Player of the Round

2009 Semifinals: Sounders’ Le Toux lauded as Player of the Round

August 24, 2009 by

Seattle Sounders FC forward Sebastien Le Toux is the TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Semifinal round of the tournament.

Le Toux, who was the leading scorer in the US Open Cup in 2007 and 2008, was involved in both Sounders goals in their 2-1 extra-time victory over the Houston Dynamo on July 21 in Tukwila, Wash.

The Frenchman took the time to answer some questions from TheCup.us senior editor Josh Hakala via e-mail.

You assisted on both goals in Seattle’s 2-1 win over Houston in the semifinals. Can you describe those goals that you helped create?
On the first goal I received a pass from Steve Zakuani and I found Roger Levesque in the box, who passed in one touch to Nate Jaqua and he scored. On the second goal, I didn’t really touch the ball, rather I just made a fake on a cross from Steve Zakuani and Stephen King was just behind me and scored.

How much did the goal by Nate Jaqua help create momentum going into extra time?
It was two minutes before the end of the game. We were pushing very hard to equalize with all our fans behind us. So after we scored, we had the momentum and continued to attack. And we quickly scored the second goal in extra time.

A lot has changed from last year, except the name of the team. Can you describe how different it has been from last year to this year in terms of the team, the fans and the league?
It’s been more professional for the team because of our new facilities, new practices fields, new owners, new coaches, etc. … And we still have the same fans from the years before who have been absolutely amazing. Not to mention the great marketing of the team has attracted an even broader fan base.

How has your role changed from the USL-1 Sounders last year to the MLS Sounders this year?
This is my first year at the MLS level, so I’m trying to learn as much as I can from new coach Sigi Schmid, and my teamates like (midfielder Freddie) Ljungberg and (goalkeeper Kasey) Keller who have great experience.

You seem to thrive in this tournament. In just three years, you are already among the top goalscorers in the Professional Era, having led the tournament in goals the last two years. What is it about this competition that helps you to perform so well?
I don’t know. Maybe the Open Cup likes me! I for sure like playing in the Open Cup. I am just lucky to score lots of goals in this competition. And I hope it’s going to continue.

You were the first player signed by the Sounders MLS club. How did that feel, to be the first player signed by the new club? Was it a huge relief to be signed so early and to know that not only would you be guaranteed a club to play for, but that it would be in the same city?
I am very proud and honored to be the first player signed by the Sounders FC. This was the city I wanted to play in at the MLS level. I love Seattle and all the people here and I am very happy to play for this city.

This is your third year playing professionally in the United States. Players who come from other countries to play here often say that it takes time to adapt to a new league and a new country. How has your transition been and do you feel like you’re completely comfortable playing here in the US?
It takes time to adapt. My English is not perfect, so it takes time for my teamates to fully understand me and for me to understand them. Also playing on turf is different than in Europe, so that took some time to adapt. The time difference between Seattle and any city on the East Coast is tough. But after a fews trips, I’m comfortable with the travel schedule and day-to-day rhythm. Having quality people around me has helped.

What are your expectations for the Open Cup final against D.C. United and for the remainder of the MLS season?
Of course, it’s to win this competition. D.C. is a very good opponent, so we have to be ready for this game. And for the MLS season, I hope first that we qualify for the playoffs and second to do the best we can to go as far as possible; perhaps winning the Cup.

Thanks to Zac Kaplan of the Sounders media relations department for his assistance, and to the team for the use of the image of Le Toux above.

The Player of the Round is selected by the staff of USOpenCup.com and members of the North American Soccer Reporters, a group that consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information about the NASR can be found at www.soccerreporters.com.

2009 Quarterfinals: Geoff Cameron unanimous choice as Player of the Round

July 21, 2009 by

Houston Dynamo defender Geoff Cameron’s two goal performance for his club earned him the TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Quarterfinals. Just four days shy of his 24th birthday, Cameron netted the game-winning header 16 minutes into the match, and rounded out the scoring on another header in the 73rd minute as the Houston Dynamo defeated the Charleston Battery 4-0 to move onto the Semifinals against the Seattle Sounders.

Voters rewarded Cameron’s stand out performance with a unanimous vote for Player of the Round, while Charleston Battery’s Mike Ambersely earned runner-up honors in an almost unanimous vote, losing one vote to Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who finished in third.

Cameron joined the Houston Dynamo in 2008 as a third round draft pick (42nd overall) and quickly developed into a pivotal member of Houston’s defense. He saw action in 23 matches in 2008 – with eight starts – and was nominated for the 2008 MLS Rookie of the Year Award. Along with the Rookie of the Year nomination, his consistent play earned him a call-up to the U.S. Mens National Team Training Camp in January 2009, where he unfortunately sustained a hamstring injury on the second day. In 2009, Cameron has started all 17 matches he has played in, and has one assist.

