcing extra time.

Azteca took firm control of the first overtime period, scoring on a recycled set piece in the 107th minute after UDA failed to clear the ball. After the goal, UDA threw everything they had forward. Just moments before the final whistle Garcia found himself inside the Azteca six-yard box with the ball at his feet. He slotted home the equalizer sending the game to penalty kicks, where UDA’s 19-year-old goalkeeper stole the show.

UDA’s Garcia shot first, making his attempt. Castillo then saved Azteca’s first shot to his left, but was ruled to have left his line before the ball was kicked. He saved the re-take, this time to his right. Blake Bastain put UDA up 2-0 in the shootout. Azteca then converted their second kick making it 2-1. Villescas converted his kick to make it 3-1, then Castillo made a one-handed save to his left, leaving it up to Gudino, who calmy put the ball straight down the middle to put UDA into the tournament proper.
“I think it says so much about what we are doing, how far we have come in such a short period of time,” Drake said. “Qualifying for the Open Cup was one of our goals when we started. To do it the first time out, the way we did it, is just incredible.”

US Open Cup Round One

With the 2023 Spring UPSL season not yet underway, UDA has been playing regional professional teams, and competing against college club teams to prepare for its Open Cup debut versus Park City Red Wolves, winners of the USL League Two Mountain Division for the past two seasons. This is the second consecutive Open Cup appearance. They list 3-2 at Las Vegas Legends (NPSL) last year. Like UDA, Park City are out of season. Park City kicks off its 2023 USL League Two season May 27.

“Honestly, we don’t know a lot about them,” Drake said. “The best we can do is go out and play the way we want to play and see what happens.”

2022 Meet the Underdogs: Northern Virginia FC back in US Open Cup after two decades

March 30, 2022 by Sean Maslin

Northern Virginia FC Meet the Underdogs 2022 US Open Cup — Northern Virginia FC celebrates the club’s 5-0 win over Districtonia Futbol in the final round of the 2022 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Photo: NoVa FC

They say Virginia is for lovers. While that may be true, it is also for some pretty good football as well.

For decades, the region has played host to some of the top sides across the footballing spectrum. Perhaps no side displays that level of quality, persistence, and passion for developing top-level players than Northern Virginia FC (NoVa FC), who will face fellow Virginia side Lynchburg FC in the First Round of the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Wednesday (7:30 pm EST, YouTube).

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Now, those reading at home might be wondering Wait, didn’t this match already happen? The answer to that question is sort of. The two sides squared off last Wednesday at Lynchburg Stadium. NoVa FC took the lead in the 16th minute thanks to a brilliant goal from KJ Nadeau. Lynchburg tied it up on a goal from Mitch Reed in the 41st minute, setting off potentially a very enticing second half.

Then … the rain and lightning happened. While the first band of lightning and downpour delayed just before halftime, the second stopped the match completely at around the 61st minute. According to the US Open Cup rules, since both sides were unable to complete the match within 48 hours of stoppage, the game is required to be played in full. In case one is wondering why two sides couldn’t make up the match in that short of time: the distance between Lynchburg and Leesburg, where NoVa FC are based, is about a three hour drive with massive congestion along all major roads.

For NoVa FC head coach Kareem Sheta, the opportunity for a second chance at Lynchburg in better weather is worth it.

“Last Wednesday was the first time that we had ever played against Lynchburg so we are really taking this opportunity to learn from that game,” said Sheta. “While we were obviously pleased with taking the early lead, they are a very talented side. So for us, and in particular for our younger players, this a great chance for them to learn and take what they saw and apply it to the next match in hopefully much better weather.”

PHOTOS: Northern Virginia FC vs. Districtonia Futbol (2022 US Open Cup Qualifying)

As opposed to Lynchburg, who just started up in the Virginia area, NoVa FC have a long storied history within Virginia soccer. Since it’s founding in 1998 under the name the Northern Virginia Royals, the side has been a family operation with Kareem’s father being one of the original owners. His son, Kareem’s brother, Ahmed still plays for the team and is the club’s Director of Soccer.

Kareem’s father, Mo, was in charge of the Royals team that last qualified for the US Open Cup as a pro team in 1999 and 2000. In both years, they lost their opening round game, falling to the PDL’s Cocoa Expos 5-3 at RFK Stadium in their debut, followed by a 3-2 road loss to the Hampton Roads Mariners (A-League, Div. 2) in 2000.

Since 1999, the club has made a reputation of being one of the top sides in Virginia, winning multiple state and national titles.

After playing in the USL’s D-3 Pro League (later known as the Pro Soccer League and the USL Second Division) from 1998-2005, the Royals joined the Premier Development League (now known as USL League Two) where they remain to this day. For a brief time between 2015 and 2020 the team rebranded into Evergreen FC before falling back to it’s roots. That un-rebrand coincided with the club expanding into the then-newly created Eastern Premier Soccer League (EPSL), which is the league it qualified through for this year’s US Open Cup. This past winter, they joined the third division of the Major Arena Soccer League and will be playing in the finals of that competition on Saturday at the Winchester SportsPlex. The club has a 60-player roster with a first and second team. They have also added a women’s program with the side kicking off play in the inaugural season of the USL’s re-launched W-League this May.

NoVa’s EPSL team began their journey to the US Open Cup by entering the Open Division Local qualifying tournament. They began with a 2-0 home win over Springfield FC, followed by a 2-1 road victory over former league-mates Virginia United FC. NoVa qualified with a convincing 5-0 win over Districtonia Futbol, despite finishing the game with just nine players.

