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Sonoma County Sol

2011 US Open Cup qualifying update: Hollywood claims NPSL West berth after league ruling

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Competition Update (as of 5/20/11) ** Final Update: On Thursday, May 19 the NPSL commissioner and other committee members upheld the league’s decision to penalize the San Diego Flash use of an illegal player in two matches by ruling the games as 3-0 forfeitures.

With the news Thursday that the appeal by the San Diego Flash to overturn the penalties levied against them for using an illegal player in its matches versus Hollywood and Bay Area had failed, the club was officially eliminated from US Open Cup contention.

The ruling gives the US Open Cup berth to Hollywood United, which is now perfect at 7-0-0 and uncatchable. Hollywood finished with a nearly flawless record with 34 goals scored and only three allowed.

Second to Hollywood in the table are the Santa Ana Winds, whose only loss of the six games played on their slate thus far was a 1-0 decision against the leaders in just the second game of the season.

The Flash would have had a perfect 7-0-0 record with the win against the Sacramento Gold. Instead, it is Hollywood United that sits atop the table with a perfect record, including their victory against the Flash, one of the two forfeitures. Along with news of the NPSL ruling, the Flash management commented on their Facebook page, “As an Organization, we will move forward from this decision and do our best to have a great 1st season in the NPSL.”

See the updated standings below (includes penalties):

NPSL WEST GP W L T PTS GF GA GD
Hollywood United 7 7 0 0 21 34 3 +31
Santa Ana Winds 6 5 1 0 15 15 6 +9
San Diego Flash 7 5 2 0 15 14 9 +5
Sonoma County Sol 6 3 2 1 10 16 10 +6
San Diego Boca 7 3 4 0 9 14 16 -2
Sacramento Gold 6 2 2 2 8 10 8 +2
FC Hasental 7 2 4 1 7 13 17 -4
Bay Area Ambassadors 7 1 5 1 4 9 22 -13
Rattlers FC 4 1 3 0 3 4 9 -5
Real San Jose 7 1 6 0 3 4 32 -28

Top team qualifies for the 2011 US Open Cup

Clinched Open Cup berth – Eliminated from contention

NPSL West tiebreakers

(1) Goal difference (2) Goals scored



* Denotes forfeiture    –    All times Eastern

April 1 Sonoma County Sol 3:1 Bay Area Ambassadors Final
April 2 Hollywood United 1:0 Santa Ana Winds Final
April 2 Real San Jose 1:2 San Diego Boca Final
April 3 FC Hasental 1:3 San Diego Flash Final
April 9 San Diego Flash 0:3* Hollywood United Final
April 9 Sacramento Gold 4:1 Bay Area Ambassadors Final
April 9 FC Hasental 0:1 San Diego Boca Final
April 16 Hollywood United 4:0 Sonoma County Sol Final
April 16 Bay Area Ambassadors 0:2 Real San Jose Final
April 16 Santa Ana Winds 4:1 FC Hasental Final
April 17 Hollywood United 3:0 Sacramento Gold Final
April 17 Real San Jose 0:8 Sonoma County Sol Final
April 17 San Diego Boca 1:2 San Diego Flash Final
April 23 Sacramento Gold 0:0 Sonoma County Sol Final
April 23 Real San Jose 0:11 Hollywood United Final
April 23 San Diego Flash 0:3* Bay Area Ambassadors Final
April 23 Santa Ana Winds 3:2 San Diego Boca Final
April 23 FC Hasental 3:1 Rattlers FC Final
April 30 Santa Ana Winds 3:0 Rattlers FC Final
April 30 Sacramento Gold 4:0 Real San Jose Final
April 30 Bay Area Ambassadors 2:2 FC Hasental Final
May 1 San Diego Boca 3:5 Hollywood United Final
May 1 Sonoma County Sol 0:1 San Diego Flash Final
May 7 Bay Area Ambassadors 2:4 San Diego Boca Final
May 7 San Diego Flash 5:0 Real San Jose Final
May 8 Bay Area Ambassadors 0:7 Hollywood United Final
May 8 Rattlers FC 1:2 Santa Ana Winds Final
May 14 FC Hasental 4:5 Sonoma County Sol 9:30
May 14 Sacramento Gold 1:1 Hollywood United 10 p.m.
May 14 San Diego Boca 1:3 Santa Ana Winds 10 p.m.
May 14 Rattlers FC 2:1 Real San Jose 10:30
May 15 San Diego Boca 1:2 FC Hasental 5 p.m.
May 15 Sacramento Gold 1:3 San Diego Flash 6 p.m.
May 21 Real San Jose at Santa Ana Winds 10 p.m.
May 21 Rattlers FC at San Diego Boca 10 p.m.
May 22 Rattlers FC at San Diego Flash 6 p.m.
May 22 FC Hasental at Sacramento Gold 8 p.m.
May 28 Rattlers FC at FC Hasental 10 p.m.
May 29 Sonoma County Sol at Sacramento Gold 8 p.m.

