Seacoast United Phantoms/New Hampshire Phantoms

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: Elm City Express’ Shaq attack finishes Seacoast United Phantoms

May 17, 2018 by Tucker Moss

The Elm City Express extended their cup run to Round 3 of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a 2-0 defeat of Seacoast United Wednesday night. Two second half goals from Elm City winger Shaquille Saunchez were all the Express needed as Seacoast United could not find the breakthrough goal.

The game kicked off with a showcase of attacking movement from Elm City, but Seacoast was putting on a defensive clinic in the early moments of the match. As the first half begun to settle down into a back and forth affair, both teams began to get physical and the first yellow card of the game was shown to Elm City’s Tyler Carlos in only the 10th minute.

As the first half continued, the physical play from Elm City’s midfield allowed them to control the middle of the park and spread balls out to their flanks. This tactic exposed Seacoast’s back three and lead to several goalmouth scrambles. Only dropping further back to get behind the ball allowed Seacoast to get in at the half with the score line level at zero.

Most of the second half played out as it had in the first, with Elm City continuing to be a physical presence in the middle. The home side did carve out some possession in the final third and looked to threaten Elm City early in the second half but the Express back line, lead by Graciano Brito, defended well and limited Seacoast to a handful of chances.

There then followed a period of home team attack, forcing Seacoast United Keeper Mitch Steadman into several key saves to keep the match level. Elm City continued to pour forward and broke through with a Shaquille Saunchez shot from the top of the six yard box in the 81st minute.

Seacoast began to press, looking for an equalizer to force extra time but again the high press and physical play of the Elm City midfield proved to be too much for the Phantoms. After turning over the ball in the middle of the field, Express sprung a quick counter where Saunchez scored his second of the night.

From there, Elm City looked to close out the game, locking down their defensive third to all but guarantee a trip to the Third Round. Tempers began to get better of many the Seacoast players and they found themselves down to ten men in the final moments after a Daniel Bennett red card.

This win sends the Elm City Express down to South Carolina for a date with Charleston Battery of the United Soccer League.

2018 US Open Cup Round 1: Seacoast United Phantoms need PKs to eliminate 10-man Kendall Wanderers

May 13, 2018 by Tucker Moss

The Seacoast Phantoms huddle up during their match against the Kendall Wanderers in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Ashley MacLaughlin | Seacoast United Phantoms

After 120 minutes plus and seven rounds of penalties Seacoast United Phantoms find themselves headed to the Second Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after defeating a 10-Men Kendall Wanderers side at Seacoast United Sports Park in Amesbury, Mass.

The Phantoms, who were making their sixth appearance in the tournament — third in the last four years — got a gift from the Wanderers in the form of a 12th minute red card by Kendall’s Jason Noctor. The Wanderers, who were making their US Open Cup debut, had to play down a man for the remainder of the game but managed to hold the home team to a 2-2 draw before falling in penalty kicks, 6-5.

Kendall Wanderers players looked to prove their case as to why the Bay State Soccer League side deserved to be on field coming out with a high intensity press taking the game to Seacoast United. This proved effective in early moments of the game, but Wanderers found it difficult to get possession of the ball back once lost. Tackles began to fly in an effort to win possession, and after 12 minutes, Jason Noctor slid through the back of Seacoast forward Donnett Sackie, earning a straight red card.

After going a man up, Seacoast United began carving out chances, hitting the post early in the 21st minute. But it was the 10 men of Kendall Wanderers to strike first after winger Braima Samati latched on to a through ball and put it past the Seacoast keeper.

Following the first goal, Seacoast began to bring the intensity to Kendall and eventually found an equalizing goal in the 44th minute through a Rok Taneski cross that found the head of Donnett Sackie. Seacoast ended the first half continuing a high press looking for a go-ahead goal, but went into the locker room with the game tied 1-1.