Brandon Williamson Northern Virginia FC Districtonia Futbol NOVA FC 2022 US Open Cup Qualifying — Brandon Williamson of Northern Virginia FC battles for the ball across Districtonia Futbol in the Final Round of the 2022 US Open Cup Qualifying tournament. Photo: Sean Maslin

“As a club, we essentially made a decision to go year-round about three years ago. From 2007 to about 2019 we were just USL-2 team,” said Kareem Sheta. “So we would just get guys to come out for the summer, play the USL-2 season, and then send them back to college and all of the local guys would just scatter and go play for their local teams. At a certain point, we made a decision to focus on the development of the local guys and so we put some resources in time into a group that can compete year-round. I think that has been the difference as to why we have done so well in USL 2. We have a core group of players that have played year-round consistently and I think that has made a big difference.”

NoVa’s core group of players is one that many in the region should be familiar with given their strong ties to both youth, college, and professional soccer. Nadeau, who scored the goal in the washed out game against Lynchburg, was the club’s top scorer in qualifying, scoring four goals in three games. Nadeau played college soccer at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Goalkeeper Calle Brown was a standout in net for the University of Virginia before going on to play professionally for the Seattle Sounders and the Houston Dynamo. Midfielder Brandon Williamson (pictured) was a D.C. United Youth Academy product who went on to play college soccer at Duke University and later at Loudoun United (USL Championship). Midfielder Tyler Clegg is a redshirt senior at James Madison University, and is the younger brother of Brandon Clegg who, after a strong season with NoVa last year, signed a professional contract with the Maryland Bobcats FC.

The club also has two younger players that have broken through into the first roster that are primed to make a difference both in the Open Cup and in league play this year: forward JP Ayolmbong (who scored twice in the final round of qualifying) and Illiass Lagjhibi, an 18 year old that Sheta described as having “an endless motor.”

2022 Meet the Underdogs: Lynchburg FC

While winning the Open Cup is obviously a dream goal for Sheta and NoVa FC, winning the club’s first-ever US Open Cup game and getting into the next round where they would host the Richmond Kickers (USL League One) would be another huge marker for the club. So too is providing greater opportunities for their players to play at the highest level. Last year, the club had four players move on to professional teams, an accomplishment the club takes a lot of pride in. The club is also looking forward as well to continuing their success in both the EPSL, which started play again this month, and the USL League Two season which starts in May.

2022 Meet the Underdogs: No longer Bhoys, Lansdowne Yonkers continuing unprecedented success

March 23, 2022 by Michael Battista

Lansdowne Yonkers FC 2021 USASA Amateur Cup Champions — Lansdowne Yonkers FC players, staff, and family pose with the National Amateur Cup following a 2-1 win over Cal FC in Bridgeview, IL on August 7, 2021. Photo: Patrick Murphy

490 days. That’s how long Lansdowne Yonkers FC went without losing a game in any competition (league, state, or national). The team from just north of New York City won nine trophies in that span including two national titles. Last August, the team defeated legacy amateur side Cal FC in the shadow of SeatGeek Stadium, 2-1, to win its second National Amateur Cup.

In the process, Yonkers became the third team to secure a US Open Cup qualification as the amateur champions.

Note: Newtown Pride FC qualified for the 2020 tournament as champions but never participated due to its cancellation.

Despite that streak coming to an end last week against the New York Greek Americans, coincidentally in the Eastern New York Amateur Cup final, Lansdowne can still be considered the front-runner in the group of open division locals. The team is the most experienced out of the group with two previous qualifications (2016 & 2018). Each of those runs included wins as well, including a Second Round road upset against the professional Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL).

Club president William McGrory is quick to note that this Lansdowne team is a completely different unit than ones of the past. The team has grown into a full organization with youth development which has drastically changed the look of the eleven players on the field at any given time.

“Compared to it’s a younger coaching setup. Obviously a hungrier team. There’s a good dynamic, a good will to wanting it,” McGrory said in an interview with TheCup.us.

While this squad might be younger, those two previous Open Cup teams were “Bhoys”. Lansdowne Yonkers was originally founded at Bronx Bhoys SC in 1997, a pub team offshoot of the still existing Bronx Bhoys Celtic SC, which originally met at The Lansdowne Bar on Broadway in the Bronx. After the bar’s closure in the early 2000s, the group moved to playing more in Yonkers. The team changed to its more iconic name, “Lansdowne Bhoys FC”, to reflect the original pub and “Bhoys” to reflect the Celtic SC roots.

After nearly two decades, the Lansdowne organization decided its future hinged on building a youth academy. The growth of other academies in the city and surrounding area meant not only would it be better competitively but also for the local area too. An agreement was made in 2017 to acquire the well-known Yonkers United program and start from there.

With a new program dedicated to girls soccer, the tough decision was made to drop the “Bhoys” name. Lansdowne Yonkers FC came not long after and in only a few short years the name has become synonymous with amateur soccer in the northeast.

The focus on youth hasn’t meant completely losing experienced talent. Striker Shamir Mulling joined the club in late 2020 and has since became a director in the youth program. His first game with team was a 2-0 loss on November 15, 2020 against Eastern Premier Soccer League counterpart Doxa SC. Two days later, the team started it’s year long undefeated run.

“We have such a great squad, such a great management team, a great board that all believes in what we want to do. I think going into the first round we’re going to take Ocean City very seriously and put our all into it.”