PREVIEW

The most sought-after US Open Cup berth in the National Premier Soccer League numerically, the 10 clubs in the West Division, at the time of this article being written, are a third of the way through the qualification process. The berth at stake will go to the club with the best point total after its first seven matches of the league campaign.

Given the method of determining the qualifier, the quest began on April 1 when the Sonoma County Sol won on the road against the 2010 US Open Cup qualifier Bay Area Ambassadors. Both are returning teams to the division. The final qualification match, of 40 total, also features Sonoma County when they travel to play May 29 against the Sacramento Gold.

Qualifying for NPSL teams was previously done via the USASA Regional tournaments. The 2011 edition of the US Open Cup gave the league four automatic entrants into the event. Last year, the division was comprised of six teams. With one team folding, five new clubs join the fray this year, including former United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League teams Hollywood United Hitmen and Lancaster Rattlers. The other three newcomers are FC Hasental, Santa Ana Winds and San Diego Flash, a new version of a former USL club from years past.

Last year, four of the NPSL sides participated in the Region IV tournament and found success. Real San Jose, Bay Area Ambassadors and Sacramento Gold each won their groups with perfect records. Bay Area then edged Sacramento 1-0 in the semifinals while San Jose fell 2-1 to former NPSL and USL side Arizona Sahuaros, who earned the wild card berth in a tiebreaker with the NPSL San Diego Boca. With the two US Open Cup berths already determined, the Ambassadors won the regional championship, 2-0. Sonoma County Sol also qualified via a special play-in match.

Hollywood United coach Ian Carrington celebrates his club’s upset win over the Portland Timbers in the 2008 US Open Cup. Photo: Allison Andrews | SoccerCityUSA.com

The qualifying format for the West upon closer inspection is fairly balanced based in the breadth of opposition each club is facing as five teams only play one opponent twice and the Rattlers are the lone club that plays two teams twice. The Rattlers, the remaining club yet to begin their league campaign, are also the only side that has four matches against clubs that were not in the NPSL or PDL a year ago while Real San Jose and Santa Ana are the only two teams that only play one match against said opponents.

The other balanced schedule aspect comes via the home-away composition. Only two clubs have more than four home or road games on the schedule. Both Sacramento and the Rattlers will be forced to play away from home five times during the campaign. The Gold have four consecutive on the road at one point while the Rattlers play both home matches at the top of the schedule before finishing out on the road five straight. No other clubs have four consecutive matches home or away on the fixture list.

The selection of seven games as the determining point matches the fact that Sonoma County, Santa Ana and the Rattlers only have seven matches prior to the official Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifying deadline. With other clubs playing more than seven by the deadline, the scheduling creates a unique scenario in which a handful of games only count as qualifiers for one club. Sonoma has one such match against an opponent whose qualifying campaign is already concluded. Sacramento, Santa Ana and the Rattlers each have three such games at the ends of their campaigns. Sacramento’s match May 14 against Hollywood United is the first of the 10 specific matches. The final six games, overall, from May 21-29 only count as qualifiers for one team.

About the Teams

Bay Area Ambassadors: A 2009 addition to the NPSL, the Ambassadors entered the US Open Cup fray a year ago with outstanding success, winning all three group games in the USASA Region IV tournament and earning a berth with a semifinal win against fellow NPSL side Sacramento, 1-0, en route to winning the championship against Arizona Sahuaros, 2-0. Bay Area made a thrilling comeback in the First Round of the US Open Cup on the road against the PDL Kitsap Pumas. Trailing since the third minute, Phil Silva scored twice in the 71st and 77th minutes to send the match to overtime where Kitsap scored twice for the 4-2 victory. The club’s two-year league record is 9-10-3.

