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USASA Region I

2024 National Amateur Cup Recap: Northeast Q-Finals & Midwest Round 2 (April 27–May 5)

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Providence City FC Rogues’ goalkeeper Oliver Larente stops a New York Shockers penalty kick attempt late in regulation to keep the score tied at 2-2. Photo: Jim O’Leary/NPSL.com

The 2024 U.S. Open Cup continues on with the Round of 32 next week and the introduction of eight Major League Soccer teams. Meanwhile, at the complete other end of the U.S. Soccer system, another tournament is still in its early stages. The 2024 National Amateur Cup is underway in two regions of the country as the historic tournament celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Since 2018, the champion of the National Amateur Cup, the highest tournament in the United States Adult Soccer Association, receives direct qualification to the following year’s U.S. 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 from this past weekend below. Additionally, here are links to the Twitter threads made over the last month regarding other results:

FULL 2024 NATIONAL AMATEUR CUP SCHEDULE/RESULTS

Region I (Northeast)
Quarterfinals

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

New York Shockers (NY – National Premier Soccer League)
2:3
Providence City FC Rogues (MA – Bay State Soccer League)
Afrim’s Sports Park – Albany, NY
After Extra Time

The 2023 Massachusetts Amateur Cup Champions knocked off the last remaining NPSL side in the Region I tournament. Providence City FC Rogues came from behind in the second half and goalkeeper Oliver Larente stopped a late penalty kick to force extra time. A free kick into a header sent the talented internet darlings into their first-ever Region I semifinal.

(Thanks to Dutch Guards SG for the help reporting!)

Goal scorers

NYS:

  • Adel Cekic (PK) 33’
  • Bilal Hersi (Asst: Yusef Okine) 64’

PCFC:

  • Emerson Debritto 34’
  • Taff Wadda (PK) 71’
  • Jake Lamar 114’

SUNDAY, APRIL  28

Steel Pulse FC (MD – Maryland Super Soccer League)
2:1
Vereinigung Erzgebirge (PA – United Soccer League of Pennsylvania)
Milford Mill Academy – Millford, MD

In a battle of state cup runner-ups Steel Pulse FC knocked off Vereinigung Erzgebirge, 2-1, thanks to a late diving header. The historic Pennsylvania side exits the Amateur Cup a month after its defeat in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup.

Goal scorers

SPFC:

  • RJ Fuentes (Asst: Ramzey Hassen) 30’
  • Diarra Zoumana (Asst: RJ Fuentes) 85’

VE:

  • Derek Antonini 33’

Match video:

Club Atlético Los Toros (VA – American Premier League)
0:3
Christos FC (MD – Maryland Super Soccer League)
Hammond High School – Columbia, MD

The Maryland state cup champions are heading to the semifinals, setting up a Steward Cup final rematch with Steel Pulse FC. Christos FC started with a phenomenal goal within the first ten minutes and didn’t look back against Club Atlético Los Toros. Historically, Christos has struggled in the regional amateur cup meaning this deep run is new territory for many of the players.

Goal scorers

CFC:

  • Morgan Lucci 7’
  • Brian Graham 67’
  • Roshawn Panton 83’

Match video:

Newtown Pride FC (CT – Connecticut Soccer League)
1:6
New York Pancyprian-Freedoms (NY – Eastern Premier Soccer League)
Joel Barlow High School – Redding, CT

In a rematch of last year’s Region I Quarterfinal, New York Pancyprian-Freedoms knocked off defending regional champions Newtown Pride FC, 6-1. The result means Newtown will not be in the final after three consecutive appearances.

Goal scorers

NPFC:

  • Unknown

NYPF:

  • Joseph “Joe” Holland (x2)
  • Junior Rosero
  • Sebastian Ruiz
  • Matthew Forster
  • Luis Argudo

Region II (Midwest)
Round 2

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

Valhalla FC (OH – Ohio Valley Premier League)
2:3
Northern Indiana FC (IN – Midwest Premier League)
Milford High School – Milford, OH

Region II regulars knocked off by the newcomers. Northern Indiana FC, a recent addition to the Midwest Premier League and playing in their first Amateur Cup, eliminated Valhalla FC. The home side scored twice in the second half while playing down a man due to a red card, but couldn’t hold off the well traveled visitors who scored back to back goals.

Goal scorers

VFC:

  • Anders Michelson (Asst: Ebiel Gamino) 48’
  • Noah Hjelmeng (Asst: Ebiel Gamino) 56’

NIFC:

  • Eduardo da Silva (PK) 13’
  • Juan Perez 67’
  • Piero Sabroso 68’

Match video:

Inter Detroit (MI – Midwest Premier League)
0:3
Michigan Stars Semi Pro U23 (MI – Midwest Premier League)
Mott High School – Waterford, MI

The defending champion of the Great Lakes East Division fell to its Midwest Premier League rival. Inter Detroit, who had a bye through Round 1, had a second half collapse against Michigan Stars Semi Pro U23. The reserve side of the National Independent Soccer Association professional team scored three unanswered to win its first-ever Amateur Cup game (not via forfeit).

Goal scorers

MSFC:

  • Rocco Galati 49’
  • Vincent Vultaggio (PK) 66’
  • Gjon Melakuqi 89’

Match video:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1

SAC Wisla Chicago (IL – Premier Soccer League of Chicagoland)
5:4 AET
CKS Warta Soccer Club (IL – Greater Chicago Soccer League)
Loyola Academy Sports Complex – Glenview, IL

Despite trailing 3-0 at halftime, SAC Wisla Chicago was able to battle back against CKS Warta Soccer Club. Late goals from Kamil Macko and Matt Skorupa forced extra time and emotions ran high as two Wisla players were shown red in overtime. In extra time, Alex Lulek found Michal Mroz at the top of the box in the 97th minute, who slotted in the game winning goal.

Goal scorers

Wisla:

  • Konrad Malinowski 49’
  • Michal Mroz 74′, 97′
  • Kamil Macko 87′
  • Matt Skorupa 90+2’

Warta:

  • Aleksandar Zdravkovic 15’, 42′
  • Aaron Moreno 34’, 77′

Wisloka Chicago (IL – Premier Soccer League of Chicagoland)
2:1
Edgewater Castle FC (IL – Midwest Premier League)
Olympic Park (#9) – Schaumburg, IL

Wisloka Chicago is into the next round over Edgewater Castle FC, 2-1. After a back and forth first half, a late goal by former professional forward Wojciech Wójcik proved to be enough for the home side.