The Player of the Round is selected by the staff of TheCup.us and members of the North American Soccer Reporters, a group that consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information about the NASR can be found at www.soccerreporters.com.

2009 Third Round: Randi Patterson’s brace earns him Player of the Round

July 7, 2009 by

With a 3-1 victory over Chivas USA of Major League Soccer in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the Charleston Battery became the first USL team to advance to the Quarterfinals three years in a row. The main reason they were able to do that was Randi Patterson, who scored two goals in the match, and for his efforts, he has been voted as TheCup.us Player of the Round.

In a more decisive vote than the previous two rounds, Patterson beat out the Houston Dynamo’s Corey Ashe (1 goal, 1 assist in 2-0 win at Austin Aztex), and the Wilmington duo of goalkeeper Daryl Sattler and last round’s top player, Kenny Bundy, who helped the Hammerheads beat the Chicago Fire 1-0.

The former UNC-Greensboro star took time to talk to TheCup.us about his Open Cup experience and the difference between playing in MLS and the USL.

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TheCup.us: With your great start to this year’s tournament and your appearance in the final last year, not to mention your form in league play, your club’s confidence must be at an all-time high right now.

Patterson: We have been playing very well this season we had a rough start in the beginning scoring goals but we finally picked that up. Our defense has been excellent; without them we wouldn’t be where we are today.

TheCup.us: Tell us about the Third Round match against Chivas USA and the two goals that you scored.

Patterson: The Chivas game was really intense. They are a great team and to be honest they had most of the possession throught the game but we finished our chances. The first goal I scored I knew Kenji had a long throw-in so I made sure I was on the back post to clean up anything that came through. The second goal was because of an excellent pass by Spicer which gave me space to take a shot.

TheCup.us: You’ve had some Open Cup experience prior to turning pro when you were with the Carolina Dynamo in the PDL. You had a tremendous run through the tournament (defeating the Seattle Sounders along the way), advancing all the way to the Fourth Round. What was that experience like?

Patterson: It was a great experience during the PDL season playing in the Open Cup. We had a great team that year and it showed advancing that far. It was a great opportunity to show what we could do before the MLS draft took place.

TheCup.us: In the Fourth Round that year, your Carolina Dynamo faced the Houston Dynamo. What was the team/organization’s reaction when Houston chose a team name that you guys already had?

Patterson: It was kind of weird that an MLS team chose the name that we had. I heard some other things about that situation but I can’t go into that.

TheCup.us: You spent some time with the New York Red Bulls, but later moved on to Charleston. What has been the difference between the two places and how has your experience been in Charleston? What have been the differences between MLS and USL-1?

Patterson: The difference is that playing near New York City was that you always had something to do. I lived in Teaneck all my life which is 10 minutes from New York City so there was always something for me to do. In Charleston, it’s a nice place but it’s not like New York City. Charleston has the beach and the downtown area which is beautiful and also the people are really nice. There isn’t a big difference just maybe the speed of play. Obviously it’s a lot faster in MLS but other than that I don’t see a difference.

2009 Second Round: Q&A with Player of the Round Kenny Bundy of Wilmington Hammerheads

June 18, 2009 by

Wilmington Hammerheads midfielder Kenny Bundy has been named the TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Second Round of the 2009 tournament. Bundy came on as a 68th minute substitute for Wilmington in their match against the Carolina RailHawks of the USL First Division, and scored a goal in the final minute of extra time to tie the match at 3-3. Bundy also converted one of the Hammerheads’ penalty kicks in the tiebreaker.

In another narrow vote, Bundy edged Ocean City Barons goalkeeper Tunde Ogunbiyi and Portland Timbers forward Mandjou Keita. Ogunbiyi kept a clean sheet in the Barons’ 1-0 upset win in overtime against the Real Maryland Monarchs of the USL Second Division, and Keita scored two late goals to seal the Timbers’ 3-0 victory over the USASA’s Sonoma County Sol.

Bundy’s first run with the Hammerheads was from 2004-06, where he had 11 goals and 10 assists in his 57 games. He left the club to become the Director of Coaching at the Cape Fear Soccer Association, but after a two-year abscence, has come back. Bundy has one goal and three assists this season for the resurgent Hammerheads who are looking to return to the USL Second Division playoffs after missing out the last three seasons.

His tally against Carolina was Bundy’s third career Open Cup goal. The other two also came in Second Round matches, with the first in a 5-0 win against Dallas Roma FC (USASA) in 2005 and the other in 2006 when Wilmington eliminated the PDL’s Virginia Beach Submariners, 3-1.

The goal came just two minutes after Carolina’s Gavin Glinton seemingly gave the RailHawks a 3-2 win, and was the result of a long free kick which was headed toward Bundy. Bundy then beat Carolina goalkeeper Caleb Patterson to send the game to penalty kicks. In the penalty session, Bundy scored on Wilmington’s second attempt on their way to winning the tiebreaker 4-3.