FC Hasental: While the club is new to the NPSL, it is not new to US Open Cup qualifying. Established in 2005, the team has entered the Region IV tournament the past two years, coming up short in the quest for a berth. Last year FC Hasental was 1-1-0 in the group with Real San Jose of the NPSL. Hasental translates from German to English as Hare-Valley, also known as Conejo Valley, the home of the club.

Hollywood United: The side is the feature team of the Hollywood United Football Club that is famous for numerous celebrities and former internationals playing on its teams over the years as well as participating in the club’s many charity events. As an independent team, the team qualified for the US Open Cup in 2008 through the USASA Region IV tournament, going 3-0-0 with victories against three NPSL teams. They then shocked many in the First Round of the US Open Cup by eliminating then USL First Division (pro second division) Portland Timbers in a 3-2 affair. They were then defeated by the USL-1 Seattle Sounders 6-0. In the past two years, Hollywood finished in the top two of the PDL Southwest Division, but missed out on qualifying for the US Open Cup, finishing 1-2-1 in the group a year ago after narrowly missing out in 2009 at 3-1-0.

Rattlers FC: The club is in its first season in the NPSL after spending four in the USL PDL. The club struggled in PDL play, finishing 10th in its first two seasons and seventh the past two for a combined record of 12-38-14. The Rattlers are a total 3-11-2 in Open Cup qualifiers, but had their best PDL qualifying campaign last year at 1-1-2.

Real San Jose: A member of the NPSL since 2007, the club reached the postseason for the first time last year with a record of 5-3-2. The team is a combined 8-8-6 the past two league campaigns. The club reached the Region IV Semifinals a year ago in its qualification quest, winning its two group matches before falling to the Arizona Sahuaros in the Final Four, 2-1.

San Diego Boca: New to the NPSL last year, the club finished the season fourth in the division at 4-3-3, but surprised second-seed Real San Jose 4-0 in the playoffs before falling to division and eventual league champion Sacramento. In qualifying, San Diego Boca finished 1-1-1 in its group, second to league-mate Bay Area and missed out on the wild card based on tiebreakers.

San Diego Flash: A familiar name, the club is new to the NPSL. The team is a rebirth of the former A-League (pro second division) team that played in United Soccer Leagues from 1998-2001. The new club is guided by former English international Warren Barton (Wimbledon, Newcastle United, Derby County, QPR), who is also an analyst for Fox Soccer Channel. The previous Flash side was 2-3 in the tournament after failing to qualify in its first season. In 1999 and 2000 the club posted victories against pro third division USL clubs before being ousted back-to-back times by the MLS Los Angeles Galaxy in the Third Round. In 2000, they were knocked out by the MLS Chicago Fire in the Second Round.

Santa Ana Winds: A new addition to the NPSL, the club was founded in 2009 and has played locally the past few years. This is the club’s first campaign to qualify for the US Open Cup.

Sonoma County Sol: The oldest club in the division, Sonoma County is looking to qualify for the US Open Cup for the third consecutive year and fifth time overall, having advanced via the USASA Region IV tournament previously. The club joined the league in 2004 and reached the US Open Cup for the first time in 2005. It has advanced to the Second Round of the tournament twice, downing the Ogden Outlaws (PDL) in penalties, 6-5, after a 1-1 draw in 2006 and topping Orange County Blue Star (PDL), 5-2, in 2009.  They were knocked out by the USL First Division’s (pro second division) Charleston Battery, 1-0, and Portland Timbers, 3-0, in the Second Round contests, respectively. In their 2005 debut they were ousted in penalties, 6-5, after a 2-2 draw with Salinas Valley Samba in the First Round. Last year, extra amateur spots led to a special amateur play-in game that gave the defending NPSL champions the opportunity to qualify in one match, defeating a fellow California side PSA Los Gatos 3-0 to reach the tournament where they were blanked, 3-0, by the USL-1 Timbers again.

2010 Meet the USASA: Sonoma County Sol

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sol defeat PSA Los Gatos Storm 3-0 in US Open Cup play-in match

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On a chilly Saturday night at PAL Stadium in San Jose, California, the defending NPSL champions Sonoma County Sol booked passage into the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the fourth time since 2005 with a 3-0 victory over PSA Los Gatos Storm.

The single game play-in contest was made necessary when it was found that the US Club Soccer affiliated Storm could not participate in the USASA’s Region IV tournament since US Club Soccer are competitors. US Soccer does not have any plans in place for US Club Soccer teams to qualify, since no team from that organization has ever expressed interest in participating in the tournament.