Goal scorers

Wisloka:

  • Patryk Knap 21′
  • Wojciech Wójcik 87′

ECFC:

  • Enzo Dagatti 36′

SUNDAY, MAY 5

Bateaux FC (WI – Wisconsin Primary Amateur Soccer League)
0:3
Green Bay Glory (IL – Midwest Premier League)
Regis High School – Eau Claire, WI

Green Bay Glory beat Bateaux FC, 3-0, in their Amateur Cup debut. The traveling MWPL side took a one goal lead into halftime. In the final 45 minutes, Green Bay extended its lead and Bateaux’s AJ Mittelsteadt got a second yellow card to make the home side play with 10 men. A familiar face to York United FC fans iced the game not long after that.

(Thanks to Northern Lights Football for the help reporting!)

Goal scorers

GBG:

  • Edgar Heredia Victoria 13′
  • Kevin Sosa 50′
  • Osvaldo Ramirez 64′

United Serbian Soccer Club (WI – Milwaukee Premier League)
2:6
Chicago House AC (IL – Midwest Premier League)
United Serbian Soccer Club Fields – Milwaukee, WI

Chicago House AC, coming off an appearance in the US Open Cup earlier this year, beat United Serbian SC (WI), 6-2. House regular Nico Williams scored twice in the first five minutes and made it a hat-trick within a half hour. Serbians struggled to recover, dealing with injuries and eventually seeing two players sent off with red cards.

Goal scorers

USSC:

  • Dejan Rokvic 25′
  • Vitalis Takawira Jr 70′

CHAC:

  • Nico Williams 2′, 5′, 30′
  • Kikis Avalos 39′
  • Lalo Aguilera 62′
  • Isaac Carnalla 85′

Region III (South)

Region III, encompassing 11 states and 12 associations across the southern United States, will hold its tournament on June 7–9 at MESA Soccer Complex in Greer, South Carolina.

Qualifications is typically decided by teams winning their respective state cups (for example the on-going Georgia Adult State Cup). However, open entry has been allowed in the past to make up numbers.

Region IV (West)

Region IV, encompassing 13 states and 14 associations across the western United States, is scheduled to begin it’s tournament in early May. The deadline to enter is Tuesday, April 30. There is no set venue for the regional final.

National Amateur Cup Finals

Once all four regional champions have been crowned, each will take part in the national finals on July 25 to 28 in DeKalb, Illinois. This event is officially being hosted by DeKalb County United, who oddly enough did not even enter the tournament.

Maryland Bays win first USASA Open Cup title, expected to qualify for 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

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Maryland Bays: 2014 USASA Open Cup champions
Maryland Bays: 2014 USASA Open Cup champions

The first one is always the best. Whether it is the rush of emotions, the sense of accomplishment, or the flood of memories, being able to hoist a trophy and call one’s self a champion is an immense feeling and an important moment for any player or team.

The Maryland Bays had such a moment this weekend as the club won their first-ever USASA Open Cup championship defeating the Des Moines Menace of Iowa by the score of 3-0.

“We finally got over the Open Cup hump,” said Bays coach Bryan Bugarin. “It seems like it was always that one game, or an extenuating circumstance that kept us from getting back to Nationals since our U23s lost to the Chicago Fire in the Final.”

The team nearly had a another extenuating circumstance derail them when seven days before the opening game, their starting goalkeeper Phil Saunders told Bugarin that he had just signed a professional contract to play for a club in Iceland. Luckily for the Bays, they had a quality backup netminder in Kris Ward who performed well, allowing just a single goal in the two games at Nationals.

For those unfamiliar, the USASA Open Cup, officially named the Werner Fricker US Open Cup championship, is an annual competition hosted by the United States Adult Soccer Association which is the main arm for adult club soccer for the United States Soccer Federation. The Open Cup Championship is composed of the best teams from the four major regions in the United States. The Maryland Bays are a part of the Maryland Soccer Association and the Maryland Major Soccer League in Baltimore, Md. The team has won five consecutive Fall Premier League Championships in MMSL and has won five consecutive Stewart Cups, which is the Maryland State Soccer Association Cup. They are the first Maryland-based team to win the USASA Open Cup Championship since the Baltimore Colts FC won the title back in 2005.

maryland-bays-new-logo-2014This has been quite a run for the Bays. They defeated regional rivals West Chester United (Eastern Pennsylvania), Aegean Hawks (DC/VA), and Mass Premier Soccer (now known as GPS Massachusetts) in the Region I tournament. By winning the Region I tournament, based on last year’s format, the Bays are expected to qualify for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The win also booked them a spot in the USASA Nationals and found themselves matched up with Triangle Brigade in the Semifinals. Against the Region III winners, the Bays dominated possession and were able to defeat the newcomers from North Carolina by the score of 4-1. Glenn Leitch, Danny Baxter, Marco Mangione and Elton Joe all scored goals for the Bays to punch their ticket to the national title game.

“We actually changed up our formation five minutes before kickoff and it proved to be the difference as neither opponent really seemed to figure out any answers to hinder our pace offensively,” said Bugarin. “Our center midfielders clogged the middle and controlled play, while our outside midfielders constantly got around opponent’s backs to provide forward support to our lone striker (Elton Joe). Our back line was very quick to lock things down and the outside guys provided an extra bit of offense as they overlapped our outside midfielders with attacking runs quite often. The six players who came off the bench also provided a great deal of support later in each game.

In the championship game, the Bays faced a Menace side that had beaten Chula Vista FC in the Semis. However, the Bays were able to overcome the Menace with goals by Elton Joe in the 12th minute, Danny Baxter in the 60th minute, and by Bryan Moffa at the end of regulation.

Bugarin credits all the support the team has received over the years to help the club win their first national title. “I would like to thank all of our friends and family who have supported us along the way no matter what the travel distance, or weather conditions,” said Bugarin. “I would like to thank my Assistant Coach, Andrew Dicea, for the countless hours of work he put in to registrations, travel, and of course, helping to coach this great group of guys. And a special thanks goes out to our main sponsor, and very good friend of mine, Mark Shiflett. Mark has supported the Maryland Bays financially since I assembled the team in 2009. Without his contributions we would not be able compete, and properly run the team.”