Seacoast United Phantoms goalkeeper Mitch Stedman made two saves in the penalty kick shootout to eliminate Kendall Wanderers in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Ashley MacLaughlin | Seacoast United Phantoms

Seacoast came out of the break continuing where they left off pressing Kendall and exploiting their man advantage. For most of the second half Kendall absorbed the pressure that Seacoast was throwing at them in waves. As the half went on, Kendall defending began to get desperate with several goal line clearances. But with the constant pressure from Seacoast’s front three it proved to be too much and Kendall conceded to a Julian Canosa strike from the top of the box in the 82nd minute.

As the clock continued to roll it looked increasing likely that Seacoast United had punched their ticket to the Second Round. In stoppage time, the Wanderers were awarded a corner kick, and they capitalized with defender Eric Robertson heading the ball home.

As the game entered extra time the tempo of the game stayed very much the same as it was from the second half. Kendall continued to absorb Seacoast’s continued press searching for a goal. Kendall Keeper Evan Weagle was called into action multiple times during extra time, saving what should have been Seacoast’s go ahead goal in the 116th minute. Seacoast continued to press until the officials whistle went signaling the game would be decided on penalties.

Both teams scored in the first two rounds of the shootout. Kendall had their third penalty saved and Seacoast capitalized scoring their third. The score stayed the same until the fifth round, where all Seacoast would need to do is score to win the match, but again Kendall goal keeper Even Weagle came up big again saving a Donnett Sackie shot to move to sudden death rounds. After Seacoast’s Mitch Steadmen saved Kendall’s seventh penalty, Joey Bhangdia stepped up and scored sending Seacoast United to the Second Round of the US Open Cup.

The PK that sealed the deal tonight!! Great work from the lads in their first match, now on to the next one vs @elmcityexpress #WeAreSUSC #SupportTheLads pic.twitter.com/VYy6cxrjPe

— SeacoastUtdPhantoms (@SUSC_Phantoms) May 10, 2018

After claiming victory, Seacoast United will host the Elm City Express of the National Premier Soccer League on May 16th, 2018.

WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS HERE

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: Southie FC shuts out Seacoast United in tournament debut

May 12, 2016 by Brian O'Connell

Used with permission from New England Soccer Today

Roy Sandeman scored on each side of the break as Boston-based USASA outfit Southie FC picked up a win in their inaugural US Open Cup appearance. Southie FC defeated Premier Development League (PDL) side Seacoast United Phantoms 2-0 at Della Russo Stadium in Revere, Mass.

Sandeman opened the account the 28th minute, then struck from the spot in the 59th minute after a Seacoast defender was called for a handball inside the box.

While Sandeman provided the scoring, the Southie backline rose to the occasion keep Seacoast’s most potent weapon, striker Alencar Junior, off the board.

Wednesday’s match was the first in the tournament proper for the Boys in Neon, who were formed in 2012. They joined the Bay State Soccer League in 2014, and recently competed in the National Amateur Cup tournament.

Southie, who booked Wednesday’s first-round spot via the Open Divison, will face the USL’s Rochester Rhinos in the second round on May 18 at Rhino’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.

2015 US Open Cup Round 2: Banana kick goal helps Tulsa Roughnecks edge Seacoast United Phantoms, 1-0

May 21, 2015 by Brian O'Connell

Chad Bond’s strike from the corner flag proved to be enough to send Tulsa Roughnecks FC through to the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after beating Seacoast United Phantoms 1-0 at Tulsa University on Wednesday.

Bond’s ‘banana kick’ broke a scoreless match in the 58th minute while goalkeeper Zac Lubin, a former TheCup.us Player of the Round, kept the sheet clean to steer the Roughnecks to a Second Round victory.

Tulsa will face the Oklahoma City Energy FC in the Third Round on Wednesday, May 27.

Despite travelling nearly 1,600 miles to face their second round opponent, Seacoast entered the match intent on extending their first Open Cup run since 2006. And they wasted little time announcing their intentions.

Inside of 12 minutes, Phantoms midfielder Anthony Grant broke through and circled Lubin in a bid for the opener. But his shot was cleared off the line to deny the guests of seizing the momentum early.