The Sol jumped in front quickly on a 9th minute goal from team veteran Eric Larson. The Storm found it difficult to create chances at goal against the Sol defense. After thirty minutes, Sonoma County doubled their lead when Lee Summerscales headed in a corner kick. The opening 45 minutes finished with the Sol’s 2-0 advantage.

Just five minutes into the second half, Sonoma County put the game out of reach. Tyler Hurst, another of the Sol’s veteran players, scored on a cross from the far left corner after a defensive lapse by the Storm.

Meet the USASA: Class of 2009

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USASA logoDulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (Region I)
DC-based club has learned from their inaugural Open Cup berth in 2007

Emigrantes Das Ilhas (Region I)
“Immigrants of the Islands” making their first US Open Cup appearance

402 (Region II)
New Nebraska team has familiar names excited to play in Minnesota

Bavarian SC (Region II)
Milwaukee club making amateur-record sixth appearance in Pro Era

Atlanta FC (Region III)
The second year NPSL franchise adds first Open Cup berth to list of early success

Lynch’s FC (Region III)
Jacksonville club has plenty of changes coming, they hope one will be winning an Open Cup game

Arizona Sahuaros (Region IV)
On hiatus from the NPSL, the Sahuaros are back in the Open Cup for the third time in four years

Sonoma County Sol (Region IV)
Three-time cup participants are a family affair, on and off the field

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

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David Geno and the Seattle Sounders Under-23s celebrate one of the club's five goals in a 5-1 win over Doxa Italia in the First Round of the 2013 US Open Cup. Photo: Chris Coulter | SoundersPhotos.com
David Geno and the Seattle Sounders Under-23s celebrate one of the club’s five goals in a 5-1 win over Doxa Italia in the First Round of the 2013 US Open Cup. Photo: Chris Coulter | SoundersPhotos.com

A total of 40 clubs took part in the first Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (then known as the National Challenge Cup) tournament in 1913/14, a majority of whom came from the Northeast region of the country.

In 2008, the Seattle Sounders USL franchise became the first club in the Modern Era to advance to the Semifinals in consecutive seasons after beginning play in the First Round.

Since 1996, only five teams have advanced to the Semifinals after beginning play in the First Round. The Charleston Battery (2008), Carolina RailHawks (2007), San Francisco Bay Seals (1997) and the Seattle Sounders who did it twice in 2007 and 2008. San Francisco remain as the only third division club to advance to the final four (after beginning in Round 1) during that span.

Since 1995, an Open Division Local team has failed to advance past the First Round only three times (1995, 1998, 2002). Uruguay SC from Florida made the Second Round in back-to-back years (2000, 2001), and Mexico SC (Fresno, CA) joined them in 2000. Dallas Roma FC advanced in consecutive seasons in 2005 and 2006 and Bavarian SC (Milwaukee, WI) moved on to the next round in 2003 and 2007. From 2008-2010, only one USASA club survived the opening round each year (Hollywood United – 2008, Sonoma County Sol – 2009, Arizona Sahuaros – 2010). After the tournament expanded in 2012, it has become more common.

In 1999, the Wilmington Hammerheads saw two players score hat tricks in their First Round match. Ryan Walker and Luke Griffith both scored three times in Wilmington’s 8-1 rout of Los Lobos, a USASA team from Oklahoma.

The Atlanta Silverbacks (USL First Division, Div. 2 pro) embarrassed Azzurri, an Open Division Local club from North Texas, 10-0 in the First Round of the 2007 tournament. It was the biggest route in the Modern Era, topping the Chicago Stingers’ (USL D3 Pro) 8-0 win over SAC Wisla (USASA) in 1997.

2007 marked the first year that all non-MLS teams began the tournament in the First Round. It was also the first year that any Division 2 pro teams started in Round 1.

In 2013, David Geno of the Seattle Sounders U-23s (USL League Two) became the first player from an Open Division team to score four goals in one game, and just the 10th player from any division to pull off the feat. He did this in Seattle’s 5-1 home win over Doxa Italia, and he scored all four of his goals in the first half.

The First Round in 2013 marked the first time that four different players scored a hat trick in the same round. Prior to that year, no more than two players had ever done it in the same round in the Modern Era (1995-present).  David Geno of the Sounders U23s scored four against Doxa Italia (USASA), while Hakan Ilhan (Carolina Dynamo), Kwadwo Poku (Georgia Revolution) and Argjent Duka (Icon FC) each scored a trio of goals in their respective games.