Maryland Bays roster for 2014 USASA Nationals

Starters: Kris Ward (GK), Josh Taylor, Aaron Beale, Matt Shell, Glenn Leitch, Chris Ports, Mike Gill, Marco Mangione, Danny Baxter, Jon Ports, Elton Joe

Reserves: Collin Rome, Bryan Moffa, Nino Mangione, Ray Kuemmer, Chris Weaver, Chris Williams

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: Maryland Bays in line for a USASA Region I double as championship games set

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USASA Region I logoUSASA Region I qualifying for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is nearly at an end, with the Maryland Bays remaining alive in both the Open and Amateur Cups. Elsewhere, Mass Premier Soccer is in the Open Final after changing its name to GPS Massachusetts, and the New York Greek American Atlas nearly hit double-digit goals against its Amateur Cup semifinal foes.

2014 USASA Region I Open Cup Semifinals
Lansdowne Bhoys 1(4):1(5) GPS Massachusetts

It doesn’t seem to matter what their name is, GPS Massachusetts just keeps on winning in Region I play. Formerly Mass Premier Soccer, the side that switched its name partway through the tournament defeated Lansdowne Bhoys 5-4 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw.

According to BigAppleSoccer.com, the hosts from Eastern New York dominated the game after an early goal from Sikele Sylvester. However, GPS equalized from a deflected free kick, and neither team could find the back of the net again until the penalty kick shootout.

GPS is looking to return to the Open Cup in 2015, after gaining a surprise entry into the 2014 edition. With the announcement of an expanded 2014 Open Cup field, the USASA was awarded two additional entries. One of those new spots went to GPS, who lost in the First Round on May 7 to the PDL’s Western Mass Pioneers.

The Massachusetts side faces the Maryland Bays on June 15 for the Region I Open Cup title.

2014 USASA Region I Open Cup Semifinals
Maryland Bays 4:0 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks

The Maryland Bays continued to roll through Open Cup qualifying with a 4-0 victory over the Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks. Jon Ports scored a first half brace, and Chris Weaver and Chris Ports added goals in the second half.

Maryland was riding high after earning its first-ever victories in Region I qualifying. A week after defeating West Chester United 3-1 in the Open Cup, the Bays stormed past FC Motown 6-1 in the Amateur Cup.

The Aegean Hawks were the only team other than Maryland that qualified for both tournaments, but the DC side is now out of both—they fell in penalty kicks to Vereinigung Erzgebirge in the Amateur Cup.

This game marked the first time Maryland had ever hosted a Region I Open Cup qualifier. The Bays move on to face GPS Massachusetts in the final on June 15.

2014 USASA Region I Open Cup qualifying
(Home teams on right)

Preliminary Round (April 6)
AC Blaugrana (RI) L:W Mass Premier Soccer (MA)
ACB won original match 2-0, but were DQ’d for use of ineligble player

Quarterfinals (April 6)
Newtown Pride FC (CT) 1:5 Lansdowne Bhoys FC (East NY)
Maryland Bays (MD) 3:1 West Chester United (East PA)
Oak Avalon (West PA) 1:3 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (DC/VA)
Icon FC (NJ) 0:5 Mass Premier Soccer (MA) – April 13

Semifinals (May 4)
Lansdowne Bhoys (East NY) 1(4):1(5) GPS Massachusetts (Mass Premier Soccer) (MA)
GPS Massachusetts advances 5-4 on penalty kicks
Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (DC/VA) 0:4 Maryland Bays (MD)

Final (June 15, 11 a.m.)
GPS Massachusetts (MA) vs. Maryland Bays (MD)
Winner qualifies for 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2014 USASA Region I Open Cup Semifinals
New York Greek American Atlas 9:0 Danbury United

Danbury United just can’t seem to get over the New York hump. Since qualifying for the Open Cup in 2007, United have lost to teams from the Empire State in its three attempts. This year’s 9-0 loss to New York Greek American Atlas was by far the worst of those losses.

Reigning Region I Amateur Cup champions and 2014 US Open Cup entrants NYGAA were up 6-0 at halftime. The victory propels the Cosmopolitan League side to the Final, where last year they defeated fellow New Yorkers, the Italian Americans.

The Greek Americans are four-time US Open Cup champions (1967-69; 1974) and this year qualified for the tournament for the fifth time in the Modern Pro Era and won their first tournament game during that span as they defeated the Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL) 2-0 in the Second Round.

2014 USASA Region I Amateur Cup Semifinals
Maryland Bays 1:0 Vereinigung Erzgebirge

With a spot in the Regional final on the line the Semifinal battle between the Maryland Bays and Eastern Pennsylvania’s Vereinigung Erzgebirge came down to the final minutes. The Bays put themselves in line for a Region I double with a a game-winning goal in the 86th minute, giving Maryland a 1-0 win. They will play in the Region I Open Cup Final and the Amateur Cup Final, which will be hoested by the Ukrainian Nationals (Horsham, Pa.) on June 15.

In the opening half, the visitors from the Philadelphia area focused on absorbing pressure from the Bays, and with the game scoreless at halftime, it was mission accomplished.

“The game plan was advance. We knew we would need to defend first and finish off one of our chances,’ said VE manager Rob Oldfield.

VE created more chances in the second half as the game opened up, but the Bays would have the best chance thanks to Greg Ermold. Maryland’s John Boswell sent a cross into the box that snuck through all of the traffic in front of the net and fell to Ermold who launched a shot off the post to keep the game scoreless.

The game opened up late and just when it looked like it was heading to extra time, a deflected cross fell to Maryland’s Elton Joe and after a scramble for the ball, Joe got his foot on the ball and put what would prove to be the game-winner into the back of the net with less than five minutes to play.

2014 USASA Region I Amateur Cup qualifying
(Home teams on right)

First Round (April 13)
Manzanillol Deportivo (NH) 0:6 Danbury United (CT)
NY Greek American Atlas (East NY) 5:0 Mass United FC (MA)
Maryland Bays (MD) 6:1 FC Motown (NJ)
Vereinigung Erzgebirge (East PA) 3(4):3(3) Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA)
VE advances 4-3 in penalty kicks

Semifinals (May 11)
Danbury United (CT) 0:9 NY Greek American Atlas SC (East NY)
Vereinigung Erzgebirge (East PA) 0:1 Maryland Bays (MD)

Final (June 15, 3 p.m.)
New York Greek American Atlas (East NY) vs. Maryland Bays (MD)
Winner qualifies for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: USASA Region I semifinals on tap for Open, Amateur Cup

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USASA Region I logoUPDATE (5/4/14): The Maryland Bays and Mass Premier Soccer advanced to the USASA Region I Open Cup Final to be held on June 15, 2014, at the Ukrainian Americans Sports Center in Horsham, PA.