The Roughnecks found a golden chance of their own three minutes later. Gibson Bardsley powered a header from close range only to watch it smack off the crossbar.

After Bardley’s effort, the Roughnecks began to settle in and put pressure on the Phantoms’ backline. But Abel Perez nearly stole a goal for the Phantoms when he fired a shot that seemed destined for the back of the net. But Perez’s attempt met a fate similar Bardsley’s header when it hit the post.

Given that Tulsa had handily won the possession battle during the first half, Seacoast had to like its chances with the match still scoreless going into the second stanza. But any hope that they’d be able to pocket a goal and park the bus vanished just before the hour mark.

On a 58th minute corner kick, Bond whipped an inswinger that, somehow, curled into the back of the net, much to the delight of his teammates and the home crowd.

Tulsa nearly widened the gap in the 65th minute when Lucas Cordeiro fired a shot that slipped out of the grasp of Dominic DiMaggio and hit the crossbar.

With only a goal separating them from sending it to extra time, the Phantoms refused to back down. In the 70th minute, they tested the Roughnecks’ defense with consecutive corner kicks. But those opportunities went to waste, as the hosts held off their guests to get the victory.

2015 US Open Cup Round 1: Shorthanded Seacoast United Phantoms edge GPS Massachuetts for first win since 2006

May 18, 2015 by Bryan Lincks

The First Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup was held at Buckingham Browne and Nichols Field in Cambridge, Mass. The match was between the USASA’s Global Premier Soccer (GPS) Massachusetts and the visiting side, Seacoast United Phantoms of the PDL. The Phantoms, making their first appearance in the tournament since 2006 when they were a USL-2 club (Div. 3), got a late winner from Sofiane Tergou to hand GPS its third straight loss in the competition, 2-1.

The Phantoms advance to Round 2 where they will travel to Oklahoma to take on the USL’s Tulsa Roughnecks.

The match began on a clear, crisp, New England evening, not far from the banks of the Charles River. The match began highly contested with both teams playing evenly. The home team struck first in the 15th minute as Harris Smirko delivered a corner kick that was nodded in by GPS defender Roy Sandeman. The rest of the first half continued to be back and forth. GPS got an impressive performance by their goalkeeper, Colin O’Donnell, who finished with three saves.

The second half started off very heated. Both teams were loudly going back and forth at one another. The game was very physical and both teams accumulated several yellow cards. There were 10 yellow cards handed out over the course of the game, but the biggest came in the 67th minute when Terence Carter of the Phantoms received his second yellow card and was sent off. Carter, who scored both goals in the Phantoms’ 2-0 season-opening win over the Boston Rams over the weekend, would leave United shorthanded up top.

A few minutes later, Seacoast was very fortunate to earn a penalty for a hard tackle in the box. The spot kick was expertly taken by Seacoast substitute and former Michigan Bucks forward Anthony Grant. Tempers continued to flare throughout the half.

In the 88th minute, Sofiane Tergou would net the eventual game winner for Seacoast after some impressive ball movement. GPS fought valiantly for the equalizer in the final minutes but their chances took a hit when Samuel Brill was sent off for his second yellow card in stoppage time. In the end, the referee blew the whistle and the Seacoast Phantoms were the winner.

The Phantoms hit the road to play the Tulsa Roughnecks on Wednesday, May 20 in Round 2. The Roughnecks enter the matchup 2-4-2 in the USL standings.

2011 US Open Cup qualifying (PDL East): Reading & Western Mass qualify; Carolina Dynamo clinch via tiebreakers

May 21, 2011 by Tavio Palazzolo

US Open Cup qualifying for the Premier Development League is already underway for 2011 as the season began on April 30. It is arguably the most exciting portion of the event for the league as the task of qualifying can be more daunting than the professional opponents awaiting them in the tournament proper.

In the 2011 edition of the tournament, the PDL will be represented by a record nine clubs after seven consecutive years with eight representatives. With nine berths available, the league will send one from each division based on four league contests that will double as qualification matches – a format long established by the parent United Soccer Leagues.

