Preliminary Round

2018 US Open Cup preview: Three pro teams from NPSL headline Preliminary Round tonight

May 6, 2018 by Harrison Huntley

The 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup features 97 teams from a Modern Era record 33 different states. Graphic by: Gilberto Hernandez | @GilbertoHdz200

When the format for the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup was announced on March 14, there were 94 teams in the field for the 105th edition of the tournament. A few weeks later, the US Soccer Federation announced that they would be adding three teams to the competition.

With the North American Soccer League (NASL) being denied Division 2 sanctioning by the federation, the league decided to cancel the 2018 season. The three remaining NASL teams appealed to the USSF to be allowed to enter the US Open Cup and that request was granted.

With three new teams added late in the process, a Preliminary Round had to be created. For basketball fans, it’s like the “First Four” in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The three teams, Miami FC, the Jacksonville Armada and New York Cosmos will all take part, but in different ways, although they will all be competing in the upcoming National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), an organization that is overwhelmingly amateur teams.

The three winners of each Preliminary Round game will have a quick turnaround as each team will play their First Round game on Wednesday, May 9. Previews of each game are listed below.

#USOC2018 coverage:
* 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup schedule, results

News
* USSF allows NY Cosmos B, Miami FC 2, Jacksonville Armada into 2018 US Open Cup
* El Farolito, 1993 US Open Cup champions, disqualified from 2018 tournament
* Why is it against the rules to change leagues during the US Open Cup?
* FC Cincinnati at Gettler Stadium: “Like Metallica playing a small venue”

2018 Meet the Underdogs series
* Christos FC
* FC Denver
* Kendall Wanderers
* La Maquina FC
* Los Angeles Wolves FC
* NTX Rayados
* Rochester River Dogz
* Santa Ana Winds

Qualifying
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying results
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Win & You’re In review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 2 review
* 2018 US Open Cup qualifying Round 1 review

* Things you should know about the First Round of the US Open Cup

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Miami FC 2 (NPSL) at FC Miami City (PDL)
Tropical Park Stadium – Miami, FL
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Live online video
Winner will play at Red Force FC (USASA) on May 9

Stefano Pinho of Miami FC celebrates one of this three goals against Orlando City SC (MLS) in the Fourth Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Miami FC

Miami FC 2 was announced as an NPSL expansion team prior to the cancellation of the NASL season. Qualification through the NPSL is based on the previous season’s results, so “2” was not going to get in. Miami FC 2 was intended to act as a reserve team for the senior squad, but with the NASL team on hiatus, the reserve team has essentially become the senior team. Several players from the NASL team have signed, so while this is technically the first Open Cup appearance for the club, there will be a lot of familiar faces from last year’s team that won four games and reached the Quarterfinals before losing 1-0 to FC Cincinnati (USL).

Of the players on the 26-man roster, 12 of them played for the NASL team a year ago. And of those 26, 19 of them have experience competing in the US Open Cup.

FC Miami City was founded in 2014 and is making their US Open Cup debut after finishing with the sixth-best record in the PDL last season. Miami finished with a 10-1-3 record, which was one point behind Southeast Division champions SIMA Aguilas. Only one team in the entire PDL (New York Red Bulls U-23s, +36) has a better goal difference than City’s +29. After a ousting fellow Open Cup qualifier OKC Energy U-23s 1-0 in their opening playoff game, they were eliminated by penalty kicks in the conference finals by Mississippi Brilla FC after a scoreless draw.

The Villages SC (PDL) at Jacksonville Armada FC (NPSL)
Southern Oak Stadium (Jacksonville Univ.) – Jacksonville, FL
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Live online video
Winner will play at SIMA Aguilas (PDL) on May 9

The Villages SC hail from central Florida and is entering its sixth straight US Open Cup. Formerly known as the Ocala Stampede, this club has made every Open Cup since 2013. Its impressive streak, in fact, only four other Open Division teams have more consecutive trips to the tournament. Ventura County Fusion saw their eight-year streak come to a close this year, but Reading United AC (10), Michigan Bucks (7), and NTX Rayados (7) join The Villages atop the list for most consecutive Open Cup trips in the Modern Era (1995-present). In their five previous appearances, they are 2-4-1 (0-1 PKs).