We had the opportunity to chat with Kenny recently for TheCup.us’s Player of the Round Q&A.

TheCup.us: Can you tell us about your dramatic equalizer and the wild extra time session between your Hammerheads and the Carolina RailHawks? And how does it rank for you personally?

This was one of the most exciting games I have ever been a part of. The fact that every time a goal was scored the opposite team had a response within two minutes was amazing. We went into extra time knowing the next goal could win the game and scoring that goal three minutes into extra time gave us a huge boost of confidence. There is a split second when we went down 3-2 with two minutes left that doubt set in. As that ball was traveling into our final third it’s funny because you see everything slower and when Timmy headed that ball through all I had to do was get a touch and it was all tied up. If you watch the replay there are several opportunities where that play could have been disrupted, but it was our night.

TheCup.us: After a few disappointing seasons, what would you say is the biggest reason for the Hammerheads’ turnaround this year?

We all have the same goal, win the league and do well in the Open Cup. From the day we started preseason we have been working toward that goal. We have a good core of veteran guys who lead by enthusiasm and by example. Our younger players have experience from the top leagues and colleges, which is experience in its self. This is the balance that I think the teams in the past seasons have lacked.

TheCup.us: You have returned to the Hammerheads this season after a couple of years involved with the Cape Fear Soccer Association. What prompted your return? Are you still involved with Cape Fear and can you tell us about the organization?

Coach Irving called me after the New Year and had a plan to change the team dynamic around. He was bringing in some older veteran players like Chris Bagley and Tim Karalexsis. He asked if I wanted to be a part of this team. Obviously I was in. We discussed my job with Cape Fear Soccer and how we could work the schedule around each other. The Hammerheads have been fantastic about Cape Fear and my obligation. I am a Director with Cape Fear Soccer. We have around 2200 kids and 350 adults in our program. I also coach the 94 Breakers White and the 98 Breakers White. Coaching has become a passion of mine. Everyday I get to wake up and do what I love in a field that I have been involved in my whole life.

TheCup.us: This will be the third MLS team Wilmington has faced in the Open Cup. You took F.C. Dallas to extra time in 2005 and played a tight game with the Red Bulls in 2006. Does your history of being able to compete with the country’s top league give you guys confidence that you can pull off an upset on Tuesday?

Anything can happen at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, NC. We expect it to be a sell out crowd with lots of energy. We have arguably the best fans in the USL-2. Combine that with our team and this is a hard place to play.

TheCup.us: What are some memories you have from previous Open Cup games?

The one that sticks out the most is going into Dallas and going up a goal in the first half. At that moment it didn’t matter what league you were in. The two open cup games this year will stick with me for a while. Both games going long into the game to get a winner. This tournament is special in that aspect that any team from any league on any given night can win.

TheCup.us: Next up is the Chicago Fire … what do you expect from them on Tuesday?

We expect a very good team. Look at there roster, they have exceptional talent and they played a very good style of soccer. I expect a battle. We don’t care who comes into our stadium, we always worry about our game and believe that if we play our way we will come out on top.

2009 First Round: Ocean City Barons’ Byron Carmichael named best of Round 1

June 12, 2009 by

Byron Carmichael is among the Professional Era's leading goalscorers. Photo: Ocean City Barons

Ocean City Barons forward Byron Carmichael has been named the USOpenCup.com Player of the Round for the First Round of the tournament. Carmichael, in his sixth season with the Premier Development League side, scored a pair of goals in a 3-0 upset win against Crystal Palace Baltimore to earn the award. He edged Sonoma County Sol’s Shawn Percell, who also scored two goals in their First Round win over the PDL’s Orange County Blue Star.

The Player of the Round is selected by the staff of USOpenCup.com and members of the North American Soccer Reporters, a group that consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at www.soccerreporters.com.

Carmichael, a teacher at Luis Munoz-Rivera Elementary School in Trenton, New Jersey, is participating in his fifth U.S. Open Cup and is one of the Professional Era’s leading scorers. After this year’s opening round, his 10 goals in 11 Cup matches puts him in a tie for third with Dante Washington and Sebastien Le Toux since professional teams joined the tournament in 1995. One would assume that his brightest moment in the tournament was when he helped the Wilmington Hammerheads upset Major League Soccer’s Dallas Burn (now F.C. Dallas) in 2003, but rather than assuming, we asked him for USOpenCup.com’s Player of the Round Q&A.

USOC.com: The Barons qualified for the Open Cup in 2007, knocking off Crystal Palace Baltimore at home in the First Round, but falling to Harrisburg in the next round. After missing out in 2008, you’re back with a similar result in the First Round. What is the difference between this year’s team and previous teams, like the 2007 club?