The 2014 edition of the US Open Cup is nearly upon us, but qualifying for 2015 is already nearing completion for Region I of the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).

Originally 17 teams were competing for two guaranteed spots over two separate qualifying tournaments. Now, the field is down to seven, as the Region I Open Cup and Amateur Cup are in their semifinal stages. The recent news that Region I was awarded an extra spot in the 2014 Open Cup makes these semifinals even more important—if the format holds true for next year, both Region I Open Cup semifinal winners could end up in the 2015 tournament.

2014 USASA Region I Open Cup

Mass Premier Soccer (MA) at Lansdowne Bhoys (East NY)
May 4, 2 p.m. – Tibbets Brook Park, Yonkers, NY

Mass Premier Soccer might just be the luckiest team in Region I. A 2013 Open Cup entrant, MPS lost in last year’s qualifying final to miss the 2014 tournament and fell to Rhode Island side AC Blaugrana in the play-in game of this year’s qualifying tournament. However, USASA earned two extra berths in the 2014 tournament—one of which went to MPS—and AC Blaugrana was disqualified for using a cup-tied player. MPS went on to beat Icon FC 5-0 in the first round of Open Cup qualifying, meaning they will take part in the 2014 Open Cup and still have a chance for 2015.

Just three days after its qualifying match-up against Lansdowne Bhoys, MPS will take on the Western Mass Pioneers of the PDL in Round One of the 2014 US Open Cup. If MPS was to win, it would travel to Rochester to take on the Rhinos of USL Pro in Round 2.

Lansdowne Bhoys president and ESPN commentator Tommy Smyth must be happy with how much his team is putting “a bulge in the old onion bag.” Through 13 Cosmopolitan Soccer League games, Lansdowne has scored 42 goals—good enough for a 12-1-0 record. To qualify for this tournament, the Bhoys won the Eastern NY title, scoring 13 times in four games. In the first round of the Region I tournament, the high-scoring side put five past Newtown Pride FC in a shutout victory.

This is the first Open Cup qualifying attempt for the Bhoys, who get to play host for the second round in a row.

Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA) at Maryland Bays (MD)
Calvert Hall High School – Baltimore, MD – May 4, 3 p.m.

The Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks will be hoping a win will be good enough to qualify for the 2015 Open Cup. Coach Jon Knight told TheCup.us that his team will struggle if it makes the final, as many of his players are going to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup.

The Aegean Hawks and Maryland Bays are the only teams who competed in both tournaments. The Hawks breezed past Oak Avalon 3-1 in the first round of Open Cup play, but they lost to Vereinigung Erzgebirge in the Amateur Cup in the penalty kick shootout.

Unlike the Hawks, the Bays remain alive in both tournaments. On the Open Cup side of things, the Bays earned their first-ever Region I Open Cup qualifying victory in the first round against Eastern PA squad West Chester United.

Maryland earns another first in the semifinal, as this will be the first time it hosts a Region I qualifying game.

2014 USASA Region I Amateur Cup

Danbury United (CT) at New York Greek American Atlas (NY)
Randall’s Island – Field No. 75 – May 11, 4 p.m.

Usually home-field advantage means something, but it meant little in the first round of the 2014 Amateur Cup. In fact, Danbury United was the only host to win its game, a 6-0 shellacking of Manzanillo Deportivo.

United won’t necessarily be happy to face a New York team in the second round however. After qualifying for the 2007 Open Cup, Danbury has fallen to teams from the Empire State in two straight Region I competitions (2011-12).

New York Greek American Atlas is no stranger to the US Open Cup. The club won the championship four times (1967-69, 1974), and in 2014 will compete in its fifth Open Cup in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present). They will travel to take on the Ocean City Nor’easters of the PDL in Round Two.

As they look to defend their Region I Amateur Cup title, in Round 1, the Greek Americans dispatched Mass United FC 5-0. Last year’s victory earned them an Open Cup berth, which is the first time the Amateur Cup champion was sent to the tournament.

Vereinigung Erzgebirge (Eastern PA) at Maryland Bays (MD)
Calvert Hall High School – Baltimore, MD – May 11, 4 p.m.

Vereinigung Erzgebirge was founded in 1931, and is looking to qualify for the Open Cup for the first time since 2002. To do that, it will have to do something its fellow Pennsylvania side West Chester United couldn’t do—defeat the Maryland Bays.

VE knocking the Aegean Hawks out of the Amateur Cup tournament was the only close game of the first round. After a 3-3 draw, VE won the ensuing penalty kick shootout 4-3 to advance to the second round.

The Maryland Bays had attempted Open Cup qualification several times over several years without hosting a game. This matchup will be its second home contest in as many weeks.

Traveling to New Jersey in the first round didn’t seem to hurt the Bays any, as they emerged 6-1 winners over FC Motown. Couple that with a 3-1 win in the first round of Open Cup qualifying, and Maryland looks to be a tough out for any team it may face.

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: Mass Premier Soccer cruises past Icon FC to complete USASA Region I final four

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Defending USASA Region I Open Cup champion Icon FC will not qualify for a third straight US Open Cup after a 5-0 loss to Mass Premier Soccer. Photo: Brian O'Connell | NESoccerToday.com

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Mass Premier Soccer certainly made the most of their second chance in US Open Cup qualifying.

Days after the AC Blaugrana (Rhode Island) side that beat them in the preliminary round was disqualified for fielding an ineligible player, Mass Premier put a 5-0 thrashing on defending USASA Region I Open Cup champion Icon FC (New Jersey) on Sunday at Framingham State University.

Charlie Romero and Nick Figueiredo both bagged a brace while Darren Howerton also aided the Mass Premier cause in a match dominated by the hosts. Icon tested goalkeeper Jeff Newman a handful of times, but he managed to keep the sheet clean for MPS.

The win sends Mass Premier to the USASA Region I semifinals, where they will host Eastern New York side Lansdowne Bhoys on May 4.

Icon started with nine players, and Mass Premier went to work on exploiting the personnel advantage. Using the left flank to great effect, Johnson sent a cross inside the box for Romero, who tapped in the first goal in the 8th minute.

The hosts tried to find another before Icon’s late arrivals made their entrance. But even after the guests went to 11 men around the 13th minute, Mass Premier would have no problem finding the back of the net as the game progressed.