For the first time since 2008, the Eastern Conference has three divisions – the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic, and the new South Atlantic (which last appeared in 2006). Four teams have a recent history with qualifying for the US Open Cup on multiple occasions. Two of them were last year’s representatives (Long Island Rough Riders, Reading United AC), and two more have qualified at least three times each from the PDL (Carolina Dynamo, Ocean City Nor’easters). A total of 18 teams are fighting for a record three spots from the East this year.

Here is the how the Eastern Conference is currently shaping up:

Northeast Division
Final Results

The Western Mass Pioneers qualified for the U.S. Open Cup with a 1-0 win over the MPS Portland Phoenix in a head-to-head match between the two Northeast Division group leaders to determine the berth. Halftime substitute Chris Roswess scored the game’s only goal in the 71^st minute when he hammered the ball into the net on a half volley from 18 yards out. “In the first half Portland controlled the majority of play and dictated the tempo of play,” Pioneers Head Coach Joe Calabrese said. “But in the second half we made a couple of substitutions and we thought those two changes had a positive impact on the game.”

An automatic entrant numerous times as a USL-2 professional third division club (now USL PRO), it is the first time in two years in the PDL that it has qualified, finishing third in its group at 2-1-1 last year. “For some of our collegiate players this is a dream come true,” Calabrese said. “Many of our college players will never aspire to be professional players. This is once in a lifetime for many of them. You don’t know when your career is going to end so it’s spectacular to have them get this experience.”

NORTHEAST DIVISION	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA	GF	GD
Western Mass Pioneers	4	3	0	1	10	7	3	6	+4
MPS Portland Phoenix	4	3	1	0	9	5	2	5	+3
Vermont Voltage	4	0	2	2	2	1	4	1	-3
Seacoast United Phantoms	4	0	3	1	1	3	7	3	-4

Top team qualifies for the US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 7	Seacoast United Phantoms	0:1	MPS Portland Phoenix	6:00
May 14	Western Mass Pioneers	2:1	Seacoast United Phantoms	4:00
May 14	Vermont Voltage	0:2	MPS Portland Phoenix	6:00
May 20	Seacoast United Phantoms	2:4	Western Mass Pioneers	7:00
May 21	MPS Portland Phoenix	2:1	Vermont Voltage	7:00
May 25	Western Mass Pioneers	0:0	Vermont Voltage	7:00
May 27	MPS Portland Phoenix	0:1	Western Mass Pioneers	7:00
May 28	Vermont Voltage	0:0	Seacoast United Phantoms	7:00

Mid-Atlantic Division
Final Results

Reading United continued to cruise through Open Cup qualifying with a 4-1 win over the Ocean City Nor’easters on May 20, to finish with a perfect 4-0-0 record. Even though it was Ocean City’s season opener, one loss eliminated them from contention, and it also knocked Long Island out of the running despite their 2-0-0 record. Based on the tiebreaking situation, even if Long Island were to win their final qualifier by three goals or more, they would still fall short in the goal difference tiebreaker. They clinched their place as the first team to qualify from the PDL as the Jersey Express fell to the Rough Riders 3-1. Reading has now qualified for the third straight year.

This marks the third year in a row that Reading has finished qualifying without a loss. When they were known as the Rage in 2009, they finished 3-0-1, and in 2010 they finished tied with the Newark Ironbound Express at 4-0-0. Unfortunately for the Express, Reading qualified based on a tiebreaker, having scored one more goal than Ironbound. This was an unfortunate bit of history for the Express as they became not only the third PDL team in the Pro Era (1995-present) to miss out after a 4-0-0 record, but they were the first team to register four straight shutout victories, and fail to qualify.