The Villages have been a power since they stepped on the field for the first time in 2012 as a PDL side under the name Ocala Stampede. In their previous five appearances, they were qualified with five straight Southeast Division championships and two PDL Semifinal appearances. The 2017 PDL season was far different from what the club is used to with an 8-4-2 record that saw them miss the playoffs with a fourth place finish in the division. However, they were fortunate that 26 points out of 14 games and that was just enough to make the cut as they were the 20th and final team to earn a spot in the tournament from the PDL.

If Jacksonville Armada FC sounds familiar to you, it might be because this is the exact same team from the NASL. With no NASL this season, Jacksonville has entered its senior team into the NPSL and put the Under-23 team on hiatus. That Armada Under-23 team itself has a solid tournament resume (3 appearances: 2012, 2014, 2017), including a 2011 NPSL championship under the name Jacksonville United (2011-15).

The Armada senior team is making its fourth straight US Open Cup appearance and is aiming to win multiple tournament games for the first time. Last year, they won a 2-1 road game at Miami United FC (NPSL), before losing a close 1-0 game with the Charleston Battery (USL).

Last year, The Villages SC were eliminated by those same Armada U-23s by the score of 2-1. This time around, they won’t be facing a youth team of amateurs and college players. It will be a team full of pros.

New York Cosmos B (NPSL) at Brooklyn Italians FC (NPSL)
Long Island University Athletic Complex – Brooklyn, NY
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Live online video
Winner will host Lansdowne Bhoys FC (USASA) on May 9

Danny Szetela of the New York Cosmos celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against NYCFC in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Steve Hamlin | TICC — Danny Szetela of the New York Cosmos celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against NYCFC in the 2016 US Open Cup. Szetela is the team captain of Cosmos B for the 2018 season. Photo: Steve Hamlin | TICC

Similar to Miami FC 2, New York Cosmos B is usually the reserve team for the parent club. However, without the NASL season, some of the regular Cosmos players are suiting up for New York Cosmos B. While this is New York Cosmos B’s first appearance in the Cup, the NASL New York Cosmos were a regular in the Open Cup. In the club’s first three years in the tournament (2014-16), they advanced twice each year and each year they upset a local MLS opponent. They stunned the New York Red Bulls 3-0 in 2014, then eliminated New York City FC in penalty kicks, then knocked off NYCFC 1-0 in the 2016 rematch. After a signature win in each of their first three years, it made their one-and-done upset loss to Reading United AC last year even more stunning.

Brooklyn Italians FC has a long history of success in the Open Cup. They are two time champions with wins in 1979 (as the Brooklyn Dodgers) and 1991. They also hold the record for most consecutive trips to the Open Cup by an NPSL team with six (2010-15). They haven’t been to the Open Cup since 2015 and haven’t won a match since 2014, but their history shows they aren’t a team to overlook.

Brooklyn qualified with a 9-2-1 record and a second place finish in the Atlantic Blue Conference. The Italians’ 28 points were one point shy of the division winning expansion team Elm City Express that would cruise through the NPSL playoffs and win the league title. Brooklyn just barely made the cut, ranked 17th of the 19 NPSL teams (excluding the addition of the three late NASL entries) to qualify for the Cup.

2015 Preliminary Round: Harpo’s FC gives USSSA first US Open Cup win, 2-0 over KC Athletics (video)

April 25, 2015 by Robert Wilson

Photo: Richard Laeming Wheeler wheeler@pocketsofpeace.com — Photo: Richard Laeming Wheeler [email protected]

Lamar Hunt US Open Cup debutants Harpo’s FC celebrated their first tournament berth with a Preliminary Round win over the Kansas City Athletics by a score of 2-0. Second half goals from midfielder Dan Campbell and forward Shane Wheeler pushed the home team to victory in front of a small crowd at one of the practice fields at Dick’s Sporting Goods, home of the Colorado Rapids.