With Icon going with a high line, the Massachusetts XI timed their runs perfectly to find a pair of breakaway opportunities. But even though they weren’t able to bag a goal in that fashion, they managed to find another goal before the interval.

In the 41st minute, Santiago Bedoya hit a shot that was initially saved by Icon keeper Javier Martinez. But the rebound spilled to Romero, who slipped it through right on the doorstep to send his squad to halftime with a two-goal lead.

But Icon put up a valiant fight in the opening moments of the second stanza. Adam Bajek went down the left and sent it central for Gabriel Alvas, who quickly flicked it with his left foot to Enrique San Juan. With only Newman to beat, San Juan made a strong bid, but the Mass Premier keeper made a diving save to thwart Icon’s best opportunity of the afternoon.

Piotr Gorgurewicz and Teddy Niziolek both uncovered chances for Icon as the hour approached. Each time, though, the Mass Premier defense stood strong to keep their adversaries off the board.

While Icon may have failed to convert their chances, Mass Premier wouldn’t be denied on their own as the match reached into the later stages.

After stringing together a series of passes inside the Icon half, Mass Premier put an exclamation point on the match when Figueiredo grabbed a short pass and, with space to operate, unleashed a curling effort that tucked itself in the upper 90 during the 68th minute.

The hosts scored another in the 73rd minute when Romero crossed it for Figueiredo, who scored his second goal within a five minute span on an easy tap in.

Howerton capped the scoring in the 78th minute when his diving header on a Bedoya cross fell into the back of the net, much to the delight of the Mass Premier partisans.

Brian O’Connell is one of the founders of New England Soccer Today. You follow him on Twitter @NESoccerToday or @BrianOConnell21.

Lineups

Mass Premier Soccer: Jeff Newman (GK), Jake Edwards, Alan Ashenfelter, Dan MacGregor, Pumelele Maqubela, Ben Shuleva, Santiago Bedoya, Nick Christman, Charlie Romero, Tyler MacNee, Alex Johnson, Nick Figueiredo, Darren Howerton, Matt Hoff

Icon FC: Javier Martinez (GK), Gregory Bajek, Adam Bajek, Michael Custidiano, Walter Avan, Teddy Niziolek, Chris Duggan, Enrique San Juan, Nathaniel Winslow, Gabriel Alvas, Piotr Gorgurewicz.

Scoring summary
MPS: Charlie Romero – 8th minute
MPS: Charlie Romero – 41st minute
MPS: Nick Figueiredo – 68th minute
MPS: Nick Figueiredo – 73rd minute
MPS: Darren Howerton – 78th minute

2014 USASA Region I Open Cup qualifying
(Home teams on right)

Preliminary Round (April 6)
AC Blaugrana (RI) L:W Mass Premier Soccer (MA)
ACB won original match 2-0, but were DQ’d for use of ineligble player

Quarterfinals (April 6)
Newtown Pride FC (CT) 1:5 Lansdowne Bhoys FC (East NY)
Maryland Bays (MD) 3:1 West Chester United (East PA)
Oak Avalon (West PA) 1:3 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (DC/VA)
Icon FC (NJ) 0:5 Mass Premier Soccer (MA) – April 13

Semifinals (May 4)
Lansdowne Bhoys (East NY) at Mass Premier Soccer (MA)
Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (CT) at Maryland Bays (MD)

Final (June 15)
Teams TBD – Winner qualifies for 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: Rhode Island’s AC Blaugrana disqualified from USASA Region I tournament

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USASA Region I logoThree days after they became the first Rhode Island-based side to advance to the Region I Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup in recent memory, AC Blaugrana was disqualified from the historic tournament after one of its players was ruled ineligible.

Alencar ‘Junior’ Ventura, who scored Blaugrana’s second goal in a 2-0 win over Mass Premier Soccer in last Sunday’s preliminary round clash, was ineligible to play after he suited up for Mass United FC in the state semifinals last fall. Players are deemed ‘cup-tied’ to their original club during the course of an ongoing tournament.

With Blaugrana out, Mass Premier advances to the Region I Quarterfinals for the third straight year. They will host New Jersey-based Icon FC at Framingham State University on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Brian O’Connell is one of the founders of New England Soccer Today. Follow him on Twitter @BrianOConnell21.

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: USASA Region I tournaments begin on Sunday

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USASA Region I logoA long series of state competitions culminates in this—the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) Region I Open and Amateur Cups, with the winners of each tournament qualifying for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The Open CUp begins this weekend (April 6) with the quarterfinal round, while the Amateur Cup competition kicks off a week later.

This will be only the second year Region I has used this format, which features 17 teams, two of which are playing in both competitions. Last year, Icon FC won the Open Cup and New York Greek American Atlas won the Amateur Cup, and both teams will represent Region I in the 2014 US Open Cup. This also marks the first time in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present) that one of the regions has elected to send the Amateur Cup champion into the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

2014 USASA Region I Open Cup

The play-in game and quarterfinals will be played April 6 and April 13. Semifinals are scheduled for May 4, and the final will be played on June 15. Icon FC (NJ) is the reigning champion and one of two 2014 US Open Cup entrants from USASA Region I.

AC Blaugrana (RI) at Mass Premier Soccer (MA)
April 6, 2 p.m. – Framingham State University, Framingham, MA

It’s Rhode Island versus Massachusetts in the region’s sole preliminary round game. AC Blaugrana advanced out of the nation’s smallest state by winning the Southern New England Super Cup over Dinamo Morbeza. Competitors in the Southern New England Super League, Blaugrana will look to win its first-ever game in Region I Open Cup play.

Mass Premier Soccer (MPS) competed in the 2013 US Open Cup, where they lost to the PDL’s GPS Portland Phoenix 2-0 in Round One. They faced off with Icon FC (NJ) in the regional final last year, but lost 2-1. Had they won, they would have qualified for the 2014 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The last time the Bay State Soccer League side hosted a Region I contest was in its 2013 run, demolishing Connecticut’s Newtown Pride 6-0.

Newtown Pride FC (CT) at Lansdowne Bhoys (East NY)
April 6, 2 p.m. – Tibbets Brook Park, Yonkers, NY

Newtown Pride FC was established in 1998 and have played numerous charity matches to raise money for the Newtown Parent Connection, which has the goal to educate and empower its community in the prevention of substance abuse and to embrace families in crisis. Newtown was originally scheduled to compete in its state final, but its opponent had to pull out.

