Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

NPSL

2015 US Open Cup Round 1: Subs steal show as Sonoma County Sol edge Burlingame Dragons in OT

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Acevedo and Larson
In a hard fought battle, the Sonoma County Sol defeated the Burlingame Dragons FC 2-1 in the First Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Wednesday night. Angel Acevedo netted the game winner in extra time to push the home team onto a second round match-up next week against Sacramento Republic FC.

Both teams had chances throughout the match. While the Sol maintained a possession advantage during the first half, the Dragons looked dangerous on the counterattack with their speedy forwards Gabriel Silviero and Fredy Razo seeing a number of shots on goal.

The game appeared to be heading to extra time scoreless when substitute Alfonso Verde received a deep cross and put his header on frame past goalkeeper Arturo Ornelas to take the lead for the visitors in the 77th minute. A flurry of attacks by the Sol finally pierced the Burlingame defenses just before full time as midfielder Alfonso Salazar grabbed a pass from Taylor Varnadore and pushed a half volley beyond the hands of Dragons goalkeeper Josh Cohen. Cohen had been stellar all night up until letting in the vital goal.

Acevedo put the Sol up 2-1 with a mazy dribble through the center of the Burlingame defense in the 97th minute.

“Honestly, I just got the ball and had a bad first touch.”, Acevedo said about his game winner. “Once I got it back under control I just hit it with everything I had.”

Burlingame spent the rest of extra time vying for an equalizing goal, aided by an injury to Brenton Frame in the 100th minute. The substitute went down along the touchline with a twisted ankle and the Sol played the last 20 minutes with 10 men. The Dragons had a number of shots that came close including a strong ball by Armando Garcia that bounced solidly off the woodwork, but the Sol held on to pick up their first tournament win since 2009.

2015 US Open Cup Round 1: Joe Holland carries Long Island Rough Riders to 3-1 win over Brooklyn Italians

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Long Island Rough RidersIn what used to be a regular occurance in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, a battle between two teams from New York City has become more rare in the Modern Era (1995-present). For just the fifth time since 1995, two teams from the Big Apple squared off as the Long Island Rough Riders defeated the Brooklyn Italians 3-1. Long Island’s Joe Holland was involved in all three goals as he led the team with a pair of goals and an assist as the Rough Riders won their first US Open Cup game since 2012.

Rough Riders head coach Paul Roderick highlighted Holland as a player to watch in tonight’s US Open Cup match.

“Joe can sometimes be a hot and cold player, but when he’s on, it’s special”, Roderick shared as the teams warmed up. Another notable player for Long Island was Jimmy Nealis. Nealis was drafted in 2013 by the Houston Dynamo but injured in the preseason of that year. After rehabbing, he was signed by the New York Cosmos and played for two seasons.

Tonight was definitely one of the better performances for the emerging star. Holland and the Rough Riders wasted no time taking the game to visiting Brooklyn side scoring in the first minute. This was Joe Holland’s first US Open Cup goal. Long Island controlled the game for most of the first half with quick, smart play, but also helped by a Brooklyn attack that was constantly caught offsides and a slew of unforced turnovers by the back line.

In the 38th minute, Brooklyn’s Yannick Laroche drove into the box with a quick change of pace catching defender Danny Kreamer off balance forcing a Brooklyn penalty kick. Yvener Guerrier stepped up and cooly placed the shot past Joe Martin leveling the game at 1-1, a score that would stand for the rest of the first half.

Both squads remained unchanged to start the second half, but almost immediately Long Island would need to make a change. In the 46th minute, midfielder Dan Reid rolled his ankle. The injury would prove to be too much for him to return and Dom Iovino would enter in his place.

The second half was much improved on the first with both teams settling in. The play was organized and each chance was harder to earn, but equally more dangerous as they tried to break the deadlock. The Rough Riders, sensing they were close switched up the midfield again, subbing out Adriana Gabrielle for the fresh legs of Ben Withcomb in the 60th minute.

Four minute later, the constant pressure by Long Island forced another Brooklyn error as Alejandro Penzini was called for a handball in the box. Holland took the kick, but a fantastic diving effort by 19-year-old Michael Bernardi kept the score tied. While some might think the save by the Brooklyn keeper would have put momentum on their side, that was not the case tonight. In the 66th minute, Ben Wignall found himself with a clear look on the left side about twenty yards out. His laser beat a fully extended Bernandi and Long Island would take the lead 2-1.

The more fit and organized Long Island team continued to control the pace of the game and in the 74th minute, the star of the night, Holland scored his second putting the Rough Riders ahead 3-1.

The Italians would not let the game go without a fight. The late substitutions of Armen Katchaturian (Diego Zuniga), Kevin Lue (Yannick Laroche) and Vincent Benzecourt (Martin Williams) gave the attack a little more pace, but many of their chances were the result of individual effort and not team play. Long Island used their last sub in the bringing in Junior Rosero for goal scorer Wignall to keep the pressure and possession in the Brooklyn third.

At the final whistle it would remain a 3-1 win for the home side. Nealis after game while happy with the result knows the team can play better.

“It’s still the start of our season,” said Nealis. “It’s tough, we are still getting comfortable together, but the more we practice and the fitter we get, the better we will be.”

Entering the game, the Rough Riders had just one league game under their belt, a 3-1 home win in league play the previous Saturday. For Coach Roderick, with so little time together as a team, he’ll take the victory.

“In a cup, it’s nice to get any type of win,” said Roderick. “We made it harder than it needed to be. After the early goal we eased up a bit and credit to Brooklyn they fought back.”

