USASA Region I

2013 US Open Cup qualifying: Mass Premier Soccer’s one-sided win over Stela Negra earns them ticket to Mass. final, sucker punch

November 18, 2012 by Hank Alexandre

Mass. Premier Soccer advanced to the final round of US Open Cup Qualifying with a resounding 8-1 defeat of Stela Negra, in a game that ended in a sucker punch, a subsequent red card, and the referee letting the clock run down while holding the ball for the final 5 minutes of play.

Stela Negra were extremely frustrated by the time the offending player, #14, ran out of the MPS backfield and sucker punched a MPS defender in the face, just as MPS’ Jake Edwards was scoring their 8th goal in the 82nd minute. The player, whose name was not released, was immediately ejected. The officials spent the next several minutes trying to restore a semblance of order, but ended up being forced to let time run out without resuming play.

MPS opened up the scoring early in the 7th minute, when MPS player/manager Nick Christman found teammate Matt Hoff at the top of the box. Stela Negra were quick to counter, finding the back of the net in the 15th minute with a brilliant header, but Stela forward Kanutu was judged to be offside, erasing the equalizer.

MPS then took over the match with back to back goals from Dan MacGregor and Nick Christman in the 17th and 18th minutes, respectively. MacGregor would again find the back of the net in the 38th minute. Stela Negra found their only goal of the match just before the half ended, with Jibita Sombaros scoring off a corner kick which eluded MPS Keeper Jeff Newman.

Stela Negra’s best chance in the second half came in the 64th minute, with a free kick in the MPS half of the field, but the attempt sailed high over the bar. From that point on, it was all MPS for the remainder of the match. Tyler Macnee opened the onslaught in the 69th minute, and was followed up by goals by Kevin Unger, Nick Christman, and Jake Edwards. Then the mayhem kicked into overdrive.

The Stela players lost all composure as they tried to defend the actions of their teammate, who had just been ejected from the game. The officials did well to let time run out, as it was clear that letting play continue would have resulted in further players being hurt or ejected.

“I expected it to be closer”, said Christman after the game. “We’ve played them in previous years and they’ve always played us tough.”

MPS may find a more challenging opponent in Eastern Providence Sports, the winner of the other Semi-Final on Saturday. “We played them last year in the Open Cup, and it was 3-3 after regulation, 4-4 after extra time, and went deep into penalties. They’ve got some good players.”

For East Providence, who compete in Massachusetts despite being based in Rhode Island, it was their first Open Cup qualifying win, and their reward is another chance for revenge on MPS. In 2011, they lost in the opening round game in the USASA Region I tournament (their last representing the state of Rhode Island). Last year, they drew 4-4 with MPS, but lost in penalty kicks in Round 1 of the Massachusetts tournament.

2013 Massachusetts Open Cup tournament schedule

First Round [+] Recap
Battery Park Gunners 2:1 Mass United FC
Boston Olympiakos 0:6 Mass Premier Soccer
Middlesex FC 1:6 East Providence Sports
Strela Negra (BYE)

Semifinals
Battery Park Gunners 3:4 East Providence Sports [+] Recap
Mass Premier Soccer 8:1 Strela Negra

Final (Date/Time TBA)

Mass Premier Soccer vs. East Providence Sports

Recent Massachusetts Open Cup champions
2013: TBD
2012: Battery Park Gunners
2011: Mass Premier Soccer
2010: Emigrantes Das Ilhas
2009: Emigrantes Das Ilhas*
2008: Boston Olympiakos*
2007: Lowell Revolution
2006: Green Briar Rebels
2005: Green Briar Rebels
2004: Boston Olympiakos
2003: Green Briar Rebels
2002: Hellas United

*Qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2013 US Open Cup qualifying: East Providence Sports eliminates Battery Park Gunners to reach Massachusetts final

November 17, 2012 by Brian O'Connell

Story originally published at New England Soccer Today. Follow them on Twitter @NESoccerToday

Armando Gomes and Kyle Teixeira each bagged a brace as East Providence Sports clinched a US Open Cup state final berth following Saturday’s 4-3 win over Battery Park Gunners at Madison Park High School.

Bobby Linaberry put the Gunners in the 5th minute, but Gomes replied with his first goal in the 22nd minute. He added his second in the 35th minute before Ben Shuleva leveled it in the 40th minute for the Gunners. Teixeira tallied in the 70th and 80th minutes, while Matt Shea brought one back for Battery Park in the 90th minute.

East Providence goalkeeper Jimmi Underhill made a pair of important saves late to preserve the result.

Saturday’s semifinal win sends East Providence to the Massachusetts state final match, where they will face the winner of Sunday’s Mass Premier Soccer-Strela Negra semifinal contest on Sunday. The state final is tentatively scheduled for the weekend of Dec. 9.

In the opening moments, it hardly looked like East Providence would pull away with the win. Battery Park, the defending Massachusetts Open Cup champion, pressed the issue and tested Underhill right from the first chirp of the whistle.

Only five minutes passed when the Gunners, the best amateur side in the country by virtue of their 2012 National Amateur Cup championship, fired the first shot. Ryan McDaniel sent it inside the area, where Linaberry launched it into the net.

Shortly thereafter, the match undertook on a physical tone. Players from both clubs employed aggressive tackles and shoves to impose and intimidate.

