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2024 National Amateur Cup: New York Pancyprian Freedoms win first Amateur Cup, qualify for 2025 US Open Cup

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Members of the New York Pancyprian-Freedoms celebrate after winning the 2024 National Amateur Cup in DeKalb, Illinois. Credit: US Adult Soccer Association

The New York Pancyprian-Freedoms can add two new honors to their long list of accomplishments; 2024 National Amateur Cup champions and 2025 US Open Cup Qualifiers. The three-time Open Cup champs won their first ever Bill Marth Trophy on Saturday, winning two games in three days against fellow USASA regional champions. The team also qualifies for its eighth Open Cup since 1995, the start of the Modern Era, with that record also including its ill-fated qualification to the COVID cancelled 2020 tournament.

Since 2018, the champion of the National Amateur Cup, the highest tournament in the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA), receives direct qualification to the following year’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. For the last few years, TheCup.us has tracked the National Amateur Cup from its regional stages all the way up until the national final. These updates have been provided on Twitter / X and stats have been kept internally.

USASA is broken into four regions, each holding their own amateur cup tournament respectively. The champions of these four tournaments qualify for the national finals.

You can find a brief summary of every game from this past weekend below. Additionally, here are links to the Twitter threads and articles made over the last few months regarding other results:

FULL 2024 NATIONAL AMATEUR CUP SCHEDULE/RESULTS

National Semifinals

THURSDAY, JULY 25

New York Pancyprian Freedoms (NY – Eastern Premier Soccer League)
5:1
Tobacco Road FC (NC – Triangle Adult Soccer League)
NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex – DeKalb, IL

The New York Pancyprian-Freedoms outgunned Tobacco Road FC in the opening match of the national phase. The Region I champions opened the scoring when Sebastian Ruiz Restrepo launched a shot to the Tobacco keeper, whose save was tapped in by a contentiously onside Junior Rosero. Rosero, who made a name for himself with Oyster Bay United FC in the 2022 US Open Cup, and James Thristino both scored braces. Region III champs TRFC fall in the national semifinals for a second straight year.

(Full game recap by TheCup contributor Adnan Bašić for Protagonist Soccer)

Goal scorers

NYPF:

  • Junior Rosero 37′
  • James Thristino 45+2′
  • Junior Rosero 61′
  • Jordan Bailon 75′ (Asst: Sebastian Ruiz Restrepo)
  • James Thristino 80′

TRFC:

  • Jahmir Flowers 90+3′ (Asst: Jackson Allen)

MATCH BROADCAST

FC Arizona (AZ – National Premier Soccer League)
2:4
FC Milwaukee Torrent (WI – National Premier Soccer League)
NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex – DeKalb, IL

In a battle of NPSL sides, FC Milwaukee Torrent scored three goals in five minutes to beat FC Arizona. Torrent got the scoring going in first half stoppage time, with Max Ludwig cutting between multiple defenders before feeding Jaime Le Comte on the right side for a successful shot. Arizona responded in the second half, with Marco Afonso combining with Kyle Benjamin for a pair of goals. However the Torrent pulled away in the final ten minutes to secure their spot in the final in their debut tournament.

(Full game recap by TheCup contributor Adnan Bašić for Protagonist Soccer)

Goal scorers

FCA:

  • Kyle Benjamin 63′ (Asst: Marco Afonso)
  • Kyle Benjamin 80′ (Asst: Marco Afonso)

FCMT:

  • Jaime Le Comte 45+2′ (Asst: Max Ludwig)
  • Gabe Voung 83′ (Asst: Javier Steinwasher)
  • Jaime Le Comte 85′ (Asst: Javier Steinwasher)
  • Max Ludwig 88′ (Asst: Taylor Pill)

MATCH BROADCAST

2024 National Amateur Cup Final

SATURDAY, JULY 27

New York Pancyprian Freedoms (NY – Eastern Premier Soccer League)
6:0
FC Milwaukee Torrent (WI – National Premier Soccer League)
NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex – DeKalb, IL

The New York Pancyprian Freedoms overpowered FC Milwaukee Torrent to win the 2024 National Amateur Cup. Four goals inside the first 25 minutes included a great shot by former Houston Dynamo FC player Joe Holland. Junior Rosero and Sebastian Ruiz Restrepo both earned braces in the first half, with it being the former’s second in three days. A free kick goal in the second half (which may have hit off another player) ended the scoring as the NPSL side looked completely overwhelmed by New York’s speed and experience.

