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2015 US Open Cup: San Francisco City, Cal FC to kick off 102nd tournament in Preliminary Round; Harpo’s FC, KC Athletics rematch confirmed

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cal-fc-san-francisco-cityUPDATED: Harpo’s FC and the KC Athletics have been confirmed as the other Preliminary Round match

The 102nd Lamar Hunt US Open Cup kicks off at the end of April, but TheCup.us has learned the two Preliminary Round matchups for the upcoming tournament. US Club Soccer tournament champion San Francisco City FC has confirmed they will face the United States Adult Soccer Association’s (USASA) Cal FC, which made a name for itself with a Cinderella run in the 2012 US Open Cup. Meanwhile, the round’s other contest will feature a rematch from last weekend’s United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) tournament between Harpo’s FC and the Kansas City Athletics.

San Francisco City, who recently tweeted that they are in talks with the North American Soccer League about possibly becoming an expansion franchise, are attempting to become the first US Club Soccer team to win a game in the US Open Cup. They are also attempting to end a drought for their city as they are the first team from San Francisco to take part in the Open Cup since the California Victory (USL-1, 2nd Division) won a pair of games before falling the Colorado Rapids (MLS) in 2007. They are the first amateur club from the city to play in the US Open Cup in the modern era (1995-present).

Cal FC was introduced to the American soccer world in 2012 when they won three straight road games including an upset of USL PRO’s Wilmington Hammerheads and a stunning 1-0 extra time win over Major League Soccer’s Portland Timbers. Their run would end with a 5-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders in the Fourth Round. After falling short in 2013 qualifying, they returned to the tournament last year but suffered a 6-1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy II (USL PRO) in their opening game.

According to USSF’s announcement in February, the other Preliminary Round game will feature the USSSA representative against the nearest USASA club. Harpo’s FC (Boulder, Colo.) will represent the USSSA after finishing as the runner-up in last weekend’s Open Cup qualifying tournament, having lost to the Kansas City Athletics in the final. Since the Athletics qualified for the 2015 US Open Cup through the USASA’s Region II, Harpo’s FC will make their first trip to the tournament.

However, since the Athletics are the closest USASA team from Boulder, Colo., we will see a rematch in the Preliminary Round. Kansas City confirmed that the two teams will play for the third time this year. The two split a pair of USSSA games with Harpo’s beating KC 4-1 in group play, and the Athletics getting revenge in the championship game, winning 3-1.

This is just the third year that the USSSA has taken part in the US Open Cup. The last two years, the Colorado Rovers represented the league, losing in a penalty kick shootout to the Georgia Revolution (NPSL) in 2013 and falling 2-1 to the USASA’s Red Force a year ago.

The dates and venues for the Preliminary Round games have yet to be determined.

Elsewhere …

The National Premier Soccer League has finally confirmed their final three entries for the 2015 US Open Cup: Fort Pitt Regiment, Virginia Beach City FC and Detroit City FC. More details to come.

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: North Carolina’s Triangle Brigade wins USASA Region III title over NTX Rayados

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Jason Sisneros lifts the Region III Open Cup trophy
Triangle Brigade FC manager Jason Sisneros lifts the 2014 USASA Region III Open Cup trophy. Photo: Twitter @JasonMSisneros

Triangle Brigade FC was formed in January 2014 with the intention of creating an elite level of amateur soccer in North Carolina. Head coach Jason Sisneros expected to start small, earning success in his state before moving on to bigger and better things, using the 2014 USASA Region III Open Cup tournament as an opportunity just to get better.

It came as a surprise then when Triangle Brigade not only competed in the Region III tournament, but they won the championship by defeating reigning champions North Texas Rayados in the process and earning an expected berth in the 2015 US Open Cup (assuming the format remains the same as 2014).

“We’re very excited,” said Sisneros, who is also an assistant coach with the University of North Carolina women’s soccer team. “Winning the tournament was huge. It gives us all kinds of new opportunities to train for. Being able to take an amateur team from North Carolina a few wins away from facing professional teams is incredible.”

The Region III Open Cup tournament, which was held at the Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex in Montgomery, Ala., featured six teams split into two groups of three. Each group winner then would earn a berth to the 2015 US Open Cup. Reigning champions North Texas Rayados were in Group A along with Lynch’s FC, one of two teams from Florida in the tournament. Lynch’s won Region III in 2003 and 2009 and have qualified for the US Open Cup three times. Rounding out Group A was CD Motagua New Orleans (LA), which rolled through an expanded Louisiana qualifying tournament, winning a state title in the process.