Last year, Newtown took part in their first-ever Open Cup qualifying tournament and they kicked off their debut cup run with a controversial situation. They lost to the New York Pancyprian Freedoms (East NY) 1-0, but they filed a protest claiming New York had used an ineligible player. In the end, it was determined that the player in question was ineligible, but a mistake was made in the roster evaluation process and that player was approved in error. A replay was called for and Newtown won 1-0. However, the club would fall one game short of a berth in the 2013 US Open Cup, as they lost to Mass Premier Soccer 6-0.

Lansdowne Bhoys qualified for the Region I tournament in its first-ever attempt, beating four-time US Open Cup champion New York Greek American Atlas in the process. Lansdowne competes in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, which is one of six leagues that have “elite” status according to the USASA.

Oak Avalon (PA West) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA)
April 6, 3 p.m. – Maryland SoccerPlex (Field #15), Boyds, MD

Oak Avalon is the first team to attempt to qualify for the US Open Cup out of Western Pennsylvania for quite a while. Western Pennsylvania teams, most of them based in the Pittsburgh area, were regulars competitors in the pre-modern era, but the region has not produced an Open Cup team since professional leagues re-joined the tournament in 1995. Oak Avalon did not have to qualify for the Region I tournament as it was the only team that entered. Avalon competes in the Greater Pittsburgh Soccer League.

The Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks have qualified out of the Metro DC/Virginia region in seven of its last eight attempts. One of two teams competing in both the Amateur Cup and Open Cup, the Aegean Hawks will host both of their quarterfinal matches. Dulles Sportsplex missed out on the 2013 Open Cup after losing on penalty kicks to Icon FC in the regional tournament. The last time the Hawks hosted a Region I game was in 2012 (a 2-0 win over the Maryland Bays), which was also the last time they made the Open Cup. They won their first Open Cup game in club history, beating the Carolina Dynamo (PDL) 3-1, but fell in the second round to the Richmond Kickers (USL Pro) 4-0.

Maryland Bays (MD) at West Chester United (EPA)
April 6, 2 p.m. – West Chester Area Sports Association Complex (WCUSC Turf Field), West Chester, PA

Maryland Bays are state champions for a third time in four years, but have yet to host a regional game. The Bays, who took out Spartans FC, Christos FC, and Screaming Eagles in the Maryland tournament, are also looking for their first win at the regional level.

Another team looking for its first Region I victory is West Chester United, out of Eastern Pennsylvania. United took the EPA championship for a third year in a row this year, defeating the nearly-90-year-old club Vereinigung Erzgebirge in the final. West Chester last hosted a Region I game in 2013, but fell 4-2 to Icon FC.

Icon (NJ) at AC Blaugrana/Mass Premier Soccer
April 13 – Time and location TBD

The fourth and final quarterfinal will be played a week later due to AC Blaugrana and Mass Premier Soccer competing in the preliminary round game. Last year, Icon became just the second USASA team from New Jersey, and second team in a row, to qualify for the Open Cup in the Modern Professional Era. After defeated Mass Premier Soccer in the Region I Open Cup Final, they win are the 2013 champions and thus qualify for the 2014 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

2014 USASA Region I Amateur Cup

The quarterfinals will be played on April 13. Semifinals are scheduled for May 11, and the final will be played on June 15. New York Greek American Atlas is the reigning champion and under the region’s new qualifying format, by winning the Amateur Cup, the Greeks earn a spot in the following year’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (2014).

Manzanillo Deportivo (NH) at Danbury United (CT)
April 13, 1 p.m. – Immaculate High School; Danbury, CT

For the first time New Hampshire is sending a team to the Region I Amateur Cup. Manzanillo Deportivo competes in the state’s only USASA sanctioned league, the Latino International Federation Association (LIFA). All 10 teams in the league attempted to qualify, with Deportivo emerging as champions.

Danbury United will be happy not to have to face a New York team. After qualifying for the US Open Cup in 2007 (a 3-2 overtime loss in the first round to USL-2 side Western Mass Pioneers), United has fallen to New York clubs in two straight Region I competitions (2011-12). Danbury competes in the Connecticut Soccer League, and won the Connecticut Amateur championship over Poloniahawk Falcon FC.

New York Greek American Atlas (NY) at Mass United FC (MA)
April 13, 5 p.m. – Manning Stadium; Lynn, Mass.

New York Greek American Atlas is no stranger to the US Open Cup. The club won the championship four times (1967-69, 1974), and in 2014 will compete in its fifth Open Cup in the Modern Pro Era. The Greek Americans are reigning champions of the Region I Amateur Cup, defeating the Italian American Sport Club 5-1 last year. New York last qualified for the Open Cup in 2012, where it lost 2-1 in the first round to Reading United of the PDL.

Mass United FC was formed in 2009 and began play in the NPSL in 2011. United also plays in the Bay State Soccer League. The club will move to the newly-formed American Soccer League later this year. Mass United is competing in its first Region I tournament.

Maryland Bays (MD) at FC Motown (NJ)
April 13, 4 p.m. – Montclair State University (Turf Field), Montclair, NJ

After traveling to eastern Pennsylvania in the Open Cup tournament, the Maryland Bays will hit the road to New Jersey a week later. The Bays’ last Region I game against a New Jersey opponent never actually happened. In 2012, after losing its semifinal match, Maryland was supposed to play a “Win & You’re In” contest against Jersey Shore Boca. However, the Bays had to forfeit due to a lack of player availability. This allowed Boca to become the first USASA team from New Jersey to qualify for the Open Cup in the Modern Pro Era. The Garden State hasn’t looked back since, with Icon FC qualifying in 2013 and 2014.

FC Motown will hope to continue New Jersey’s qualifying streak into 2015. They compete in the Garden State Soccer League Semipro Division, and are representing the state for the first time in a regional tournament.

Vereinigung Erzgebirge (EPA) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA)
April 13, 2:30 p.m. – Maryland SoccerPlex (Field #18), Boyds, MD

UPDATE: VE defeated Phoenix SC to win the Eastern Pennsylvania Amateur Cup title

The Eastern Pennsylvania Amateur Cup championship won’t be decided until April 6, giving the winner just a week to get ready for the Aegean Hawks. VE was founded in 1931, and is looking to qualify for the Open Cup for the first time since 2002. Phoenix SC was founded even earlier, in 1926, and made its first Open Cup appearance in 1936. Phoenix last made it to The Cup in 2011, losing 2-1 to the Rochester Rhinos of USL Pro in the first round.