Of note, with these stats the tournament ends with six players tied for Golden Boot with five goals scored between the regional and national rounds. Those players are: Joe Holland (New York Pancyprian-Freedoms), Junior Rosero (New York Pancyprian-Freedoms), Sebastian Ruiz Restrepo (New York Pancyprian-Freedoms), Alan Salgado (Azteca FC), James Tristino (New York Pancyprian-Freedoms), and Nico Williams (Chicago House AC).

(Full game recap by TheCup contributor Adnan Bašić for Protagonist Soccer)

Goal scorers

NYPF:

  • Junior Rosero 7′
  • Sebastian Ruiz Restrepo 9′ (Asst: Joe Holland)
  • Sebastian Ruiz Restrepo 14′ (Asst: Junior Rosero)
  • Joe Holland 24′ (Asst: Sebastian Ruiz Restrepo)
  • Junior Rosero 43′
  • Rafael Bustaenti 50′

MATCH BROADCAST

2024 National Amateur Cup: Tobacco Road repeats as USASA Region III champions

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Tobacco Road FC celebrate winning the 2024 USASA Region III Amateur Cup. Credit: Sam Cohen

A second team has qualified for the 2024 National Amateur Cup tournament in DeKalb, Illinois. Tobacco Road FC completed a gauntlet of four games in three days to repeat as USASA Region III (South) champions last weekend. The side, competing with its Triangle Adult Soccer League team (not its team from USL League Two) fell in the national semifinals last year to eventual champion MesoAmerica FC.

Since 2018, the champion of the National Amateur Cup, the highest tournament in the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA), receives direct qualification to the following year’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. For the last few years, TheCup.us has tracked the National Amateur Cup from its regional stages all the way up until the national final. These updates have been provided on Twitter / X and stats have been kept internally.

USASA is broken into four regions, each holding their own amateur cup tournament respectively. The champions of these four tournaments qualify for the national finals later this summer.

You can find a brief summary of every game from this past weekend below. Additionally, here are links to the Twitter threads and articles made over the two months regarding other results:

FULL 2024 NATIONAL AMATEUR CUP SCHEDULE/RESULTS

Note: NTX Black Ice also goes by the name “Ice FC / Black Ice”

USASA Region III (South)

Unlike every other United States Adult Soccer Association region, USASA Region III holds its amateur cup tournament over the span of one weekend. Teams qualify via a mix of methods, usually by winning state cups or winning their own leagues. These eight teams were separated into two groups of four, with the top teams from each qualifying for Sunday’s final. Additionally, every team was forced to play two games on Saturday, one in the morning and one at night.

Group Stage, Match 1

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

Tobacco Road FC (NC – Triangle Adult Soccer League)
6:0
NTX Black Ice (TX – North Texas Premier Soccer Association)
MESA Soccer Complex, Field 2 – Greer, SC

The defending Region III champions opened the weekend with a convincing win over NTX Black Ice, 6-0. Brothers Cam and Drew Kerr, sons of Duke men’s soccer head coach and former US Men’s National Team player John Kerr, combined for the opening goal for Tobacco. NTX was a late replacement team team after two announced participants, FC Brownsville (TX) and Los Migos (TX), were unable to compete.

Goal scorers

TRFC:

  • Cam Kerr (Drew Kerr)
  • Lesego Maloma (x2)
  • Rush Campbell (Drew Kerr)
  • Carlos Lemona (Christian Galindo)
  • Mathias Allawai (Alonso Campos)

OFC Wolves (FL – Central Florida Soccer League)
1:3
Terminus FC (GA – Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League)
MESA Soccer Complex, Field 3 – Greer, SC

Terminus FC’s Matt Seib notched an early brace to beat OFC Wolves, 3-1. The defending Georgia Adult Men’s State Cup champions held off the one-time US Open Cup participant’s comeback attempt, led by former pro Bradley Welch.

