Meet the USASA

2011 Meet the USASA: 3-time Open Cup champion New York Pancyprian Freedoms

June 12, 2011 by Chuck Nolan Jr.

Welcome to our continuing series of Meet the USASA features where we annually profile the clubs representing the United States Adult Soccer Association in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Advancing from the four regional tournaments, these often unknown clubs have great stories to tell and each year, our goal is to allow fans to get to know them as they attempt to become this year’s Cinderella story. Click here for more Meet the USASA stories.

While the New York Pancyprian Freedoms may not have won a match in their two previous Open Cup appearances (2008 & 2010), the proper way to judge the credentials of the club is to look at their accomplishments outside of those two matches. The team from Jamaica, Queens, New York has been one of the top amateur clubs in the nation over the past four years. Since 2008, the Freedoms have two Cosmopolitan Soccer League championships (2010 & 2011), four Dr. Manning Cup victories (Eastern NY state cup, 2006-2008, 2010), and two USASA National Cup trophies (2008 & 2010). It is no coincidence then that they have won, or could win, all of those championships again in 2011 as they prepare for another U.S. Open Cup First Round match.

A short but rich history

The Pancyprian Freedoms got their start in 1975 when the Pancyprian Association of America was founded in the aftermath of the Turkish invasion and annexation of northern Cyprus in 1974. The soccer team was started as a way to better enlighten the general public about what was happening in Cyprus. Freedoms General Manager George Halkidis says that all of the players on the current roster are aware of the meaning of the club’s name, and that their players of Greek ethnicity have traveled to Cyprus either as part of the club’s youth program or on vacation to visit their parents’ homeland.

The club spent their first two years in the Long Island Soccer League, and in 1977 paid $5,000 to join the Cosmopolitan Soccer League in 1979. By 1982 they had won the CSL title three times. While the current Freedoms have a more diverse roster, during their run of three Open Cup championships in four years from 1980-1983 the core of the team was made up of a mix of former Greek professional players and Cypriot players attending college in the U.S. through scholarships set up by the Pancyprian Association. Many of those college players returned to Cyprus and Greece after graduating, and maintained long careers with some of the top teams in those countries.

The former Greek pros that wore the Freedoms’ blue shirts were not your ordinary run of the mill imports. Two such players were considered to be two of the greatest players in Greek soccer history. Papaioannou spent 19 seasons with AEK Athens, scoring 234 goals, a mark that stood as a Greek record until 1989. Domazos played with Panathinaikos for 20 seasons and is widely considered the greatest player ever from Greece.

Rivalry with the Italians

Their first round opponents, the NPSL’s Brooklyn Italians, were recent CSL rivals of the Freedoms before the Italians decided to concentrate on NPSL play over fielding a team in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. However, in the late 1970s and early 80s, the two clubs were constantly battling for the top spot in the CSL standings. Between 1977 and 1982 the Freedoms and Italians (then known as the Brooklyn Dodgers) were the only clubs to win the Cosmopolitan Soccer League championship. Each club took home three titles in that period, often at the expense of the other.

From 1977 to 1981 the teams would take turns knocking each other out of the Open Cup. The first meeting of the clubs in Open Cup play came in the a Southern New York second round qualifying match on November 28, 1976, when the Italians won 2-1. The next year the Freedoms got revenge with a 4-1 win in the SNY First Round.

In 1979, the teams met in the Southern New York semifinals, and the Italians prevailed 5-3 on their way to winning the Open Cup championship. In 1980 and 1981, the Freedoms and Italians met in the Southern New York Final. The Freedoms won 4-1 in the first meeting, while the Italians came away with a 1-0 win in 1981. The 1981 victory by the Italians not only pushed them closer to an appearance in the Open Cup Final, but it also prevented the Freedoms from capturing what would have been a record four straight Open Cup titles. From 1979-1983 either the Italians or Freedoms represented the Eastern side of the bracket in the Open Cup Finals.

While the rivalry may have been heated in the early 80s, Halkidis insists the teams are friendly rivals today, and he speaks to Italians GM Joe Barone on a weekly basis while also being close friends with Italians manager Tony Noto.

When reminded that it was the Italians who interrupted his teams Open cup title run in the early 80s, Halkidis joked that “maybe it’s a good time for payback,” but acknowledged their real goal is to win the USASA Open Cup. The Freedoms have won the USASA title two out of the last three years, and will have a chance this year if they can defeat Phoenix SC in the USASA Region I Final on June 19. A win will pit the Freedoms against fellow Open Cup qualifiers ASC New Stars, Doxa Italia, and the winner of the Region II Final between AAC Eagles and Iowa Menace (Bowling Green, Kentucky on July 15-17) for the right to wear the USASA crown.

The June 19 game will mark the end of a 16-day period of important games for the club. On June 5 the Freedoms defeated the New York Athletic Club via penalties for the Cosmopolitan League championship. The Freedoms came back from a 2-0 halftime deficit to end regulation 2-2 on goals from Stefan Dimitrov (55’) and the ageless Julio Cesar Dos Santos (71’). Just two days before their Open Cup game against the Italians, the Freedoms will face Mineola Portuguese of the Long Island Soccer Football League in the Dr. Manning Cup Final, which is the top tournament for the Eastern New York State Soccer Association.

Brooklyn Italians vs. New York Pancyprian Freedoms
In the US Open Cup 1977-1981

1977 Southern New York Second Round
Nov. 27, 1976 – Brooklyn Italians 2:1 Pancyprian Freedoms
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1978 Southern New York First Round
Nov. 20, 1977 – Pancyprian Freedoms 4:1 Brooklyn Italians
Downing Stadium – Randalls Island, NY
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1979 Southern New York Semifinals
Apr. 1, 1979 – Brooklyn Dodgers 5:3 Pancyprian Freedoms
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1980 Southern New York Final
Mar. 29, 1980 – Brooklyn Dodgers 1:4 Pancyprian Freedoms
Metropolitan Oval – Queens, New York
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1981 Southern New York Final
Mar. 28, 1981 – Pancyprian Freedoms 0:1 Brooklyn Dodgers
Metropolitan Oval – Queens, New York

2011 Meet the USASA: 1990 US Open Cup champions, AAC Eagles from Chicago

June 10, 2011 by David Gubala

AAC Eagles celebrate their 1990 US Open Cup championship. Photo: Renee Bechtoldt | AAC Eagles

The predominantly Polish side from Chicago has much to say about the US Open Cup. Contestants AAC Eagles have won the entire tournament in 1990 and had a number of strong showings in years following.