Nevertheless, East Providence mounted a dangerous counterattack midway through the first half. Eddy Lopes played a ball forward to Gomes at the left post, where he tapped it through.

Gomes scribbled his name on the scoresheet again in the 35th minute when he collected the remnants of a Jimmy Hernandez cross. After a moment of defensive confusion, Gomes coolly converted near the six.

The lead would not last before the break. Five minutes from halftime, the Gunners exploited the disheveled defense, which allowed Shuleva to score.

Despite a four-goal first half, the second half remained scoreless for 25 minutes. That streak ended moments after Teixeira sauntered down the left and looked for a teammate in the area. His cross hit the arm of a Gunners’ defender, and the referee pointed to the spot, where Teixeira buried it to reclaim the lead.

The creative winger moved up to forward, just in time to find his second strike. On another counterattack, Gomes sent it over to Teixeira in front of the area. From there, Teixeira raced through and chipped it over Philip Nelson ten minutes from time.

Battery Park made it interesting in the 90th minute when Myles Gerraty gave it to Shea, who cut the deficit to one.

However, East Providence held on for five minutes of stoppage time to secure their spot in the state final.

For East Providence, a Rhode Island based club who competes in the Massachusetts tournament because their league is based there, it was their first Open Cup qualifying win. In 2011, they lost to Mass Premier Soccer in their opening round game in the USASA Region I tournament after entering as Rhode Island’s only entry. Last year, they drew 4-4 with MPS but lost in penalty kicks in Round 1 of the Mass. tournament. Those two teams could meet for a third year in a row depending on how Sunday’s other semifinal turns out.

On Sunday, Mass Premier Soccer takes on Strela Negra at Citizens Bank Park Field in Lancaster, Mass. MPS, the 2011 state champion, thumped tournament regular Boston Olympiakos 6-0 in Round 1, while Strela Negra receieved a first round bye. Strela Negra finished as the state’s runner-up in 2008, but have been one-and-done in their last two entries (2009, 2012). Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Lineups:

Battery Park Gunners: Joe Annese, Joe Germanese, Myles Gerraty, Steve Hepburn, Ernest McAlister, Ryan McDaniel, Philip Nelson, Jason Pan, Ben Shuleva, Joe Vitale, Bobby Linberry. SUBSTITUTES: Josiah Marshall, John Orr, Matt Shea

East Providence Sports: Dave DeMelo, Joaquim Depina, Miguel Fortes, Armando Gomes, Jimmy Hernandez, Tristan Lewis, Eddy Lopes, Andres Perdomo, Anthony Petrarca, Kyle Teixeira, Jimmi Underhill. SUBSTITUTES: Peter Maciel

2013 Massachusetts Open Cup tournament schedule

First Round [+] Recap
Battery Park Gunners 2:1 Mass United FC
Boston Olympiakos 0:6 Mass Premier Soccer
Middlesex FC 1:6 East Providence Sports
Strela Negra (BYE)

Semifinals
Battery Park Gunners 3:4 East Providence Sports

Mass Premier Soccer vs. Strela Negra
Sunday, Nov. 18
Citizens Bank Park Field – Lancaster, MA – 11 a.m.

Final (Sunday, Dec. 9)

*Qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2012 Meet the USASA: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks from Washington D.C.

May 13, 2012 by Josh Hakala

Welcome to our continuing series of Meet the USASA features where we annually profile the clubs representing the United States Adult Soccer Association in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Advancing from the four regional tournaments, these often unknown clubs have great stories to tell and each year, our goal is to allow fans to get to know them as they attempt to become this year’s Cinderella story.

The Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks are back in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the third time in the last six years. If you think the team name is a mouthful, you’re right, but as the club’s manager Jon Knight is quick to point out, the Hawks wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for their main sponsor that supports his pay-to-play club from the Washington DC area.

After qualifying for the Open Cup for the first time in 2007, the Hawks nearly folded, but were brought back from the brink by the folks at Dulles Sportsplex (Sports Management Group). While the bulk of the team’s finances are provided through financial support of their sponsors, the players all pay season dues as a central philosophy of the team to shoulder the burden of the team’s obligations.

“Recently we have adopted the motto of Scotland’s Queen’s Park FC, ‘Ludere Causa Ludendi’ (to play for the sake of playing), because it perfectly encapsulates the essence of our team,” said Knight. “The fact that we are hosting a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match shows how far we have come from our first appearance in 2007.”

The Hawks are hosting the PDL’s Carolina Dynamo at the Maryland Soccerplex in Boyds, MD (7:30 p.m. kickoff), aiming for their first Open Cup win. Their previous two appearances they found themselves playing road games against third division professional teams. In 2007, they lost 4-0 to the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) and two years later, they lost a lightning-shortened 1-0 decision to the Real Maryland Monarchs.

The Hawks have been the dominate team out of the Metro DC/Virginia Soccer Association for the last seven years, including their three Open Cup appearances in 2007, 2009 and this year. They have represented DC/VA in the USASA Region I tournament every year they have entered the state tournament since 2006 (In 2011, they entered the Maryland qualifying tournament). In addition to their impressive Open Cup resume, they have a laundry list of trophies, highlighted by their 2009 USASA Amateur Cup national title.

The team was founded in 1996 by a group of Greek and Cypriot University students in the D.C. area, and is named after a Greek Army helicopter. As the years passed, most of the players who founded the team either stopped playing or went back to their homelands, and the name was kept out of respect for the founders.