Goal scorers

OFC:

  • Nicolas Gomez 45+1′ (Bradley Welch)

TFC:

  • Matt Seib 4′ (Ben Ebersole)
  • Matt Seib 13′ (Thomas Zukaras)
  • Adam Trotter 78′

ASC New Stars (TX – Houston Football Association)
1:1
Majestic FC (SC – Central League-SCASA)
MESA Soccer Complex, Field 4 – Greer, SC

In a rarity for this website in the Modern Era, ASC New Stars and Majestic FC tied, 1-1, in their opening match. Majestic scored just before halftime but ASC, a previous USOC participant, leveled the game midway through the second half.

Goal scorers

ASC:

  • Lukas Simon 65′

MFC:

  • Austin McNair (Joel Bunting) 45′

Cobb United FC (GA – Cobb Adult Soccer League)
1:6
Naples United FC (FL – National Premier Soccer League)
MESA Soccer Complex, Field 5 – Greer, SC

Naples United FC decimated Cobb United FC, 6-1. Cobb, acting as a replacement team like Black Ice, started the game with only nine players on the field. Naples, representing the NPSL, was up 5-0 by the half hour mark. CUFC was able to compete once players arrived to Greer, even getting a goal back, but was outmatched in the end.

Goal scorers

CUFC:

  • Brandon Hernandez (David Ayala)

NUFC:

  • Ethan Barbier
  • Pablo Marisi
  • Riley Aldana
  • Alison Martins (x2)
  • Chase Jackson

Group Stage, Match 2

SATURDAY, JUNE 8 (AM)

OFC Wolves (FL – Central Florida Soccer League)
2:3
Tobacco Road FC (NC – Triangle Adult Soccer League)
MESA Soccer Complex, Field 2 – Greer, SC

Tobacco Road FC squeaked by OFC Wolves, 3-2. Playing around 12 hours after its last game ended, the North Carolina side did not look its best against Orlando. The two goals allowed played a major role in the standings (more on that below).

Goal scorers

OFC:

  • Toby Down
  • Jack Waters

TRFC:

  • Wissem Obeid
  • Rush Campbell
  • Lesego Maloma

Terminus FC (GA – Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League)
5:1
NTX Black Ice (TX – North Texas Premier Soccer Association)
MESA Soccer Complex, Field 3 – Greer, SC

Terminus FC beat NTX Black Ice, 5-1, in a blowout performance. The Georgia side trailed midway through the first half before equalizing just before halftime. Four unanswered goals, including a second for Mischael Francois, secured the win.

This and the previous game’s result put both Tobacco Road and Terminus at six points each. However, based on Region III’s tiebreakers (Greatest Goal Differential capped at 3 goals per match), Terminus jumped TRFC for first place in Group A (+5 GD vs +4 GD). This meant Terminus would advance to the Region III final with either a win or draw against Tobacco later in the day.

Goal scorers

TFC:

  • Mischael Francois 43′ (Michael Stockley)
  • Stephen Boles 61′ (Mischael Francois)
  • Mischael Francois 65′ (Michael Stockley)
  • Thomas Zukares 80′
  • Carson Oakes 88′ (Henry Asbill)

ICE:

  • Joshua Peloquin 30′

Cobb United FC (GA – Cobb Adult Soccer League)
1:4
ASC New Stars (TX – Houston Football Association)
MESA Soccer Complex, Field 4 – Greer, SC

ASC New Stars rebounded from the previous day’s draw with a convincing win over Cobb United FC, 4-1. The Houston amateurs scored three goals in the first half to make it 3-0 at the break. Cobb got one back when Carlos Saldaña (not the Detroit City FC backup keeper) scored a penalty kick in the second half.

