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Four remain in Region I tournament
Danbury United, Aegean Hawks remain on course for return to the Cup
 Danbury United and Aegean Hawks FC, the 2007 US Open Cup qualifiers from Region I of the United States Amateur Soccer Association (USASA), stayed on track for berths in this year’s competition with wins on Sunday. They are joined in the Region I semifinals by the New York Pancyprians and Boston Olympiakos. 
Eagles soar into U.S. Open Cup
After three games, Charlotte clinches Cup berth
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Charlotte Eagles
U.S. Open Cup History
1998
1r - v. Los Lobos (USASA), 4-3
2r - v. Worcester Wildfire (A-Lg), 0-2
2004
2r - v. Carolina Dynamo (PDL), 2-4
2005
2r - v. El Paso Patriots (PDL), 4-1
3r - v. CD Chivas USA (MLS), 2-3 (aet)
2006
2r - v. Wilmington Hammerheads
(USL2), 1-3
2007
1r - v. Lynch’s Irish Pub (USASA), 2-0
2r - v. Atlanta Silverbacks (USL1), 0-1
USL Second Division qualifying
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The Charlotte Eagles used dramatic means to secure their fifth consecutive appearance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. A stoppage-time game-winning goal from Patrick Daka gave Charlotte a 3-2 road victory over the Wilmington Hammerheads. The win, along with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds' 1-1 draw with Harrisburg, assured the Eagles of not finishing last in the qualifying standings.
Charlotte reached the second round last season, losing a narrow 1-0 decision to the USL First Division’s Atlanta Silverbacks. The Eagles most famous cup appearance came in 2005, when they dropped a 3-2 extra time affair with Major League Soccer’s CD Chivas USA in the final minute of extra time.
In Pittsburgh, over 3,000 fans welcomed the Riverhounds home as they gained their first point of the 2008 season after holding the defending USL-2 champions to a draw. The point lifts Pittsburgh out of the dreaded last place spot in the USL-2 qualifying table, while Wilmington slid outside the qualifying zone with a 0-2-0 record.
Region II down to the final four
Both Illinois teams to host semis with winners qualifying for Open Cup
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"Win & You’re In"
USASA Region II
May 17, 2008
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Princeton 56ers
at
RWB Adria
Des Moines Menace Reserves
at
AAC Eagles
USASA Region II Qualifying
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Saturday's first round of matches in the USASA Region II U.S. Open Cup qualifying was an eventful one.
Reigning champion RWB Adria from Chicago needed penalty kicks to get past Michigan's Carpathia Kickers after the teams played 120 minutes of scoreless soccer. The match between the host Des Moines Menace Reserves and Missouri's WC Arsenal was without a goal until the final minutes of extra time before the Menace Reserves won 2-0. And perhaps the most successful amateur team in Open Cup history, Bavarian SC, dropped a narrow 3-2 decision to Illinois' AAC Eagles in Milwaukee.
The other scheduled quarterfinal wasn't even played, as game officials ruled that defending NPSL Midwest Region champion Princeton-56ers from Madison, Wis., would receive a forfeit victory over the Bloomington (Ind.) Cutters, as the host team did not have enough players with valid player passes.
RSL whitewashes Earthquakes 4-0
MLS reveals play-in format and schedule
After failing to qualify last season, Real Salt Lake took a step toward returning to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a convincing 4-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night.
The two teams celebrated the end of the month of April with a snow storm in Salt Lake City. It was the first Major League Soccer (MLS) play-in game for 2008, with RSL moving on to play at the Columbus Crew on May 27.
Kyle Beckerman, one of the few regular starters on the field for either team, led the way, scoring the first two goals of the game in the first half. Less than a minute after the second strike by Beckerman, Yura Movsisyan made it 3-0 thanks to an assist by Matias Cordoba. Andy Williams added insult to injury with a fourth goal in the 90th minute.
RWB Adria win Illinois Open Cup title
Both finalists looking ahead to Region II finals
RWB Adria survived the weather and player absences on April 13 as they defeated AAC Eagles by a score of 4-1 to capture their second consecutive Illinois Open Cup championship.
Kelto sends Aegean Hawks to next round
Hawks advance to face Baltimore Colts FC in Group S semifinals
 The Aegean Hawks, last year’s USASA Region I champions, took a step toward defending their title with a 1-0 win over the Champions League representative Sport Club Portuguese (SCP).
At the West Side Park in Newark, NJ, both teams found themselves in a stalemate at the halftime break. Tactical changes by the Hawks created chances, and the game’s only goal. Anders Kelto, who came on as a substitute, scored on his first touch of the game when he headed home a cross by Watson Prather in the 60th minute.