2011 will mark the Eagles’ fifth Modern Era (1995-present) appearance (1995, 2002, 2005, 2008), and they will travel to Madison, Wis. for their First Round match-up with the NPSL’s Madison 56ers on Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST. The winner of that match will play the winner of the Chicago Fire Premier (PDL) and Iowa Menace (USASA ) in Round 2.

The club returned to prominence a year ago when they ended state rival RWB Adria’s three-year reign as Illinois state champions. The Eagles defeated RWB Adria 2-0 in the Illinois state qualifier the previous November before knocking out Minnesota entrant Fire SC in the Region II Quarterfinals, 8-3. The side was then eliminated in the Final Four via penalties 4-2 by KC Athletics after a 3-3 draw. The two matches took place at MLS venues, playing at Toyota Park’s training field and in a doubleheader with the Kansas City Wizards at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

This year, AAC Eagles were seeded as host of the Illinois Final as defending champion, and defeated Viking AA 2-1 to retain the state crown. They earned a date with FC Indiana in the opening round of the Region II tournament and dispatched them 7-2 thanks to four goals by Jakub Piotrowski. It then came down to a “Win & You’re In” match between the Eagles and RWB Adria (who replaced Viking AA after they withdrew from the tournament), which the Eagles won 4-1 with Piotrowski leading the way with three goals. `

CLUB HISTORY

AAC Eagles were formed in the year 1940 by a number of Polish immigrants. The club underwent a number of rebrandings over the years from then on. Until the 1950s, Eagles were originally known as the Polish American Athletic Club (PAAC Eagles).

The team also played its inaugural season in the National Soccer League of Chicago.

After the 1950s, the team rebranded to the Chicago Eagles. Since then, the club has interchanged between a couple of other names. Having won the cup in 1990, the club had finally settled on the AAC Eagles moniker for years to come.

The Eagles currently play in the Metropolitan Soccer League, where it has won 11 Major Division championships.

HISTORY IN THE CUP

The club has a number of successes worth mentioning. It reached the final in 1945 and 1948 before winning the Open Cup in 1990. The Eagles defeated the Brooklyn Italians, who have also qualified for the 2011 competition, 2-1 in the championship game with goals from Jan Kiaca and Peter Modrzejewski at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. , six years before MLS would be launched.

As is the case for the current tournament, back in 1990, the Eagles’ famous US Open Cup victory gave them a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup (now called the Champions League). The club lost on aggregate 4-1 to Bermudian side PHC Zebras in early stages of the tournament, but had already accomplished the impossible getting there.

The team first entered the Cup in 1948 and won their first-ever tournament match, 6-4, over Hansa SC on Nov. 16, 1947. In the ’48 Cup they reached the Illinois Final, where they lost to Sparta A & BA 3-2 after extra time.

In 1949, they made it all the way to the Western Final (National Semifinals), losing to Pittsburgh’s Morgan Strasser 4-3 on aggregate over two legs. Strasser went on to win the title that year.

Oldest teams to qualify in US Open Cup
Modern Era (1995-present)*

1910 – United German Hungarians (Oakford, PA)
1922 – Croatian Eagles (Milwaukee, WI)
1926 – Phoenix SC (Feasterville, PA)
1927 – SAC Wisla (Chicago, IL)
1929 – Bavarian SC (Milwaukee, WI)
1931 – Vereinigung Erzgebirge (Warminster, PA)
1940 – AAC Eagles (Chicago, IL)
1941 – Greek American Atlas (Queens, NY)
1959 – RWB Adria (Chicago, IL)*Year club was founded, not their first USOC appearance

In 1950 they reached the Western Semifinals where they lost to another eventual champion, St. Louis’ Simpkins Ford 5-0. Along the way they thrashed Hakoah Center 11-0 in the Illinois quarterfinals.

In 1953 a group of players who felt they were not being given a fair shot for playing time left the club and founded the Falcons SC, and that newly-formed club went on to win the Open Cup in their first attempt.

In their four previous Modern Era appearances, the club has failed to win a game in the competition. In fact, in their last three appearances, the Eagles have been eliminated by a team that has also qualified for the 2011 Open Cup. In 2002, they lost 1-0 on a golden goal by the New York Freedoms (now the NY Pancyprian Freedoms), who were a member of the PDL that year. They fell to the Chicago Fire Premier in 2005 by a score of 4-1, and in their last appearance they hosted the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, losing 4-0.

Adding to their list of achievements, AAC Eagles won the USASA Open Cup in 1989 and 2002.

MEET THE PLAYER: PETER BIELECKI

Peter Bielecki is a 6’1” left back playing a pivotal role for the Eagles, especially this season. Bielecki earned his spot through the youth ranks of Eagles as well as playing for Lane Tech High School in his earlier days.

Can you talk about the current atmosphere in the team and how you personally prepare for this tournament?

AACEagles-Clincher-ToyotaPark — The AAC Eagles celebrate qualifying for the 2011 US Open Cup at the practice field outside the Chicago Fire’s Toyota Park

PB: Overall, we have strong team chemistry. Everyone backs each other up, where everyone seems to get along in both a professional and casual way. Our outlook is very serious, where everyone believes we can make it very far in the tournament. There is very little room for slacking, because a 27+man roster leaves a lot of room for competition on our team.

What does the US Open Cup mean for yourself and the Eagles?