Goal scorers

CUFC:

  • Carlos Saldaña (PK)

ASC:

  • Lukas Simon 15′
  • Emmanuel Usen 25′
  • Dessaline Felix Allison 38′
  • Osiel Robledo (PK) 87′

Naples United FC (FL – National Premier Soccer League)
4:1
Majestic FC (SC – Central League-SCASA)
MESA Soccer Complex, Field 5 – Greer, SC

Naples United FC took firm control of Group B with a win over Majestic FC, 4-1. The South Carolina side played down a man for a majority of the game after Austin McNair saw a second yellow in the 10th minute. The NPSL side took advantage and Nicholas Teutsch earned a brace for the Florida team.

With this result, Naples controlled its own destiny going into the final group stage match. A win or draw against ASC would see the NPSL side reach Sunday’s final. ASC needed to outright beat Naples to jump them on points.

Goal scorers

NUFC:

  • Chase Jackson
  • Nicholas Teutsch (x2)
  • Ethan Barbier

MFC:

  • Graham Jermstad (Jonathan Foster) 37′

Group Stage, Match 3

SATURDAY, JUNE 8 (PM)

Tobacco Road FC (NC – Triangle Adult Soccer League)
2:1
Terminus FC (GA – Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League)
MESA Soccer Complex, Field 2 – Greer, SC

Tobacco Road FC beat Terminus FC, 2-1, in a thrilling match to reach the USASA Region III Amateur Cup Final. It is TRFC’s second straight appearance in the regional final and the team’s third straight tournament reaching the knockout stage. Terminus took the lead in the 20th minute before Tobacco equalized five minutes later. The game was back and forth and Terminus knew a draw would be enough to get through. However the Georgia side went down to 10 men during the second half and eventually a stoppage time header goal sent the North Carolina side back to the championship game. TRFC head coach Cedric Burke only used one sub in this match in hopes of keeping his player’s fresh for a potential final on Sunday.

Goal scorers

TRFC:

  • Seraphin Guetan 25′
  • Wissem Obeid (Seraphin Guetan) 90+6′

TFC:

  • Thomas Zukaras (Henry Asbill) 20′

NTX Black Ice (TX – North Texas Premier Soccer Association)
3:4
OFC Wolves (FL – Central Florida Soccer League)
MESA Soccer Complex, Field 4 – Greer, SC

OFC Wolves left Greer, SC with a win as they beat NTX Black Ice, 4-3.

Goal scorers

ICE:

  • Joshua Peloquin (x3)

OFC:

  • Juan Hernandez (x2)
  • Toby Down
  • Lorenzo Jayakanthan

ASC New Stars (TX – Houston Football Association)
1:1
Naples United FC (FL – National Premier Soccer League)
MESA Soccer Complex, Field 5 – Greer, SC

Naples United FC reached the USASA Region III Amateur Cup Final via a draw, 1-1, thanks to a late own goal by ASC New Stars. The Texas powerhouse scored just before halftime to take the lead and held that score line for nearly the entire second half. Naples had a chance to equalize after a foul in the box forced a penalty kick, but that was saved by ASC’s keeper. In the end, a late error sent a ball off an ASC player into the back of their own net to equalize for Naples. That tie was enough to put the NPSL team through and break the hearts of ASC fans.

Goal scorers

ASC:

  • Dessaline Felix Allison

NUFC:

  • New Stars OG

Majestic FC (SC – Central League-SCASA)
4:1
Cobb United FC (GA – Cobb Adult Soccer League)
MESA Soccer Complex, Field 7 – Greer, SC

The final match of the group stage saw Majestic FC beat Cobb United FC, 4-1.