The Aegean Hawks host a Pennsylvania team for the second week in a row when it begins Amateur Cup play. They may face a tougher challenge in this tournament however, as Eastern Pennsylvania has much more Open Cup experience than its western counterpart, Oak Avalon.

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: Maryland Bays avenge last year’s loss to win third state title in last four years

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A year after the Maryland Bays were defeated by the Screaming Eagles, denying them a third straight Maryland Open Cup title, the Bays got their revenge. They defeated the Eagles 4-1 in the Maryland final March 9 to earn their third Rowland Cup championship (as it’s known locally) in four years.

With the win, the Bays will represent Maryland at the 2014 USASA Region I Finals, which will begin April 6. For their first round game at regionals, the Bays will travel north to the Philadelphia area to take on three-time defending Eastern Pennsylvania champion West Chester United. The winner of the Region I tournament will qualify for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Before they reached the 100th Maryland Open Cup final, the Bays defeated two-time champion Christos FC 4-0 in dominant fashion in the semifinals.

Maryland played the game with finesse, and after a quiet opening half-hour the Bays exploded onto the scene. Chris Williams sent in a low cross across the box and Jon Ports let it take a bounce before hitting it on the half-volley to rocket the ball into the upper right corner to give the Bays a 1-0 lead.

Christos FC, one of Maryland’s league rivals, then changed tactics and chose to sit back and defend to see if they could get a goal on the counter. But the Bays offense continued to push forward for another breakthrough and they would get it in the 60th minute.

Elton Joe beat two Christos defenders on the left side of the box and slotted a pass across the box that broke through Christos’ tentative defense once again, allowing Chris Ports to tuck the ball into the back of the net after a dummy from brother Jon.

This seemed to be the straw that broke Christos defense’s back as just five minutes later Maryland’s Leitch beat another CFC defender and attempted a shot from inside the six-yard box that looked off target, until it hit another Christos defender and rolled in for an own goal.

Unfortunately for CFC the goal-onslaught wasn’t over as Chris Ports received the ball at half-field, dribbled past three defenders and slotted the it into the far right corner of the net past Christos goalkeeper Dan Louisignau to cement the Bays’ place in the final.

The semis wouldn’t be the only game that Maryland scored four goals as the Bays eased their way to a Rowland Cup championship after dismantling the Eagles.

Maryland’s high-powered offense really poured it on the Eagles and suffocated the chances the Eagles had offensively. It also stretched the Eagles defense, often to the point of breaking. The most spectacular break would come in the 60th minute.

After Bays goals by Jon Ports and Glenn Leitch, Aaron Beale took the ball out of the back and began to run with it playing a bit a of 1-2 with Colin Rome. Beale eventually received the ball in the penalty area and after cheekily avoiding three defenders, he was tripped up and awarded a penalty.

Chris Ports stepped up to the spot and delivered a shot to the right but saw his effort saved. Unfortunately for the Eagles goalkeeper, he only managed to deflect the ball off the line, watching it land right back at Ports’ feet for the easy tap-in to give the Bays a 3-0 advantage.

Maryland offense looked to open the scoring early as Ports slotted a through ball to the right side of the box for his brother, who drove a scorching shot off the post in the fifth minute.

It wouldn’t take the Bays much longer to find the goal as Glenn Leitch nodded in a 35-yard free kick delivered by John Taylor to open the scoring in the eighth minute. Next, Leitch would turn provider in the 20th as he beat his marker on the left side and drove a hard pass across the box at Jon Ports, who made a cheeky dummy and watched it slide between the goalkeeper’s legs to put Maryland up 4-0. The Bays then subbed out five players to run out the clock, but the scoring wasn’t finished.

The Eagles deposited a late penalty in the 86th minute but the damage had been done and Maryland became the 2014 Rowland Cup champions and will represent Maryland in the USASA Region I Finals.

2014 Maryland Open Cup qualifying results
(Rowland Cup)

First Round (Jan. 19)
Baltimore Kickers Bayern 3:1 Malawi FC
Washington Elite FC 6:4 (AET) Pipeline SC

Quarterfinals (Feb. 2)
ASA Charm City FC 3:1 Academy FC
Screaming Eagles 8:1 Baltimore Kickers Bayern
Christos FC 2:1 Washington Elite FC
Maryland Bays 2:1 Spartans FC

Semifinals (Feb. 23)
Maryland Bays 4:0 Christos FC
Screaming Eagles 4:2 ASA Charm City FC

Final (March 9)
Maryland Bays 4:1 Screaming Eagles

Past Maryland Open Cup champions
2014: Maryland Bays
2013: Screaming Eagles
2012: Maryland Bays
2011: Maryland Bays
2010: Charm City FC
2009: Christos FC
2008: Baltimore Colts FC
2007: AC United (Note: Christos FC & Allied SC merged)
2006: Allied SC*
2005: Baltimore Colts FC*
2004: Allied SC*
2003: Brilla Baltimore
2002: Christos FC
2001: DiPasquale Baltimore Colts FC
2000: Jerry D’s*
1999: Jerry D’s
1998: High Topps
1997: Casa Mia
1996: Casa Mia
1995: Casa Mia

*qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: Aegean Hawks win 7th DC-Virginia Open Cup title in last 8 attempts

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With a 2-0 victory over Hammers FC, the Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks have won the Metro DC-Virginia Open Cup title for the seventh time in eight attempts. The Hawks have now earned a place in next month’s USASA Region I Open Cup tournament, which will qualify a team to the 2015 edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

According to Aegean Hawks coach Jonathan Knight, his team started poorly, but gradually got better as the game went along. As the team started to control the flow of the game, opportunities on net began to arise.

The Hawks eventually broke through right before the halftime whistle. It was a Big Ten connection that led to the first goal as a string of nine to 10 passes sent former Ohio State midfielder Danny Irizarry through into the box by former Wisconsin Badger Watson Prather. Irizarry hit a one-time shot into the right corner of the goal to give his side a 1-0 lead.

Knight was much happier with the second half, which saw his team score an insurance goal to seal the DC/VA championship. In the 55th minute, former Georgetown player Jose Colchao put in a cross to David Rosenbaum, who calmly converted his opportunity.

Up 2-0, the Aegean Hawks had several more opportunities but could not add to their lead, which almost proved costly. Hammers had two quality chances toward the end of the game. In the 75th minute, a rocket of a shot from 20 yards out hit the crossbar, and five minutes later, a shot on a nearly-open net was shanked wide left.