Holland was proud of the way the team performed as well.

“Fantastic win,” said Holland. “In the first half we were a little haphazard and all over the place. Despite giving up the goal, we came out for the second half much more organized and compact and in the end it was comfortable.”

After the game the team immediately moved their attention to next week’s match as they will host the Real Monarchs, the United Soccer Leagues reserve team of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake.

Holland knows that the match up against the USL side will be a tough challenge.

“I can’t wait,” said Holland. “It’s a good team, and obviously they have some professional links there so you’re going to see some good players. They move the ball around well as we do when we play right, so it should make for a very good game.”

Roderick gave a brief scouting report looking ahead to next year.

“Well, they will come in more fit and more organized,” said Roderick. “They are a team that trains everyday. But these are the games that our players want to be in, to play against the better clubs so it should be a great match.”

Former Long Island Rough Rider, Tyler Arnone currently plays with the Real Monarchs and will be making his return to Cy Donnelly stadium next week when the teams meet up Wednesday, May 20 at 8 p.m.

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: FC Tacoma crushes well-traveled San Diego Flash to complete 2015 tournament field (with complete list)

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FC Tacoma (purple) hosted San Diego Flash with the final spot in the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on the line. Photo: Marcus Annable
FC Tacoma (purple) hosted San Diego Flash with the final spot in the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on the line. Photo: Marcus Annable (PHOTO GALLERY)

Did you want an underdog story?

The San Diego Flash had the worst possible run up to Sunday’s 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup play-in against FC Tacoma 253. Back in February, Clent Alexander, the well-liked CEO of the team, passed away after an illness. The team fought on, winning the NPSL’s Southwest Conference qualifying tournament after playing to a draw against Deportivo Coras last Saturday. After getting past their Inland Empire opponent on penalty kicks, they qualified to play in a final one-off match to qualify for the Cup.

The trouble is, that meant a drive to Tacoma, Wash. They didn’t have the money to do it, so Justin Picou, the team’s No. 10, started a GoFundMe page to raise some cash. They got enough money to make the trip, but they had to leave one player behind who couldn’t get out of work.

We all love underdogs. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always end well for the scrappy, underrated folks. The adversity may have been too much for them as they got stomped by Tacoma, a team only playing its second match in club history, 6-1.

FC Tacoma 253 (the number is Tacoma’s area code) got things off to a strong start with a ninth minute goal from former Venezuelan youth international Pedro Millan. Tacoma extended the lead with a 16th minute own goal.

If San Diego was hoping halftime would change their fortunes, Matt Shaxton’s strike two minutes after the whistle blew put that to rest. The Flash managed to see a bit of light when they were awarded a penalty kick.

Sergio Valle-Ortiz easily found the back of the net. The team had no chance to build on the momentum.

Memorial Stadium in Seattle was the site of the FC Tacoma vs. San Diego Flash match. Photo: @Brazbit (Twitter)
Memorial Stadium in Seattle was the site of the FC Tacoma vs. San Diego Flash match. Photo: @Brazbit (Twitter)

Millan came back to score his second in minute 72. Then, San Diego keeper James Stroud looked to have a save, but his body carried too far on the wet turf. He was ejected for handling the ball outside of the box. He handed the his goalkeeper jersey to Picou, who was unable to stop either the free kick (it became Millan’s third goal of the match) or the 88th minute strike from Eil Goodley.

Despite the lopsided result, Tacoma assistant coach and midfielder Phil Aur said that San Diego was a tough opponent, one that “had a right to be there.”

“We dealt with their final third attack well, but we gave them more of the ball than we would like to have,” he said. “They are a good team, very creative. Every final ball they played was over the top, and that’s where we excelled.”

“They challenged us throughout the whole game,” he added. “There was a lot of play that the defense had to gobble up.”

FC Tacoma is a new entrant in the NPSL, and the only two matches they have played so far have been open cup qualifiers. They formed after the dissolution of two other teams in the area, Inter United FC and Seattle Sporting. Aur played for Inter United FC, and his team has players from both sides as well as a strong local adult club league.

“Last year, a lot of us were rivals,” Aur said.

Millan, a local coach in Seattle with experience as a pro in his native Venezuela, was an addition from Sporting. Despite Millan’s hat trick, his role was more of a distributor high up the field.

“It’s hard to keep the ball off of him. He’s very skillful,” Aur said.

fctacoma-logoAur acknowledges that the team had some trouble working in a new player who joined up with the squad this week, Oussama Esabr. Esabr is a Moroccan who played for Juventus’s youth side and a number of lower division Italian teams.

“We weren’t sure if he was going to start,” he said. “We were trying to find a way to get him on the field and give him a role where he could have a lot of responsibility. He didn’t have the ball much because we didn’t always know where he was going to be.”

Needless to say, Aur is proud that his team has made the US Open Cup.

“You can’t say that you’ve played in the US Open Cup until you get there,” he said. “The guys were pumped, you could see it from the way they played.”

Tacoma opens their NPSL season opener Saturday against Real San Jose. They will need to figure out how to play both their NPSL season plus Open Cup matches.

“We are a new club, we have a lot of unseen territory,” Aur said. “It’s not anything we can be prepared for. Do we know when our next game is? No … we just gotta suck it up and be the underdogs.”

Oh, there’s the underdog story you were looking for.