Both of the teams were very good. I feel there is more hunger for victory on the 2009 team then the 2007. We have come together very quickly as a close soccer family. We enjoy practicing and playing with each other very much. We have good chemistry on the field and off the field. I feel our preparation for Crystal Palacethis year was great. We had two really good practice sessions and went over the game plan. In 2007, I don’t think some of the players realized how important the Open Cup games are. I think the players on this team understand how big these soccer games are. These games can open doors into the professional soccer world, if your team plays well and continues to advance.

USOC.com: What are your thoughts on last Wednesday’s game?

Last Wednesday, the team played very well. We wanted the game more than Crystal Palace Baltimore I feel. We had a plan that we wanted to execute against them. We followed our game plan to perfection which allowed us to win the game. It is always exciting to play a USL-2, USL-1, or MLS team. We felt that out of all theUSL-2 teams, we could play with Crystal Palace and they might have revenge on their mind from 2007. We knew whatever team scored first would have the advantage to go onto the next round. The atmosphere at the stadium was great with the fans cheering on the team. It was a nice night to play a soccer game. I would have liked the field to be in better condition but we played good on it.

USOC.com: You scored a pair of goals, adding to your career total in the Open Cup – the first one looked tricky with the ball bouncing around on that field … can you describe both goals you scored?

The first goal came from a shot outside the 18 by Karl Reddick. It went right to Neal Melchionni who controlled it and took a shot. It deflected off his defender and it fell right to me. I struck it with my left foot into the back of the net. The second goal came from a great build up through the midfield. William Swetra won the ball in the midfield and placed a good ball to Neal. Then Neal played a square ball to Karl Reddick who continue the ball onto William Swetra. William slipped the ball between two defenders leading me on a breakaway with the goalie. I controlled the ball and blasted it by the goalie for our second goal.

USOC.com: After finishing your college career as Marshall University’s all-time leading scorer, you were drafted by the Kansas City Wizards in the 2003 MLS Superdraft, but eventually signed with the Wilmington Hammerheads of USL-2. After spending a couple years playing in the pros, you decided to settle down in South Jersey. Can you talk about your journey to come to that decision, choosing “real life” (as they call it) over a life in pro soccer?

I had always had a dream to play professional soccer when I young. I accomplished my goal and winning two USL-2 championships was an added bonus. I just felt I could do other things besides soccer that would impact other people. I get to work with children by coaching and teaching and being the best role model to them. It’s exciting seeing players I coached getting scholarships to colleges for soccer. I’m still playing competitive soccer in a very good league. I just don’t get to practice every day with my teammates. When I do have practice, I have to go teach my students first. I wouldn’t mind having another chance to play professional soccer again. If a professional team called to see if I was interested in playing, I would definitely look into playing pro again.

USOC.com: Your first professional stop took you to Wilmington where you played for the Hammerheads of the USL Second Division (it was called the USL Pro Soccer League back then). There, I would assume you achieved your
shining moment in terms of the Open Cup, a 4-1 thrashing of the Dallas Burn. You came off the bench in the second half and assisted on two goals. Can you tell us about that game, and what that Open Cup run was
like?

All of these wins in the Open Cup holds a special place in my heart. I can tell you how every game went that I have played in during the Open Cup. Before we got to play Dallas, we beat the Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1) 2-1 in Wilmington. It was great to play the Dallas Burn, especially at Legion Field in Wilmington. We were excited to play an MLS team in the Open Cup. We wanted to win this game and get to the next round. We came out winning first and second balls. I don’t think Dallasrealize that they would be in for a tough match. It was 1-1 going into half time. We came out in the second half on fire and were looking for the go-ahead goal. I’m glad that I could help the team with two assists that game. I will always remember beating an MLS team in the Open Cup. We went onto play D.C. United at home. It was a tough game that went back and forth between two good teams. We ended up on the losing end by giving up a late first half goal that would prove to be the game-winner.

USOC.com: Do either of the Barons’ Open Cup games compare to that Dallas Burn game? What was your favorite Barons Open Cup game?

All of the upsets in the Open Cup were great. I feel they are all about the same with the exception of beating an MLS team. When we beat the Dallas Burn, it became a night that you could never forget. I don’t have a favorite Barons Open Cup game. The games that we won are the ones that I remember the most and talk about them to my friends. It was nice to beat Crystal Palace Baltimore andLong Island because not many PDL teams can say they have beaten three professional team in their history. (USOpenCup.com note: Only four PDL teams have three or more Open Cup wins vs. professional opponents. Michigan Bucks have 7, Des Moines Menace have 5 and the Carolina Dynamo and the Ocean City Barons each have 3.)

USOC.com: How confident are you going into Round 2 against Real Maryland?

I’m confident going into our next game. I feel we can play with Real Maryland. We will be prepared for them. I think they will be ready for us too. It should make for an exciting game. Our players are excited for the chance to play another professional team. We are looking forward to playing at home with our fans that will create a great atmosphere.