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Triangle Brigade was in a Group B that featured Florida’s Red Force, last year’s Region III runners-up. In the 2014 Open Cup, Red Force became the first USASA club from the sunshine state to win an Open Cup game since 2001 when it defeated Colorado Rovers of the USSSA 2-1. Group B also featured Cajun SC, the runner-up from Louisiana.

In the first fixtures, Rayados got off to a winning start, scoring two second-half goals to beat Lynch’s. Red Force needed an 89th minute penalty kick to see off Motagua 3-2, and Triangle Brigade squeaked out a 2-1 win over Cajun SC.

Group play continued with Rayados earning 4-2 win over Cajun, Lynch’s outscoring Motagua 4-2, and Triangle Brigade earning a surprising 5-2 victory over Red Force. Sisneros said that Red Force was shorthanded, unlike Brigade, which had a full bench. According to Sisneros, his ability to use many substitutes helped immensely throughout the tournament.

Triangle Brigade was formed at the end of the UNC club season. Sisneros met and got to know the players, then decided to field an amateur team with a mix of club players and other amateurs. “These are players who potentially could have played Division I, just not at UNC. They sacrificed soccer ambition to have a very strong club team,” he said.

usasa-region-3-logoWith Rayados and Triangle Brigade having all but wrapped up their spots in the final, the third round of games featured some wacky results. Rayados tied Motagua 3-3, and Cajun SC beat Red Force 4-3. Resting his players, Sisneros’ side lost 11-0 to Lynch’s in its final game. However, Rayados and Triangle Brigade won their groups and earned berths to the 2015 US Open Cup.

The Brigade took it one step further, however, beating Rayados 4-1 in the final. Rayados got on the board first, but two goals each from Jonathan Rivera and Brett Griffith helped Triangle Brigade win the title.

Assuming they qualify for next year’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, they will be the first USASA club to represent the Tar Heel State since the Raleigh CASL Elite in 2010.

Sisneros said, “A lot of my players hadn’t won anything before. They deserved it. We feel fortunate, and we’re very happy.”

2014 USASA Region III Tournament results

Group A P W L D Pts GF GA GD
NTX Rayados (NTX) 3 2 0 1 7 9 5 +4
Lynch’s FC (FL) 3 2 1 0 6 15 4 +11
CD Motagua NO (LA) 3 0 2 1 1 7 10 -3
Group B P W L D Pts GF GA GD
Triangle Brigade (NC) 3 2 1 0 6 7 14 -7
Cajun SC (LA) 3 1 2 0 3 7 9 -2
Red Force (FL) 3 1 2 0 3 8 11 -3

Schedule/Results (All times Eastern)

June 20, 7 p.m.

NTX Rayados 2:0 Lynch’s FC
Red Force 3:2 CD Motagua NO
Triangle Brigade 2:1 Cajun SC

June 21, 10 a.m.

NTX Rayados 4:2 Cajun SC
Lynch’s 4:2 CD Motagua NO
Triangle Brigade 5:2 Red Force

June 21, 6 p.m.

Lynch’s FC 11:0 Triangle Brigade
Red Force 3:4 Cajun SC
CD Motagua 3:3 North Texas Rayados

Championship

June 22, 12 p.m.

NTX Rayados 1:4 Triangle Brigade
Both teams expected to qualify for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2014 US Open Cup Third Round: PSA Elite’s Earl Edwards Jr. conquers LA Galaxy II, earns TheCup.us Player of the Round

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Earl Edwards Jr. made 14 saves, including a PK save, and a pair of stops in the shootout for PSA Elite (USASA) in their Third Round upset of LA Galaxy II (USL PRO).
Earl Edwards Jr. made 14 saves, including a PK save, and a pair of stops in the shootout for PSA Elite (USASA) in their Third Round upset of LA Galaxy II (USL PRO).

In the Lamar Hunt Open Cup tournament, goal scorers usually garner the lion’s share of the fans adoration, but every now and then, the man between the posts takes center stage and deserves recognition. Earl Edwards Jr.’s Third Round performance in PSA Elite’s (USASA) victory over LA Galaxy II (USL PRO) is one such instance, as his play captured the fans and media’s attention earning the goalkeeper TheCup.us Player of the Round award in the process.