Map of all 91 entries for #USOC2015 posted by 'lookuppage7' on Reddit
Map of all 91 entries for #USOC2015 posted by ‘lookuppage7’ on Reddit

2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup entries

Participating Professional Teams (47 total):

Major League Soccer
(Division I – 17 teams, entering in the Fourth Round)

Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew SC, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, New England Revolution, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Sporting Kansas City

North American Soccer League
(Division II – 9 teams, entering in the Third Round)

Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Indy Eleven, Jacksonville Armada, Minnesota United FC, New York Cosmos, San Antonio Scorpions, Tampa Bay Rowdies

United Soccer League
(Division III – 21 teams, entering in the Second Round)

Arizona United, Austin Aztex, Charleston Battery, Charlotte Independence, Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Harrisburg City Islanders, LA Galaxy II, Louisville City FC, New York Red Bulls (USL PRO), Oklahoma City Energy, Orange County Blues, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Portland Timbers 2, Real Monarchs SLC, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Rhinos, Sacramento Republic, Saint Louis FC, Seattle Sounders 2, Tulsa Roughnecks, Wilmington Hammerheads

Amateur Leagues (44 total teams):

U.S. Adult Soccer Association Regional Qualifiers
(11 places [nine entering in the First Round, two entering in the Play-In Round)

Region I: Maryland Bays, New York Greek American Atlas
Region II: Kansas City Athletics, Madison Fire
Region III: North Texas Rayados, Triangle Brigade
Region IV: Cal FC, Chula Vista FC

Wild Card Berths (3):
GPS Massachusetts (MA), PSA Elite (CA), RWB Adria (IL).

Premier Development League
(19 places, entering in the First Round)

AC Connecticut, Burlingame Dragons, BYU Cougars, Des Moines Menace, FC Tucson, Golden State Misioneros, Jersey Express, Kitsap Pumas, Laredo Heat, Long Island Rough Riders, Michigan Bucks, Midland/Odessa Sockers, Ocala Stampede, Reading United, Seacoast United Phantoms, Southwest Florida Adrenaline, Ventura County Fusion, West Virginia Chaos, Western Mass Pioneers.

National Premier Soccer League
(12 places, entering in the First Round)

Brooklyn Italians, Chattanooga FC, Detroit City FC, FC Tacoma 253, Fort Pitt Regiment, Greater Binghamton Thunder, Lansing United, Miami United, Sonoma County Sol, Tulsa Athletics, Upward Stars, Virginia Beach City FC.

US Club Soccer
(One place, entering in the Preliminary Round)

San Francisco City FC (will play Cal FC in Preliminary Round)

US Specialty Sports Association
(1 place, entering in the Preliminary Round)

Harpo’s FC (will play KC Athletics in Preliminary Round)

2015 US Open Cup: Detroit City FC, Virginia Beach City, Fort Pitt Regiment, Western winners complete NPSL entries

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Detroit City FC (and its fans) are back in the US Open Cup for the second year in a row.
Detroit City FC (and its fans) are back in the US Open Cup for the second year in a row.

More than a month after the United States Soccer Federation announced the format for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) has decided their remaining entries for the 102nd running of the tournament. Detroit City FC, Virginia Beach City FC and Fort Pitt Regiment complete the amateur league’s 12 awarded spots in the competition, with all clubs beginning play the week of May 13 in Round 1.

When the initial announcement was made, the NPSL only revealed seven of their 12 spots. On Feb. 5, TheCup.us confirmed the NPSL Western Conference qualifying tournament would account for two of those spots, and a little more than a month later, Virginia Beach City FC and Fort Pitt Regiment were confirmed on March 10. Finally, on March 20, the league’s 12 teams were complete as Detroit City FC were revealed to be the final entry into the 2015 US Open Cup as the highest remaining team in the Midwest Region after Minnesota United Reserves declined an invitation.

Virginia Beach City FC made the NPSL playoffs in their inaugural campaign last year, finishing 6-1-3 which was good enough for second place in the Mid-Atlantic Conference behind DC United Academy U23. DC United left the league, so Virginia Beach stepped in to take that Open Cup spot. City becomes the first team from the Virginia Beach area to take part in the US Open Cup since 2006 when the Virginia Beach Mariners (USL First Division) and the first-year franchise Virginia Beach Submariners (PDL) both competed.

Fort Pitt Regiment is another first-year club that had success in their maiden voyage. The Regiment finished 6-5-3 and won the four-team Great Lakes East Division, edging the Erie Admirals by a single point. After upsetting Quad City FC, the Midwest Region’s top team in the playoffs, they would fall in the NPSL Regional Finals to fellow Open Cup qualifier Lansing United. Fort Pitt are the first amateur club from Western Pennsylvania to compete in the US Open Cup since 1992 when the Bradling Terriers lost their opening round game to the United German Hungarians (East PA).

Detroit City FC will be making its second straight US Open Cup appearance after being named as the 12th and final NPSL team into the tournament. The club was 8-3-3 in 2014 and finished in second place, just one point behind Lansing United. Le Rouge were eliminated in their first-ever Open Cup game last year, falling to Chicago’s RWB Adria (USASA) 3-1 in penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw. Detroit City can thank the Minnesota United Reserves for the opportunity as Minnesota was offered the final spot, but decided not to enter. Detroit were awarded the spot as the highest-ranking team from the Midwest Region from last year based on points-per-game (Minnesota had a 2.0 while Detroit had a 1.93).

The other nine National Premier Soccer League entries for the 2015 US Open Cup include:

Brooklyn Italians: The two-time US Open Cup champions (1979, 1991) finished second behind eventual NPSL champions New York Red Bulls U23s, but since the Red Bulls left to join the PDL, the Italians are stepping in to make its sixth straight US Open Cup appearance. Last year, they defeated Jersey Express (PDL) 4-2 before falling 2-0 to the New York Cosmos (NASL).