2008 Semifinals: Luciano Emilio’s two goals earns him Player of the Round

August 13, 2008 by

D.C. United earned a place in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time since 1997 with a 3-1 win over the New England Revolution in the Semifinals. Luciano Emilio’s pair of goals earned him the TheCup.us Player of the Round award, edging out Charleston Battery goalkeeper Dusty Hudock. The award was voted on by the TheCup.us staff and members of the North American Soccer Reporters.

BehindTheBadge.com, the official blog of D.C. United, conducted an interview with Emilio following his performance.

2008 Quarterfinals: Sounders’ Chris Eylander unanimous as Player of the Round

July 9, 2008 by

Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Chris Eylander was a unanimous selection as the TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Quarterfinals. The award was voted on by the TheCup.us staff and members of the North American Soccer Reporters.

Eylander was challenged for the award by Jamie Moreno of DC United, along with goalkeepers Doug Warren of the New England Revolution and Eric Kronberg of the Kansas City Wizards.

The University of Washington alum helped the Sounders earn their fourth straight shutout in the tournament (a Professional Era single-tournament record of 421 shutout minutes), while holding Major League Soccer’s Kansas City Wizards to a scoreless draw through 120 minutes of play. After extra time, Seattle earned their second straight trip to the Semifinals with a 6-5 win in the penalty kick shootout.

Eylander made 13 saves in the match, including two stops (Jimmy Conrad, Tyson Wahl) in the shootout to send the Sounders to a date with fellow USL First Division club, the Charleston Battery on August 12 at Blackbaud Stadium.

The goalkeeper took some time to talk with TheCup.us following his Quarterfinal performance.

TheCup.us: First of all, congratulations on the win on Tuesday and for being named “Player of the Round.” The Wizards definitely put some pressure on your net, forcing you to make 13 saves. Was there a moment for you personally, or a particular defensive stop, where you felt like your defense was going to keep this shutout streak going.

Eylander: Thanks a lot for congratulating me. I don’t remember there being a distinct moment where I knew we were going to shut out the Wizards in regular play. We were under pressure in spells throughout the entirety of the game. Playing in any game a breakdown can occur at any time. I was very determined to do everything I could to keep the ball out of the net and help communicate with the players in front of me to dissallow any unnecessary opportunities on goal.

TheCup.us: In the penalty kick shootout, or any penalty kick shootout, do you just guess, or do you try to read the shooter? What’s your approach?

Eylander: PK tactics can always vary. I don’t think any goalkeeper would like to give out their secrets to how they approach penalties. In general, if you can determine any information from the player’s approach to the ball, this is a whole lot better than a random guess.

TheCup.us: Some MLS teams rest their starters for Open Cup games, but even the ones who field strong lineups are still getting knocked off the last couple of years. Do you feel like the talent gap is closing between the USL-1 and MLS or is the motivation for the USL-1 teams greater?

Eylander: Regardless of who the MLS teams are fielding, you can’t look at the last couple of years in Open Cup play and not see that the USL teams are competing very well with them.

TheCup.us: Sebastien Le Toux has already secured a place on the Seattle MLS roster. Is the prospect of getting a contract with the MLS Sounders creating some extra pressure for the rest of the players on the roster? Is that something that’s talked about among your teammates?

Eylander: I think every one of the players on the team would love the oppurtunity to play at the next level up. It may add a bit of pressure for the players. Playing well consistently thoughout the USL season and performing well against other MLS teams would add a lot of credibility for those looking to play at the MLS level. It isn’t something that I have noticed to be talked about much amongst the players. We understand that taking care of business in league and Open Cup play is the most important area of concentration for the team.

TheCup.us: Do you feel like you will be wearing a Seattle uniform next season?

Eylander: I would very much like to be wearing a Seattle uniform next season.

TheCup.us: Looking ahead to the next round, you’ve got Charleston at Blackbaud Stadium on August 12. Is there a different level of pressure when facing a team you’re familiar with rather than a team you rarely play, or have never played? What’s your outlook for the semifinal matchup with Charleston?

Eylander: The good thing about playing in Charleston for the Semifinals is that we have already played there twice this year. We will be much more familiar with the pitch, the environment and the team as opposed to if we were playing an unknown team for the first time away from home. We will also have more time this round to prepare and get players healthy. The semifinals will be a very challenging game. Charleston has a strong team and will give us a tough match.

About the NASR
The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) are a group that consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at www.soccerreporters.com.

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The 2008 Seattle Sounders now hold the record for the longest single-tournament shutout streak, but D.C. United have the high mark for longest streak over multiple competitions.

D.C. United (1996-1997, 564 mins.)
09/04/96 2-0 vs. Carolina Dynamo (GK – Jeff Causey) 90 mins.
10/27/96 2-0 vs. Dallas Burn (GK – Mark Simpson) 90 mins.
10/30/96 3-0 vs. Rochester Raging Rhinos (GK – Mark Simpson) 90 mins.
08/06/97 0-0 (PKW 3-2) vs. Hershey Wildcats (GK – Scott Garlick) 120 mins.
08/19/97 2-0 vs. Tampa Bay Mutiny (GK – Scott Garlick) 90 mins.
09/03/97 2-1 vs. San Francisco Bay Seals (GK – Scott Garlick) 84 mins.