The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters. Edwards Jr. becomes just the fourth goalkeeper since 2011 to win the award, and the first since Bill Hamid and Joe Willis of DC United won the award back-to-back for the 2013 Final and Semifinal, respectively.

Unlike the voting for the Second Round’s award, the voting was much less wide open. It was basically two-horse race between Edwards Jr. and Blake Smith of Indy Eleven who accounted for all five of his team’s goals with a hat trick and two assists in a 5-2 home win over the Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO).  No other player received more than 3 total votes as almost all of the first and second place votes went to either Edwards Jr. or Smith. In the end, Edwards Jr. finished 18 first-place votes and Smith finished with 14.

The UCLA captain and US Under-20 international helped PSA Elite become the last USASA club standing in this year’s tournament by stopping everything that came his way. Edwards Jr. racked up 14 saves throughout the game including a save in the 81st minute on a penalty kick taken by Galaxy forward Travis Bowen that would have broken the scoreless tie. After a pair of scoreless halves in extra time, Edwards Jr. proved resolute in the ensuing series of penalty kicks saving two of the Galaxy’s attempts helping to send PSA Elite through to the fourth round.

“Going into the game we knew we were the underdogs, so we knew that as a team we were going to have to make some plays,” said Edwards Jr. “Fortunately, I was able to make some plays alongside my team who were strong defensively.”

Earl Edwards Jr. of PSA Elite comes off his line to defend a shot in a Third Round match against LA Galaxy II. Photo: Aaron Jaffe | LA Galaxy
Earl Edwards Jr. of PSA Elite comes off his line to defend a shot in a Third Round match against LA Galaxy II. Photo: Aaron Jaffe | LA Galaxy

“Being underdogs we all had something to prove,” added Edwards. “As a group of college players, we all want to play at the next level. Getting the opportunity to compete against a professional organization gave us extra motivation, and thankfully we’re moving on to play another one.”

The win earned PSA Elite a trip to Seattle to face three-time US Open Cup champions the Seattle Sounders. This is the farthest the Irvine, California club has progressed in the three consecutive years that the USASA side has competed in the tournament. PSA Elite are one of three amateur clubs still competing in this year’s tournament. They are just the third USASA club to ever reach the Fourth Round after Cal FC (2012) and Dallas Roma FC (2006) who both upset Major League Soccer teams to reach Round 4.

Edwards Jr. performance in the Third Round is indicative of ability on the field. He has captained UCLA for the past two years and earned a bevy of awards throughout his collegiate career, including First-Team All-Pac 12 honors in 2013. Edwards Jr.’s coaching staff at UCLA – particularly assistant coach Nick Carlin-Voigt – urged the standout goalkeeper to get as many games under his belt as possible, and PSA Elite offered Edwards Jr. the opportunity to compete at a high level during the college offseason.

PSA Elite“PSA Elite has a history of fielding UCLA players, and I knew they were a quality side continually playing in the Open Cup,” said Edwards Jr. “Nick reached out to them and they were happy to have me, and I was excited to play for them.”

“The fact that they are in the Open Cup and able to compete at that level was appealing to me,” added Edwards Jr. “Once I attended a few training sessions and played with the team, I knew that we could make a run in the tournament. In the end it was an easy decision to join PSA Elite.”

Edwards Jr. and PSA Elite will be looking to continue their fine run of success in this year’s tournament and take down another professional opponent when they take on the Seattle Sounders June 18 at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, WA. It will be a challenge for the amateur side as not only will they face a quality MLS side, but they will do it in front of a packed stadium as the match has already sold out.

2014 TheCup.us Player of the Round winners
Round 1: Vlad Baciu (RWB Adria – USASA)
Round 2: Luke Winter (Chattanooga FC – NPSL)
Round 3: Earl Edwards Jr. (PSA Elite – USASA)

2014 US Open Cup Round 1: Red Force storms back to beat Colorado Rovers, earn rare Florida win

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Red Force, the USASA representative from Florida, scored a pair of second half goals to overcome the USSSA’s Colorado Rovers 2-1 in the first round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. It was a battle of amateur clubs featuring former professional players making their second consecutive trip to the tournament and a goal by David Olguin in the 81st minute was enough to send Red Force to a rare Florida victory.