“Often people have asked why I have never changed the name of the team since all the original Greek and Cypriot founders and players are no longer with the club,” explained Knight. “My response to them is that they still are, very much, with the club both in spirit and with support. This was their team I inherited in 2002 and it already had a good local tradition, which I knew as a player for the Hawks since 1998.”

The Hawks began their journey to the tournament by defeating their rivals Club Atletico Virginia 3-1 to capture their sixth DC/VA Open Cup title in the last eight years. Guilherme Fonseca assisted on all three goals, two of them by Ernesto Marquez and the other by Sam Scales.

The opening game of the Region I tournament against Eastern Pennsylvania champion West Chester United went the same way as the last one. The Hawks scored the first three goals, and held on to win the game 3-1. Fonseca assisted on two more goals and the third was an own goal.

They would punch their ticket with a 2-0 win over the Maryland Bays in the Region I semifinals with a first half goal by Watson Vaughan Prather and a late unassisted clincher by Fonseca.

Fonseca, as evidenced by his performances in qualifying is the team’s No. 10 in midfield. The Brazilian spent time in the Santos Academy where he played with AC Milan star Robinho

In midfield, Fonseca is flanked by two players with major conference experience in their college days. Former Ohio State Buckeye Sam Scales and local product, and former Maryland Terrapin, Erwin Diaz. His fellow central midfielder Watson Prather played for Wisconsin.

The backline is full of experience for the Hawks, featuring a couple of former USL players on the outside with Mateus Dos Anjos and Devlin Barnes. The middle of the defense is anchored in the middle by Pat Selwood, who played his college ball at Bucknell University.

Up top, one of their top forwards is Ernesto Marquez who led George Mason in scoring during his senior season in 2010. Marquez was coached at GMU by Greg Andrulis, who led the Columbus Crew to the 2002 US Open Cup title.

The team will be without a key player on Tuesday as captain, and George Washington alum, Michael Goldman will miss the game due to a red card he received back in 2009 when the Hawks lost to Real Maryland in the First Round.

“This year’s team is different,” said Knight, who returns just two starters from their first Open Cup run in 2007. “The defining characteristic of this team remains the willingness to compete for each other. We still pride ourselves on being a ‘Band of Brothers’ and it’s a close knit group. There are no superstars on this team, and there is a very good balance.
“We’re a little banged up right now, particularly in our front and back lines, but this equals opportunity for some of the other players in our pool to step up to the challenge,” said Knight. “With so many Cup games recently, we’ve made sure that our entire roster pool has gotten a crack at contributing and getting playing time in our Washington Premier League matches.”

On Tuesday they will open the tournament against the Carolina Dynamo of the Premier Development League who have been competing in the Open Cup since 1996, both as a pro and an amateur franchise. They are making their second straight appearance and have been very successful since joining the PDL in 2004. They have qualified four times as a PDL team and have a 5-2-0 record, including their historic run to the Fourth Round in 2006 where they upset the Richmond Kickers (3rd Division) and the Seattle Sounders (2nd Division) before falling to the Houston Dynamo of MLS, 4-2.

“We have the talent and the capacity to get the result on May 15, but know that it will be a tremendous challenge,” said Knight. “The Carolina Dynamo are a strong PDL side and we know we’ll be up against a talented team chock full of top ACC stars. But playing at home will be a huge boost to us and allow several players that would otherwise not be able to attend, to figure in the match.”

Knight clearly values the tournament, something that hasn’t been lost on his players.

I think the Open Cup is great for the American game as a whole and is certainly a testament to the vision of Mr. Lamar Hunt,” said Sam Scales, who helped Ohio State reach the College Cup Final in 2007. “It honors what the sport has grown to become in the US and I am honored to be partaking in the Cup with the Hawks.”

“This tournament represents the most exciting opportunity for a men’s amateur team,” added Knight. “We want to push ourselves to play at the highest level we can, because we love the game and it still gives back to us.Nobody on this team is playing pro anymore, for some it’s in their future, for others it’s in the past. Most of us never had a chance. But this tournament allows a team like ours to dream big, set a goal and go after it, together.”

MORE: Check out the rest of the 2012 Meet the USASA series

Forfeit helps Jersey Shore Boca qualify for US Open Cup for first time

April 28, 2012 by Josh Hakala

For the first time in the Modern Pro Era (1995-present), the state of New Jersey will have a representative in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, but one would imagine this isn’t how they wanted it to happen.

After losing their “Win & You’re In” USASA Region I match against the New York Greek American Atlas, Boca had a second chance to get in to the Open Cup by squaring off against the other semifinal loser, the Maryland Bays in the third place match.

Jersey Shore were scheduled to host the match on Sunday, April 29, but TheCup.us has learned that the Maryland Bays have withdrawn from the match. Bays manager Bryan Bugarin was disappointed to pull out, but a combination of injuries and player availability, he said, would not allow him to field a full squad. Bugarin says his club will “definitely be back” next year as the Bays will attempt to become the first team since 1997 to win three straight Maryland Open Cup titles.

Boca are the first New Jersey team to qualify since 1995, and according to TheCup.us records, the last USASA team from the Garden State to participate in the Open Cup was FC Porto in 1993.

Normally each of the four regions is given two Open Cup berths, but this year the USASA was allowed nine places by tournament organizer US Soccer Federation. It was decided that since more teams attempt to qualify from Region I than any other region, they would be awarded that extra spot.