PB: The US Open Cup is one of the biggest tests for an amateur men’s team. Within our league, we are always looking for a challenge. The US Open Cup offers everyone on our team a chance to give it their all and compete on higher levels. Many of our players are college level quality, but very few have broken into the professional levels, in which this tournament provides many opportunities to seize.

Who are some of the key players on the Eagles roster? Who are the veterans or someone you look up to?

PB: We have a lot of underrated talent. “Kuba” Piotrowski, for example, is an incredible “amateur” talent that has plenty of ability to score goals with speed comparable to many of the fastest strikers. Piotr Kolasinski is a central defender that has an incredible touch and makes plays in all areas of the field. He also has the ability to strike the ball from set pieces, leaving us with a serious weapon, no matter what team we play. Jacek Lechowicz and Sebastian Skital provide our team with years of experience from higher levels, while Miroslaw Modzelewski brings in experience from some of the highest levels of football, playing teams such as Manchester United in his Polish football career .

Can you tell fans a little about yourself and your relationship with the Eagles?

PB: As a youngster, I was constantly looking for chances to break into this “veteran” squad. I am a left back, standing at 6’1″ and 185 lbs, but I am still finding it difficult to capture my spot on this team. We have plenty of players to choose from, which is surprising for the level we play at. We are going to leave higher level teams with quite a challenge during these next few US open Cup games. It will be important for other teams not to underestimate us, because we train with the mindset of a professional squad.

The AAC Eagles are always trying to improve their reputation as an amateur soccer team. The US Open Cup is just another opportunity for us to make a statement and advance as far as possible. No matter what, our team will leave the tournament with no regrets, knowing that we have given our best performance and have showcased the best football that we can provide.

2011 Meet the USASA: Regals FC from Houston

June 8, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

The Lone Star State has become one of the dominant factions in the USASA. Since 2002, the state has had at least one representative qualify for the US Open Cup eight of the 10 tournaments for a total of 13 occurances. One more than any other state, including California’s dozen, over the same time frame.

Texas is also the only state to claim both berths from its respective region on five occasions since the tournament expanded to eight entries from the USASA. California accomplished the feat three times. With Regals FC and the ASC New Stars snaring the two Region III berths, the state grabbed both berths for the first time since its run of regional dominance from 2004-07 in which it captured all eight spots.
A handful of clubs have played a repeated roll as representatives from Texas, several of which have made a name for themselves with upsets versus professional clubs. One of those being Dallas Roma, which upset USL First Division (professional second division) Miami FC, 1-0, and edged MLS side Chivas USA in penalties after a scoreless draw in 2006.

That history has proven to be an inspiration, and Regals FC is a club born with the goal of being the next side to make a name for itself while representing Houston.

“Houston has one of the deepest talent pools in the country, so it does not surprise me to be facing the New Stars in the Final,” said Regals head coach Miguel Landaverde prior to the Region III championship versus fellow Houston side ASC New Stars.

“This team represents Houston. We are a team of the people, for the people,” said General Manager Stephen Heisler. “Texas in general, and Houston in particular, has a rich local talent pool. Aside from USASA’s Houston Football Association, there are 12 independently owned adult leagues in the metro area. Combine the level of play with a year-round competitive schedule, it’s no wonder why the area has been successful. The ASC New Stars are a fantastic team, the club has been around since 1973, so we are honored that we were able to play them four times in the last two years. We are not only the best teams in Houston, we are also the best two teams in Region III. That says a lot.”

It says even more about Regals FC, a club formed less than two years ago.

“We are a very young club, formed only 17 months ago, but we built this team for the US Open Cup,” said Landaverde. “We are very excited for the opportunity to showcase our players to professional teams.”

How the club came to be in its current form is kind of unique. The team was originally formed as an independent club team for players from the Kingwood and New Caney area in the northern part of the Houston metropolis. After a few games, one of the club’s players, Pedro Rodriguez, suggested the team get together with a group that played in one of the area’s Hispanic leagues.

That team turned out to be Agua Nacida. It was a club formed five years prior by Landaverde, who grew up playing in Mexico. In its first five years, Agua Nacida were incredibly successful, winning numerous events, including the 2009 Dynamo Alliance Cup.

In the early days of the club’s launch, it was slated to participate in the National Premier Soccer League, but as things failed to come together, the club took its future in its own hands. The club became part of a group that launched the Southern Premier Soccer League in 2010. The SPSL, featuring teams from Texas and Oklahoma, is kicking off its first full season of play this fall.

Regals is currently in the midst of the league’s precursor Summer Cup, which runs from the end of April to August. The side lost its opener prior to the Region III tournament, 3-0, to RGV Ocelots, a team that is now 4-0 on the season. Since finishing as runners-up in Tuscaloosa, Regals has rebounded in the SPSL Summer Cup with a 6-1 win versus Houston Hurricane FC June 4.

The team also recently played in the 2011 Verizon Copa Alianza, defeating ASC New Stars via penalties after a 1-1 draw in the Final, and the 2011 Houston Soccer Association Tournament, falling 5-0 on aggregate in the semifinals to La Escondida.

The Texas climate makes it one of the few places where outdoor soccer is a year-round sport, something Regals FC feels is a positive for the club.

“Man, we just don’t stop,” said Heisler. “The Southern Premier Soccer League is set to play its first full season in 2011-2012 with a schedule that stretches from late September to July 4th. We feel that our advantage is the fact that we are together all year long. While PDL and NPSL teams are constantly reloading for the short season, we keep chugging along.”

The proximity to Mexico is another positive for Regals and other clubs in the state, particularly for its roster.

Among the standout players on the side are Diego Ayala, who has spent time with the reserves for Monterrey – the reigning Mexico and CONCACAF club champions – and Jose Chavez, who has been with a number of Mexican clubs.

But Mexico is not the sole source of the talent. Robert Hernandez joined the team after spending time in the Chivas USA program and Jhoiner Quintana played in Spain.