With the win, the Miami-based club becomes the first USASA club from the sunshine state to win an Open Cup game since 2001 when Uruguay SC beat Miami Strike Force (PDL). Red Force have another long road trip ahead of them for their Second Round match as they will take on the PDL’s Laredo Heat on May 14 at 9:15 p.m. ET.

The match kicked off in Highlands Park, Colo. with the Rovers eager to jump on the attack. The Rovers, making their second consecutive appearance in the competition, set a tone for the game by taking the first shot of the game; ringing a hard-hit ball right off the middle of the crossbar. Minutes later, Red Force winger Andres Navas and former Ft. Lauderdale Strikers midfielder Scott Gordon connected on a series of quick passes with Navas firing a shot right at Rovers goalkeeper Mark Saxby. For the next ten minutes or so, the Red Force really found a rhythm displaying excellent ball movement. Attackers Gordon, Navas, Olguin and former Miami FC player Abiodun Adeyemi, continued to hold possession and force the Rovers into their own third.

After warding off multiple shots, the well-organized Rovers backline regained possession and sprung Marc Herschberger and former MLS player Colin Clark toward the opposite goal. The pressure resulted in a foul 22 yards from the goal. Clark took the free kick but it was inadvertently handled along the wall, giving the former Colorado Rapids and Houston Dynamo midfielder another chance. This time, Clark bent the free kick over the wall and past a helpless Red Force keeper Kyle Schoeder to give his team the lead in the 30th minute.

For the remainder of the first half and into the second, the Rovers enjoyed the majority of the possession and attempts on net. After the game, Red Force manager Gabriel Vega admitted that jet lag, accompanied with altitude, set in and his team struggled to keep up with the athletic Colorado team.

Just when it looked as if the Rovers were going to maintain or build on their lead, Red Force captain Richard Perdomo cut a Colin Clark run short and turned his team on the counter. Substitute Daniel Gonzalez accompanied by Navas, broke into the Rovers 18-yard box and chipped the keeper. Just before the ball rolled over the line, Rovers centerback Tyer Adam heroically cleared the ball but a penalty was called on the Rovers goalkeeper. Daniel Gomez converted the penalty and game was tied up.

Ten minutes later, all momentum that the Red Force had was quickly taken away when Gomez was sent of with his second yellow card. Just when the Rovers were once again looking to put the game away the Red Force responded with a quick counter attack and some smooth passing to set up Colombian forward Olguin with a 35-yard strike that found the top corner of Saxby’s net. Olguin’s golazo took the entire stadium by surprise and gave the Red Force the decisive edge in the back and forth affair.

After some nervy moments in stoppage time for both teams, the 2-1 result was complete, and the Red Force captured their first-ever US Open Cup victory securing their second round tie in Laredo, Texas next Wednesday.

After the game, Rovers coach Erick French was clearly disappointed to be defeated in such a shocking turn of events. For the Rovers, it was the second consecutive heartbreaking loss in Open Cup play. Last year, on the same Shea Stadium grass, Colorado was eliminated by the NPSL’s Georgia Revolution in a penalty kick shootout. Putting his emotions aside, French sounded determined to qualify once again, already thinking about the qualification process for 2015.

Vega and his Red Force players were ecstatic, yet exhausted from the incredible day they had. After the game, Vega complimented his team for pushing through the long travel, altitude, the early goal, and the difficult opposition. There was little time for celebration as the team had to hop on a plane back to Miami for a local tournament before arranging travel plans for Wednesday’s trip to Laredo.

2015 US Open Cup qualifying: Amateur Cup to decide USASA Region I entry for first time

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USASA Region I logoThe opening round of the 2014 USASA Region I Amateur Cup took place on on April 13 with four teams moving one step closer to qualifying for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Region I announced last fall that, for the first time in tournament history, the winner of the Amateur Cup will represent the region in the US Open Cup.

Vereinigung Erzgebirge from Eastern Pennsylvania traveled to the Maryland Soccerplex to face 2009 Amateur Cup champion Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks from Metro DC/Virginia. In the closest of the four first round games the teams ended play locked at 3-3. A Greg Shertzer goal in the 29th minute gave VE a 1-0 halftime lead, but after Andre Nunes equalized just after halftime for the Hawks, a 60th minute penalty kick by Artie Taylor gave VE the lead again. Aegean Hawks veteran Watson Prather tied the game in the 78th minute off a free kick but the scoring wasn’t done. Five minutes later, Drexel University product Malcolm LeBourne put VE ahead again.