The attendance record for the First Round of the US Open Cup (Modern Era) is 5,816, when the Arizona Sahuaros (D3 Pro League) hosted the San Gabriel Valley Highlanders (PDL) at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona on June 12, 1998.

The record for highest average attendance in the First Round (Modern Era) is 1,247, but there were only four games scheduled that year (and one of them was forfeited).

The record for the biggest Second Round in the Modern Era is 2017 when there were 28 games played.

Updated after the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2009 Meet the USASA: Sonoma County Sol

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The Sol were close to becoming two time defending NPSL champions, but losses in the ’07 & ’08 playoffs prevented that. “We use the previous losses as fuel.” Ziemer says of his team motivation for the NPSL season. The Sol may very well be paving the road for their first NPSL title. They are 6-0-1 in NPSL play with four games remaining, and are coming off a 10-1 thrashing of the Salinas Samba, their league rivals for many years.

After qualifying from the USASA Region IV tournament, they open the 2009 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup against the PDL’s Orange County Blue Star on June 9.

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

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

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

On top of all that, Benjamin Ziemer and his three brothers grew up playing the game, and then some. As kids, they played the game on a small field their father built for them, which included lights, playing 1v1 and 2v2 for hours until they all moved away from home. When the boys were in their teens, a man named Peter Reynaud moved into their area, and the way they viewed and played soccer changed. Reynaud was the head coach at Sonoma State, and exposed the boys to a different way of training and playing.

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

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

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

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

One could say that the Sol and Sonoma State are one in the same. Three players on the Sol roster, Chris Daly, Tim Maycock and Brandon Boone, were on the team when that won the NCAA Division II Championship in 2002.

One player they will do without is Ross Middlemiss. After leading the CCAA in scoring this year with 18 goals and 45 points on his way to First Team All-American honors and capturing the Division II West Region player of the year honor, Middlemiss began the season with the Sol. Soon after, he was presented the opportunity to play for TSG Thannhausen of Oberliga Bayern (German fifth division). Middlemiss has left the team to prepare for his trip to Germany.

Another standout from Sonoma State’s 2008 campaign, were they were ranked #6 in the nation with a 15-2-4 record while winning the CCAA Championship, is Eric Lafon. Lafon currently leads the Sol with seven goals and six assists, and became SSU’s All-Time Assists Leader with 33 total assists. The team also has some veteran presence as well. Local product Shawn Percell led Santa Clara to the 1999 NCAA Final, and earned Final Four MVP honors. He has spent some time with Belmopan Bandits in Belize, before returning to the states to play with the Seattle Sounders for three seasons.

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

2009 Second Round recap: Thriller in Carolina, Barons are last amateur survivor

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2009 U.S. Open Cup Second Round
(Home team listed on right)
June 16
Real Maryland Monarchs 0:1 (aet) Ocean City Barons
Wilmington Hammerheads 3:3 Carolina RailHawks
Wilmington advance on PKs, 4-3
Cleveland City Stars 1:2 (aet) Rochester Rhinos
Western Mass Pioneers 0:0 Harrisburg City Islanders
Harrisburg advances on PKs 4-3
Charleston Battery 1:0 Miami FC Blues
Chicago Fire (PDL) 0:4 Minnesota Thunder
El Paso Patriots 0:2 Austin Aztex
Portland Timbers 3:0 Sonoma County Sol
————————————————————————-
Player of the Round: Kenny Bundy (Wilmington)
Things you should know about the Second Round
Notable upsets in the Second Round of the Open Cup

The Ocean City Barons and the Wilmington Hammerheads pulled off the lone upset of the US Open Cup Second Round. The Barons get a penalty kick in the 108th minute and JT Noone breaks a scoreless tie and Ocean City earns a date with DC United at the Maryland Soccerplex in Round 3. The Barons, based on the rest of the results, won the $10,000 prize money as the amateur team that has advanced the farthest in the tournament.

However, even with the drama of a PDL team earning a match with an MLS team, without question, the match of the Second Round was the Wilmington Hammerheads and the Carolina RailHawks. After finishing regulation tied 1-1, both teams scored a pair of goals in extra time, including a Hammerheads goal in stoppage time of the second overtime period to send the match into penalty kicks. Wilmington would win the PK shootout 4-3 and will move on to host the Chicago Fire of MLS.