The team’s success has come with drawbacks. Two players who played critical roles during the successful run have left the team for other opportunities. Stephen Elias (a player who also spent time with the Ocean City Nor’easters), who had been with the club since 2019, signed with first year National Independent Soccer Association club Valley United FC in January. More recently Jack Beer, one of the team’s younger stars, moved across the river to join New York City FC’s new MLS Next Pro team.

Players from North Carolina FC and Lansdowne Bhoys FC battle for the ball in their 2018 US Open Cup match. Photo: Rob Kinnan, NCFC

This isn’t even including the three to four possible injuries the team is dealing with ahead of the First Round. McGrory noted that the team has been trying to “replace quality with quality” whenever it can. This includes bringing back former League of Ireland player Dean Dillon, who last played for the group during 2020 tournament qualifying.

“Sean Kelly and Craig Purcell have a very good eye for talent,” McGrory said. “They have a system that they play. If they find a player that can play within that system, he doesn’t have to be the best player but they can get the best out of each one of them. It’s one of the reasons we’re successful. We can have a squad of 30 players and each of them would have participated at some stage of the season. It keeps everyone on their toes.”

McGrory and Mullings both admit the biggest challenge of the tournament is getting players ready for it who can commit. With nearly all of them having a full time job outside the club it makes consistency a challenge. However, after a year of playing competitive matches McGrory almost welcomes the the tournament as a way to change pace.

“It’s very difficult to keep that up week in and week out. So we’re actually looking forward to the Open Cup as a different challenge.

On a final note, a few members of the team noted that it was ironic that the winner of this game will travel to play Rochester New York FC in the Second Round. The former Rochester Rhinos knocked the Bhoys out of the tournament in 2016 at Rochester Rhinos Stadium. In the half decade since, both teams have gone in totally different directions. Lansdowne has done everything mentioned above while Rochester went on hiatus following the 2017 United Soccer League season. The team that won the 1999 US Open Cup, under the moniker “If you can’t join ’em, beat ’em”, is now playing in MLS Next Pro – a reserve league to Major League Soccer.

If given the chance, Lansdowne would love the opportunity to play Rochester again and show just how much things have changed since 2016.

2022 Meet the Underdogs: San Fernando Valley FC bridging opportunity gap for young players

March 23, 2022 by Kathryne Padilla

San Fernando Valley FC 2022 US Open Cup Meet the Underdogs — Hamid Babaali of San Fernando Valley FC celebrates his goal in a 2-1 win over Capistrano FC in the 2022 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Photo: San Fernando Valley FC

Owners of San Fernando Valley FC, Carlos Cortez (head coach) and Christine Cortez (president), built an organization that fulfilled their and their athletes dream of being able to bridge the gap between young athletes’ who wanted to continue competitive play beyond their youth years.

In 2015 and 2016, the Cortezes saw the struggle between their Under-19 athletes who wanted to continue playing at a high-level of competition which could not be provided by an average Sunday league.

The decision to move to the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) soon followed in the Fall of 2017.

However, the Cortezes also wanted to construct an organization that focused on keeping cost as minimum as possible to keep these young athletes playing. They took into consideration the various backgrounds and demographics of each athlete that led to its strong foundation within the club.

Their goal would to eventually be able to provide the athletes the opportunity to play with no financial cost at all.

“We only required their time and commitment to training and playing,” said Christine Cortez. “We had a lot of immigrant players from underprivileged or single parent backgrounds so in addition we wanted to give them a healthy outlet.”

Joining the UPSL allowed their players to develop on a personal level but also expand their professional growth. San Fernando Valley FC was considered the youngest team at the time as the average player age was around 19 years old.

However, in its first club match that Fall, they were victorious in a 4-3 win which proved the level of talent the organization carried and would continue to carry as the year progress.

In its 2021 Fall season, San Fernando Valley FC held a 9-2-0 overall record in the SoCal North division and were named the SoCal North Division I Champions. In addition, the club was able to edge out both the SoCal East and South divisions for the SoCal Division I Western Championship title.

Adding to the whirlwind of the club’s success, San Fernando Valley FC earned its promotion to Premier Division for the 2022 Spring season.

“We are so proud of all our players and their achievements and so much time and effort went into this happening,” Christine Cortez said.

Players from Trojans FC (right) and San Fernando Valley FC battle for the ball in a Second Round 2022 US Open Cup qualifier. Photo: Joseph C. Walsh – Twitter @TmesisFC

San Fernando Valley FC will be hosting the first round of the U.S. Open Cup on its home field at the Sepulveda Basin Sports Complex. The club secured its position in the tournament following a 2-1 victory over Capistrano FC in the final qualifying round.

While the club has gained a new following, the organization is grateful for everyone who has helped along the way to bring the Cortez’s dream to life.

“They also believed in us and our mission, which is to help and showcase local homegrown players,” Christine Cortez said.

The organization missions continue to be at focal point that drives the club and its decisions. They hope to continue to promote their athlete’s development with hopes of them reaching a professional level.

The club’s future goal is to be able to showcase their athletes’ skills and worth ethic on a larger scale but will continue to leap over obstacles until they have reached that point.

Hamid Babaali of San Fernando Valley FC celebrates his goal in a 2-1 win over Capistrano FC in the 2022 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Photo: San Fernando Valley FC

“There are so many young players who would benefit from our professional training and coaching program, and we’d love to have the ability to offer this on a greater level,” Christine Cortez added.

The San Fernando Valley FC’s foundation is centered around a positive and developmental focus atmosphere that athletes in the area are flocking too. The community has also become involved with the club and supports its mission to help improve the athletes in both a personal and professional growth.

The club has just seen the beginning of its success in the last five-year and continues with their momentum to be the best team in the Valley and in its SoCal North division.