“Malcolm thought the third goal was the finisher, allowing him to get home in time for ‘Game of Thrones,'” said VE’s Paul Dudley after the game.

Unfortunately, LeBourne’s favorite show would have to wait as Prather scored a stoppage time penalty kick for the Hawks to send the game into extra time.

After 30 minutes of scoreless soccer, a place in the semifinals came down to penalty kicks and VE, who have been playing soccer since 1969, emerged victorious 4-3. The Philadelphia area club earned a spot in the Amateur Cup regional semifinals for the first time since 1997 and are looking to qualify for the Open Cup for the first time since 2002.

“This was a complete team win,” said VE’s Brian Madden. “We are playing some of the best soccer I’ve seen in the 9 years I’ve been on the team.”

In other action, Danbury United from Connecticut played host to New Hampshire’s Manzanillol Deportivo at Immaculate High School. Danbury, who last qualified for the Open Cup in 2007, won a one-sided contest by the score of 6-0.

At Montclair State University, the home side FC Motown of New Jersey entertained the Maryland Bays. The Bays, who are also competing in the Region I Open Cup semifinals on May 4, came out comfortable 6-1 winners.

Another home side to struggle was Mass United FC, who lost 5-0 at Manning Stadium against 4-time US Open Cup champion New York Greek American Atlas. Keith Detelj scored two goals in the first 15 minutes, then completed his hat-trick 11 minutes into the second-half. Stephan Barea scored after 69 minutes and the scoring was completed 10 minutes from time. New York is attempting to qualify for the Open Cup for the second year in a row. They have been awarded a spot in the 2014 tournament as the 2013 Region I Amateur Cup champion.

The Amateur Cup semifinals will see Danbury United travel to New York to take on Greek American Atlas, while the Bays will play host to Vereinigung Erzgebirge. Both games are scheduled for May 11.

2014 USASA Region I Amateur Cup

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

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

Final (June 15)
Danbury/NYGAA vs. VE/Maryland Bays
Winner qualifies for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2013 US Open Cup Second Round: Dayton Dutch Lions down Dearborn during meltdown in OT 4-1

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A year ago the Dayton Dutch Lions were still winless in league play as they narrowly advanced in the Second Round and stunned the Columbus Crew in the Third Round en route to a surprising run to the tournament Quarterfinals. This seems to have given the side new life, as they own a winning record for the latest time in the season since moving from the PDL to USL Pro. However, they faced a stiff challenge during regulation from an amateur Dearborn Stars side, though that story completely changed in extra time. The Dutch Lions kept their cool and scored, while the Stars lost theirs and ended the 4-1 home side victory down to eight men.

As the first half kicked off, the Dutch Lions came out aggressive, dominating possession for much of the half. Dearborn immediately played tight defense to keep the Dutch Lions on the perimeter, and countered the tight passing with physical challenges, attempting to unsettle the USL Pro side. Through 25 minutes it seemed inevitable that the Dutch Lions would score as they sent chance after chance toward Stars keeper Vito Lonigro.

After sitting tight for much of the game, it was the Stars that struck first, however, off a counter following a Dutch Lions corner kick. Stars defender Mike Haidar sent a cross to Mo Kaba to get the visitors on the board in the 27th minute.

After being forced to regroup, the Dutch Lions caught a break in the 43rd minute when a Stars player hit the ground due to an errant elbow, The referee nearby stood over the player to assess if there was an injury, but play was never stopped, and no foul assesed. The Stars players in their defensive half just stopped moving, waiting for a whistle or a card, allowing the Dutch Lions’ Joseph Madigan to casually jog on in and put the ball past Lonigro to even the game up. The Stars immediately objected to the goal and felt it was bad sportsmanship on the part of the Lions to continue play. Nevertheless, the goal stood and half ended even.

The second half saw Dayton dominating possession once again, but Dearborn came out with more confidence and were able to mount a more organized offense. The Stars continued their physical play, going overboard when Mo Kaba was handed a straight red card in the 57th minute. Kaba made a very rough tackle on Dayton defender Jeremy Cheeseman, and his exit left his squad down a man.

One might expect an amateur squad who’s down to 10 men to bunker in again, however, Dearborn managed the space incredibly well, almost negating Dayton’s advantage. Through the last ten minutes of regulation, it was Dearborn that had the Dutch Lions on their heels. Keeper Matt Williams was forced to make some big saves, including on a looping 40-yard strike in the 88th minute that Williams had to leap and bump with his fingertips to send over the crossbar, ultimately saving the tie and forcing it to extra time.