Seattle Sounders (2008, 421 mins.)
09/04/07 1-2 vs. FC Dallas (GK – Chris Eylander) 1 min.
06/10/08 1-0 vs. Arizona Sahuaros (GK – Chris Eylander) 120 mins.
06/24/08 6-0 vs. Hollywood United (GK – Chris Eylander) 90 mins.
07/01/08 2-0 vs. Chivas USA (GK – Chris Eylander) 90 mins.
07/08/08 0-0 (PKW 6-5) vs. Kansas City Wizards (GK – Chris Eylander) 120 mins.

Colorado Rapids (1999, 381 mins.)
07/30/97 1-2 vs. Chicago Stingers (GK – Paul Grafer) 46 mins.
07/13/99 1-0 vs. Seattle Sounders (GK – Ian Feuer) 90 mins.
08/13/99 1-0 vs. Tampa Bay Mutiny (GK – Ian Feuer) 90 mins.
09/01/99 3-0 vs. Charleston Battery (GK – Ian Feuer) 90 mins.
09/13/99 0-2 vs. Rochester Raging Rhinos (GK – Ian Feuer) 65 mins.

Carolina RailHawks (2007, 329 mins.)
06/12/07 4-1 vs. RWB Adria (GK Chris McClellan) 14 mins.
06/26/07 4-0 vs. Bavarian SC (GK – Chris McClellan) 90 mins.
07/15/07 1-0 vs. Chicago Fire (GK – John O’Hara) 90 mins.
08/07/07 1-0 vs. Richmond Kickers (GK – Chris McClellan) 90 mins.
09/04/07 1-2 vs. New England Revolution (GK – Chris McClellan) 45 mins.

Charleston Battery (2007, 324 mins.)
08/02/06 3-3 (PKL 3-5) vs. FC Dallas (GK – Dusty Hudock) 1 min.
06/12/07 3-0 vs. Central Florida Kraze (GK – Keith Wiggans) 90 mins.
06/26/07 1-0 vs. El Paso Patriots (GK – Dusty Hudock) 90 mins.
07/10/07 1-0 vs. Houston Dynamo (GK – Dusty Hudock) 120 mins.
08/07/07 1-2 vs. FC Dallas (GK – Dusty Hudock) 23 mins.

San Jose Earthquakes (2000-2001, 292 mins.)
08/09/00 0-2 vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (GK – Joe Cannon) 9 mins.
06/27/01 6-0 vs. Central Coast Roadrunners (GK – Jon Conway) 90 mins.
07/11/01 0-0 (PKW 7-6) vs. Milwaukee Rampage (GK – Jon Conway) 120 mins.
07/24/01 1-1 vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (GK – Jon Conway) 73 mins.

Dallas Roma FC (2006, 259 mins.)
06/14/06 2-2 (PKW 4-2) vs. Laredo Heat (GK – Jesse Llamas) 14 mins.
06/28/06 1-0 vs. Miami FC (GK – Jesse Llamas) 90 mins.
07/12/06 0-0 (PKW 4-2) vs. Chivas USA (GK – Jesse Llamas) 120 mins.
08/01/06 0-2 vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (GK – Nestor Merlo) 35 mins.

Longest Shutout Streak in Professional Era (1995 – present)
DC United (1996-97) 564 mins.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS (2008) 421 mins.
Colorado Rapids (1999) 381 mins.
Carolina RailHawks (2007) 329 mins.
Charleston Battery (2007) 324 mins.
San Jose Earthquakes (2000-01) 292 mins.
Dallas Roma FC (2006) 259 mins.

2008 Third Round: Abe Thompson named Player of the Round in close vote

July 2, 2008 by

Abe Thompson’s pair of stoppage-time goals, including the game-winner against Miami FC, gave him the TheCup.us Player of the Round award for Round 3.

In one of the most competitive award votes in recent history, the University of Maryland product edged out Chris Eylander (Seattle Sounders), Marc Burch (DC United), and Ivan Trujillo (Kansas City Wizards) for the honor, which was voted on by the TheCup.us staff and a panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters.

Seven minutes into their Third Round matchup with Miami FC Dallas found themselves down 1-0 after the USL First Division’s leading scorer, Alex Afonso, eluded two defenders and blasted a shot past goalkeeper Ray Burse.

Thompson put the home fans at ease with the first of his two goals in first-half stoppage time.

“I checked back, received the ball and was able to turn. They were giving us a lot of space in the midfield to do that,” Thompson said. “I saw Dominic (Oduro) making a run, played it into him and he held it up, which gave me time to get back up there with him. He played a ball right in my path. I took a touch, had a smack and it went in the upper corner.”