Chattanooga FC: The Southeast Conference champions will make a fourth appearance in five years and made history with the club’s first-ever Open Cup win. When Chattanooga upset USL PRO (Division 3) side Wilmington Hammerheads 3-1, it was the first time an NPSL team defeated a professional opponent in 22 tries.

Greater Binghamton Thunder: The Keystone Conference champions were 9-1-2 in league play last year and made its first-ever Open Cup appearance, falling to the PDL’s Reading United 5-2.

Lansing United: Last year’s expansion team had an impressive inaugural campaign by going 8-2-4 and winning the Great Lakes West Conference and reaching the NPSL semifinals. They are rewarded with the club’s first Open Cup berth while becoming the first Michigan club outside of Metro Detroit or Saginaw (Michigan Bucks were based in Saginaw, Mich. before moving to Metro Detroit) in more than two decades.

Miami United: The Sunshine Conference champions were undefeated in league play last year (7-0-3) in its first year in the NPSL. The club’s head coach is former MLS star Diego Serna who has seven career US Open Cup goals between the Miami Fusion and Miami FC (now Ft. Lauderdale Strikers) and finished runner-up with the Fusion in the 2000 tournament.

Tulsa Athletics: The Athletics have accomplished a lot in the club’s first two seasons. Last year they won a second straight South-Central Conference title while participating in the US Open Cup for the first time. They made quite a showing in a losing effort, falling 2-0 to the Oklahoma City Energy (USL PRO) in front of a home crowd of 3,834.

Upward Stars: Another first-time Open Cup entry, the Stars were 7-3-0 in their inaugural season, winning the South Atlantic Conference by seven points in a 10-game season. They are the first amateur club from South Carolina to qualify for the Open Cup since 1994 (Charleston Trident).

Sonoma County Sol: The Sol are back in the Open Cup for the first time since 2010 and the fifth time in franchise history (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010) after a dramatic 2-1 win over CD Aguiluchos in the championship game of the Golden Gate Conference qualifying tournament. The Sol are full of veterans (many with Open Cup experience), and aren’t dependant on college players and could be a tough out in Round 1.

FC Tacoma 253: The 12th and final NPSL spot in the 2015 US Open Cup was awarded to expansion team FC Tacoma 253, who defeated the San Diego Flash 6-1 on Sunday, Mar. 22 in Seattle.

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: Sonoma County Sol stun CD Aguiluchos USA 2-1 to return to US Open Cup

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sonoma-county-sol-2014-logoThe Sonoma County Sol are headed back to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after a dramatic 2-1 win over CD Aguiluchos USA in the championship game of the NPSL’s Golden Gate Conference qualifying tournament. The Sol, playing in front of a home crowd at Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park, Calif., took a 1-0 lead into the 89th minute but CDA tied the game just before stoppage time. However, with less than a minute to go in stoppage time, Simon Wheatley sent the Sol to the US Open Cup for the first time since 2010 with a goal in the 93rd minute.

The Sol have qualified for the tournament for the fifth time in team history, having made the Open Cup in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010.

The Sol opened up the scoring just before halftime as Trevor Hurst sent a cross into the box that found Brandon Boone. Boone volleyed it home in the 44th minute.

Sonoma County managed to hold CD Aguiluchos in check for most of the second half and were mere minutes away from punching a ticket to the tournament when CDA found an equalizer. As CDA was throwing everything forward, a long ball was played from midfield into the penalty area. The goalkeeper stayed home to guard the net and a scrum ensued as players battled for the loose ball. Eventually the ball fell to CDA’s Matheus Freire who blasted it into the back of the net.

However, due to a lengthy injury stoppage earlier in the half, more time was added to the end of the game, giving the Sol five extra minutes to find a game-winning goal. A few minutes into stoppage time a ball was played in behind the defense and after the initial shot was saved a CDA defender attempted to clear the ball to safety. Unfortunately for CDA, a club seeking its second straight Open Cup berth, the defender’s clearance was a poor one and it fell to second half sub Wheatley who pounced on it and scored the game-winner.

Assistant coach Ben Zeimer, who was filling in for head coach Vince Cortezzo, was proud of his team’s effort.

“I think we were in control for most of the game,” said Zeimer, who guided the Sol to a pair of US Open Cup tournaments as head coach in 2009 and 2010. “Generally we dominated possession and as we tired a bit, they started to chase the game more and put us under pressure.”

Zeimer was particularly proud of how his defense held former Sol player, and 2013 NPSL player of the year Ross Middlemiss in check.

The NPSL’s final spot in the 2015 US Open Cup will be determined on Sunday night (Mar. 22) when FC Tacoma 253 hosts the San Diego Flash. The game will be played at Memorial Stadium in Seattle with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

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Sonoma County Sol lineup: Doeland (GK), Ferreira, Vardnadore, Bailey, Ortiz, Daly, Larson, Tyler Hurst, Trevor Hurst, Acevedo, Boone
Subs:  Spann, Wheatley, Hernandez, Bamba, Amador, Paravicini, Rodd

CD Aguiluchos USA lineup: Majano (GK), Dodrill, Prieto, Leon, Gutierrez, Martinez, Sanchez, Helmy, Collins, Morales, Middlemass
Subs: Gomez, Dubose, Scafani, Guerua, Jauregui, Rawmsley, Freire

 

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: San Diego Flash need penalty kicks to join NPSL West’s final four (video)

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npsl-logo-largeAfter returning to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time in 13 years, the San Diego Flash had their run end before it began. Their first round opponent forfeited, and the Flash were forced to forfeit in Round 2 due to the lack of a suitable field. Now, San Diego are one win away from qualifying for the fifth time in team history (dating back to the Flash’s previous incarnation as a pro team from 1995-2001).