From the start of extra session, Dayton came out focused. Their attack paid off in the 96th minute when Gibson Bardsley blazed down the left flank and fired a rocket past the Stars keeper for his second goal of the night.

Dearborn were clearly frustrated after losing the lead in the extra time they felt the game should have never went to, and started to break down, with the Stars answering Dayton goals with red cards instead of more goals. First, Joe Beshara was sent off in stoppage time of the first extra time period, leaving Dearborn down to nine. Shortly after that, the Dutch Lions would get a little insurance early in the second half of overtime when Tjeerd Westdjik put a ball through to Joel Delass to give them a 3-1 lead.

Nik Djokic then retaliated, not in the scoring sense that he brought to last week’s 2-0 win against the Michigan Bucks, but rather with a flagrant arm to the face of a Dayton player. He was also shown a straight red with seven minutes left, leaving the Stars with only eight men on the field. Dayton would add insult to Dearborn’s injury, when DeLass would return the favor to Westdjik, setting him up in the 119th minute to leave no uncertainty to the Dutch Lions victory.

The Dutch Lions now move on to the third round and a rematch from last year’s tournament, returning to Columbus Crew Stadium next Wednesday. It was a Third Round match in May of last year when the upstart Dutch Lions stunned the home crowd with a 2-1 upset win. After the Crew dominated most of the game, leading 1-0, the Lions executed some late scoring chances to beat the MLS side on their way to last year’s tourney quarterfinals. One would expect Columbus will be on their guard to avoid another embarrassment this year as the Crew’s head coach Robert Warzycha and an assistant coach were in the stands Tuesday to scout the competition.

Dayton Dutch Lions 4:1 Dearborn Stars SC

May 21, 2013 – Miami Valley Hospital Stadium, Beavercreek, Ohio

Scoring:

DEA – Mo Kaba 27’

DAY – Joseph Madigan, 43’

DAY – Gibson Bardsley, 96’

DAY – Joel DeLass (Tjeerd Westdjik) 107’

DAY – Tjeerd Westdjik (Joel DeLass) 119’

Discipline:

DEA – Zach Wilkes (Yellow) 45

DEA – Mo Kaba (Red) 57

DAY – Tjeerd Westdijk (Yellow) 101

DEA – Nik Djokic (Yellow) 104

DEA – Joe Beshara (Red) 105

DEA – Nik Djokic (Red) 113

2013 US Open Cup Second Round: Richmond pull away from Icon FC to set up another rematch with DC United

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Michael Callahan of the Richmond Kickers dribbles through the Icon FC defense. Photo: Suz Kitsteiner | Richmond Kickers

Despite some early setbacks, the USL Pro’s Richmond Kickers sent Icon FC of the USASA home packing, 4-1 Tuesday night. Icon FC, anchored by former US international Danny Szetela, didn’t go without a fight, however, tallying an early goal and holding tough until late in a rough, chippy affair.

It took just nine minutes for the first goal to be scored in this contest, as Icon FC’s Argjent Duka got on the end of defender Kevin Garcia’s through ball in the Richmond box and slotted a goal past Kickers keeper Andrew Dykstra. The celebrations didn’t last long as Richmond’s Stanley Nyazamba scored just seconds later off of a Joseph Ngwenya assist. Both of those players would be involved further as the game progressed. Ngwenya converted a penalty 14 minutes later after a Richmond player was dragged down in the box. The MLS veteran calmly placed his shot in the lower-right corner of the goal after catching Icon’s keeper, Chris Duggan, out of position with a stutter-step. Icon then turned on the pressure, forcing Dykstra into making two saves in a four-minute span right before halftime. Despite their efforts, Icon went into the half down 2-1.

Coming out of halftime, the Kickers started peppering the Icon goal. Richmond forward Nate Robinson narrowly missed the open goal in the 52nd minute and Ngwenya put a scissor-kick just high in the 55th. There was some controversy in the 58th minute, as two Icon players seemed to handle the ball inside of the box. Center referee Mark Gorak saw it differently and allowed play to go on. Richmond responded with two shots in rapid succession, both well saved by Dugan.