“I don’t think it’s even hit us yet, that we achieved something that hasn’t been done by another team in the valley for so many years,” Christine Cortez said. “It’s an honor to represent Los Angeles and specifically, the San Fernando Valley.”

2022 Meet the Underdogs: Lynchburg FC wants to put Virginia town on the map with USOC run

March 22, 2022 by George Diamond

Lynchburg FC will make their Lamar Hunt US Open Cup debut on Wednesday. The team is a relative newcomer to the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), one of the elite amateur leagues in the United States. Current members of the Premier Division of the UPSL, Lynchburg officially joined the league in the fall of 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new club found immediate success in its inaugural season of spring 2021, finishing first in what was then called the Beltway Division with a 10-1-1 record and a plus-34 goal differential, by far the best in the division. They compounded their success by winning the playoffs for their conference and advancing to the UPSL national tournament. While Lynchburg FC exited in the first round to New York Contour FC, they will take comfort in the fact that the same team that ousted them went on to win the championship.

The 2021 fall season saw Lynchburg repeat their past achievements. They finished first in their division, which was re-named and re-aligned as DMV South, with a record of 6-3-1 overall. This included a perfect road record going 5-0 away from home. Once again, Lynchburg FC had the largest positive margin of goal difference with plus-19 and they won the conference tournament, but once again suffered a first round exit in the national tournament.

However, this defeat was to be expected as it came just 24 hours after a US Open Cup qualifying match. Lynchburg FC’s 1-0 victory against FC Maritsa in the fourth and final qualifying round of the Open Division Local qualifyfing tournament for the 2022 US Open Cup. Matthew Zaczyk slipped a pass forward to Tudor Barna in the box who beat the goalkeeper for the game’s only goal, punching the club’s ticket to the US Open Cup.

As for the previous three rounds of qualifying, Lynchburg received a bye in the first round, their second round opponent (Aegean Hawks FC) forfeited and Lynchburg easily dispatched Rockville SC of the Maryland Major Soccer League, 3-0. Zaczyk, Tudor Barna, and Tyler Bullock all scored for LFC.

Coached by Englishman Simon French, Lynchburg usually implements a variation of the classic 4-3-3. The midfield consists of a defensive midfielder operating from the ‘6’ and two central midfielders running the ‘8’. The defensive mid role is often filled by Chris Phillips. Phillips is a vocal leader and sets the pace of Lynchburg’s play. His defensive abilities are admirable, and he effectively shields the backline while putting out fires all over the field.

While one of the ‘8’s is an all-around midfielder, the other will be tasked with more offensive responsibilities. Greg White, who is also the club’s general manager, is usually the go-to-guy for this role. He possesses great technical skill and is capable of both creating and scoring goals. Lynchburg likes to build attacks through each third by retaining possession and trying to find complex passing patterns to unlock opposing defenses. They can rely on their wingers to stretch the field wide with pace and to create numerical overloads.

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Tudor Barna is the prime example of this principle in action. A strong, pacey winger, Barna is able to get in behind and score lots of goals. This can be especially advantageous when Lynchburg counterpresses in the opponent’s defensive third. In close games, Lynchburg will press into the other team’s half and look to force a turnover before playing a long ball in behind up to the front three. However, in games against tougher opposition, Lynchburg will be content to stay compact and retain the ball. In such games, their defensive unit has performed admirably. Credit must be given to center back Josh Hinkle, Lynchburg’s rock at the back. Hinkle is a composed, hard-nosed defensive half who leads the back line.

Lynchburg would not have achieved the same success without stalwart goalkeeper Alonso Gutierrez. Gutierrez began the spring 2021 season as the backup but through hard work and determination he earned the starting spot and has performed exceptionally since then. He is incredibly quick, has good reflexes and is a reliable shot stopper. Gutierrez represents the identity of what Lynchburg FC is all about: relying on hard work, determination, and self-belief in order to achieve success.

When Lynchburg FC joined the UPSL in 2020, they joined with the commitment of tapping into the existing soccer culture present in the Lynchburg area. Although this is the first adult soccer team to represent the city, at any level, there is an underlying soccer culture present in the area.

Lynchburg’s ownership are locals to the area and strived to make the team community driven. Admission to regular season games at Lynchburg City Stadium are free of charge. The team’s players volunteer with after school programs as part of outreach with the city government. They partnered with the local youth soccer club, Central Virginia United, to enhance CVU’s summer camp experience.

“First and foremost we are extremely grateful for the partnerships with Lynchburg businesses and support from the community that inspire our passion to grow the game,” said Lynchburg president and co-founder Carlos Munoz. “Due to our success in our first season we’ve been able to create a competitive culture, and I think that’s why we saw a large turnout at tryouts with some high-level players. We’re thankful people want to be a part of it.”

Lynchburg FC’s bottom line is to provide quality soccer entertainment for local residents while enhancing the existing soccer culture. Although they have goals to evolve as a club long term, the team is focusing on perfecting their grassroots model in the present. They will have a chance to make some noise and garner attention in the first round of the 2022 US Open Cup.

Lynchburg FC will make its US Open Cup debut on Wednesday, March 23 against Northern Virginia FC, a club known for its USL League Two team, but qualified out of the Eastern Premier Soccer League, through the Open Division Local qualifying tournament. The game will be played at Lynchburg City Stadium in Lynchburg, Va. with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.

“We’re thrilled for the opportunity to compete in our first ever Open Cup,” said Munoz. “We’re looking forward to the competition ahead of us.”