USL-2 Qualifying : Round Two
Charlotte close to qualification, 'Hounds dig an 0-3 hole
Five matches were featured in the second week of USL Second Division qualifying, and one team is already one victory away for securing their spot in the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, while another has dug itself a giant hole to climb out of. Defense has also been tough at home in week two with four of the five matches featuring shutouts by the home team.
USL unveils Open Cup qualifying format
Layout similar to 2007, but changes made to PDL
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2008 U.S. Open Cup
Automatic Entries
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MLS: Houston Dynamo, New England Revolution, DC United, Chivas USA, FC Dallas, New York Red Bulls.
USL-1: Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, Charleston Battery, Miami FC Blues, Minnesota Thunder, Portland Timbers, Rochester Rhinos, Seattle Sounders
USL-2: Harrisburg City Islanders (defending league champion), Richmond Kickers (defending regular season champion) |
The qualifying format for the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will look a lot like the 2007 format, according to the United Soccer Leagues Web site.
An official announcement hasn’t been made by U.S. Soccer, which runs the tournament.
Each league participating in the Open Cup this year - Major League Soccer, USL First and Second Divisions, Premier Development League and the United States Adult Soccer Association - will have eight entries, marking the first time every league will have the same number of teams entered.
Colts secure Region I berth
Lotocki's goal and two assists pace club to 4-0 win
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Maryland
Open Cup Champions
2008 - Baltimore Colts FC
2007 - A.C. United
2006 - Allied SC
2005 - Baltimore Colts FC
2004 - Allied SC
2003 - Brilla Baltimore Colts FC
2002 - Christos SC
2001 - DiPasquale Baltimore Colts FC
2000 - Jerry D’s
1999 - Jerry D’s
1998 - High Topps
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For the third time since 2003, Baltimore Colts FC will represent Maryland in the Region I U.S. Open Cup Finals, after defeating Maryland Allyance FC 4-0 at the Soccerplex in Germantown, Maryland on March 2.
The Colts quickly took control of the match, scoring all four goals in the first half. Mike Lotocki and Kyle Sterling combined for the first two scores, with Sterling scoring twice off of corner kicks from Lotocki in the 21st and 30th minutes. Sterling had also scored the game winning goal in the Colts’ 1-0 semifinal win over AC United. Sterling’s teammate at Salisbury State University, Bill Whittington, gave the Colts a 3-0 lead off an assist from Guil Costa in the 35th minute. Costa provided help again on the final goal, scored this time by Lotocki himself.
BCFC’s victory means that the last six Maryland Open Cup tournaments have been won by either the Colts or AC United (formerly Allied SC), both teams winning three apiece. It also marks the sixth time overall the Colts have won Maryland’s Open Cup berth, representing the state in 2001, 1997 and 1996.
Maryland final set
Colts and Allyance FC will battle for Region I berth on March 2
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Maryland
Open Cup Final
March 2, 2008
Maryland Soccerplex (Germantown, MD)
Maryland Allyance FC
vs.
Baltimore Colts FC
Kickoff - 5:00 p.m.
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The Maryland Open Cup qualifying tournament is down to two teams after Sunday’s semifinal contests.
AC United, who was hoping to repeat as Maryland’s representative in the USASA Region I finals, were eliminated by the Baltimore Colts FC, 1-0. In the other matchup, Maryland Allyance FC took care of Select FC 5-2 to reach the championship game which is scheduled to take place March 2.
Allyance FC had little trouble in their match thanks to a pair of individual performances by Andre Bishop and Bill Rinehardt. Bishop scored two goals and Rinehardt was one better, with a hat trick. This is Allyance FC’s first state championship game appearance since they began entering the competition in 2006.
Maryland begins USOC qualifying
Semifinals set after Allyance FC's opening victory
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Maryland Open Cup Qualifying Semifinals
February 17, 2008
Western Regional Park
Baltimore Colts FC
vs. AC United
Kickoff - 11:00am
Maryland Allyance FC
vs. Select FC
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The opening match of the Maryland State Soccer Association’s Open Cup qualifying is complete and the semifinals are set. Maryland Allyance FC defeated Baltimore Bays 91, 4-1, denying the Bays a spot in the state’s final four.