MID-ATLANTIC DIVISION	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA	GF	GD
Reading United AC	4	4	0	0	12	15	3	12	+11
Long Island Rough Riders	4	3	0	1	10	9	4	9	+5
Jersey Express	4	3	1	0	9	7	3	7	+4
Westchester Flames	4	2	2	0	6	9	11	7	-2
New Jersey Rangers	4	2	2	0	6	3	8	3	-4
Ocean City Nor’easters	4	0	3	1	1	3	8	3	-5
Central Jersey Spartans	3	0	3	0	0	2	6	2	-4
Brooklyn Knights	3	0	3	0	0	5	10	4	-5

Top team qualifies for the US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 7	Reading United AC	3:1	Brooklyn Knights	7:00
May 8	Westchester Flames	3:0	New Jersey Rangers	6:00
May 11	Long Island Rough Riders	2:0	Brooklyn Knights	7:00
May 14	Westchester Flames	0:3	Jersey Express	7:00
May 15	New Jersey Rangers	0:4	Reading United AC	6:00
May 18	Reading United AC	4:1	Westchester Flames	7:30
May 19	Central Jersey Spartans	1:2	Long Island Rough Riders	8:00
May 20	Ocean City Nor’easters	1:4	Reading United AC	7:30
May 21	Jersey Express	1:3	Long Island Rough Riders	7:30
May 22	Brooklyn Knights	at	Central Jersey Spartans	PPD
May 22	New Jersey Rangers	1:0	Ocean City Nor’easters	6:00
May 25	Central Jersey Spartans	1:2	New Jersey Rangers	8:00
May 27	Ocean City Nor’easters	0:1	Jersey Express	8:00
May 28	Brooklyn Knights	4:5	Westchester Flames	7:30
May 29	Long Island Rough Riders	2:2	Ocean City Nor’easters	6:00
May 30	Jersey Express	2:0	Central Jersey Spartans	5:00

South Atlantic Division
Final Results

The West Virginia Chaos finished their qualifying slate with a 3-1 win over the Virginia Beach Piranhas May 21, leaving them in a wait-and-see situation as the Carolina Dynamo and Real Maryland Monarchs could pull level or move past them. They got some help the following night as the Dynamo slipped up in a 1-0 road loss to the Northern Virginia Royals, creating the possibility of a three-way tie at 3-1 after the final weekend. With Real Maryland set for its finale Monday, the Monarchs were awaiting good news that would not come as Carolina blanked the visiting Virginia Beach Piranhas 3-0 Saturday evening, clinching the top spot in the division and berth to the US Open Cup via tiebreaker scenarios.

SOUTH ATLANTIC DIVISION	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA	GF	GD
Carolina Dynamo	4	3	1	0	9	7	1	7	+6
Real Maryland Monarchs	4	3	1	0	9	8	2	8	+6
West Virginia Chaos	4	3	1	0	9	10	4	9	+5
Northern Virginia Royals	4	2	2	0	6	5	6	5	-1
Virginia Beach Piranhas	4	1	3	0	3	3	9	3	-6
Fredericksburg Hotspur	4	0	4	0	0	1	12	1	-10

Note: Carolina qualifies based on head-to-head tiebreaker vs. Real Maryland & West Virginia

Top team qualifies for the US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 7	Fredericksburg Hotspur	0:2	Virginia Beach Piranhas	7:00
May 7	Northern Virginia Royals	1:3	West Virginia Chaos	7:00
May 14	Real Maryland Monarchs	3:0	Virginia Beach Piranhas	5:30
May 14	West Virginia Chaos	0:2	Carolina Dynamo	7:00
May 15	West Virginia Chaos	4:0	Fredericksburg Hotspur	2:00
May 15	Northern Virginia Royals	0:2	Real Maryland Monarchs	4:00
May 21	Carolina Dynamo	2:0	Real Maryland Monarchs	7:00
May 21	Virginia Beach Piranhas	1:3	West Virginia Chaos	7:30
May 22	Carolina Dynamo	0:1	Northern Virginia Royals	7:00
May 28	Virginia Beach Piranhas	0:3	Carolina Dynamo	7:00
May 29	Fredericksburg Hotspur	1:3	Northern Virginia Royals	7:00
May 30	Real Maryland Monarchs	3:0	Fredericksburg Hotspur	5:00

Breakdown for 2011 USL PDL US Open Cup Qualifying: Eastern Conference

April 15, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

The 2011 US Open Cup qualifying process for the Premier Development League begins April 30 when the Central Florida Kraze play host to Fort Lauderdale Schulz. The match marks the beginning of what is arguably the most intense opening to any league season, making it the most pressure-packed portion of the PDL schedule league-wide. The task of qualifying can be more daunting than the professional opponents awaiting them in the tournament proper.