On Saturday, the Flash repeated as NPSL Southwest Conference tournament winners, moving them on to a one-game playoff against Northwest Conference champion FC Tacoma 253. The game will be played on Sunday, Mar. 22 at Memorial Stadium in Seattle with the winner qualifying for the 2015 US Open Cup.

Elsewhere, CD Aguiluchos and the Sonoma County Sol both advanced to the Golden Gate Conference final where another 2015 Open Cup berth will be determined next week (details below).

San Diego hosted Deportivo Coras USA of Riverside, Calif. at Balboa Stadium on the campus of San Diego High School, and came away with a wild 4-1 penalty kick victory after the two sides were deadlocked at 2-2 after extra time.

“If I could describe it in one word, it would be ‘entertaining,'” said Flash director of operations Robb Watson. “It was back and forth, both sides were very evenly paced. There were plenty of missed opportunities by both sides, it could have realistically ended in a 5-5 tie if it wasn’t a qualifier.”

While Flash goalkeeper James Stroud was able to save one of the Coras penalties in the shootout, the visitors missed the target on two of their other three attempts, letting forward Brandon Zuniga seal the victory by calmly sending the Deportivo goalkeeper the wrong way to book San Diego’s ticket up north.

Zuniga had earlier tied the game in the 19th minute with a header at the back post off an in-swinging ball from a set piece, 16 minutes after Francisco Hernandez had opened the scoring for Coras off a near post header on a corner kick.

The Flash would then take the lead through former Orange County Blues defender Duach Jock in the 27th minute before Coras leveled the game in the 39th on a Christian Zamora header.

When the second half and both periods of extra time ended scoreless, San Diego easily dispatched its first four penalties en route to victory.

When the Flash take on FC Tacoma on Sunday, it will just the second game in franchise history for their opponents. Tacoma defeated Portland Spartans FC 2-1 in the only game of the Northwest Conference tournament.

According to Watson, San Diego is looking for a long run in the tournament to honor former CEO Clent Alexander.

“It’s a starting point,” Watson said of the win Saturday. “It’s good for the players to have this opportunity to grow. Some of the guys on our team are, I’m not going to say old, but are getting to the point where they maybe aren’t going to have another opportunity to advance.

“With the recent loss of our CEO, who passed away, it would be nice to move as far along as we could in the cup should we beat Tacoma.”

San Diego Flash vs. Coras USA: Highlights

San Diego Flash vs. Coras USA: Penalty Kicks

Aguiluchos, Sol advance to Golden Gate Conference Final.

Defending Golden Gate Conference champions CD Aguiluchos USA opened 2015 in the most emphatic way possible, stomping the San Francisco Stompers 8-1 thanks, in large part, to 2013 NPSL National Player of the Year Ross Middlemiss.

The striker was able to bag four goals for Aguiluchos, who qualified for the tournament in 2014 by virtue of defeating Portland Spartans FC in a playoff.

This year, the winner of the Golden Gate Conference will qualify directly for the Open Cup.

Middlemiss’ former team, the Sonoma County Sol defeated Real San Jose 4-3 Sunday night in San Jose with goals from Brandon Boone, Carlos Hernandez, Tyler Hurst, and Taylor Varnadore to garner hosting rights for the final, which will be played Saturday at Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park, Calif.

The Sol are looking for their fifth Open Cup appearance after qualifying in 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2010. Their best results were second round runs in 2006, and in 2009 when they also were NPSL national champions.

2015 US Open Cup Qualifying (NPSL West)

SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE

First Round (March 7)
San Diego Flash 4:2 Temecula FC
FC Hasental 0:3 Deportivo Coras USA

Final (March 14)
San Diego Flash 2:2 (4:1 PKs) Deportivo Coras USA

NORTHWEST CONFERENCE

Final (Feb. 20)
SFC Spartans 1:2 FC Tacoma 253 [+] RECAP

WIN & YOU’RE IN

San Diego Flash at FC Tacoma 253
March 22 – 2 p.m. PT
Memorial Stadium – Seattle, WA
*Winner qualifies for 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

GOLDEN GATE CONFERENCE

First Round (March 7)
Real San Jose 2:1 Sacramento Gold [+]RECAP

Second Round (March 14)
Sonoma County Sol 4:3 Real San Jose
CD Aguiluchos 8:1 San Francisco Stompers

Final (March 21)
CD Aguiluchos at Sonoma County Sol
* Golden Gate winner qualifies for 2015 US Open Cup

Evan Ream covers Sacramento Republic FC for the Davis Enterprise. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanReam

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: Real San Jose advances to NPSL Golden Gate semis; San Diego Flash, Coras USA reach Southwest final

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npsl-logoSACRAMENTO – In the five year history of Sacramento Gold FC, the club has finished higher in the NPSL standings than its rival from the south: Real San Jose.

2014 was no different with the Gold shellacking Real by a seven goal margin en route to finishing as national semifinalists.