“The player that I expect to see in an MLS uniform is goalkeeper Marcus Sanchez. He is fantastic and has no business playing on our team,” said Heisler. “Striker Roy Hernandez has been nursing a nagging injury, but he won the Southern Premier Soccer League’s golden boot and was on the Red Bulls radar earlier this year.”

Hernandez tallied twice in the club’s 4-2 group play victory against CASL, the defending Region III champions, in Alabama last month. The result created a three-way tie in the three-team group, leaving the two sides in a deadlock on tiebreakers as well and forcing a penalty kick shootout to determine the group winner. That is where Sanchez showed off his skills, stopping three of the four CASL attempts to send Regals through.

The penalty shootout victory moved Regals onto the Region III Final, where they fell 2-1 in overtime to their local rival. But more importantly, it propelled them to the First Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup where they have since learned they are facing the defending USL Pro champion Charleston Battery, who were tournament finalists just three years ago.

“This is our opportunity to show America what Houston soccer is all about, and this is my opportunity to show the Battery staff that I have what it takes to play professional soccer,” said Sanchez.

Hernandez added, “I feel very confident that we will do well. We are not traveling 18 hours to come back home without a win.”

The Battery’s league and tournament credentials of repeated success do not seem to intimidate Regals.

“We are not any more afraid of the Battery than we were of Puebla FC, FC Dallas or the New Orleans Jesters,” Landaverde said, referring to previous friendlies. “We feel that we can play with anybody. I have a lot of faith in this group and most importantly, they have a lot of faith in each other. Playing upper division teams is how we gauge our progress. This match is entirely different. This match has meaning.”

2010 Meet the USASA: Sonoma County Sol

June 15, 2010 by Josh Hakala

The Sonoma County Sol broke their duck last season by claiming their first NPSL Championship in club history. Now this season they have their sights set on advancing deep into the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

2010 has not been a particularly kind year to the Sol as they sit in fourth place in the NPSL Northeast Conference with nine points and a 2-3-2 record. However, the Sol have been strong in the US Open Cup prior, advancing to the second round in 2006 and 2009.

The Sol’s road to the US Open Cup this season was a bit different than years past, as they were placed in a one-off match against PSA Los Gatos Storm of US Club Soccer. Undaunted by the ‘Win and You’re In’ match, the Sol rolled to a 3-0 victory.

Sonoma open the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup against the USSF-2nd Division’s Portland Timbers at PGE Park. The Timbers dismissed the Sol 3-0 last year in the second round of the tournament.

The Sol are no strangers to the US Open Cup, having qualified four times in the last six years (2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010). Last season the Sol defeated the Orange County Blue Star 5-2 in the opening round and were one of only two amateur teams to advance to the second round.

The team is truly a family affair, in many ways. First is the way the club is funded. Each player pays $500 each for the season, and they also raise money through hosting a golf tournament, and having friends and family volunteer on game days. Also helping fund the team is the Sol “100” Club, in which individuals who donate $100 towards the team receive a season pass, having their name mentioned on the team website and being honored at the final home game of the year.

In addition to running the club as a team, almost all of the players on the roster are locals. Many players have played, or still play, at Sonoma State, where Sol head coach Benjamin Ziemer is an assistant coach, under his brother Marcus, who has been head the head coach at SSU for 18 seasons. The other players on the team either attend Santa Rosa Junior College, or are local players who have played college soccer elsewhere.

Ziemer recalls when he applied to coach the Sol two years ago. “I told the board we could compete using primarily local players.” The success of the Sol has proven he was correct. “Although not all believed it (was) possible, we have 16 players from Sonoma County, another 5 who have been here 5-6 years to attend Sonoma State University and a few others who have moved from out of town for work.” Ziemer says.

On top of all that, Benjamin Ziemer and his three brothers grew up playing the game, and then some. As kids, they played the game on a small field their father built for them, which included lights, playing 1-v-1 and 2-v-2 for hours until they all moved away from home. When the boys were in their teens, a man named Peter Reynaud moved into their area, and the way they viewed and played soccer changed. Reynaud was the head coach at Sonoma State, and exposed the boys to a different way of training and playing.

Three of the brothers, Benjamin, Andrew, and Christopher, went on to play for Reynaud at Sonoma State for the 1989-90 season, and then for their brother Marcus for the 1990-91 season, when Reynauld stepped down to concentrate on the women’s team. During that first year, Sonoma State went undefeated, and the following year both the men’s and women’s teams reached the NCSAA Division II championship game.

While Marcus stayed on as head coach at Sonoma State, the other three Ziemer boys eventually made their way to Germany. The first to go was Christopher. After their father decided the cost of another regional camp was not worth the money. Right around this time a German team came to the area and played against Christopher’s ODP team, after which their father asked the German coach if he could set Christopher up with a youth team. Christopher then went to Germany and soon after called Andrew and Benjamin to come join him. Soon the three were playing in the 3rd and 4th division in Germany, the country where their father was born.

Andrew then went to Holland to study soccer and attend coaching courses, but he ended up playing with Quick Den Haag – a top level amateur club. While there he went to Ajax a few days a week to watch professional and youth trainings. During this time he met Frans Hoek, who working at Ajax. Frans has assisted the Ziemer brothers in studying at 50+ clubs in Holland, Spain, Belgium, Germany, England and Italy. Together, the brothers run Ziemer Brothers Soccer, where Benjamin has directed over 150 camps in Northern and Southern California, Oregon and Nevada.

In addition to all of that, Benjamin has also coached for the Olympic Development Program (ODP) State Teams, been a Hoek Method Camp coach for over eight years, currently holds a USSF ‘A’ coaching license and German ‘B’ license, currently manages the NorCal Premier Soccer League, and was recently named the boys soccer coach at Sonoma Academy.

However, when asked who his standout players are, Ziemer has just one answer, “Our standout is the team.” Those words sum up what the NPSL club is all about, on and off the field.