In the upcoming edition of the tournament, the PDL will be represented by a record nine clubs after seven consecutive years with eight representatives. With nine berths available, the league will send one from each division based on four league contests that will double as qualification matches – a format long established by the parent United Soccer Leagues.

Here is the Eastern Conference portion of the four-part series of breakdowns:

Eastern Conference Qualifying Breakdown

US Open Cup qualifying for the PDL Eastern Conference, the lone conference with three divisions and berths, opens with four games on May 7 and a fifth the following evening.

A year ago, this conference, which spans the Atlantic coast from Maine to North Carolina, was basically evenly split with nine and eight-team groups. By carving out a third division, the balance has been eliminated. The new ‘metro’ Mid Atlantic division with eight teams in the greater New York City / New Jersey area and an exception from Pennsylvania has twice as many teams as its Northeast Division counterpart, which has four, and is two more than the South Atlantic, which is at six.

The most stunning result of the shifting is arguably the competitive imbalance between the divisions as the Mid Atlantic has five teams with impressive winning records over a four-year Open Cup qualifying span while the other two divisions have a combined two teams with winning records.

Mid Atlantic Division
Brooklyn Knights, Central Jersey Spartans, Jersey Express, Long Island Rough Riders, New Jersey Rangers, Ocean City Nor’easters, Reading United AC, Westchester Flames

kevin-curran-vs-boyzz-kuhmalo-dcu-barons — The Ocean City Nor'easters (shown here playing against DC United in the Third Round of the 2009 US Open Cup) have qualified four times in the last seven years. They have four professional team upsets to their credit, second-most of any PDL franchise (Michigan Bucks - 7) | Photo: Bill Pellegrino, Ocean City Nor'easters

With three teams from New York and four from New Jersey, the eight-team grouping’s lone outsider is Reading United AC. The club also happens to be the side which advanced from this particular group the past two years, although the Mid Atlantic division has previously been largely comprised of teams from what is now the South Atlantic. Most of the current composition was primarily in what was then the Northeast, which sent Ocean City as its representative two years ago.

Reading leads what could be considered part of the quintet of power teams among the division with the two recent trips to the tournament and a four-year record of 11-2-3 in qualifying that hit its peak with a 4-0-0 effort last year. Matching that record were the Long Island Rough Riders, who qualified last year out of the Northeast. The five-time tournament entrants from New York also qualified in 2007 with a perfect 4-0-0 record. Last year’s two qualifiers, however, are not slated to face one another in qualifying this year in what would have been a marquee match-up.

The other three power teams are the Ocean City Nor’easters (9-2-5), Jersey Express (8-2-2) and Brooklyn Knights (7-5-4). The trio of New Jersey, Central Jersey and Westchester has just a combined seven wins between them over the past eight qualifying campaigns (last four years) as the first two are recent expansion sides.

Of the power five, the fourth-year Express are the only club that has not yet qualified for the tournament. The other four have reached the US Open Cup on 13 combined occasions.

Reading and Brooklyn kick off the division’s qualifying slate with the lone match May 7. After that, both clubs will only face one more team from the power quintet as Brooklyn takes on Long Island and Reading closes against Ocean City. Jersey also were fortunate to only find two power teams on the fixture list with games against Long Island and Ocean City, who will both have to face three of their power peers.