But Saturday at Capital Christian High School in Sacramento, in front of a crowd of roughly 100, 10-man San Jose garnered an elusive 3-0 victory over the heavily-favored hosts to put them in the semifinals of the NPSL’s Golden Gate Conference tournament, the winner of which will qualify for the 102nd edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

“I thought (our performance) was great. We battled hard from the start all the way through,” said San Jose coach Nick Arellano. “It’s a tough environment playing against Sacramento, everybody knows about Sac, so it was great for us…it just feels great to finally beat Sacramento.”

The win, which advances Real to host the Sonoma County Sol next Saturday, did not come easily for the team who has never qualified for the Open Cup in its nine-year history.

Edwin Luna was the hero on the day, scoring a short-handed goal and setting up another to put the game away late.

“That was just some great stuff from Edwin. He’s got a special gift,” Arellano said. “Some guys can run fast. He can run fast with the ball, and that’s a rare thing.”

Up 1-0 in the 75th minute, two minutes after substitute Eric Bettencourt was shown a straight red for a late challenge, Luna produced some breathtaking skill.

As the Gold were pressing forward to try and find an equalizer, the San Jose No. 10 found himself open on the counter attack, sent through alone on goal.

Onrushing Sacramento goalkeeper John Connelly cut down the angle, but Luna cheekily lifted the ball off the turf with the outside of his right foot and reeled away to the bench as it slow-rolled into the back of the net.

Luna again found the ball at his feet in the attacking third in stoppage time. He faked a move to the corner flag, rounded a defender in the box and looked up for options.

As Connelly again came out to close the angle, Luna squared the ball across the box to forward Salifu Jatta, who side-footed it into the empty net, sealing the game.

Though it appeared easy from there on out, things could have been much worse for the visitors who were nearly behind 15 minutes into the game.

Influential midfielder Niko Brioso picked out Clemente Fonseca with a chipped through ball.

Fonseca, in a near-mirror image of what Luna would later do, chipped the ball over the goalkeeper, but instead of hitting the back of the net, center back Nick Vargas athletically cleared the ball off of the line, preserving the shutout.

Sacramento enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession in both halves as San Jose attempted to defend narrowly and try and catch the home side on the break.

They were successful in their plan 30 minutes into the game when Gold right back Zach Ulrich took down Jose Avalos in the box, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.

Alfredo Daniel Martinez stepped up and coolly smashed the ball down the middle of the goal for what would turn out to be the game-winner.

Despite its best efforts, the Gold weren’t able to get back into the game, the closest they came being a header from defender Danny Mititelu that rattled off the post in the 83rd minute.

While Real San Jose have never qualified for the Open Cup, the 2010 National Champion Gold qualified in 2013, losing in the first round to Portland Timbers U-23 despite a two goal lead in the first 25 minutes of the game.

Real’s Saturday opponent, the Sonoma County Sol, are four-time Open Cup qualifiers, reaching the second round in 2006 and 2009.

On the other side of the bracket, CD Aguiluchos will host the San Francisco Stompers. Aguiluchos are the defending Golden Gate Conference tournament champions, but were knocked out in the first round of the Open Cup last year, the only year they have qualified.

San Francisco has never qualified for the tournament.

Southwest Conference Semifinals

Also taking place Saturday were the two Southwest Conference Semifinals, of which the winner will play FC Tacoma 253 March 21 to determine the second and final western NPSL Open Cup qualifier.

In the first match of the day, 2013 qualifier FC Hasental were dispatched by visitors Deportivo Coras USA 3-0, with Christian Zamora scoring a goal and setting up Shane Shelton for a second in the first half. Julio Ayala added a third in the second half to put the game away.

The other semifinal saw four-time qualifier San Diego Flash defeat Temecula FC by a score of 4-2.

Dauch Jock put the hosts up early before Temecula tied the game right before the half through Isaias Cruz.

A second half brace from Allessandro Canale gave the Flash a 3-1 lead, before Justin Picou scored to unofficially end the game at 4-1 late in the match.

The Flash will host Coras USA Saturday to determine who advances to the win-and-you’re-in game against Tacoma.

Evan Ream covers Sacramento Republic FC for the Davis Enterprise. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanReam.

MORE: FC Tacoma one win away after NPSL playoff victory

2015 US Open Cup Qualifying (NPSL West)

SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE

First Round (March 7)
San Diego Flash 4:2 Temecula FC
FC Hasental 0:3 Deportivo Coras USA

Final (March 14)
Deportivo Coras USA at San Diego Flash
Location/Time TBA

NORTHWEST CONFERENCE

Final (Feb. 20)
SFC Spartans 1:2 FC Tacoma 253 [+] RECAP

WIN & YOU’RE IN

FC Tacoma 253 vs. Southwest winner
Date/Location TBA
*Winner qualifies for 2015 US Open Cup

GOLDEN GATE CONFERENCE

First Round (March 7)
Real San Jose 2:1 Sacramento Gold

Second Round (March 14)
Sonoma County Sol at Real San Jose
Time/Location TBA

San Francisco Stompers at CD Aguiluchos
Raimond Park – Oakland, CA
8 p.m. PT / 11 p.m. ET

Final (March 21)
CD Aguiluchos/SF Stompers winner at SJ/SAC/SOL winner
* Golden Gate winner qualifies for 2015 US Open Cup

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: FC Tacoma one win away after NPSL playoff victory

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FC Tacoma players celebrate a goal against the Portland Spartans in their US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: FC Tacoma
FC Tacoma players celebrate a goal against the Portland Spartans in their US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: FC Tacoma

UPDATE (3/8/15): Scores/schedule updated at the bottom with results from March 7

It’s one down, one to go for FC Tacoma 253 in its quest to qualify for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in its inaugural year.