2010 Meet the USASA: New York Pancyprian Freedoms

June 15, 2010 by Josh Hakala

The New York Pancyprian Freedoms, one of the all-time great US Open Cup clubs, are back in the tournament again in 2010. The USASA Region I club are a storied club with origins dating back to the mid 1970s and have qualified, or have attempted to qualify for the Open Cup every year of their existence, according to general manager George Halkidis.

: The New York Pancyprian Freedoms pose for a team photo before their USASA Region I semifinal match with the United German Hungarians. Photo: NY Pancyprian Freedoms

The Freedoms hold the distinction as the last team to win back-to-back Open Cup titles when they won it all in 1982 and ’83. They have lifted the Dewar Trophy three times in all, capturing their first championship in 1980.

The Queens-based club has been a part of New York City’s famed Cosmopolitan League since their inaugural season in 1974. They have captured five Cosmopolitan championships (1978-79, 1979-80, 1981-82, 2002-03, 2003-04) and over the years, have been one of the more consistent teams in the league. In fact, the last two years they have lost in the championship game of the league playoffs.

“The CSL, in my opinion, is the premier amateur league in the country,” said Halkidis. “The quality and history of some of the teams is second to none. As a whole, the first division teams could hold their own against any amateur side in the country. We have traveled enough and seen most of the top teams in the country to make such a bold statement. But again if you look at the history, personnel and results of these teams from top to bottom you’ll agree.

: 3-time US Open Cup champions: New York Pancyprian Freedoms

They will open the 2010 edition of the tournament against fellow amateur club Long Island Rough Riders of the USL’s Premier Development League on June 15. Long Island will host the match at Cy Donnelly Stadium in South Huntington, NY at 7:30 p.m.

The Freedoms had a difficult path through Open Cup qualifying, beginning with state qualifying in the Eastern New York Soccer Association. Tasso Polydefkis and Puerto Rican international Chris Megaloudis scored to lead the club to a 2-0 win over Barstonworth Rovers in the opening round. In the semifinals, it was another 2-0 victory, this time over New York Athletic club. Megaloudis and veteran Jeff Matteo were responsible for the scoring.

The championship game was a controversial one as the Freedoms found themselves matched up with Fenerbahce USA, a team who had lost their semifinal match 4-1 to the New York Greek American Atlas. Fenerbahce reached the final because they filed a protest because the Greeks had mistakenly written down the name of a player on their roster who had left the club weeks earlier to play professionally overseas.

Freedoms general manager George Halkidis was not pleased with the controversial decision to disqualify the Greek Americans by the Eastern New York cup commissioner, Gus Xikis, the father of Fenerbahce goalkeeper EJ Xikis.

“It’s a shame what happened to . Games are decided on the field and not on paper,” said Halkidis. “It’s OK though because I promise that this team, , will not advance. Not on the field nor on paper. Pancyprians will take care of business.”

And they did just that, dispatching Fenerbahce 4-1 on goals by Matteo, Megaloudis, Polydefkis and Julio Cesar Dos Santos.

Dos Santos, one of the best players in USL history according to USLSoccer.com, continued to play well into the USASA Region I tournament. After falling behind 2-0 to Phoenix SC of Eastern Pennsylvania in the first half, Dos Santos scored two goals and assisted on another to lead the Freedoms to a 3-2 victory.

Dos Santos rescued New York again in the quarterfinals, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime to eliminate the Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks from Washington D.C., 2-1. In the semifinals, a win would send the Freedoms to the US Open Cup, and they needed penalty kicks to get past the United German Hungarians of Eastern Pennsylvania. After a scoreless draw through regulation and extra time, and playing a man short from the 43rd minute on, New York would qualify for the US Open Cup for the fourth time in the Professional Era (1995-present) with a 3-0 shootout victory over UGH.

“We feel that the teams we have to play in order to qualify are of high quality,” said Halkidis. “Having to play six games to get in has prepared us for what’s ahead.”

What’s ahead is the Long Island Rough Riders of the PDL who have yet to lose a game in their first six league contests (4-0-2). If the Freedoms are able to advance, they will play the winner of fellow New York club Brooklyn Italians and the Harrisburg City Islanders of the USL Second Division. Potentially, all the Freedoms would have to do is defeat a PDL team on Tuesday, then turn around and beat either a fellow amateur club or a last place USL-2 club to earn a date with a Major League Soccer team.

After years of competing in the Cosmopolitan League and the US Open Cup, the Freedoms branched out and created a second team in 1999 (called simply, the “New York Freedoms”) that joined the USL Premier Development League. They wasted no time in carrying over their success to the new league, winning the Northeast Division title and advancing to the PDL national semifinals in their inaugural season. They also qualified for the US Open Cup, where they upset the Cape Cod Crusaders of the USL D3 Pro League in the first round and nearly eliminated the A-League’s Rochester Raging Rhinos falling 2-1 in extra time to the eventual champions.

They spent two more years in the PDL before taking the club to the next level to play in the D3 Pro League. Their best year in the third division was in 2002 when current New England Revolution star Shalrie Joseph helped them advance to the league quarterfinals and qualify for the Open Cup. They defeated Chicago’s AAC Eagles from USASA Region II in the first round before losing to the A-League’s Milwaukee Rampage.

After the 2003 season, the club left the USL to focus on the Cosmopolitan League team.

The last time New York qualified for the Open Cup was in 2008 and they nearly pulled off an upset on the road against the Real Maryland Monarchs of the USL Second Division.

“The game was originally scheduled for a Tuesday night but because of lightning, the match was re-scheduled for Friday,” said Halkidis. “So within four days we traveled back and forth to Maryland. The match was very competitive, but we lost in overtime after going down a man during regulation . We felt that if we did not lose a man we could of left with the win.”

Dos Santos and Matia Damiani both scored for New York that night, while George Halkidis’ son Panagoitis was the man sent off.

The core of the team from that 2008 season are still with the club this year, led by veterans who have been with the club for a number of seasons like Dos Santos, Matteo, Megaloudis, Damiani, Chris Zisimatos, Panagiotis Halkidis and goalkeeper Chad Calderone.