MID-ATLANTIC DIVISION	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA	GF	GD
Brooklyn Knights	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Central Jersey Spartans	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Jersey Express	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Long Island Rough Riders	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
New Jersey Rangers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Ocean City Nor’easters	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Reading United AC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Westchester Flames	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0

Top team qualifies for the US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 7	Reading United AC	at	Brooklyn Knights	7:00
May 8	Westchester Flames	at	New Jersey Rangers	6:00
May 11	Long Island Rough Riders	at	Brooklyn Knights	7:00
May 14	Westchester Flames	at	Jersey Express	7:00
May 15	New Jersey Rangers	at	Reading United AC	6:00
May 18	Reading United AC	at	Westchester Flames	7:30
May 19	Central Jersey Spartans	at	Long Island Rough Riders	8:00
May 20	Ocean City Nor’easters	at	Reading United AC	7:30
May 21	Jersey Express	at	Long Island Rough Riders	7:30
May 22	Brooklyn Knights	at	Central Jersey Spartans	4:00
May 22	New Jersey Rangers	at	Ocean City Nor’easters	6:00
May 25	Central Jersey Spartans	at	New Jersey Rangers	8:00
May 27	Ocean City Nor’easters	at	Jersey Express	8:00
May 28	Brooklyn Knights	at	Westchester Flames	7:30
May 29	Long Island Rough Riders	at	Ocean City Nor’easters	6:00
May 30	Jersey Express	at	Central Jersey Spartans	5:00

Western Mass Pioneers logo — The Western Mass Pioneers have competed in the US Open Cup six times since they were founded in 1998.

Northeast Division
MPS Portland Phoenix, Seacoast United Phantoms, Vermont Voltage, Western Mass Pioneers

The combined win total of the last four years of PDL qualifying for the division – 10 – falls short of two individual teams in the Mid Atlantic. In this grouping everyone is basically on equal footing as no team has more than three PDL qualifying campaigns in the past four years.

MPS Portland Phoenix was an expansion team a year ago while the Western Mass Pioneers were playing their first season in the league having dropped down from the professional third division. The move down was one that the Seacoast United Phantoms (formerly New Hampshire Phantoms) had made two years prior. The Vermont Voltage, longtime PDL members, were making their return after a year’s absence from play.

The veteran trio is familiar with one another from their extensive USL history, but the Pioneers, Phantoms and Voltage have limited history meeting on competitive terms like this.

Kicking off the group’s schedule is a May 7 contest between host Portland and the Phantoms, who played to a 1-1 draw in last year’s qualifier in New Hampshire. Portland , however, would later win at home in dominating fashion, 5-0, in league play.

The smallest fixture list among the nine groups with only eight games comes to a close May 28 when the Phantoms play host to the Voltage, who swept the season series a year ago with two victories – neither of them qualifiers.

NORTHEAST DIVISION	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA	GF	GD
MPS Portland Phoenix	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Seacoast United Phantoms	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Vermont Voltage	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Western Mass Pioneers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0

Top team qualifies for the US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 7	Seacoast United Phantoms	at	MPS Portland Phoenix	6:00
May 14	Western Mass Pioneers	at	Seacoast United Phantoms	4:00
May 14	Vermont Voltage	at	MPS Portland Phoenix	6:00
May 20	Seacoast United Phantoms	at	Western Mass Pioneers	7:00
May 21	MPS Portland Phoenix	at	Vermont Voltage	7:00
May 25	Western Mass Pioneers	at	Vermont Voltage	7:00
May 27	MPS Portland Phoenix	at	Western Mass Pioneers	7:00
May 28	Vermont Voltage	at	Seacoast United Phantoms	7:00

South Atlantic Division
Carolina Dynamo, Fredericksburg Hotspur, Northern Virginia Royals, Real Maryland Monarchs, Virginia Beach Piranhas, West Virginia Chaos

Carolina Dynamo player — The Carolina Dynamo have been around since 1993 and have competed in the US Open Cup six times since they were founded in 1993.

This grouping may be a new creation, but for four of these clubs, they are no strangers to one another. What is new is the addition of expansion Fredericksburg Hotspur and former professional third division club Real Maryland Monarchs.