Facing the heavily-favored Portland Spartans FC, who finished 10-2-0 last year in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), Tacoma snagged a 2-1 victory in front of a crowd of roughly 300 at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. The game was the first and only contest of the NPSL Northwest qualifying tournament on Friday, Feb. 20.

The win sees Tacoma advance to a one-game playoff for a US Open Cup spot against the yet-to-be determined winner of the NPSL Southwest qualifying tournament on March 21. If they are able to qualify, they would be the first team from the city of Tacoma to do it in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present). The Premier Development League’s Tacoma Tide came close on two occasions between 2006-2011, but had their tournament dreams dashed on the final day both times.

“For us to go in there and to be able to not only get the opportunity to play in the US Open Cup qualifier, but to be able to represent the whole Northwest, it means a lot to the players but even more to the organization because as a new organization, we’re coming in to make a statement,” said assistant player-coach Paul Aur. “Not only are we new and going to be here to compete, but we’re going to be here to compete for years to come hopefully.”

According to Aur, the team only had two weeks of practice to prepare for the game, which was their first-ever as an organization.

253, who are seeking to become the first team in the Open Cup’s modern era to represent the city of Tacoma in the tournament, drew most of its players from the local Starfire Premier League. Many of the players were familiar with each other but hadn’t played on the same team before.

“We really haven’t had that much time to work together but at the same time, all of our guys know each other enough where we knew it wouldn’t be too big of a problem as long as we could figure out something when we had the ball, and that’s where we found our issues,” Aur said. “The first 15 minutes, we struggled to get the ball under control and to possess, but we were doing a good job of neutralizing their attack.”

fctacoma-logoDespite the relative unfamiliarity, Tacoma got off to a fast start when Gareth Vaughn found Bradley Jacobson wide open near the top of the Spartan box in the 27th minute. The former University of Washington Husky took a controlling touch before calmly placing the ball into left side of net for the 1-0 lead.

Just five minutes later, Vaughn was left unmarked at the far post, enabling him to blast a right-footed volley into the side of the net for what would prove to be the winning goal.

Though the Spartans would get a goal back in the second half from a back post tap in from Gerardo Marin, the two goals were enough to give Tacoma their first victory in club history.

“It’s hard to put into words what it means because obviously that’s an honor, the players themselves, to be able to play in that situation last night, was an honor for them. You could see how pumped up they were. That’s, I think, why we won that game,” Aur said. “50th minute, we were gassed. We were up 2-0 at half, the whole second half, we were on our heels because we just ran out of fitness. We’ve been building the team, but through the last two weeks is when most of the players have come in. We haven’t had time to work on our tactics, we haven’t had time to work on our fitness. We won that game just purely out of how much our team wanted it.”

After the folding of three Northwest Conference NPSL teams at the end of 2014, the addition of FC Tacoma 253 brings the conference to a total of just two teams. During the regular season, they will join the five-team Golden Gate Conference, however there will still be a Northwest Conference champion depending on which team, Tacoma or the Spartans finish with the most points.

Last year, the Spartans won the Northwest qualifying tournament only to fall 2-1 in a playoff against CD Aguiluchos USA, leaving them one game short of the Open Cup tournament proper.

Before the game, the teams held a minute of silence to honor Clent Alexander, the late CEO of the San Diego Flash, who are one of four teams vying to win the Southwest Conference tournament for a chance to play Tacoma for a spot in the Open Cup. The Southwest and Golden Gate tournaments kick off on March 7. (Details listed below)

FAN VIDEO: FC TACOMA VS. PORTLAND SPARTANS FC

2015 US Open Cup Qualifying (NPSL West)

SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE

First Round (March 7)
San Diego Flash 4:2 Temecula FC
FC Hasental 0:3 Deportivo Coras USA

Final (March 14)
San Diego Flash vs. Deportivo Coras USA
Location/Time TBA

NORTHWEST CONFERENCE

Final (Feb. 20)
SFC Spartans 1:2 FC Tacoma 253
Starfire Sports Complex – Tukwila, WA

WIN & YOU’RE IN

FC Tacoma 253 vs. Southwest winner
Date/Location TBA
*Winner qualifies for 2015 US Open Cup

GOLDEN GATE CONFERENCE

First Round (March 7)
Real San Jose 2:1 Sacramento Gold

Second Round (March 14)
Sonoma County Sol at Real San Jose
Time/Location TBA

San Francisco Stompers at CD Aguiluchos
Raimond Park – Oakland, CA
8 p.m. PT / 11 p.m. ET

Final (March 21)
CD Aguiluchos/SF Stompers winner at SJ/SAC/SOL winner
* Golden Gate winner qualifies for 2015 US Open Cup

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: NPSL Western Region to battle for 2 tournament spots

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npsl-logo-largeUPDATE: FC Tacoma defeated SFC Spartans 2-1 to advance to a “Win and You’re In” match against the winner of the Southwest Conference playoff. (Date TBA)

A trio of Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifying tournaments for the National Premier Soccer League’s (NPSL) 11 Western Region teams kicks off Friday, Feb. 20 when FC Tacoma 253 hosts SFC Spartans at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash.

There are just two teams in the Northwest Conference this year and both of them are attempting to qualify for the first time. A team from Tacoma has never qualified while the Spartans fell one game short of the tournament last year when they lost to CD Aguiluchos in a win and you’re in match.

Two weeks later, on March 7, the Southwest and Golden Gate conferences will also hold their own qualifying tournaments to determine a total of two Open Cup spots for the three conferences.