2012 US Open Cup qualifying: NY Greek American Atlas, Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks emerge from USASA Region I

April 23, 2012 by Gerald Barnhart

UPDATE (4/27/12): The Maryland Bays have withdrawn from the third place match that (for the first time) will act as a “Win & You’re In” match for the US Open Cup. Because of the forfeit, Jersey Shore Boca become the first New Jersey club from the USASA to qualify for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Although there was a safety net with a second chance to qualify in the consolation contest next weekend, the USASA Region I Semifinals presented the four remaining clubs with a chance to claim their berths into the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with just one final victory. And experience won out on the day as the veteran Open Cup sides Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks and NY Greek American Atlas both posted 2-0 victories over clubs new looking to advance for the first time.

In a pair of border contests, the DC/Virginia champion Hawks blanked the Maryland Bays at the Maryland Soccerplex and the Greek Americans topped Jersey Shore Boca. Boca and the Bays were scheduled to determine the region’s third Open Cup berth with a third place match the following weekend, but Maryland withdrew due to injuries and lack of player availability. Jersey Shore become the first USASA club from New Jersey to qualify for the Open Cup in the Modern Pro Era (1995-present).

The Hawks continue to be one of the powers of the region, remaining the only club from Virginia to qualify for the tournament more than once, reaching the Open Cup for the third time now in six years (2007, 2009).

Heavy rains forced a back-and-forth contest between the two sides that proved to hold even until a 40th minute corner kick. Sam Scales found Watson Vaughan Prather for a point-blank header to give the Hawks the lead. It was Prather’s second strike in as many games, tallying the second goal in the Region I First Round contest, a 3-1 victory over West Chester United three weeks ago. Scales previously scored himself in the team’s 3-1 victory over Club Atletico Virginia in the state championship.

Play opened in the second half and both clubs continued to have chances, including Maryland on set pieces that came agonizingly close to equalizing, particularly a ripped 35 yard shot that narrowly missed the post with 15 minutes remaining. As the Hawks began to transition to a conservative posture to hold the advantage, the Maryland pressure continued to increase only for naught.

With six minutes left second-half sub Gui Fonseca secured the victory with a brilliant individual effort. He took the ball 18 yards out and drove past two Maryland defenders before dancing along the end line and poking a shot past the keeper at the near post. Though he was a reserve on the night, Fonseca has been a star for the team in the qualifying campaign. He notched assists on all three goals in the state championship victory and added two more in the win in the Region I opener over West Chester United.

“This is an incredible achievement for us,” said Hawks manager Jon Knight. “We’re a pay-to-play organization and not many teams like us make it this far, so it says a lot about our team. We’re looking to get into the Second Round this year, and I think we’re going to be tough to beat.”

On Randall’s Island in New York City, the New York Greek American Atlas, who have four US Open Cup titles to their credit (1967, 1968, 1969, 1974), returned to the tournament for the first time since 2005, with their win over Jersey Shore Boca.

The two teams battled to a scoreless draw at the half, but right out of the gate, the Greeks broke through in the 48th minute when Joe Ruesgen’s corner kick was volleyed in by former UMass player Ben Arikian to give the home team the lead.

New York Greek American Atlas: 4-time Open Cup champions (1967, 1968, 1969, 1974)

Later, around the 70th minute, New York would add a second when Chris Megaloudis, a Puerto Rican international who spent time with the New York Red Bulls, found Paul Shaw to make it 2-0. Shaw sent a through ball to Megaloudis in the corner, who then beat his defender, found space and crossed the ball back to Shaw, who put the ball into the back of the net at the six-yard box.

Shaw, who began his career in England with Arsenal in the early 90s, and playing for a number of European clubs before joining FC New York as a player/manager last year. In January, he accepted an assistant coaching job at Adelphi University.

Boca put on the pressure in the final 20 minutes, but the Greeks’ defense held on the clean sheet, led by former Harrisburg City Islander goalkeeper Tommy Booth, who currently coaches at LIU-Brooklyn.

“We are delighted to be back in the US Open Cup,” said Greek Americans player/manager Michael Todd.

New York advances to the Open Cup for the fourth time (1998, 2004, 2005, 2012) in the Modern Pro Era, and puts an Eastern New York team in the tournament for the third straight year and the sixth time in the last nine seasons (New York Pancyprian Freedoms 2008, 2010, 2011). The Greeks emerged from the Eastern New York tournament, defeating the 4-time defending champion Pancyprian Freedoms in the final by a score of 4-0. New York then defeated Massachusetts champion Battery Park Gunners 2-0 with late goals from Megaloudis and Keith Detelj to reach Sunday’s match against Boca.