Most Open Cup goals since 2005

Sebastien Le Toux (Seattle) – 10
Melvin Tarley (Minnesota) – 8
Herculez Gomez (LA Galaxy/Colorado) – 7
ABE THOMPSON (FC Dallas) – 6
Andy Herron (Chicago) – 6
Anthony Maher (Wilmington/Carolina) – 6
Johnny Menyongar (Minnesota/Rochester) – 6
Taylor Twellman (New England) – 6Four players tied with 5 goals

After a hard-fought second half, neither team was able to find the go-ahead goal, and it looked like they were headed to extra time. But Dallas avoided their fifth extra time match in the last eight Open Cup games when Thompson struck again.

“I believe (Eric) Avi(la), Mike (Dello-Russo) and Drew (Moor) were on the right side kind of moving the ball around. I was waiting for them to have enough space to cross the ball. It was a matter of timing my run. When I saw Drew open and dropping his head down, I knew he was going to hit it. So, I made a run. He played a perfect ball in and I just had to redirect it.”

Thompson has earned himself a reputation for scoring dramatic goals, many of them coming off the bench as a “super sub.” A few days after the win over Miami FC in the Open Cup, he came off the bench and scored an equalizer in second half stoppage time against the Kansas City Wizards in league play.

“You’ve just got to play for 90-plus minutes and many goals are scored in the late stages of the game, stoppage time being one of those stages, because teams get complacent because they think they have the game won or that the whistle is going to blow any second,” he said. “That’s not always the case and you’ve just got to keep playing until the end.”

As a rookie in 2005, Thompson used the Open Cup to prove himself at the MLS level. He scored two goals in that tournament en route to leading FC Dallas to the Open Cup Final, where they lost to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. In 2006, Dallas fell to the Houston Dynamo in the Quarterfinals, but last year he helped the team return to the championship game, with two more goals – including a second-half goal in a 3-2 loss to New England in the Final.

Thompson feels that his contributions in the Open Cup have helped him gain more playing time in league games.

“The Open Cup games are elimination games, so if you’re scoring goals in those games, you’re helping your team prevent being eliminated,” he said. “Goals in any game will translate into more confidence and more playing time on the field. In Open Cup games, you get one shot and you’re done, so goals in those games tend to be fairly important.”

For some MLS teams, the Open Cup is an opportunity to give secondary players an opportunity to play in an elimination game. However, FC Dallas is one of the teams that tends to field stronger teams, and the results reflect that, as the team has advanced to the Quarterfinals or beyond in 10 of its 12 Open Cup appearances.

“Every team has their own priorities and for us here in Dallas, the Open Cup is one of ours because the Hunt family owns our team and it’s named after Lamar. That’s one of the reasons we place such importance on it,” Thompson said. “But we’re also playing for a trophy and for bonus money, so that’s something we want to win. We want to win every championship that we have an opportunity to play in.”

2008 Second Round: Cleveland’s Floyd Franks named Player of the Round

June 25, 2008 by

: Floyd Franks scored two goals for the Cleveland City Stars in their 2-0 win against the USL First Division’s Minnesota Thunder. Photo: Cleveland City Stars

Floyd Franks is a bit different than most professional players in the United States. A former Major League Soccer forward, he currently plays for the Cleveland City Stars of USL Second Division. His two extra time tallies against the Minnesota Thunder of USL First Division led Cleveland to a 2-0 victory and a date with the Chicago Fire of MLS in the Third Round on July 1 at Toyota Park.

As a result of that performance, the editorial staff of TheCup.us named Franks the Player of the Second Round for this year’s competition. Floyd sat down with TheCup.us to talk about his career, the Open Cup to date, and his thoughts of facing his former side (Franks was with the Fire in 2006 and 2007).

TheCup.us: You’re originally from Alabama, went to college in Charlotte, and played for the Chicago Fire. How did you end up in Cleveland?

Franks: Cleveland Coach Martin Rennie had seen me play and he called me last off season to see if I was available. I was still under contract with Chicago at the time but after my time was up in Chicago I remembered our conversation and I called Martin back and they welcomed me with open arms.

TheCup.us: Compare playing in MLS with playing in USL-2 and the cities as well. Is there any resentment toward the Fire and/or any extra excitement about facing them on Tuesday?Franks: The level is definitely higher in MLS but there is a lot of individual talent that has been passed over by MLS teams in the USL. The cities are different in the USL and with budgets we don’t get as much chance to stay. We usually drive right back after the game is over.

As far as the Fire, there is no resentment at all. I’m happy to be where I’m at. This is the right place for me right now. I’m looking forward to going back to Chicago because I have a lot of friends on the team and I think it will be fun to play against them and a good challenge for our club.