With the victory, the Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks move on to the USASA Region I Open Cup tournament, where they are scheduled to host Pennsylvania West representative Oak Avalon on April 6. Despite making it to regionals, Knight bemoans the fact that the DC/VA tournament only saw two teams compete in the competition for the fifth year in a row.

“We have had much more participation in the past,” he said. “Participation is down because of the cost of playing. That scared away a lot of teams. It’s a shame because there are a lot of good teams in our state. I mean, we finished 7th in our league last fall. That shows that a lot of good teams just don’t enter.”

Still, Knight is happy that his team, which first entered the DC/VA Open Cup tournament back in 2006 and won the tournament four years in a row (2006-2009) before having their streak ended in 2010 by rival Club Atletico Virginia. In 2011, the Hawks found a way to enter the more competitive Maryland tournament, but also found out just how competitive it was and lost in the opening round to Christos FC. They returned to DC/VA in 2012 where they avenged their 2010 loss with a 3-1 victory over CAV, and now have defeated Hammers FC two years in a row to win the title.

He said, “We’re very excited to move on to regionals. We have a really talented roster. Just the idea that we can get to Lamar Hunt is fun.”


Recent DC/VA Open Cup champions:
2014: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks
2013: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks
2012: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks
2011: Club Atletico Virginia
2010: Club Atletico Virginia
2009: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks
2008: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks
2007: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks
2006: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks
2005: Lex United
2004: LCC International
2003: Dynamos FC
2002: LCC International
2001: Virginia Beach International
2000: LCC International
1999: Zorba FC
1998: LCC International
1997: Unknown club (if you know who won, email us)
1996: Mo’s Sport Shop
1995: Spartan SC

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: Charm City, Bays join Maryland Open Cup semifinals

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The state of Maryland’s Open Cup semifinals, or Rowland Cup, as it’s known locally, are complete.

All four teams that advanced have won the tournament title in the last five years. Two-time champion Maryland Bays (2011-12), ASA Charm City FC (2010 co-champion), last year’s winner Screaming Eagles and another two-time champ Christos FC (2002, 2009) round out the final four, set to be played Feb. 23.

MARYLAND BAYS 2:1 SPARTANS FC

A goalkeeper’s job can be defined by spectacular saves or glaring misses, but when it came down to it, Phil Saunders came up with the former.

Saunders saved a penalty kick late in the game and effectively took the drive out off a strong Spartans squad and Chris Ports would tuck away a last-second penalty to give the Maryland Bays a 2-1 win over the Spartans.

After playing counterattacking soccer for much of the afternoon, the Spartans would push forward and work the ball into the box. Maryland tried to absorb the pressure but eventually conceded a penalty to seemingly swing the momentum in the Spartans’ favor with the score tied at 1-1 at the 75 minute mark.

But Saunders made himself big and saved the ensuing kick, pumping up the Maryland squad and urging his teammates forward to go for the win.

The push forward would eventually work for the Bays as Jon Ports dribbled into the box before being fouled and drawing a red card on a Spartan player.

Ports’ brother, Chris Ports, would step up to the spot and convert the penalty to give Maryland a one-goal advantage and the whistle would blow a few minutes later to seal the win.

The Bays opened the scoring on one of the three dangerous early breakaways that stretched the Spartans’ defense. Jon Ports led the breakaway and tucked the ball into the net five minutes into the game and it seemed smooth sailing heading into the second half.

But the Spartans exploded out of the gate in the second half, using strong counterattacking play to put one past Saunders and tie up the game at 1-1, but Maryland would keep pushing for another goal and leave the pitch with the win.

The game was extremely taxing for the Bays as three Maryland players left the game with game-ending injuries that left coach Bungarin with only his backup goalkeeper as a sub.

The Bays, last year’s state runner-up, will move on to play fellow two-time champion Christos FC in the final four. Christos narrowly edged Washington Elite FC 2-1 in their quarterfinal match earlier in the day.

ASA CHARM CITY FC 3:1 ACADEMY FC

The road to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is long and winding for most teams, and in the Rowland Cup quarterfinal match between ASA Charm City FC and Academy FC, one team’s journey was coming to an end. With a stellar cohesive team performance, Charm City was able to move on to the semifinals with a powerful 3-1 victory.

The game started without much fanfare, with both teams trading blows for the first 30 minutes of the game. In the 30th minute, Charm City’s Dan Lader scored on an attempted cross that ended up in the top corner. Lader raced down the right flank and launched a venomous curling cross to the back post that had enough spin to be tucked inside the frame.

That goal proved to be the only mark on the scoreline from the first half, and Charm City went into halftime up 1-0.

Academy conceded a penalty kick shortly after halftime when one of their defenders took down Charm City’s Pat Delaney inside the area. John Cole stepped up to calmly slot home the attempt to the goalkeeper’s right side. Academy was not done fighting, however, drawing back a goal in the 50th minute to make the score 2-1.

Unfortunately, the effort proved to not be enough, as City forward Cubay Wilson broke free and chipped the ball over the Academy keeper’s head to give Charm City a firm 3-1 lead which they would not relinquish.

Charm City is back in the final four where they will face the Screaming Eagles who cruised past Baltimore Kickers Bayern 8-1. Last year, the Eagles won their first-ever Maryland Open Cup title, denying the Maryland Bays a three-peat.

2014 Maryland Open Cup qualifying results
(Rowland Cup)

First Round (Jan. 19)
Baltimore Kickers Bayern 3:1 Malawi FC
Washington Elite FC 6:4 (AET) Pipeline SC

Quarterfinals (Feb. 2)
ASA Charm City FC 3:1 Academy FC
Screaming Eagles 8:1 Baltimore Kickers Bayern
Christos FC 2:1 Washington Elite FC
Maryland Bays 2:1 Spartans FC

Semifinals (Feb. 23)
Christos FC vs. Maryland Bays
Screaming Eagles vs. ASA Charm City FC

Final (March 9)
Montgomery Blair High School

Past Maryland Open Cup champions
2013: Screaming Eagles
2012: Maryland Bays
2011: Maryland Bays
2010: Charm City FC
2009: Christos FC
2008: Baltimore Colts FC
2007: AC United (Note: Christos FC & Allied SC merged)
2006: Allied SC*
2005: Baltimore Colts FC*
2004: Allied SC*
2003: Brilla Baltimore
2002: Christos FC
2001: DiPasquale Baltimore Colts FC
2000: Jerry D’s*
1999: Jerry D’s
1998: High Topps

*qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

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