NY Greek American Atlas (East NY) 2:0 Jersey Shore Boca (NJ)
NY: Ben Arikian (Joe Ruesgen) – 48th minute
NY: Paul Shaw (Chris Megaloudis) – 70th minute

New York Greek Americans lineup:
Tommy Booth (GK), Danny Kramer, Tom Wharfe, Billy Hole, Joe Ruesgen (Diego Velasquez – 72′), Gary Flood (Michael Todd – 42′), Ben Arikian, Josh Troff, Arman Osooli, Chris Megaloudis, Keith Detelj (Paul Shaw – 65′)

Jersey Shore Boca lineup
Bobby Feeney (GK), Vasili Foukarakis, Andrew Cotrell, Tomas Banionis, John Carrozza (Christian Pontier – 80′), Andrew Hawtin, Dane Hodge, Ryan Sherman, Joe Selitto (Dan Pires – 45′), Simon Muckle (Chris Beekman – 45′), Michael Pezza (Nick Tarquino – 60′)

Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks 2:0 Maryland Bays
AH: Watson Vaughan Prather (Sam Scales) 40
AH: Gui Fonseca (Unassisted) 84

Aegean Hawks lineup:
Chris Fenner (GK), Mateus dos Anjos, Pat Selwood, James Kpainay, Devlin Barnes, Michael Goldman, Watson Vaughan Prather (Danny Irizarry – 65th), Sam Scales, Ernesto Marquez (Lonnie Carter – 75′), Scott Larrabee, Matt Ney (Gui Fonseca – 70′)

2012 USASA Region I Open Cup tournament

Round 1 (April 1)
Battery Park Gunners (Mass.) 0:2 NY Greek American Atlas (East NY) [+] Recap
West Chester United Predators (East PA) 1:3 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA) [+] Recap

Semifinals (April 22)
Jersey Shore Boca (NJ) 0:2 NY Greek American Atlas (East NY)
Maryland Bays (MD) 0:2 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA)
NY Greek American Atlas, Aegean Hawks both qualify for 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

Third Place Game (April 29)
Maryland Bays (MD) at Jersey Shore Boca (NJ)
John Patrick Sports Complex – Lakewood, NJ – 2 p.m.
Winner qualifies for 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2012 US Open Cup Qualifying: NY Greek American Atlas dispatch first-timers Battery Park Gunners in Region I opener (Video)

April 4, 2012 by Steven Bayley

Despite a vast difference in the two clubs, it took four-time US Open Cup champion club New York Greek American Atlas 84 minutes before finding two late strikes to knock out upstart Boston-area club Battery Park Gunners Sunday in the opening round of the USASA Region I tournament.

The late New York burst included goals from former Major League Soccer player Chris Megaloudis in the 84th minute and Keith Detelj in the 86th.

The second half was characterized by waves of attack from the Greek Americans. Battery Park moved the ball through midfield capably but was unable to get an organized attack moving into the final third of the field. New York dominated possession in the second half and earned the victory on a cold and blustery field. Game time temperature was 44 and repeated wind gusts in excess of 30 miles per hour were present from the opening kick. Greek American presented an organized attack, building through the back and getting more comfortable as the game wore on.

“Yeah, it was hard work, the Boston team are very hard working, very well organized,” said Greek American manager Michael Todd. “We had plenty of chances we didn’t put away, but we kept playing and eventually we got one of the chances and put it away so I’m very pleased.”

The conditions made the going tough for both teams, especially Battery Park, who appeared less comfortable moving the ball on the ground and whose long balls were continually ineffective in penetrating a solid New York defense.

“I thought we did well – the first half a little stronger – but lost our legs early in the second half,” said BPG’s Brian Griffith. “And (Greek American) clearly played well together tactically, where we weren’t as good moving the ball. We weren’t able to break through.

“It was fun to come and play, they’re a good side and I think we have a strong team to try to keep building on and hopefully be able to put it together a little more tactically and technically moving forward.”

New York Greek American Atlas has won four Open Cup championships (1967, 1968, 1969, 1974)

For Battery Park, the 2012 entry into the USASA’s Open Cup qualification process was a trial balloon that showed some promise for a club that does not have a dedicated coach or experience playing against this type of competition.

“Yeah, we never even entered the Open Cup; this is our first time playing in it, and definitely it’s a learning experience,” added Griffith. “We want to play competitively, but in order to bring this to the next level we’d have to commit to practicing more, a little more organization. We don’t have a coach. We don’t have a lot of the things of some of these other clubs that have the history.

“I think it’s a learning experience and something to build on, and certainly we know now the competition we are going to be playing against; and that’s why we’re doing it – you know. To see what’s out there, see how we stack up. We’ve collected a good group of guys, have a lot of fun playing, and that’s our main focus – enjoy it and build from there, and hopefully get better results.”

Greek American certainly have the history, with four US Open Cups to their name – three from 1967-69 and a fourth in 1974. The club, more recently, has won five of the last 11 Eastern NY championships, but hasn’t qualified for the Open Cup since 2005. That year, they were eliminated in the opening round by current manager Michael Todd and the Ocean City Barons (now Ocean City Nor’easters) of the PDL.

Looking to the future though, Greek American have their work cut out for them as a home date April 22nd with New Jersey champ Jersey Shore Boca is all that stands between Greek American and a berth in the first round of the US Open Cup.

“Every game at this level is going to be very hard, and were going to have to step it up in the next round I’m sure,” concluded Todd.

The loser of the April 22nd match will not be eliminated from Open Cup contention however, as the semifinal losers will get to play for the third and final US Open Cup qualifying spot out of the competitive USASA Region I field. The other semifinal pits the DC/VA champion Aegean Hawks against Maryland champion Maryland Bays.