Three minutes later, Dugan couldn’t keep his string of great saves going when Kickers midfielder Mike Callahan collected a ball from Ngwenya on the right wing and attempted to cross it in. The cross skipped off the shin of Icon defender Teddy Niziolek and nestled neatly under the crossbar to give Richmond a 3-1 lead. The official scorer credited the goal to Callahan, his first in the tournament this year.

In the 68th minute, Icon FC won a free kick on the corner of the Richmond area and was looking to punch a second goal in directly. The shot was easily collected by Dykstra for his fourth save, and the Kickers played on. Gorak, the referee, started to put his mark on the game from this point, clamping down on fouls and dealing two Icon yellows in a ten-minute span. The discipline wasn’t the only action left, however, as Richmond forward Stanley Nyazamba got on the end of a ball from Nate Robinson in the 85th and put it past Dugan to propel the Kickers to a 4-1 win.

The Richmond Kickers move on to host MLS side D.C. United on May 28th at City Stadium. This will mark the second year in a row, and the sixth time overall, that the two teams have faced each other in Open Cup play with United winning the last five of the six meetings.

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Meet the USASA: Class of 2013

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Eight teams from the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) qualified for the 2013 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup this year.

Will a club imitate Dallas Roma FC’s famous run in 2006? Or Cal FC in 2012? These questions are yet to be answered, but we can introduce you to the amateur sides that will be taking the field in Round 1.

Click on the links below to read about the clubs:

USASA Region I

Icon FC (New Jersey) – PENDING

Mass Premier Soccer (Massachusetts)

USASA Region II

Dearborn Stars SC (Michigan)

RWB Adria (Illinois)

USASA Region III

North Texas Rayados (North Texas)

Red Force (Florida)

USASA Region IV

Doxa Italia (California South)

PSA Elite (California South)

2013 Meet the USASA: North Texas Rayados hoping youth, talent will help second straight US Open Cup run

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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.

 

North Texas Rayados may be a young club having been formed in 2011. What the club lacks in age and tradition, though, it more than makes up for with results.

In just a few seasons, the Rayados have become a fixture at the top of the North Texas Premier Soccer Association, including finishing the Spring 2013 regular season with an 8-1-1 record. They have also become a force in USASA Region III, qualifying to the US Open Cup in both of their first two attempts. This year the Rayados cruised through qualifying with a 4-0 record, outscoring their opponents 17-2.

Much of the club’s success can be attributed to familiarity between teammates. In the summer of 2011, Richland College players Raul Herrera and Tito Salas got a group of friends together to form the club. Nearly all were recent college graduates, and several played with Herrera and Salas at Richland. This season North Texas has added some new faces, but Herrera, the goalie for the club, says that familiarity still exists.

“The core is still there,” Herrera said. “We’ve added two or three guys that are still in college…some youth…some young blood. But we’ve gelled. We’re a very complete team this year. We’re a deeper team, and we’re more dedicated.”

NTX Rayados, which takes its name from the Mexican Primera Division side FC Monterrey, was an instant success in the NTPSA, although it took some persuasion to get into the league’s top division. The club had to get many references and recommendations in order to convince NTSPA officials that Rayados belonged in the first division. Once in, however, NTX shot straight to the top, going 20-1 over two-plus seasons. In the most recent campaign, the Rayados claimed the regular season title with an 8-1-1 record.

The club has carried that success into US Open Cup qualifying play. Based in Dallas, NTX competes in USASA Region III. In its first attempt to qualify last year, the Rayados went 2-1 in group play to clinch its spot. They did even better in 2013, going 4-0 to qualify both for the Open Cup as well as the USASA National Finals.

After defeating the South Texas side Islanders FC 6-1, NTX took out the Oklahoma club Los Lobos by a 4-1 scoreline. Having won its group, North Texas advanced to the semifinals, where it defeated CD Motagua 4-0. With a spot in the US Open Cup secured, the Rayados went on to win the Region III final over Red Force from Florida 3-0.

Herrera said, “The scores are very misleading. Red Force is the best amateur team I’ve ever played against. We won because we’ve got a well-rounded team. We’ve put in a lot of dedication and sacrifice.

Now NTX will attempt to do the only thing it has failed at in its young life as a club—beat a PDL side. In its first Open Cup match last year, the Rayados fell to the PDL squad El Paso Patriots 3-1.

“It was a long trip last year. A lot of the guys didn’t know what they were getting into. We have to be a little more serious and a little more prepared. Hopefully this year we’ll get the right result,” Herrera said.