Allyance, making their third straight appearance in cup qualifying, were eliminated last year in the first round by Baltimore Colts FC, 6-2. Entering their opening round match, Allyance FC were in first place in the Maryland Major Soccer League (MMSL) with a 9-1-1 record. They will take on Select FC, a mid-table team from the MMSL, in the next round. The Bays’ struggles continue in Open Cup qualifying, with the club failing to place a team in the state cup final for the fifth consecutive year.
The other semifinal, scheduled to take place February 17, features AC United and Baltimore Colts FC.
United German Hungarians conquer Eastern PA
UGH advance to USASA Region I finals
On a pitch made sloppy by the chilly December rain, United German Hungarians booked their spot in next spring’s USASA Region I U.S. Open Cup finals tournament with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Pennsylvania Rush.  UGH grabbed the lead early on a goal from Matt Hemberger, a former La Salle University player. Rush took control of the match for much of the run of play after the goal, with the goalpost keeping them out of the net once and leaving the score 1-0 at halftime. After the restart, both clubs had good chances, and UGH appeared to have doubled their lead, but a disputed offside call kept the visitors within a goal. Rush then threw everything they had at UGH in hopes of finding the equalizer. The UGH defense, headed by goalkeeper Stash Graham, held on for the victory.The win avenged UGH’s 3-1 Open Cup loss to Rush (then known as Montco Azzurri) last season in the opening round of the Eastern Pennsylvania tournament. This year, Rush also fell to UGH’s Reserve team in the USASA Amateur cup tournament, in which UGH and their Reserve squad have reached the EPASA semifinals. UGH last qualified for the U.S. Open Cup in 1999, and have reached the finals twice, in 1977 and 1993. UGH join Aegean Hawks (DC/Virginia), Garfield Vistula (New Jersey) and Queen City FC (NPSL) in next spring’s USASA Region I finals so far.
Region I action kicks into full swing
Busy month for qualifying, matches played in five associations
The 2008 Region I Finals are starting to shape up with New Jersey and the Champions League submitting their tournament’s winners. Eastern Pennsylvania will be decided this weekend (December 9) and Eastern New York is also down to their final two teams.
Massachusetts are in the home stretch of their qualifying, but mother nature hasn’t been kind to the schedule makers. Two of the four quarterfinal matches have yet to take place.
The winners for each organization receive a place in the Region I Finals next year. The two finalists of that tournament qualify for the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
For a full report of all the action from around the Northeastern part of the USASA, click continue.
Three is the magic number for Aegean Hawks
Andreas Nydal's hat trick leads Hawks to 3rd straight MDCVSA crown
The Aegean Hawks continued their dominance of the Metro DC/Virginia Soccer Association with a narrow 3-2 win over World Bank SC in the MDCVSA final. Andreas Nydal scored a hat trick for the Hawks to lead them to their third straight MDCVSA championship, and a place in the USASA Region I finals next year.
10 minutes into the match, World Bank struck first, only to have Nydal equalize in the 37th minute after he put home a rebound off an Alan Golden shot. Just after the halftime break Justin Bodiya sent a cross into the area that found Nydal for his second of the game. In the 60th minute, World Bank brought the game level after the referee awarded them a penalty kick, but 10 minutes later, Nydal dribbled through traffic and completed the hat trick and scored the game-winner with an impressive individual effort.
The Hawks held on for the last 20 minutes to make their third straight trip to the Region I finals. Last year, they won the regional tournament and not only earned their first appearance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, but they booked their ticket to the national cup finals in Seattle. They were knocked out of the Open Cup in the first round by the Harrisburg City Islanders of the USL Second Division, and advanced to the national semifinals where they fell to eventual champion El Paso Indios USA of the NPSL.
The Bavarian dynasty continues
Bavarian SC wins Wisconsin state title, advances to Region II finals
Bavarian SC captured their 12th Wisconsin state championship in the last 14 years on Sunday with a 3-1 win over the Milwaukee Kickers.  The club advances to the USASA Region II finals next year, giving them a shot to qualify for the Open Cup for the sixth time, the most by any USASA club in the professional era (1995 - present).
At the Wisconsin State Cup Final at Marquette’s Valley Field on Sunday, Brian Doherty and Jake Provan gave Bavarian SC a comfortable 2-0 halftime lead. Brian McGuire’s second half goal that cut the lead in half for the Kickers, but Blair Kohlmeyer would eventually seal the deal for the Bavarians with a goal to make it 3-1.
United German Hungarians advance to semis
Eastern PA qualifying underway, UGH will take on VE in the final four
The United German Hungarians (UGH), a Philadelphia-based club with a proud tradition dating back to 1910, defeated Hunter SC 7-1 to advance to the semifinals of the Eastern Pennsylvania Soccer Association’s Open Cup qualifying.  Jason Karasow and Tim O’Neil both scored a pair of goals to lead the way for UGH, along with tallies by Ryan Moseley, Matt Hemberger and Ben Marucci.