Video: Highlights through 80th minute

2012 USASA Region I Open Cup – First Round
Field 75 – Randall’s Island – 2 p.m.

NY Greek American Atlas 2:0 Battery Park Gunners

NY: Chris Megaloudis 84
NY: Keith Detelj 86

2012 USASA Region I Open Cup tournament

Round 1 (April 1)
Game 1: Battery Park Gunners (Mass.) 0:2 NY Greek American Atlas (East NY)
Game 2: West Chester United Predators (East PA) 1:3 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA)

Semifinals (April 22)
Jersey Shore Boca (NJ) at NY Greek American Atlas (East NY)
Maryland Bays (MD) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA)
Semifinal winners qualify for 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

Third Place Game (April 29)
Semifinal loser vs. Semifinal loser
Winner qualifies for 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2012 US Open Cup Qualifying: Aegean Hawks open Region I tourney with 3-1 win over West Chester United (Video)

April 2, 2012 by Gerald Barnhart

AegeanHawks-2012-4-1_R1-OpenCup_Qtrs — Hawks move onto cup-clinching semifinal contest

The Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks, champions from Metro DC/Virginia, began their quest to qualify for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for a third time in six years with an opening round victory Sunday in the USASA Region I tournament, downing West Chester United Predators of Eastern Pennsylvania, 3-1.

It was a big victory for the Hawks, who will now host Maryland Bays on April in a “Win & You’re In” semifinal contest April 22. The club, which previously reached the Open Cup in 2007 and 2009, is one of three clubs from DC/VA that has qualified for the tournament a total of four times during the Modern Pro Era (1995-present). The others were Spartans SC (1995, Fairfax) and Mo’s Sport Shop (1996, McLean).

Maryland Bays will be looking to reverse their recent regional fortunes. They also won the Maryland Open Cup titles last year but were unable to qualify for the Open Cup. The state hasn’t had a representative in the tournament since 2006 (Allied SC).

Sunday’s match went into the second half still deadlocked at zeros until the 58th minute. A throw-in made its way to Gui Fonseca, who delivered a through ball for David Rosenbaum, who drove toward the keeper and blasted a shot to his right.

“Scoring first was important in this game,” said Hawks manager Jon Knight. “They would have been difficult to break down had they gone ahead, so Rosenbaum’s strike was critical.”

Back-to-back goals in three minutes gave the Hawks firm control with 15 minutes remaining.

Sam Scales, coming up the right wing, delivered the ball inside to Fonseca, who laid it off to Watson Vaughan-Prather. Noticing the keeper was off his line, Vaughan-Prather struck a dipping shot into the upper right corner to double the advantage in the 73rd.

Two minutes later an own goal pushed West Chester’s deficit to three. Crashing in on goal, Erwin Diaz sent a ball across the goal to an onrushing teammate. A Predators defender got to the ball first, however, his slide tackle attempt to intercept the pass sent the ball into the net instead.

In the 79th minute West Chester would spoil the shutout when Dom Popolizio finished off a play that began with a free kick at midfield with a looping shot over the keeper.

“I don’t think we played that well; and there is a lot of room for improvement before we face the Bays, who took two of three from us last year,” concluded Knight. “We have to be better in transition on both sides of the ball. Being one step away from the Open Cup will be taken very seriously and we’ll make sure we are ready.”

2012 USASA Region I Open Cup – First Round
Maryland Soccerplex (Field #8) – Boyds, Md. – 2 p.m.

West Chester United Predators 1:3 Aegean Hawks

AH: David Rosenbaum (Gui Fonseca) – 58th minute
AH: Watson Vaughan-Prather (Gui Fonseca) – 73rd minute
AH: Own goal – 75th minute
WU: Dom Popolizio – 79th minute

LINEUPS:
Aegean Hawks: Chris Fenner; Devlin Barnes, Mateus Dos Anjos, Pat Selwood, James Kpainay (Alan Golden 40); Mike Goldman, Watson Vaughan-Prather, Sam Scales, Erwin Diaz; Scott Larrabee (Dave Rosenbaum 55), Gia Fonseca (Jordan Evans 75)
West Chester: Not Available

2012 USASA Region I Open Cup tournament

Round 1 (April 1)
Game 1: Battery Park Gunners (Mass.) 0:2 NY Greek American Atlas (East NY)
Game 2: West Chester United Predators (East PA) 1:3 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA)

Third Place Game (April 29)
Semifinal loser vs. Semifinal loser
Winner qualifies for 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2012 US Open Cup qualifying: Battery Park Gunners win Massachusetts USASA title, reach Region I event

March 28, 2012 by Steven Bayley

In a toughly contested match the Battery Park Gunners outlasted local rivals Mass Premier Soccer to take a 2-1 victory and earn a trip to Randalls Island in New York City to take on East New York champion New York Greek American Atlas this Sunday as the Massachusetts state champions in the USASA Region I tournament.

On a day when most of the New England soccer community’s attention was focused on Foxboro for the New England Revolution’s 2012 home opener, another important game slipped quietly under the radar. Amid little fanfare the 2012 Massachusetts US Open Cup state final was played at Dilboy Field in Somerville. There was a lot on the line, as the winner would secure passage through to the USASA Region I tournament and put themselves just two wins away from qualification for the 2012 US Open Cup.

The game had an energetic and crisp feel from the outset with Battery Park Gunners dictating the pace early on. Battery Park opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Bobby Linaberry charged through the MPS defense and found the end of a perfectly timed Dan Schultz through ball. He then tucked it into the side netting to give Battery Park the early lead.

MPS fought back, showing plenty of spirit and unluckily had a goal bound ball cleared off the line by Battery Park back Jason Pan in the 34th.