2009 Second Round: Timbers pull away at the end against NPSL’s Sonoma County Sol

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Santa Rosa High School, Santa Rosa Calif. | 10 p.m.
0
FT
 3

        7’ George Josten (Mandjou Keita)
87’ Mandjou Keita (Brian Farber)
90’ Mandjou Keita (Brian Farber)

The upstart Sonoma County Sol of the NPSL gave the Portland Timbers a game for 87 minutes, but eventually wound up on the wrong side of the 3-0 score line, sending the USL-1 Timbers to an eagerly anticipated Third Round match against the Seattle Sounders.

Portland opened the scoring in the 7th minute, when George Josten beat Sol goalkeeper Juan Sosa for the early 1-0 lead. The Sol held the Timbers to the lone goal until the Mandjou Keita scored twice in the final three minutes, both off assists from Brian Farber.

The victory marks the first time since the Timbers were revived in 2001 that the club has won multiple games in a tournament. Portland improves their all-time Open Cup record to 5-5 and will host the Seattle Sounders at PGE Park next Wednesday in the Third Round.

The rivalry between Seattle and Portland dates back to the NASL days in 1975, but as USL-1 rivals, the teams split their two Open Cup matches with each other. Seattle held a 16-11-5 advantage over the Timbers in league play.

2009 First Round recap: Favorites survive first day, Barons pull off upset, Hawks just upset on day 2

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2009 U.S. Open Cup First Round
(Home team listed on right)
June 9
Orange County Blue Star 2:5 Sonoma County Sol
Carolina RailHawks 2:1 Richmond Kickers
Western Mass Pioneers 3:2 (aet) Emigrantes Das Ilhas
Wilmington Hammerheads 2:0 Charlotte Eagles
Rochester Rhinos 1:1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Rochester advance on penalities, 4-2
Cleveland City Stars 3:0 St. Louis Lions
Chicago Fire (PDL) 3:1 Bavarian SC
Harrisburg City Islanders 4:1 Reading Rage
Minnesota Thunder 3:2 402
Charleston Battery 2:0 Atlanta FC
Miami FC Blues 2:1 Lynch’s FC
Austin Aztex 2:0 Mississippi Brilla
El Paso Patriots 2:1 Arizona Sahuaros
Kitsap Pumas 0:3 Portland Timbers
June 10
Real Maryland Monarchs 1:0 Aegean Hawks FC
(Match stopped in 74th minute)
Crystal Palace Baltimore 0:3 Ocean City Barons
——————————————————————
Player of the Round: Byron Carmichael (OCB)
Some things you should know about the First Round
Notable upsets in the First Round of the Open Cup

If seeing the underdogs prevail is your thing, then you went to sleep disappointed last night.

Of the fourteen matches first round US Open Cup matches last night, only one was won by a team from the lower division, and even that wasn’t much of an upset.

The evening began with the lone “upset” of the day, as the NPSL’s Sonoma County Sol, perhaps the hottest team of the 32 set to play in the First Round, defeated the PDL’s Orange County Blue Star 5-2. Shawn Percell scored twice and Trevor Hurst, Eric Lafon, Eric Larson added the others for the Sol. The Sol are 12-0-1 in all matches played in 2009.

The most dramatic game of the night was in Rochester, as the Rhinos needed a stoppage time equalizer and penalties to overcome the USL-2 Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Trailing 1-0 for much of the game, the Rhinos forced extra time when Tai Atieno knocked in a corner kick in second half stoppage time. Atieno then missed a potential game winning penalty kick with two minutes left in overtime, but Rhinos goalkeeper Scott Vallow came up with two saves in the penalty shootout to see his club through to the Second Round.

Two matches were postponed and were moved to the following day. Ocean City and Crystal Palace Baltimore was put off early in the day when heavy overnight rains left the Barons’ home field, Cary Stadium, flooded. The Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks and Real Maryland Monarchs were forced to set their game back a day when heavy thunderstorms rolled through the Rockville, Md. area.

The next day, the Ocean City Barons became the first PDL team to beat a USL professional squad in the 2009 tournament, winning a 3-0 decision over Crystal Palace Baltimore of the USL Second Division.

Byron Carmichael opened the scoring in the 7th minute, with an assist from Neal Melchionni. Carmichael struck again in the 33rd minute with an unassisted goal to gibe the Barons a 2-0 halftime lead.