That right result would have to come at the expense of the Austin Aztex, who qualified for the Open Cup by coming in second place in the PDL Mid-South Division last summer. The winner will host the Wilmington Hammerheads, a third-tier professional club playing in USL Pro.

Despite that tantalizing potential Second Round match-up, the NTX Rayados are focused solely on their initial opponents.

“Austin is the only thing on our minds right now,” Herrera said. “We can’t think of the Second Round until we take care of business right now. I know Austin is a strong team. They finished at the top of their division for a reason. It’s going to be a challenge.”

2013 Meet the USASA: Dearborn Stars putting controversy behind them to debut in 100th US Open Cup

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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.

Amidst quite a bit of controversy and misunderstanding, the Dearborn Stars will participate in the 100th Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Don’t expect them to make any apologies.

In the 30-year-old club’s first attempt at qualifying for the Cup, the Stars earned the opportunity to represent the United States Adult Soccer Association’s (USASA) Region II. They took a first step toward clinching a berth with a 5-0 drubbing of the Cincinnati Saints at home and etched their spot in the tournament when the Kansas City Athletics couldn’t travel to a makeup game.

In the original contest between Dearborn and Kansas City in Kansas, the Athletics emerged victorious thanks to a late goal, but the Stars were playing the game under protest because the field was not regulation size. Region II ruled in favor of Dearborn, and the Athletics conceded the match when they couldn’t arrange last-minute transportation to the rematch in Chicago.

The KC Athletics (white) and Dearborn Stars battle for the ball in their USASA Region II semifinal. Photo: David Kuhn

Dearborn became just the third team from the Michigan Soccer Association to qualify for the tournament in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present), joining Motor City clubs Detroit United (2010) and Chaldean Arsenal (2001).

The Athletics have voiced their frustration with the Stars and the way they were left out of the Open Cup both online and through the local media, Dearborn has put the off-field drama behind it and moved on.

“It was tough at the beginning because there was a negative vibe about us,” said coach Sam Piraine. “But we do belong, and we’re ready to prove that.”

Behind the veil of the controversial qualification, the Stars have a solid lineup that is highlighted by a prolific offense and a lockdown goalkeeper. Serbian native Miki Djeresilo played professionally in Europe when he was younger and joined Dearborn because he couldn’t let go of the game; he now leads the team in goals. Another standout is Hamoody Saad, who was a standout at the University of Michigan alongside his brother Soony Saad who currently plays for defending US Open Cup champions Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer. In goal is netminder Vito Lonigro who made several spectacular saves against Kansas City and Cincinnati in the qualifying rounds, an occurrence the Stars are very accustomed to.

“ is one of our standouts,” Piraine said. “He’s been put to the test before, and he’s answered the call.”

At reportedly 62 yards wide, the width of the field at Olathe North High School was an issue as the Dearborn Stars filed a protest prior to the match. Photo: David Kuhn

Dearborn is surely the underdog in its opening-round Open Cup contest against the Premier Development League’s Michigan Bucks, one of the best-known amateur teams in the country. The Bucks became the first amateur club in the country to topple two MLS teams, adding last year’s 3-2 extra time victory over the Chicago Fire to its historic defeat of the New England Revolution in 2000. Meanwhile, the Stars have never participated in the nationwide tournament and will play on the road at the Ultimate Soccer Arena in Pontiac, Mich. The contest will mark just the fifth game in the 100-year history of the tournament to be played indoors.

Because Dearborn regularly trains indoors and hosts official matches on artificial turf, Piraine expects that playing at Ultimate Soccer Arena won’t present too difficult a challenge. That experience will help the Stars avoid another controversy and focus solely on their opponents.

The Stars are hoping to ride the momentum of some recent victories into their Open Cup match on Tuesday. They defeated Zoo City FC in the state semifinals of the US Amateur Cup 3-1 last weekend with goals by Sam Seppo, Thiago Harris and Ahmad Jawad.

The US Open Cup gives even the smallest teams the chance to make a name for themselves on a national stage, and the Stars hope to do just that. After the negativity surrounding its qualification, Piraine wants people to remember Dearborn for its performance on the field.

“The guys are ready to prove themselves,” he said. “We were upset that we couldn’t re-play Kansas, but unfortunately, that’s how it happened. We have a tough task ahead of us but we’re ready to put on a good show. And anything can happen.”

Alejandro Zúñiga can be reached on Twitter

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