Just minutes later Battery Park Gunners launched a counter attack, again orchestrated by a Dan Schultz pass. Schultz targeted Linaberry on the wing, and Linaberry delivered a sharp cross to Jesse Milling, who scored to put the Gunners up 2-0 at the half.

MPS, sensing the desperation of the moment, came out on fire after the half. MPS moved to an aggressive 3-4-3 formation and dictated the pace in the early minutes of the second session. As a result of this strategy, MPS was vulnerable in defense and narrowly escaped Battery Park securing a victory with a third goal multiple times. As the game wore on, MPS’s aggressive stance began to pay off with longer stretches of possession and finally in the 67th minute, MPS got on the board when Jeff Newman ably handled a botched Battery Park clearance and got MPS right back in the game.

MPS continued to bring the game to Battery Park in the waning moments and nearly got the equalizer on two separate occasions, once from a well delivered header on a corner and once on a set piece from 25 yards out.

Battery Park held it together though, and in the end came out victorious, setting up a game this weekend with East NY Champ, New York Greek American Atlas. The First Round game will be played at Randalls Island Sports Complex, Field #75 at 2:00 PM Sunday April, 1st. The winner of this game will host New Jersey champ Jersey Shore Boca on April 22nd with a coveted slot in the 2012 US Open Cup on the line.

Massachusetts USASA Open Cup Final
Battery Park Gunners 2:1 Mass Premier Soccer
Dilboy Field – Somerville, MA 2:00 PM 3/24/12

Scoring Summary:
BPG: Bobby Linaberry (Dan Schultz) 21’
BPG: Jesse Milling (Bobby Linaberry) 38’
MPS: Jeff Newman 67’

Misconduct:
Battery Park, Kevin Griffith, Dissent
Battery Park, Ben Shuleva, Unsporting behavior (reckless tackle)

Officials:
Referee: Randall Kelley
AR1: Ken Koopmans
AR2: Kara Honthumb
4th: Andrew Wilson

Past Massachusetts Open Cup champions
2011: Mass Premier Soccer
2010: Emigrantes Das Ilhas
2009: Emigrantes Das Ilhas*
2008: Boston Olympiakos*
2007: Lowell Revolution
2006: Green Briar Rebels
2005: Green Briar Rebels
2004: Boston Olympiakos
2003: Green Briar Rebels
2002: Hellas United

*Qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2012 US Open Cup qualifying: Charm City, Maryland Bays advance to USASA Maryland final rematch

February 22, 2012 by Steven Bayley

An experienced Charm City squad was a 3-1 winner over a strong but young Baltimore Juniors team on Sunday paving the way for their entrance into the US Open Cup Maryland state final March 4. On the other side of the bracket the defending champion Maryland Bays blanked Christos FC, 2-0, in the second match of the semifinal doubleheader at Western Regional Park in Woodbine despite using a field player in goal for the overtime affair.

The championship pairing in two weeks’ time will be a rematch of the 2011 final between Charm City and the Maryland Bays, a pair of clubs that have been to the past two Region I tournaments, respectively, as representatives for the state.

Charm City capped a hard fought first 45 against Baltimore Juniors when Scott Zakroski delivered a picturesque volley into the upper corner off a Lou Brunetti cross in first half stoppage time to give Charm City the momentum going into the half.

The game, however, got chippy after the break, including Ben Pardew being taken down in the penalty area. Baltimore Juniors’ Dan Martinnsen was ejected for the foul as it was a denial of a clear goal scoring opportunity, but Charm Cmarity missed the kick from the spot when Baltimore Juniors keeper Tom Durkin tipped the shot wide.

Not to be deterred, Charm City kept their foot on the gas and came right back down the field. Wiji Jones delivered a perfect cross, his third assist in two games, and Tommy Appel-Schumacher headed it in for the 2-0 advantage on 62 minutes.

Baltimore got one back in the 80th minute when Andrew Stoenfeld hammered in a free kick from distance.

A chance at equalizing was dashed though for Baltimore when Wiji Jones, showing a penchant for game sealers, tapped home his second late goal in as many weeks. It was the result of a strong individual effort from Luke Pardew beating his defender down the end line and going hard in the box before finding Jones for the tap in for a 3-1 win, giving Charm City an aggregate score of 12-2 over the opposition through two rounds of play having won 9-1 the week before.

While the first match was clinched for certainty in the late stages, the second contest went the distance as the Bays and Christos played to a scoreless stalemate for 90 minutes. The Bays would advance through to the final with a pair of strikes in the final three minutes of overtime.

The deadlock ended in the 117th minute via an Andrew Gillis goal, deep in the second overtime assisted by Will Beckman.

The scoring was capped off by a Jon Ports empty netter as the Christos goal was open after the whole team had pushed up in search of an equalizer in the waning seconds.

Christos had their chances in the second half, but failed to capitalize while the Bays displayed the form that delivered them the 2011 State Open Cup title. Making the victory all the more impressive for the Bays was that they did it without an established goalkeeper. Matt Beale played in goal for the Bays, a change from his usual role as a defensive outside midfielder. According to coach Bryan Bugarin, regular keeper Phil Latham is expected to be back in goal for the final.

Bugarin used to play for Christos himself before the Bays were formed in 2009 as a result of a reunion of a group of talented post-collegiate players who rose together through the youth ranks.

“The players’ comfort with each other shows on the field.” said Bugarin. It is certainly reflected in the clubs all-time record of 69-7-6.