TheCup.us: The team has been on the road in each of the first two rounds playing teams with solid pedigrees in the US Open Cup. How has the team embraced their underdog status in the competition?Franks: We just tried to feed off that with our work ethic in the games. On the road it’s always tough so you know you have to go outwork the home team. Going into these games we are not overwhelmed by our competition at all and that’s one of the reasons we’ve been successful, we have a lot of self belief.

TheCup.us: With your past experience not to mention three of Cleveland’s four goals in the competition, you are definitely seen by outsiders as the go-to player for the City Stars. Is that a role you relish?Franks: It’s always nice to have people feel that they can trust you and I’m happy to have earned my teammates’ trust. For me, my main thing is to go out there and work hard as a part of the team and not really as somebody who takes the onus on himself.

TheCup.us: What’s in the future for Floyd Franks? Are you looking for another opportunity at MLS, hoping to catch on with a USL-1 side….looking at Europe?Franks: I definitely want to keep playing. My goal is to go to Europe, but if an MLS team were to call I would consider playing for New York because of how much I respect Coach Juan Carlos Osorio. I played for him in the past and I believe he’s one of, if not the, best coaches in the league and I would love to play for him again. All in all, I would like to go play in Europe just because it’s always been a dream of mine. If you were going to play soccer anywhere, it would be great to play where the game started.

2008 First Round: Pat Healey of Crystal Palace Baltimore named Player of the Round

June 15, 2008 by

Pat Healey was the hero for well-traveled Crystal Palace Baltimore in the First Round. Photo: CPFC USA | James Calder

Pat Healey, a midfielder from Crystal Palace Baltimore, was selected as the Player of the Round for the First Round of this year’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup by the editorial staff of TheCup.us.

His two goals led the USL Second Division club to a 2-1 victory over the PDL’s Los Angeles Legends. A 2008 draft pick of Major League Soccer’s Kansas City Wizards, Healey returned to Baltimore to finish his degree at Towson University and chose to play for his hometown side.

Recently, we caught up with Pat to discuss the First Round match, Palace’s upcoming Second Round matchup with the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) and his career to date.

TheCup.us: What was the team’s initial reaction when it found out that they would be heading to Los Angeles to play in the First Round, one of only two teams of the 32 to be subject to a cross-country trip?

Healey: We knew it would be difficult going across the country to play the Legends, but it was just how the draw worked out. The draw is what it is, so we were fine with it. It was difficult to travel 3000 miles during the week when you had two games the previous weekend and a game at home the weekend after the Open Cup game. We were very happy to go to L.A. and get a very good win against a very good PDL team.

TheCup.us: Talk about playing for your hometown team and being raised in a soccer environment from an early age. Was there interest from USL-1 sides, MLS or abroad following your career at Towson?

Healey: It is great to play where you grew up. Growing up, I watched a lot of professional teams play in the area and to part of Baltimore professional soccer is great. I was very excited to sign with Crystal Palace. I have always wanted to play professional soccer and this made my dream come true.

Pat Healey (right) battles for the ball against the Wilmington Hammerheads in league play. Healey scored two goals vs. Los Angeles Legends in the First Round including the game-winner in the 88th minute. Photo: CPFC USA | James Calder

I was drafted by the Kansas City Wizards in the fifth round of this year’s draft. I went to their pre-season camp trying to make the squad, but it didn’t work out that way. When I got released, I went home to Baltimore. When I came back, I decided to finish my last year of college. A few days later, I began talking to Crystal Palace and signed in a day or two. It was the perfect fit for me and I couldn’t be happier. It is great to be the hometown boy signing with the hometown team.

TheCup.us: Preview a bit your club’s Second Round match against Harrisburg, a fellow USL-2 opponent that Palace lost to just two weeks ago at home. Does their pedigree in the Open Cup give them an advantage?

Healey: Harrisburg is a very good team. We played them on June 8th and lost 1-0. It was a very hard fought game on a very hot day. We came up on the wrong side of the stick in that game. We learned a lot about Harrisburg and ourselves after that game. It will be a good match in Harrisburg, and I hope we can go on the road again and get a good win.

TheCup.us: Who are some of your soccer role models? Who do you model your game after most?

Healey: My soccer role model is my father (former Baltimore Bays/Blast coach Kevin Healey). He is a very good coach who has coached from professional soccer to youth soccer. He has been successful at every level. From an early age, he has taught me everything. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for him. I can sit and talk to him about soccer for hours and it only feels like a short time. I could not have had a better role model.

I try to model my game after Paul Scholes. The guy is a world-class player. He isn’t the fastest guy or have the most step-over moves, but he gets the job done. He cares about the team success above everything and that is the most important. He is a winner!

TheCup.us: I see you are majoring in Sport Management at Towson. Any ambitions for a post-playing career in soccer?

Healey: I am finishing my degree this summer. For my post-playing career, I am interested in a lot of things. I have thought about it, but playing professional soccer is the most important right now. I have been putting hard work in for many years to get to this point, so I am going to put my best foot forward with soccer at this time.