After earned All-American honors at St. John’s University, where he played home games at Belson Stadium (where the Freedoms call home), Matteo graduated and signed with Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew in 2002. After that, his path through the pros saw him play for the New York Red Bulls, Minnesota Thunder (USL-1) and the Charleston Battery (USL-1). Now he is an assistant coach for his alma mater and is entering his ninth season with the Freedoms.

Another player that the Freedoms will be counting on will be one of the club’s all-time greats, Dos Santos. The Brazilian, who grew up playing with World Cup winner Bebeto, has scored 248 goals in 211 matches over the last nine seasons for New York.

His first club was the legendary Rio de Janeiro club Vasco da Gama, and his first professional team was American, where he was tasked with helping create chances for a young striker named Ronaldo.

Dos Santos moved to the U.S. and joined the New Jersey Stallions where he scored 115 goals in 111 games for the professional side. He then hooked on with the Freedoms in 2003 when they were a professional team. He finished third in the league in scoring with 11 goals, two assists and 24 points.

The club takes a lot of pride in the young talent that they develop and help them move on to professional careers.

Another youth team product is Chris Megaloudis, who has four caps for the Puerto Rican national team and spent time with the New York Red Bulls. Megaloudis graduated from Stony Brook and also spent time with the same club they Freedoms will face on Tuesday, the Long Island Rough Riders and the Westchester Flames.

A couple of new additions with significant play are Joel Gustafsson (former St John’s Univ.), John Koutsounadis (Adelphi University), Andreas Paphitis (Fordham Univ.) and Gabe Ortega (Loyolla Maryland).

The team is lead by head coach Luka Lukovic, who knows a thing or two about the U.S. Open Cup, too. He was the starting goalkeeper for New York-based A.O. Krete when it won the 1984 US Open Cup title. His professional career during the 1970s and ’80s included stops in his home country of Yugoslavia and Greece before he moved to the United States.

“We are looking forward to our first round game against the Long Island Rough Riders,” said Halkidis. “We feel confident that we can get by our opponent. I think we match up well against them.

New York Pancyprian Freedoms
1999 (as New York Freedoms in the PDL)
1r – v. Cape Cod Crusaders (D3), 3-1
2r – v. Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-Lg), 1-2 (aet)
2002 (as New York Freedoms in the USL D3 Pro League)
1r – v. AAC Eagles (USASA), 1-0 (aet)
2r – v. Milwaukee Rampage (A-Lg), 0-4
2008
1r – v. Real Maryland Monarchs (USL2), 2-3 (aet)

2010 Meet the USASA: Brooklyn Italians

June 15, 2010 by Ryan Knapp

Sorentino, Mazzeo, the Campagna Brothers, Lombardo, Narduzzi, Pusateri, Carestia, Camposeo, the Fugallo and Piscopo brothers. Sounds like a list of names that came right out of the Godfather movie doesn’t it? Well these men are not from the movie, but do have one thing in common with the head honchos in the Godfather. These men are actually the founding fathers of what is to be considered one of the greatest and the oldest Italian-American soccer club in the United States, the Brooklyn Italians.

Local social clubs were a popular gathering ground for men to play cards and talk amongst themselves. However in 1949, a group of Italian immigrants inhabiting the Brooklyn area decided that playing cards at the local social club was just not enough. They decided to mesh their old way of life with their new country. The result was the Brooklyn Italians Football Club.

The Brooklyn Italians found success in its early years, winning the first two championships in the Metropolitan League. However, after changing the club name to Palermo Football Club in 1950, they went on to having an unlucky streak of seasons and underwent numerous club presidency changes. Then, in 1974, Corrado “Joe” Manfredi became club president and the club soon found success. The Palermo Football Club once again became known as the Brooklyn Italians Football Club and went on to be the first Italian-American soccer club to win the National Challenge Cup (which is now known as the Lamar U.S. Open Cup) in 1979 against Croatia S.C. After winning the championship, the Brooklyn Italians did not win again for many years.

Not only were the Brooklyn Italians looking for success on the field, but they were also looking for success off the field in the form of club presidents. They were searching for a leader who could take the Brooklyn Italians Football Club to the next level. After ten club presidents, they finally found a leader, in 1987, when Jerry Valerio took the seat as president. For 13 years, Valerio served as club president, winning local, state, and international trophies. In 1991, the Brooklyn Italians won its second U.S. Open Cup against the Richardson Rockets out of Texas. A few years later, in 1994, the U-14 Brooklyn Italians won the “Enzo Ferrari” International Youth Tournament in Italy, beating Club Napoli of Palomonte in penalties.

Today, the Brooklyn Italians compete in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League in Eastern New York. Valerio has concentrated on youth soccer with teams ranging from the ages of U-8 to U-18 and an over 30’s men team. Not only do they play at a competitive local level, but you can also find them in national tournaments; the Dallas Cup, Presidents Day Tournament in Phoenix, and other college showcases, as well as international tournaments.

Because players are exposed to the highest levels of training and competition, the Brooklyn Italians have been providing a haven for undiscovered and discovered talent since its creation in 1949. They have developed players who are, or have been, part of the U.S. National Team, European Teams, USL, and the MLS. Such players include New England Revolution standout Shalrie Joseph, Juan Carlos Osorio, former New York Red Bulls coach, and Chivas USA assistant coach Carlos Llamosa.

In 2010 the Brooklyn Italians first team took a next step in their growth and left the Cosmopolitan Soccer League to join the National Premier Soccer League. Under the leadership of first year head coach Joe Barone, the Italians maintain a 5-1-0 record and are tied for first place in the Atlantic Conference in the Northeast Region.

This year the Brooklyn Italians took an unconventional route into the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Italians lost their first match against Imigrantes Das Ilhas but were given the win when Imigrantes were discovered to have fielded an ineligible player. They then won their next match against Go Soccer FC and defeated Fenerbachce USA 4-0 in their Region I final.