The winner of Wednesday’s game will play against USL League One’s Richmond Kickers in the Second Round. If Northern Virginia wins, they will host the Kickers, but if Lynchburg wins, they will travel to Richmond, Va.

2022 Meet the Underdogs: Eight-month old Oyster Bay United making US Open Cup debut

March 22, 2022 by Grace Ott

Oyster Bay United 2022 US Open Cup Qualifying Meet the Underdogs — Oyster Bay United poses for a team photo after the club’s 4-1 win over Westchester United in the final round of qualifying for the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Karla Esqueche | E&M Photography

At this time last year, when in any normal year the US Open Cup would’ve been kicking off its opening round, Oyster Bay United FC did not exist.

Now, eight months after their entrance into the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), they are set to make their debut in one of the oldest and most storied soccer competitions in the world. Playing their games at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in the town of Oyster Bay on Long Island, New York, the club has become a part of the fabric of the community.

It is not uncommon to see a lot of fluctuation in soccer clubs in the lower division leagues in the United States. Clubs can form, move and fade away, but sometimes there is a resurrection of sorts, as a newly-rebranded club rises from the ashes of a former team’s instability to try again.

Oyster Bay United was formed from the core of Queens Meadows FC, a team that was, itself, a rebrand of a previous UPSL team called Santa Fe NY. Queens Meadows FC was successful on the field in the spring of 2021, finishing second in the American-Premier Division and making a run in the division playoffs, but struggled off the field.

In the midst of their successful spring season last year, the team found itself without an owner and on the verge of being removed from the league. It was bad enough that they didn’t know from week to week whether they would have a field to play on for their next game. But by using some personal connections and with a stroke of luck, they were able to relocate to a new home field in Oyster Bay and start to build a fanbase to finish out the campaign.

But the club still needed an owner, so when team captain Dan Giorgi put the word out in the local soccer scene, Mark Colacioppo, whose son played at the youth club Giorgi worked for, got involved.

“I liked that the team showed the grit to finish the season without an owner and made it to the conference final,” said Colacioppo.

After conversations with team staff, the new ownership was made official in the summer of 2021 and Oyster Bay United was born, ready to take on the UPSL Northeast and their first crack at the Open Division Local qualifying tournament for the US Open Cup.

Despite the newness of their branding, the team had no trouble readjusting to play in the league. After an opening loss to the eventual division winners New Jersey Alliance FC, Oyster Bay United went on to win their remaining nine games, finishing second in the UPSL American-Premier Division with a goal difference of +38. They then made a run to the division playoff final, where they fell once again to the New Jersey Alliance.

In between dominating their regular season schedule, United, who were less than a year old, found themselves matched up with a New York team with a storied history that dates back to the 1940s in the opening round of the Open Cup qualifying tournament.

Wilber Gomez of Oyster Bay United (left) battles for the ball against a player from Westchester United in the final round of qualifying for the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Karla Esqueche | E&M Photography

Northeast region teams began the competition in the second round, with Oyster Bay United taking on four-time Open Cup champions, New York Greek American SC. This first challenge was made tougher by registration issues leaving the team with only eleven players available, including two goalkeepers: keeper Kevin Shannon played the entirety of the match as a forward. To add to their struggles, one player arrived late and one was sent off in the second half, leaving them to play much of the game with ten men. Though they had no chance for reinforcements or fresh legs, the team preserved a scoreless draw for the full 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of extra time, forcing a penalty kick shootout. Against all odds, Oyster Bay United emerged victorious, as their non-forward-playing keeper, Jean Carlo Perez, made three saves and they won 3-2.

In the next round, they faced another Big Apple club with a rich Open Cup history: three-time champion New York Pancyprian Freedoms. They earned a 2-0 win over the three-time Open Cup champions with two breakaway goals, one in each half of extra time.

That win put them into the final round against UPSL division foe Westchester United FC, who they handily defeated, 4-1.

Just four months after their founding, Oyster Bay United FC had qualified for the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, one of three teams from the UPSL Northeast to do so.

Colacioppo, for whom potential Open Cup participation was a big motivating factor to get involved, made it clear how much this tournament means to the team.

“The team really understands and appreciates the significance of being in a tournament like this; we talk about it a lot” said Colacioppo. “ super excited to realize our biggest club goal to qualify for the US Open Cup.”

He continued on and mentioned how good it felt for the team to win their last qualification match just days after losing in their UPSL conference final and to know they would be able to compete in this tournament in the spring.

Giorgi said qualifying for the Open Cup helped them forget the pain of that championship game loss.

“We were all buzzing. It was crazy. I’ll never forget it,” he said.

Both Colacioppo and Giorgi mentioned that the team’s story could be a Netflix documentary series. But a natural disaster that showcased the grit of the team turned into the perfect storm with a passionate owner to provide stability and a chance to compete in one of the oldest and most storied soccer tournaments in the world.

“So many reasons and things that went wrong, each week not being sure if we would have a field to play on, so many reasons to give up but we never did; we found a field and a team owner,” said Giorgi. “I’m really proud of my team for that.”

Oyster Bay United FC will make their first-ever Open Cup appearance against the NPSL’s Hartford City FC on Tuesday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Dillon Stadium in Hartford, Conn. The match will be streamed on ESPN+. The winner will return to Dillon Stadium for Round 2 where they will take on Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship on April 7.

2022 Meet the Underdogs: Orlando FC Wolves bring strong resume to first Open Cup run

March 22, 2022 by Jeff Livezey

Orlando FC Wolves 2022 US Open Cup Qualifying Meet the Underdogs — Orlando FC Wolves pose for a team photo after the club’s 3-1 win over Miami Soccer Academy in the third round of the 2022 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Photo: Orlando FC Wolves

One of the dark ~~horses~~ wolves of the Open Division Local entries for the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup are the Orlando FC Wolves.