The Boulder, Colo.-based USSSA squad will now travel to Utah to face the BYU Cougars (PDL) in the First Round on May 13. It will be just the third matchup between the state of Colorado and Utah in the tournament’s modern era (1995-present).

The first half was a cagey midfield battle between the familiar foes. The two teams had met twice in last month’s USSSA Open Cup qualifying tournament with Harpo’s winning 4-1 in the group stage and the Athletics winning in the USSSA Final.

“Both sides wanted to attack, so it turned into a bit a chess match in the first half,” said Harpo’s FC owner and head coach Johnny Freeston. “Both teams had their chances.”

Kansas City’s fullbacks Oran Andrew and Skelly Kellar, along with former Colorado Rapid & Denver native Steven Emory provided the visitors with some of their best opportunities in the first half. None the less, neither Andrew’s long throw-ins, Kellar’s marauding left-sided runs nor Emory’s consistent midfield passing were able to find forward Bryan Williams in the Harpo’s penalty box.

In the second half, the home team took control of the game producing more sustained possession and composed attempts on net. The deadlock was broken in the 50th minute when a Harpo’s forward got a hold of a loose ball and calmly dropped it into the bottom right hand corner of Kansas City’s net. The goal energized the small but lively contingent of Harpo’s FC fans and families as well as the eleven players on the field. After the goal, Harpo’s FC had a number of quality shots on net from forward Shane Wheeler and midfielder Edgar Olivas.

In an effort to retake control of the game, player-coach Kyle Perkins took matters into his own hands and entered the game in the 60th minute. Perkins, who has scored a goal in each of the Athletics’ last two Open Cup runs, reenergized the KC attack expanding the field of play. The Athletics’ high line and eagerness to attack eventually provided opportunities for Harpo’s forward Shane Wheeler to repeatedly test the KC back line on the counter attack.

After multiple quality attempts, Shane Wheeler got his goal in the 70th minute after pushing KC’s high line at the back all game. Moments after shooting a 20-yard free kick inches over the crossbar, Wheeler broke through the KC backline and found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Steve Grow.

“I knew what I was going up against,” said Wheeler about his familiarity with the Athletics having played against them recently. “I wanted to give them a hard time and I knew I would get my chance, and when I got it, I took a deep breath, took the goalie on, duked him and I knew it was in.”

In the closing 20 minutes, Kansas City’s final attempts were handled by fullback Sawyer Frank and goalkeeper Zac Gibbens. After the game, KC right back Oran Andrews denied that neither the altitude nor travel were an issue in their performance.

“It was (Harpo’s FC’s) cohesion,” said Andrews. “You could tell they have played together for a while … it was a pretty even game. We made a couple mistakes and they were able to capitalize.”

After the match, beers in hand, the players, fans and families celebrated true to their beer league roots.

“We take this seriously,” said Freeston. “Everyone wants to win but at the end of the day, we are all best friends … it was great for everyone, I am really proud of the guys and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Harpo’s FC returns to Colorado Amateur Soccer League play the next day, and they don’t want to overlook a league game, but a May 13 tie with the PDL’s BYU Cougars is certainly on their mind.

“We are going to train hard and come out for the next game,” said Wheeler.

“Since the draw came out, our goal has always been to get to (a second round matchup with) Colorado Springs (Switchbacks – USL) and face the Switchbacks in their stadium, but until then it’s one game at a time – now Utah,” said Freeston.

Robert L. Wilson covers Colorado-based US Open Cup games for TheCup.us and occasionally contributes to DenverUrbanism.com because he loves everything Colorado. He can be reached on twitter at RLW2020

Highlights: KC Athletics vs. Harpo’s FC
Harpo’s2, KCA 0 Prelim Open Cup from Patrick Shea on Vimeo.