Goal scorers

MFC:

  • Peyton Miller (Graham Jermstad) 16′
  • Joel Bunting (Connor Deany) 23′
  • Nick Burnz (Dom Byars) 30′
  • Connor Deany (Peyton Miller) 78′

CUFC:

  • Carlos Saldaña

Final Group Stage Standings

Group A

  • 1: Tobacco Road FC (9 pts)
  • 2: Terminus FC (6 pts)
  • 3: OFC Wolves (3 pts)
  • 4: NTX Black Ice (0 pts)

Group B

  • 1: Naples United FC (7 pts)
  • 2: ASC New Stars (5 pts)
  • 3: Majestic FC (4 pts)
  • 4: Cobb United FC (0 pts)

Region III Final

SUNDAY, JUNE 9

Tobacco Road FC (NC – Triangle Adult Soccer League)
5:0
Naples United FC (FL – National Premier Soccer League)
MESA Soccer Complex, Field 5 – Greer, SC

Tobacco Road FC, fresh off an elimination in The Soccer Tournament (TST) on Friday, dominated Naples United FC, 5-0, to repeat as USASA Region III Amateur Cup champions. Three first half goals, including a brace by Wissem Obeid, punched a ticket to July’s national tournament in Illinois. TRFC is looking to win both its first National Amateur Cup and qualify for its first US Open Cup.

Goal scorers

TRFC:

  • Wissem Obeid 14′ (Seraphin Guetan)
  • Wissem Obeid 26′ (Kevan Kahoussi)
  • Cam Kerr 39′ (Wissem Obeid)
  • Lesego Maloma 71′ (Cam Kerr)
  • Emory Chrichlow 85′

SC MesoAmerica wins Amateur Cup title, becomes first to qualify for 2024 US Open Cup

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SC MesoAmerica celebrates after winning the 2023 USASA National Amateur Cup championship. Photo: USASA
SC MesoAmerica celebrates after winning the 2023 USASA National Amateur Cup championship. Photo: US Soccer

 

For the first time in nearly three decades, the USASA National Amateur Cup trophy is heading out west.

SC MesoAmerica won the 2023 USASA National Amateur Cup, 2-1, over Newtown Pride FC on Saturday night in Bettendorf, Iowa. The game completed a two-day tournament at the TBK Bank Complex with Meso winning its first-ever national title. By lifting the trophy, MesoAmerica becomes the first official entry into the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The Los Angeles, Calif. side is the fifth team to win the title since US Soccer began inviting the champion of the United States Adult Soccer Association’s top tournament to the following year’s Open Cup in 2018. Meso is also the first western team (Region IV) to win a USASA national tournament since the Denver Kickers won the 1995 Amateur Cup.

(Note: The team is also known by “MesoAmerica FC” and “MesoAmerica-San Carlos FC”)

Head coach Jimmy Pineda was overwhelmed following the win. It has been a long road not just from February’s state cup win, which put them in the regional final, but from a third place finish in the 2019 national tournament.

“We’ve been preparing for this for months, and months, and months since we won the state cup,” Pineda said. “I was thinking we have to go all the way to the end. We’ve been preparing, watching players. Trying to make a family, make a group that would last until the final.”

For Newtown Pride the result ends a stellar year for the club. The Connecticut side won the regional amateur cup, state-level league, and The Soccer Tournament (TST) for one million dollars. However they could not win their second National Amateur Cup after going all the way in 2019.

Prior to Saturday, the four amateur champions of the USASA regions descended on Iowa to compete in the national semifinals. Meso reached this point by winning the 2023 Cal South Adult State Cup in February. The team then beat National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) side Napa Valley 1839 FC, 2-0, in the Region IV final last month. Striker German Alfaro said in a postgame interview that his group knew how deep the competition was.

“All these teams are really good (and) organized,” Alfaro said. “We had to match their momentum, their (physicality) even more. It took a lot of us and everyone was in the same symphony. The game shows how prepared (we were).”

The last time MesoAmerica reached the nationals in 2019 the team’s title hopes were crushed by that year’s Region III champion Horizon FC (Texas). In a bit of revenge, the Region IV representatives beat Region III champions Tobacco Road FC (North Carolina), 2-1, on Friday night.

Former Chilean professional player and youth national team player Piero Gárate scored in the first half to give Meso the lead. Bryan Medina doubled the advantage in what would be the game-winning goal before halftime. Tobacco Road’s offense struggled to adjust after scoring over 30 goals in the regional tournament back in Plano, Texas. Eric Chavez cut into the deficit but Tobacco was unable to find an equalizer.