Orlando are very much like a wolfpack. A tight-knit team founded by Bradley Welch in 2018 after he returned stateside in 2017 after playing overseas. The team is made up of ex-collegiate and pro players that like to play at a highly competitive level. For a team that has only been together for five years, they have put together an impressive list of titles and accolades, including the 2021 Florida State Cup championship, four Central Florida Soccer League Elite Division titles, a National Soccer League Central Florida League championship and they also reached the USASA Region III Final off the 2021 National Amateur Cup.

The Wolves are quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in Central Florida. Head coach Kent Welch and assistant coach Terry Horton have been responsible for shaping and molding Orlando into what they are today. With the players they have, most of which have been with the club since it was founded, they all hope for continued success in this year’s US Open Cup.

The Wolves were the only team that qualified for the 107th edition of the US Open Cup out of the Open Division Local qualifying tournament that began that competition in the abbreviated opening round. As one of six teams to start in the first qualifying round, while everyone else began in the second round. The Wolves started with a pair of 4-0 wins over UPSL clubs Deportivo Lake Mary FC & Oceanway FC.

The original match against Deportivo Lake Mary FC was postponed due to heavy rain and lightning, but when the game was finally played the Wolves took control early. Cristian Serrano buried a goal from just outside the box, assisted by Joe O’Sullivan, the Wolves all-time leading scorer, in the 23rd minute.

Then Orlando scored two second half goals off corner kicks, one of them off a Lake Mary defender’s head in the 62nd minute and the other was a header from JP Lopez in the 77th minute. O’Sullivan closed out the scoring with a tap in from a Hank Morton cross in the 84th minute. It was the second year in a row that the Wolves had eliminated Deportivo in the qualifying tournament.

JP Lopez added another goal in the Wolves’ 4-0 win over Oceanway FC in the next round, but it was O’Sullivan that stole the show with a hat trick (29′, 67′, 81′). Goalkeeper Zach King got the start and earned the clean sheet for Orlando.

HIGHLIGHTS: Orlando FC Wolves vs. Oceanway FC

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The Wolves earned a 3-1 win over fellow National Soccer League club Miami Sports Academy. O’Sullivan kept up his scoring streak, tapping in a pass from Tristan Rehrig in the 16th minute. Welch doubled the lead by pouncing on a rebound 56th minute. James Winchester curled a ball in from the right wing seven minutes later to give Orlando a three-goal lead. The Wolves’ 248-minute shutout streak would come to an end later in the game but they held on to advance to the final round of qualifying.

They would punch their ticket without having to take the field as they received a “Win and You’re In” forfeit victory when South Carolina United Heat was forced to withdraw due to a COVID outbreak among their players.

Orlando FC Wolves Resume

4x Central Florida Soccer League Elite Division Champions
3x Central Florida Soccer League Elite Division Cup Champions
2020 Florida Classic Tournament Champions
2021 Florida State Cup Champions
2021 USASA Regional Finalist
2021 National Soccer League Central Florida League Champions
2021 National Soccer League Central Florida Conference Champions
2021 USASA Region III Amateur Cup Finalist

Founder and team captain Bradley Welch is no stranger to the US Open Cup. In 2011, as a member of FC New York (USL Pro, Div. 3 pro), he played against the New York Red Bulls of MLS in what was a close game at Red Bull Arena. Even though the legendary Thierry Henry did not suit up that day for the Red Bulls, they still rolled out a very good reserve line up with some starters like Tim Ream, John Rooney, and Juan Agudelo. They fought the entire match and kept the game to a 1-1 draw, until a late strike by John Rooney gave the Red Bulls the 2-1 win. It was a bittersweet game for Bradley considering he supported the Red Bulls since the team’s Metrostars days.

Bradley Welch FC New York Red Bull Arena — Bradley Welch poses for a photo at Red Bull Arena before his FC New York team took on the Red Bulls in the 2011 US Open Cup. Photo: Bradley Welch

“It was truly awe-inspiring to even be in his presence as a lifelong football fan,” Welch said about playing a team with players like Henry. “At the time, it was the largest set of fans I had played in front of and the atmosphere as a new professional made the moment more memorable”.

Orlando Wolves FC enter the US Open Cup for the first time after falling short in 2018 and 2019. It’s a dream come true not just for the players, but for everyone associated with the club that they get to participate in this storied tournament.

Orlando will take on The Villages SC, a USL League Two team that has been a model of consistency. They have qualified for the last eight US Open Cup tournaments, which is the longest active streak of any amateur team. The game will be played at The Villages SC Complex in Summerfield, Fla. on Tuesday, March 22. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

“Our match versus The Villages will definitely be an uphill battle,” said Welch, who represented Trinidad & Tobago at the Under-23 level. “From what we know, they’ve been quite the successful outfit in USL-2 over the years. They have the resources to prepare as any professional team does in this competition so it will take a mix of grit, determination and a little bit of luck to keep our run going. We have a great combination of young and experienced players that I think will bode well for us. We have no intentions of shying away from the magnitude of the match and are going in with the mindset that only a victory will do.”

Spoken like a true captain.