With over 100 trophies in 50 years, you can truly say the Brooklyn Italians are building a soccer empire and are here to stay. So next time you visit Coney Island, grab a hot dog from Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs and head over to John Dewey High School to catch a glimpse of the oldest Italian American soccer club, the Brooklyn Italians. Who knows, you may just be watching the next Pelé.

Meet the USASA: Class of 2010

June 15, 2010 by Josh Hakala

Eight teams from the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) have qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and will attempt to become the 2010 tournament’s Cinderella story. Will we see another Dallas Roma FC run from 2006? No one knows, but once again, TheCup.us has taken the time to introduce soccer fans to these largely unknown clubs. Click below to read about each club:

New York Pancyprian Freedoms (Eastern New York – Region I)

Brooklyn Italians (NPSL – Region I)

Kansas City Athletics (Kansas – Region II)

Detroit United (Michigan – Region II)

CASL Elite (North Carolina – Region III)

Legends FC (North Texas – Region III)

Bay Area Ambassadors (NPSL – Region IV)

Arizona Sahuaros (Region IV)

Sonoma County Sol (NPSL Champions)

2010 Meet the USASA: Bay Area Ambassadors

June 15, 2010 by Jose M. Romero

Bay Area Ambassadors FC, 2010 USASA Region IV champions, make their U.S. Open Cup debut June 15 against Kitsap Pumas SC of the PDL.

It’s a momentous occasion for the club from Hayward, Calif., a member of the NPSL Northwest Division. The Bay Area Ambassadors were in fifth place in the six-team NPSL Northwest heading into their opening round Lamar Hunt US Open Cup game, but overcame adversity and emerged as the winner of the Region IV tourney in Sacramento last month and thus earned a spot in the 97th edition of the tournament.

Not bad for a franchise in only its third year of existence. BAFC was started in 2008 by former Nigerian Olympic team member Tony Igwe and local businessman and real-estate broker Arif Khan to bring the highest level of amateur/semi-pro soccer to the Bay Area, Khan said.

Igwe, the team’s technical advisor, and Khan, the general manager, chose the NPSL for their club because there were several other teams in Northern California. The Ambassadors practice and play at Chabot College in Hayward.

While goalkeeper Sergio Valle is the main player to watch, the Ambassadors feature a mix of local college and non-college players. Coach Mohammed Mohammed has several players he’s developed from his youth club, including Yusuf Samy, Stefan Clemens and Pedro Osorio.

BAFC didn’t have it easy at the Region IV tournament. Three of its players were injured in the tournament opener. But the club made the regional final and won it with no substitutes, playing two games with only 10 men due to the injuries and two players unable to get international clearance.

Even with the obstacles, the Ambassadors cruised through group play, only allowing one goal in three matches. They defeated San Diego Boca FC, 2-0, Arizona Pros, 1-0, and the French Soccer Academy, 5-1. In the semifinals, it was a battle of unbeatens as Bay Area knocked off the Sacramento Gold 1-0 to qualify for the Open Cup. With the tournament berth already in place, Bay Area carried the momentum into the Region IV Open Cup final and booked a spot in the USASA National Cup Finals with a 2-0 win over fellow qualifier Arizona Sahuaros.

The Ambassadors fly into Seattle-Tacoma Airport on June 15 and play that evening at 7 p.m. in nearby Bremerton, home of the Kitsap Pumas, the Premier Development League qualifier from the Northwest Division.

2010 Meet the USASA: Detroit United

June 15, 2010 by Tavio Palazzolo

Michigan usually has a consistent amateur competitor in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, a team you all might know as the Michigan Bucks. They’ve made the tournament a total of eight times in their 15 seasons, their most recent appearance coming in 2008. But instead of them, a different team is representing Michigan this time around. For the first time since 2001, a USASA team from the state has qualified: Detroit United.

Owner/manager George Juncaj started his soccer journey immigrating to the United States in 1983. He played semi-pro in Southern California for his first few years, before coming to Michigan when a new opportunity arose in 1993. He played with various amateur teams around Metro Detroit until fights between players and spectators (fueled by ethnic hatred) forced him to hang up his boots.

Juncaj returned to the local soccer scene in 2002, playing simple pick-up with some friends, when younger players started to come around and join in the action. At some point, others started to cause trouble, and that’s when he decided it’s time to start a team in a structured league.

The new team that Juncaj started would come to be known as Detroit United, and the name comes from his past experiences at the amateur level, as well as inflicting a change in how an amateur team in Detroit comes to be:

“The reason I came to Detroit United, I looked, and … you basically have ethnic groups. You have the White Eagles (a Polish club), you have Drita (Albanian), you have the Kickers (German), etc. … So I said, you know what, I’m going to put Detroit United, where it’s going to be an option, whoever lives in Detroit, they can come play for this team. And that’s exactly what’s happened. I have two, three guys from Africa, I have a guy from Israel, I have many from Europe, I have an Argentinean, I have a Brazilian, and I used to have a Chinese guy. I used to have a Japanese guy, but he left soccer, and he went to play pro baseball in Japan.”

Juncaj feels that it’s important to not have any barriers keeping certain players from his team, unlike the many ethnic clubs that dot the soccer landscape in the Detroit area. “I never ask a person ‘where are you from?’ It doesn’t mean anything to me.”

As mentioned earlier, there are many international players on the squad. However, the core group of the team is mostly American. The first player Juncaj was quick to point out is Tommy Eller. He’s described as a fast player, controlling the ball very well, and one of the most unselfish players in the game (winning an award in that respect). According to his coach, “he might be one of the better players in the state of Michigan.” Other players mentioned include his captain, defender Tom Stark, as well as goalkeeper Ryan Mathe, Zach Wilkes, and Worteh Sampson (the last two formerly suiting up for the pro indoor team Detroit Ignition). Sampson also played for a time with the Charlotte Eagles of the USL Second Division. Those five players are the core group of the team.