One field over, Newtown Pride FC knocked off two-time national champion RWB Adria (Illinois), 2-1 after extra time, in the night’s other semifinal match. In a 2019 national semifinal rematch Newtown was pushed to the brink by the Croatian powerhouse. Early in the second half, a pull down in the Newtown box sent Milos Vucic to the spot. He converted in the 49th minute to put RWB up, 1-0. Momentum swung back to the Pride, who equalized in the 71st minute. A free kick found Felipe Dutra in the box, where he sent a right footed shot into the netting.

The game entered extra time still tied 1-1. Newtown finally capitalized late in the second half when Gabriel Ganzer made a run on net. A long cross near the right post found him between the goalkeeper. He knocked in his eighth goal of the tournament to win the game.


The National Amateur Cup Final on Saturday was the first meeting ever between MesoAmerica and Newtown. A battle of opposites, with Meso trying to make it to the national spotlight while Newtown tried to return after fate and COVID robbed them of so much. Back in 2019, Newtown became the second club to qualify for the Open Cup as Amateur Cup champions. However, the pandemic eventually cancelled the 2020 tournament, plus the 2021 tournament which the Pride won a random draw to qualify for.

In a wild opening 180 seconds, both teams found the back of the net. After Newtown kicked off, MesoAmerica immediately began pressing them in their own end. A backpass hit off a Pride defender and fell at the feet of Alfaro. He passed up to Bryan Medina on a run, onside but past the backline in the box. Newtown keeper Ryan Langkafel was too late in jumping on the ball and Medina slotted the shot in. His second goal in as many days put his team ahead, 1-0, in the first minute.

After nearly a minute of resetting, Newtown kicked off again. An attack formulated up the right side with a cross going into Meso’s box. Ganzer headed the shot on target, low and to the left, but a diving save by keeper Jesus Dautt kept it out. Quick reflexes by Erik Lorent on the rebound were enough to punch in the loose ball and make it 1-1.

The half ended with both teams getting chances but failing to score, leaving the match deadlocked.



Much like the first half, the second 45 minutes heated up quickly. After kicking off, MesoAmerica prodded the rested Newtown defense. Moises Vazquez launched a long pass to Alfaro on the left side of the box with the forward clear of any defenders. His left footed strike struck off keeper Langkafel and bounced into the net to make it 2-1.

This was Alfaro’s fourth time playing in the national finals. A 2018 semifinals appearance with San Nicolas FC, a third place finish with Meso in 2019, and a runner-up performance in 2021 with Cal FC all led the striker up to this point.

“It’s everything for me. It’s my fourth one so they had to give it to me,” Alfaro joked after the game. “ I’m glad we were able to do it today and very happy with the team’s effort. And everyone who supports us off the pitch. I’m very happy”

Newtown’s offense tried to find an equalizer but the Pride seemed exhausted from the previous day’s 120 minute match. Yellow cards flew in both directions before Tavoy Morgan, a goal scorer from 2019’s title game, was sent off. An attack up the right side saw Morgan pass the ball off before cutting in. He elbowed a Meso player in the head while passing him, earning a second yellow and a send off in the 90th minute. 

Substitute Khalid Rose was also shown a second yellow in the 90+13th minute of stoppage for a hard foul during a MesoAmerica attack.

For their win, MesoAmerica wins $8,000 in prize money along with the Open Cup berth and trophy. Newtown Pride takes home $7,000 as the runner-up. Both Tobacco Road and RWB Adria were awarded $3,500 each for reaching the national semifinals.

Pineda knows his team is bound for the Open Cup next year and says Saturday’s win is “the best feeling” he’s ever had.

“I’m very proud of these guys,” the coach said. “We’ve been (practicing) for months and preparing like I said before. They act like a real family. They put all they have, all their power, all their energy to make this happen.”

2023 National Amateur Cup Final Broadcast

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