The winner of the Golden Gate tournament will gain automatic entry into the 2015 US Open Cup, while the Southwest and Northwest representatives will battle for the other entry into the 102nd edition of the tournament.

The five-team Golden Gate Conference will begin their tournament with the Sacramento Gold, who reached the NPSL semifinals last year, taking on Real San Jose.

Despite finishing atop the GGC in league play last year, the Gold will have to play-in to the final four because, according to Gold coach Ruben Mora, the teams decided beforehand that the tournament would be seeded by a random draw.

The winner of that game will enter the semifinals of the conference tournament, hosting the Sonoma County Sol the following weekend, while CD Aguiluchos USA will host the San Francisco Stompers FC. The two winners will advance to the Golden Gate final on March 21.

For the Southwest tournament, the San Diego Flash will host Temecula FC, with the winner taking on whoever emerges from FC Hasental vs. Deportivo Coras USA fixture. FC Hasental will have home field advantage should they reach the final.

Of the NPSL teams looking to qualify for this year’s Open Cup, the Sonoma County Sol have by far the most experience, with six Open Cup berths in their 12-year history – but none since 2010.

The Sol’s best results in the Open Cup game in 2006 and 2009, when they reached the second round of the tournament. 2009 was a special year for the club as they won the NPSL national championship. FC Hasental are looking to return to the tournament for the first time since 2013 when they defeated the Fresno Fuego Future (US Club Soccer) before falling 3-2 to the Ventura County Fusion (PDL).

Qualifying for the tournament in the West last year was the San Diego Flash, who won the Southwest Conference tournament, and CD Aguiluchos USA, who defeated the Sol on penalties for the Golden Gate Conference title before dispatching the Spartans 2-1 in the play-in game.

While Aguiluchos lost its First Round game to the Ventura County Fusion 2-1, the Flash advanced to the Second Round via a forfeit from Corinthians USA, who had a player registration issue that they couldn’t get resolved in time.

Oddly enough, the Flash were forced to forfeit in the next round against PSA Elite after being unable to locate a venue to play the game at.

2015 US Open Cup Qualifying (NPSL West)

SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE

First Round (March 7)
San Diego Flash vs. Temecula FC
FC Hasental vs. Deportivo Coras USA

Final (March 14)
San Diego/Temecula vs. FC Hasental/Coras
* FC Hasental will host Final if they advance

NORTHWEST CONFERENCE

Final (Feb. 20)
SFC Spartans at FC Tacoma 253
Starfire Sports Complex – Tukwila, WA
8 p.m. PT / 11 p.m. ET

WIN & YOU’RE IN

Northwest winner vs. Southwest winner
Date/Location TBA
*Winner qualifies for 2015 US Open Cup

GOLDEN GATE CONFERENCE

First Round (March 7)
Real San Jose at Sacramento Gold
Christian High School Stadium – Sacramento, CA
7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET

Second Round (March 14)
Sonoma County Sol at Real San Jose/Sacramento Gold winner
Time/Location TBA

San Francisco Stompers at CD Aguiluchos
Raimond Park – Oakland, CA
8 p.m. PT / 11 p.m. ET

Final (March 21)
CD Aguiluchos/SF Stompers winner at SJ/SAC/SOL winner
* Golden Gate winner qualifies for 2015 US Open Cup

San Diego Flash CEO Clent Alexander, a champion for soccer, passes away

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Clent Alexander
Clent Alexander

I can’t claim to know Clenton Alexander extremely well. This is due, in large part, to being 2,000 miles apart, and both being extremely busy individuals. What brought us together was our passion for soccer, and while I never had a chance to shake his hand, which is more and more common in this 21st century digital age we live in, I was impacted by his generosity and drive to make an impact in the sport he loved.

Clent Alexander, the CEO of the NPSL’s San Diego Flash, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 14. His health was not something he advertised, or sought pity for. As far as I knew he was just sick and had to visit the doctor more often than he’d like. When the topic of his health would come up, he would always quickly shift our conversation back to soccer. I never knew the gravity of the situation, so needless to say, this came as quite a shock to me, and to the many of us who knew him.

Clent was always a supporter of TheCup.us and I had exchanged emails with him over the years. Despite not knowing me very well, he stepped forward last year after I put out a cry for help on social media asking for advice from someone who was business-savvy. He fit the bill perfectly. You’ll find in the American soccer world, especially at the minor league level, there are people who are in it to make money and see soccer as a path to achieve that, and there are some who are in it purely for the love of the game and the financial element is secondary. Clent managed to find a balance between those two, which is so important in the game today.

He reached out and gave me a call and wanted to know everything about the ins and outs of TheCup.us and how he could help. From that conversation, and the ones that followed, he gave me plenty of advice and he put me in touch with a handful of people who are working with me to help take the site to the next level. What was most surprising, was that he offered to put up the money to buy shirts and hats to sell to raise money for TheCup.us. While the fundraiser was only a modest success, he wasn’t discouraged and had bigger and better ideas going forward. He loved the US Open Cup and saw its potential. He would tell me, “you really have something special” and that it was just a matter of getting the right people on board.

He was a champion for the sport of soccer, for the city of San Diego, his club, the San Diego Flash, and the #growthegame movement that he helped organize. Those are just a few of the things Clent will be remembered for. He always talked about his big plans for bringing professional soccer to San Diego and I agreed that it only seemed a matter of time before it happens. If and when it does, it will be built on the foundation he has laid. And for me personally, everything he has done to help my site, I will be forever grateful for his help and generosity. #RIP

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