Another player that might be recognizable, if you have been following this year’s road to qualification, is Fernando Gatica. He scored twice in Milwaukee in the win over the Kickers, then scored again in the semifinal battle with Nebraska’s 402 Academy. Juncaj has praise for him, but mentions that his ego is a little inflated. “He’s not a star yet. He’s a very good player; he controls the ball, which basic Argentineans do. But, he’s also got to be a team player. … Nobody can win a game alone.”

detroit-united-flip-celebrations-vs-402-big — Taiwo Olorunnimbe does an acrobatic goal celebration after putting Detroit United up 5-4 in overtime. Photo: Josh Hakala

Speaking of that Kickers win, Detroit United managed to finish the match with only 11 healthy players. 14 were set to make the trip, but two were held back as they traveled separately, then were involved in a minor car accident before even leaving the area. Then, early in the Milwaukee match, a Detroit United player had to be removed from the pitch due to an injury, forcing the team to make the only substitution they had.

Although Detroit United is a new entry into the tournament, they have a little history in qualifying. They made a run in 2007, qualifying for the Region II tournament along with Ann Arbor FC Elite (the team they defeated earlier this year 1-0 for the Michigan title that qualified them for the Region II tournament). In the quarterfinals, they defeated the NPSL’s Princeton-56ers 2-1 on a late goal by Humberto Toscan, then matched up with famed Chicago club RWB Adria with a spot in the Open Cup on the line. Unfortunately for the club, they lost 3-0, and with AAFC Elite also losing in the semifinals (to Bavarians SC), the state of Michigan lost both their chances for a tournament bid at the very end.

George Juncaj has high hopes for both his club, as well as soccer in Detroit in general. He feels his team could compete in the National Premier Soccer League, but believes there’s a structural problem with the league itself. “I want to go to the NPSL, but there’s really nothing there, not enough teams. You’d be playing the same team four or five times. It’s not fun. They only have five teams . (currently there are six in 2010) I told them, you get eight to ten teams, you call me.” He mentioned the Premier Development League as an option, but currently the rights to Detroit (as well as the rights to any USL level team) are held by Michigan Bucks owner Dan Duggan, who remains committed to his team, even after Juncaj says he sent Duggan offers to buy the club.

As for professional soccer in the area, Juncaj believes there’s a good chance for Detroit to provide great support. “I really do think we have enough people who love the game in which we can have not just a USL team, but we can have an MLS team…. I think that would be the goal for the younger generation. I love seeing Chicago, I love seeing Columbus playing because you feel closer to your home.” He hopes investors come around and give Detroit a spot on the big stage, and feels that between all the soccer-loving Americans in town and the different ethnic groups, support for a professional club could be outstanding.

Detroit United is set to open their 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, June 15, as they play the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL Second Division. They look to show the ‘Hounds that United’s players are up to the task and well prepared to advance in the tournament.

2010 Meet the USASA: Kansas City Athletics

June 14, 2010 by Scott Viar

One of two newcomers from Region II of the USASA, KC Athletics is eager to show its worth when it faces the NSC Minnesota Stars in the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

: The KC Athletics pose for a team photo prior to their US Open Cup qualifying match against the Des Moines Menace USASA in Des Moines, Iowa. Photo: KC Athletics

Founded in 2001 as a merger of Legends Soccer Club and the Kansas City Football Club, KC Athletics won regionals in its first year competing in the Snickers Nationals and ended up finishing third nationally in the competition. The following year, their Under 20 team won the national championship, but then the club went on hiatus with many of the players joining nearby PDL clubs like the Des Moines Menace and the Kansas City Brass. In 2004, the KC Athletics were reborn.

With many of the players from the Under-20 team still with the club, the Athletics entered US Open Cup qualifying for the first time this year. They became the first Kansas-based team to enter the tournament in several years.

Kansas City’s first qualifier was a thriller on the road against the Des Moines Menace USASA side. The Athletics overcame a 3-1 second half deficit, but then fell behind 4-3 late in the game, but battled back to tie it up. Player/coach Kyle Perkins scored three of the team’s four goals, as the match went into a penalty kick shootout. In the ninth round of the tiebreaker, goalkeeper Zach Brennan saved Des Moines’ attempt, and then immediately turned around to score the game-winning spot kick to send the Athletics into the semifinals.

In their final four match against AAC Eagles of Illinois, a “Win & You’re In” match, they played another high-scoring nail biter, this time in front of their home fans. The Kansas City Wizards offered the team a chance to play their Open Cup match against the Chicago-based Eagles at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, immediately following the Wizards Major League Soccer match against the Chicago Fire.

In the pouring rain, some loyal fans, as well as some of the Wizards players, stuck around to watch the Athletics come back to tie the game up twice and then took the lead in the 59th minute on Perkins’ second goal of the match. However, the Eagles would equalize in the 75th minute, and just like their previous game, a scoreless extra time period would send the match into penalty kicks. Just one save needed to be made, as KC advanced 5-3 in the shootout to qualify for their first US Open Cup

According to Perkins, one of the biggest surprises the team had was facing the level of organization that the other sides brought to the competition, something which he feels put them at the start at a bit of a disadvantage, as the amount of training time available for the team has been less than he would like.

They will travel to the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. for their opening round match with the NSC Minnesota Stars on Tuesday. They are dealing with a number of injury and scheduling issues, as any USASA team does, so they will be without key players like former Kansas City Wizard Brian Roberts, and former Kansas City Comet Jason Woods. To replace them, the team has recruited former MLS player Scott Vermillion (Kansas City Wizards, Colorado Rapids, DC United),and local college standouts David Russell and youngster Larry Mason.

Perkins feels that they are better prepared moving forward and hope that their mix of former pros and local soccer talent will provide them with the ability to play up to the level of the 2nd Division Stars. Thanks to the wonders of the internet, he has been able to watch a few of the Stars’ matches and they have a gameplan, but knows that it’s hard to know how the team is going to react to playing against a professional team.

“I don’t know what to expect really ,” said Perkins. “We’ve got a starting 11 that we believe in and I think we’ll be alright.”