With 12 minutes remaining, JT Noone left no doubt as to who the winners were with a Ryan Richter-assisted goal. The game had been postponed on Tuesday due to a flooded field from heavy overnight storms.

In Rockville, Maryland, the Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks were done in by Mother Nature on Wednesday night, as their opening round game versus the Real Maryland Monarchs was halted in the 74th minute after an hour and a half lightning delay, giving the USL-2 club a 1-0 win. The only goa,l of the match game from Ryan Cordeiro in the 14th minute, with an assist from Gary Brooks. Soon after, the Hawks were reduced to 10 men when Michael Goldman was shown a red card.

Hawks manager Jonathan Knight was understandably upset that the game was called. We have been told there was a 10 pm deadline, which is when the stadium lights had to be shut off (presumably by a city ordinance), and the game was official called at 10:18 pm. The game had to be rescheduled for tonight due to severe thunderstorms on Tuesday night.

This is the second year in a row weather has played a part in Real Maryland’s First Round Open Cup game. Last year their gasme against NY Pancyprian Freedoms was moves back three days after severe storms prevented play on the original date. Maryland won the rescheduled game 3-2 in extra time.

Ocean City will host Real Maryland next Tuesday in the Second Round.

2009 First Round: Red hot Sol scorch struggling Orange County, 5-2

by

ConcordiaUniversity – Irvine, Calif. | 5 p.m.
Match Reports:
2
FT
 5
Kevin Stoll (Chad Borak) 80’
David Ponce 83’
SENT OFF – Jimmy Turner 60’
      
5’ Trevor Hurst
55’ Shawn Percell
73’ Eric Lafon (Nathan Medina)
78’ Eric Larson (Eric Lafon)
81’ Shawn Percell (Eric Lafon)

The Sonoma County Sol continued their run in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a convincing 5-2 win against the Orange County Blue Star of the PDL. Two goals from Shawn Percell and a four goals in five minutes melee highlighted the match. The Sol continue their 13-match unbeaten streak (11-0-2) in all competitions, as they prepare for a showdown against Portland Timbers of USL-1 in the Second Round.

When the initial draw was made, it seemed like an outstanding match, but after Orange County clinched a spot in the tournament with four shutout wins, they struggled. Since that hot start, they went on a five-game winless streak and were outscored 13-4 during that span.

The Sol did not waste any time, with Trevor Hurst providing the game’s first goal in the 5th minute. The Blue Star were unable to find an answer to Hearst’s early goal and the score remained 1-0 at the half.

Ten minutes into the second half, the Sol were given a 2-0 lead on the foot of Shawn Percell. Another Shawn Percell tally in the 76th minute propelled the Sol to a 3-0 lead.

The game would get interesting starting in the 82nd minute with a tally from Eric Lafon putting the Sol up 4-0. Less than a minute after, Orange County Blue Star found their way onto the scoreboard, making it 4-1 in the 83rd minute thanks to Kevin Stoll. Again, one minute later, Eric Larson answered for Sonoma County, pushing the score to 5-1. The Blue Star then answered back in the 84th minute, making it 5-2, concluding four goals in less than five minutes between the two clubs.

Next up for the Sonoma County Sol are the Portland Timbers of USL-1, who defeated Kitsap Pumas 3-0 to earn their place in the Second Round. The Sol will host the USL-1 club at Santa Rosa High School on Tuesday June 16th at 7:00pm.

Orange County – Joe Sachetti, Kevin Santora, Chad Borak, Joel Smith (Dirk Peterson 43’), Jimmy Turner, Ian Sarachan, Jon Falley (Kevin Stoll 63’), Adrian Martinez (Brian Burke 55’), Irving Garcia, David Ponce, Eder Arreola

Sonoma County – Juan Sosa, Mickey Daly, Lee Sandwina, Scott Preckwinkle, Adam Shields, Chris Daly, Tyler Hurst (Shawn Percell 40’), Chris Wright (Nathan Medina 67’), Trevor Hurst (Brandon Boone 78’), Eric Lafon

Cautions
Orange County – Martinez 20’, Arreola 71’
Sonoma County – Shields 68’

Ejections
Orange County – Turner 60’

Shots – OCBS 10, SCS 12
Saves –  OCBS 5, SCS 3
Fouls –   OCBS 2, SCS 2
Corners –  OCBS 14, SCS 10
Offsides –  OCBS 2, SCS 3
Att – 50

Referee – Miguel Chicas
Assistants – Doug Devine, Brandon Whitson

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