2022 Meet the Underdogs: City Soccer FC evolves from indoor facility, finds success outdoors

March 22, 2022 by Austin David

City Soccer 2022 US Open Cup Qualifying Meet the Underdogs — City Soccer FC players celebrate during the club’s 2022 US Open Cup qualifier vs. Florida Soccer Soldiers. Photo: Alex Venegas | IG: @real.wpb

Wednesday will mark a big day in the 12-year history of City Soccer FC. What started as an indoor facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. has evolved into an outdoor team that has cultivated a soccer community for local players to showcase their talents. Now, those talents will be on the national stage as CSFC prepare to face Miami United in the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

For founder and owner Boris Jofre, this has been a long time in the making. In 2010, the Chilean native felt a soccer void in South Florida that needed to be filled, so he invested in an indoor facility.

“The community needed something different with indoor fields,” said Jofre. “For 20 years or more since I got to this country I played indoor, I played friends and we’d get kicked out of parks and indoor places, so I said to myself ‘I got to put the funds together’, and I ended up opening this facility.”

The 75,000 square foot facility has a restaurant, full-service bar and hosts a variety of parties and events throughout the year. That was just the beginning for Jofre and City Soccer.

With the indoor program booming, the community started to take notice. Players from the local area and nearby Division II school Palm Beach Atlantic University started to join leagues and play their offseason indoors. In 2013, Andres Colman was added to the City Soccer marketing team, which led to the creation of a City Soccer Select team. Those local players became staples for the early days of competitions in the South Florida area.

In 2016, the team was entered into a competition called the Football Five World Cup, a five-a-side indoor tournament played across the world, with teams going through qualifying to represent their nations on world’s stage. Though they were eliminated their first year, 2017 saw the side beat all their national competition to win the right to represent the US in Beijing, China.

Not only did City Soccer play up to the competition, but they won the whole thing, becoming the five-a-side champions of the world.

The goalkeeper of that 2017 City Soccer team, Fernando Cortes, now plays for the outdoor team that will take the field on Wednesday night in the Open Cup. Having started with the Sailfish of Palm Beach Atlantic, the 5’8” goalkeeper has stayed with City Soccer through it all.

“The staff, the organization, the one thing that they let us know is we’re just not a team, we’re a family,” Cortes said, “With City Soccer FC, no matter who’s been through, who’s coming, who’s going, City soccer is always gonna be remembered as a family group.”

That core mentality has kept players coming back, even after turning pro or playing elsewhere. The camaraderie and togetherness that exudes from the top-down has led to success both on and off the pitch.

City Soccer FC defender Christopher Llorente celebrates after scoring a goal during the club’s 2022 US Open Cup qualifier vs. Florida Soccer Soldiers. Photo: Alex Venegas | IG: @real.wpb

While the indoor team continued to find success in international tournaments, the outdoor team started to be born. In 2016, the 11v11 team was founded, playing in local leagues around the Palm Beach area. Up until 2019, they dominated those local leagues, but there were still bigger aspirations. So, in January of 2020, City Soccer FC joined the UPSL, the step forward to their goals.

Over the next year and a half, the City Soccer FC team dominated both UPSL and the NSL’s Florida divisions, leading them to where they are now, starting their journey as an amateur team in the US Open Cup.

With this current iteration of the team, there are three players to watch out for this Wednesday: Auner Escobar, who plays on the right wing, is a technical player that loves going 1-v-1 against defenders, while the team’s striker Ricardo Tapia is a big, strong player up top that gets in good positions. The captain, Juan Vasco, is the team’s general in the midfield, winning the ball, playing quickly, and has a presence in the midfield that helps the team overall.

“We’re at this level now and it’s a huge stage for us,” Jofre said, “We’re really excited about it. And now, I hope we have a good result after Wednesday. I think it’s it’s a very important game and anything could happen, but we’re definitely prepared for it.”

City Soccer FC will travel just an hour south to Ted Hendricks Park in Hialeah, this Wednesday for their match against the NPSL’s Miami United FC. The winner will play on the road against Miami FC (USL Championship) in Round 2. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ at 7:30 p.m.

2022 Meet the Underdogs: Azteca FC faces longest road trip in US Open Cup return

March 20, 2022 by Jim Coppock

Denver-based Azteca FC practice Meet the Underdogs 2022 US Open Cup — Denver-based Azteca FC practices with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop. Photo: Azteca FC

Denver-based Azteca FC are set to make their third Lamar Hunt US Open Cup appearance in a Wednesday evening visit to Tulsa, Oklahoma to face the NPSL’s Tulsa Athletic. This is the club’s first appearance since 2018.

Azteca FC are owned and managed by Andy de la Rosa, who also owns a local construction company. In recent years, the team has become one of the annual contenders in the Colorado Adult soccer scene. Andy attributes this to three things: the ability to recruit top players from the Denver area, the commitment of his players to succeed, and participating in the toughest leagues and tournaments available in Colorado.

Andy also adds, “A combination of coaching, planning and managing the team to put it in the best position to win and that doesn’t mean entering the weakest leagues in Colorado.”

Last fall’s Colorado Super League season saw Azteca finish third, eliminating Gam United 5-2 in the semifinal before falling in the final 5-3 to FC Denver, after extra time. Shortly after that, Azteca qualified for the US Open Cup with a dramatic Denver Superclasico win against league rival Harpos FC, winning 4-3 after extra time. Prior to that “Win & You’re In” match, they beat fellow Colorado Super League side Colorado Rush, 4-1, followed by a 5-2 home win over the Colorado Rovers (Colorado Premier League).