The semifinal match, which is scheduled to take place November 18, will see UGH, the 1993 and 1977 Open Cup runners-up, take on another team from the Philadelphia area, Vereinigung Erzgebirge (VE). Both teams with rich traditions are looking to return to the tournament for the first time in a while. VE last qualified in 2002, while UGH last trip to the tournament was in 1999, when they pulled off a big upset over the New Jersey Stallions of the D3 Pro League (now the USL Second Division). The team that survives will between UGH and VE will play the winner of Danubia (Philadelphia, PA) and the PA Rush (Doylestown, PA) in the Eastern PA Final.
Aegean Hawks cruise into MDCVSA final
Hawks dismantle Real International 8-0 in the semifinals
 The Hawks rolled over Real International on Saturday in the MDCVSA Open Cup semifinals by a score of 8-0. Andreas Nydal scored a hat trick in the opening 25 minutes of the match, leading the club to a 5-0 halftime lead, and putting the game out of reach. The Hawks performed well despite a busy recent schedule. On Thursday, they defeated Mercernaries FC of the Northern Virginia Soccer League 12-0 in an Amateur Cup quarterfinal match. They move on to the MDCVSA Final later this month against World Bank, a team also from the Washington Premier League.
Bavarian SC moves on to Wisconsin final
Open Cup veterans advance after PK shootout with Croatian Eagles
Matt Schmidt stopped Tyler Hawley’s penalty kick in the seventh round of a shootout as Milwaukee’s Bavarian SC got past the Croatian Eagles after a 1-1 draw in the Wisconsin Open Cup semifinals Saturday at Marquette University’s Valley Fields.
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Wisconsin State Cup Final
Bavarian SC vs. Milwaukee Kickers
Sat. November 3 - 2 p.m. (Eastern)
Marquette University’s Valley Fields
Winner advances to the Region II finals
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The match was scoreless after regulation, but each team scored in extra time to force the shootout. Scott Dombrowski gave Bavarian SC the lead in the 97th minute, only to see the Eagles equalize on Jason Willan’s penalty kick in the 104th.
Both teams made four of their first five penalty kicks, and neither team converted in the sixth round. Kyle Lance then scored to put defending state champion Bavarian SC on the brink of victory, and Schmidt sealed it with his save.
Bavarian SC, which advanced to the second round of last year’s U.S. Open Cup, moves on to play the Milwaukee Kickers in the state final at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Valley Fields. The winner qualifies for next spring’s U.S. Adult Soccer Association Region II tournament, where two U.S. Open Cup berths will be up for grabs.
'08 qualifying ready to begin
MDCVA and Wisconsin get underway this weekend
Less than a month after the New England Revolution were crowned champions of the U.S. Open Cup, qualification for the 2008 tournament is set to kick off.
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MDCVSA Qualifying
Aegean Hawks vs. Real International
***POSTPONED***
World Bank vs. Reds United
Sun. October 28 - 8 p.m.
Old Redskin Park - Herndon, VA
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Wisconsin Qualifying
Bavarian SC vs. Croatian Eagles
Sat. October 27 - 3 p.m. (Eastern)
Marquette University’s Valley Fields
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Two teams with U.S. Open Cup experience open play in the Wisconsin State Cup this weekend. Milwaukee’s Bavarian SC, which lost to the Carolina RailHawks in the second round of this year’s tournament, faces 2006 qualifier Croatian Eagles at 2 p.m. Saturday at Marquette University’s Valley Fields.
The winner will face the Milwaukee Kickers in the state final; the date and time is to be determined. The Wisconsin champion will advance to next spring’s U.S. Adult Soccer Association Region II qualifying tournament, where two U.S. Open Cup berths will be up for grabs.
The Metropolitan DC-Virginia Soccer Association (MDCVSA) also announced their draw for 2008 Open Cup qualifying. The winner will advance to the USASA Region I finals some time next year.
Three of the four teams involved in the MDCVSA tournament (Aegean Hawks, World Bank and Reds United) come from the Washington Premier League, while Real International is the lone representative from the Commonwealth Soccer League.
The Aegean Hawks were one of the two Region I representatives in the 2007 Open Cup. However, their cup run didn’t last long as they lost 4-0 to the USL Second Division champion Harrisburg City Islanders, a team that advanced all the way to the quarterfinals.
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