The final is a rematch of last year’s championship clash, a game that went 5-1 in favor of the Bays courtesy of four Marco Mangione goals. The Bays will be without Mangione this time around as he signed with GD Tourizense of the Segunda Divisao (Portuguese third division) in January.

It is the third consecutive year in which Charm City has reached the final, though in 2010 the state skipped the contest and sent both finalists directly onto the Region I tournament without crowning a singular champion.

Charm City player/coach Pat Crawford is looking forward to the challenge. “The Bays won the league last fall with a 14-0-2 record, they are well coached, are always technically sound, and I’m sure they will be looking to get back at us after we beat them 3-0 in the fall,” he said of the opposition.

The championship game will be held on March 4 at the same field where the rest of the games have been held: Western Regional Park (Field #5) in Woodbine.

Maryland USASA Open Cup Semifinals
Western Regional Park, – Woodbine, MD
Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012

Charm City 3:1 Baltimore Juniors
CC: Scott Zakroski (Lou Brunetti) 45
CC: Tommy Appel-Schumacher (Wiji Jones) 62
BJ: Andrew Stoenfeld 80
CC: Wiji Jones (Luke Pardew) 89

Maryland Bays 2:0 (AET) Christos FC
MB: Andrew Gillis (Will Beckman) 117
MB: Jon Ports 120

2012 US Open Cup qualifying: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks defeat Atletico VA to regain DC/VA title

February 20, 2012 by Josh Hakala

The Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks are once again Open Cup champions of the Metropolitan DC-VA Soccer Association, taking another step to returning to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time since 2009. By a 3-1 scoreline, the Hawks defeated Club Atletico Virginia, the two-time defending DC/VA Open Cup champion in the championship game at Long Bridge Park in Arlington, Va on Sunday, Feb. 19.

First half substitute Ernesto Marquez scored twice and Sam Scales added another to return the trophy to the Hawks, who won four straight DC/VA titles between 2006-09 before CAV dethroned them in 2010 and won it again last year. The win clinches the Hawks a spot in the 2012 USASA Region I Finals, which will begin at a date yet to be announced.

The Hawks opened up the scoring in the 40th minute on a play that began out of the backline and pushed out to the attacking third, down the left wing. The ball was played to the top of the box which began a clever display of one touch soccer, with Michael Goldman touching it to Guilherme Fonseca, who laid it off to Marquez for the goal.

They continued the offensive pressure after halftime, adding a second on the counter attack in the 53rd minute. Scales, who was selected last year by Sporting Kansas City in the MLS Supplemental Draft, received the ball in the middle of the field and sent a looping ball out in front of Fonseca into the far corner. Fonseca tracked down the ball, crossed it into middle of the box where he found Scales who was had made a run. The former Ohio State Buckeye kept his eye on the cross and volleyed it out of the air and into the back of the net to make it 2-0 in the 47th minute.

mdcvasa — Metro DC / Virginia Soccer Association

Marquez, who played his college ball at George Mason University, would add a third just six minutes later. Fonseca sent a through ball to the left midfielder who broke in behind the defense and calmly fired a shot past the CAV goalkeeper.

Atletico would pull one back in the 68th minute when John Carson fed Andrew Richardson for a shot on goal that was saved by Chris Fenner, but Richardson followed up on the rebound and put it in to make it 3-1.

The win on Sunday was a welcomed one for Hawks manager Jonathan Knight, helping the club get a monkey off their back, as he put it. Prior to the championship game, the Hawks had claimed victory just once in their last seven meetings with CAV.

“ have had our number,” said Knight. “It was definitely a satisfying win in what has become a fierce rivalry.”

After two years without advancing in Open Cup qualifying, Knight says his team is “hungry again.”

“We added a bunch of new players, and also sent the message to our whole team that they have to be more committed, and they’ve responded,” said Knight. “There’s a lot of potential with this group and I think we could make a run at qualifying for the Open Cup, as well as winning a national championship. But we still have a lot of work to do.”

2012 DC/VA Open Cup Final
February 19 – Long Bridge Park – Arlington, Va.
Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks 3:1 Club Atletico Virginia

Scoring Summary
AH: Ernesto Marquez (Guilherme Fonseca) – 40th minute
AH: Sam Scales (Guilherme Fonseca) – 47th minute
AH: Ernesto Marquez (Guilherme Fonseca) – 53rd minute
CAV: Andrew Richardson (Unassisted) – 68th minute

Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks lineup: Chris Fenner (GK), Alan Golden (Mateus dos Anjos – 60th), Pat Selwood, James Kpainay, Lonnie Carter (Michael Montross – 70th), Erwin Diaz (Ernesto Marquez – 30th), Michael Goldman, Sam Scales, Devlin Barnes, Guilherme Fonseca (Ricky Schramm – 75th), Scott Larrabee

Club Atletico Virginia lineup: Derek Biss (GK), John Bello (RB), Phil Purdy (CB), Tremaine Chinapoo (CB), Dave Leon (LB), Josh Dodds (RM), Javier Castro (CM), John Carson (CM), Andrew Richardson (LM), Yoni Berhanu (FWD), Billy Whittington (FWD)
Subs: Bryant Meckley (Josh Dodds), Stephen Macurdy (John Bello), Nolan Rodman (Andrew Richardson)

Recent DC/VA Open Cup champions:
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