The Monarchs are the newest club in this group to make the transition to the PDL. The only other two teams of the six with US Open Cup tournament experience are also former professional clubs. Along with the Carolina Dynamo and Northern Virginia Royals, the three have 12 appearances in the tournament, but only a pair of trips by the Dynamo in 2004 and 2006 came via qualifying out of the PDL. Carolina played in the tournament five times before joining the league in 2004 and Northern Virginia twice before the switch in 2006. Real Maryland has been an automatic entrant as a pro team the past three years.

Despite last qualifying for the tournament in 2006, the Dynamo have been in the running the past four years with a combined record of 9-4-2, never suffering more than one loss in each of their efforts. Located centrally along the Atlantic coast, Carolina has found itself also shifting divisions and conferences, having previously been a member of the Southeast group prior to 2008.

Carolina’s success overshadows that of its three group-mates with PDL experience as the trio of Northern Virginia, Virginia Beach and West Virginia have fewer wins combined (7) over the last four years than the Dynamo. Carolina, though, will have to play the four experienced clubs in the group with the expansion side missing from its slate. The first contest comes May 14 at home against West Virginia.

The opening night of qualifying, though, is heavy on the Virginias with all four clubs hailing from the two states as Fredericksburg visits Virginia Beach and West Virginia plays host to Northern Virginia May 7. But while Fredericksburg may have avoided drawing Carolina in the fixture list, the new club will have a difficult task at the finish with back-to-back games on the road against Northern Virginia and at home versus Real Maryland.

SOUTH ATLANTIC DIVISION	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA	GF	GD
Carolina Dynamo	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Fredericksburg Hotspur	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Northern Virginia Royals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Real Maryland Monarchs	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
Virginia Beach Piranhas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0
West Virginia Chaos	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0

Top team qualifies for the US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

Note: Columns on the far right are for tiebreaker purposes

USL Premier Development League tiebreakers

(1) Head-to-head record based on total points in Open Cup qualifiers

(2) Total wins in Open Cup qualifying games

(3) Goal difference (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(4) Goals scored (+/- 3 goals maximum for each USOC qualifier)

(5) Lottery conducted by the USL

All times Eastern

May 7	Fredericksburg Hotspur	at	Virginia Beach Piranhas	7:00
May 7	Northern Virginia Royals	at	West Virginia Chaos	7:00
May 14	Real Maryland Monarchs	at	Virginia Beach Piranhas	5:30
May 14	West Virginia Chaos	at	Carolina Dynamo	7:00
May 15	West Virginia Chaos	at	Fredericksburg Hotspur	2:00
May 15	Northern Virginia Royals	at	Real Maryland Monarchs	4:00
May 21	Carolina Dynamo	at	Real Maryland Monarchs	7:00
May 21	Virginia Beach Piranhas	at	West Virginia Chaos	7:30
May 22	Carolina Dynamo	at	Northern Virginia Royals	7:00
May 28	Virginia Beach Piranhas	at	Carolina Dynamo	7:00
May 29	Fredericksburg Hotspur	at	Northern Virginia Royals	7:00
May 30	Real Maryland Monarchs	at	Fredericksburg Hotspur	5:00

Central Conference (Coming Soon)

Great Lakes Division: Akron Summit Assault, Chicago Fire, Cincinnati Kings, Indiana Invaders, Michigan Bucks, River City Rovers
Heartland Division: Des Moines Menace, Kansas City Brass, Real Colorado Foxes, Springfield Demize, St Louis Lions

Southern Conference (Inside Look +)

Mid South Division: Baton Rouge Capitals, Chivas El Paso Patriots, Laredo Heat, New Orleans Jesters, RGV Grandes FC, West Texas United Sockers
Southeast Division: Central Florida Kraze, FC Jaxy Destroyers, Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy, IMG Bradenton Academics, Mississippi Brilla, Nashville Metros

Western Conference (Coming Soon)

Northwest Division: Kitsap Pumas, North Sound SeaWolves, Portland Timbers U23, Tacoma Tide, Washington Crossfire
Southwest Division: BYU Cougars, Fresno Fuego, LA Blues 23, Los Angeles Legends, Ogden Outlaws, Orange County Blue Star, Southern California Seahorses, Ventura County Fusion