While Azteca currently has no former MLS or Liga MX players, they do have ex-pros from division two and three leagues in Mexico, Honduras and Chile, as well as former Division 1 and Division 2 college players and a roster of top-notch amateurs. Andy says none of the ex-pros are likely known outside of the local scene, but all the players are crucial to the team’s success. Specifically, Azteca’s three co-captains, Marcos Madera, Eduardo Reza and Jovany Herrera.

First choice goalkeeper Marcos Madera is the team’s most veteran player, bringing years of skill and experience to anchor the defense. Eduardo Reza is a leader in the midfield bringing his excellent technical skills to help build and drive the attack. Finally, forward Jovany Herrera, whose play makes him the attacking leader of the team.

“I’m not sure why,” said De La Rosa, “but for one reason or another he never made it pro but should have.”

The winner of Wednesday’s game against Tulsa Athletic will play on the road against FC Tulsa of the USL Championship in the Second Round on April 5.

The trip to Tulsa is about a 9.5 hour drive, the longest road trip of any First Round game.

Andy says his team is ready for the challenge against a tough Tulsa Athletic side and are focused on the task at hand.

“We would have preferred to draw Hailstorm or Switchbacks in the Second Round to avoid travelling, but it is what it is.” said De La Rosa. “We’ll worry about the next match after we win our first.”

In Azteca’s first two trips to the Open Cup, they played road games against amateur teams. In 2017, they lost a narrow 1-0 extra time game to FC Wichita (NPSL), and in 2018, they lost to rival FC Denver, 4-2.

Tulsa Athletic hosts Azteca FC on Wednesday, March 23 at 8 p.m. (ET) at Oral Roberts University’s Case Soccer Complex in Tulsa.

MORE: Azteca FC’s Meet the Underdogs stories from 2017

2022 Meet the Underdogs: Escondido FC removing barriers leads to US Open Cup debut

March 20, 2022 by Jim Coppock

Escondido FC Meet the Underdogs 2022 US Open Cup — Angel DeLeon (No. 14) walks out for pre-game introductions with his Escondido FC teammates before the club’s 2022 US Open Cup qualifying match against Sporting ID11. Photo: Luzrayito Balderas | IG: Rayoreynoso

For Escondido FC, the biggest match in team history couldn’t start in a more familiar setting. The first-time US Open Cup entrant will host another United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) side, San Fernando Valley FC, on Wednesday night in Encino, Calif. Just to get to this point, the team had to knock off two other UPSL sides in qualifying.

The team, based out of Escondido, Calif., was founded in 2020 by Alejandro (Alex) Garcia, a small business owner in the northern San Diego County city. Garcia founded the team with the goal of greater access in the community, with players able to play at little or no cost.

“A lot of talented players get stuck in Sunday leagues without developing their full potential,” said Garcia. “We created an environment where young players can develop their skills and possibly take the next step into a pro career.”

Garcia says this is his motivation to continue doing what he has been doing since 2020.

Since the club’s founding two years ago, Escondido have continued establishing themselves as a perennial force to be reckoned with.

The Fall 2021 UPSL season saw them finish on top of the SoCal South-Premier Division for the second year in a row; dropping only five points during the campaign. The team’s playoff run only came to an end in the SoCal Division Championship against second place Rebels SC, 2-1.

Escondido had previously beaten Rebels 3-2 in the Second Round of the Open Division Local Qualifying tournament for the 2022 US Open Cup. In November, they edged Chula Vista FC 3-2 in extra time to reach a “Win & You’re In” round of the qualifying tourney. Then, two days after falling in the UPSL conference final, with a roster of only 13 players, the team punched it’s ticket to the tournament proper with a 3-1 win over Sporting ID11 (UPSL).

Garcia says the team’s goal for the Spring 2022 season is to finish top of the division again and return to the national playoff stage. That includes a strong performance in the Open Cup to start the year, with a regrouped roster and new players.

“We hope to keep the momentum we had through the qualifying rounds and do the best we can.”

Escondido FC celebrates a goal against Chula Vista FC in the Third Round of the 2022 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Photo: Luzrayito Balderas

Unlike other open division outfits, there are currently no ex-pro players on the Escondido roster. In fact, while many amateur teams worried about missing players due to the tournament’s March start, that is something Escondido does not need to worry about.

“We do have some ex-college players that have played in community college in the past. But for the most part our team does not rely on college players”, Garcia explained.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t absences.

Escondido FC poses for a team photo after the club’s 3-1 win over Sporting ID11 in the 2022 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Photo: Luzrayito Balderas | IG: Rayoreynoso

The team will be without two key players due to injury; forward Arturo Soltero and winger Angel De León. Soltero tore his ACL and MCL in week 3 of the fall season. He was the team’s top goalscorer in the spring campaign and there is currently no time table for his return. De León played at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo for four seasons before joining the side, one of the few ex-collegiate player. He unfortunately picked up a hairline fracture on his right knee and a sprained ACL in Escondido’s final fall regular season game. He is expected to be out through at least the First Round of the Open Cup.

Team captain Gerardo Medina (“Gera”) and Omar Rodriguez are, however, ready to lead on the pitch.

“Gera is one of the veteran players, along with Juan Velazquez and Armando Morales. They all show great leadership and push the younger players to their limits,” adds Garcia.

While the UPSL does run a long schedule, Garcia is confident in the team’s readiness

“We manage to keep everyone healthy for the most part in the qualifying rounds. Fortunately for us our season starts after the first round of the Cup.”

Escondido FC hosts San Fernando Valley FC on Wednesday, March 23 at 5:45 p.m. (PT) at Sepulveda Basin Sports Complex in Encino, CA. The winner will play on the road in the Second Round against the California United Strikers FC (NISA) on April 7.