OrangeCounty -David Ponce – Tied for 11th in points (11), PDL ; Kristopher Minton – Tied for 7th in goals against avg. (0.66), PDL
OPEN CUP HISTORY
The Sol has made two Open Cup appearances, in 2005 & 2006. In ’05 they were eliminated in the first round by NPSL rivals Salinas Valley Samba on penalty kicks. In 2006 they advanced to the second round, where they fell to the Charleston Battery 1-0.
OrangeCounty has made only one Open Cup appearance, a 3-1 first round loss to fellow PDL club El Paso.
LEAGUE FORM
There may not be a first round match where the two opponents are heading in such polar opposite directions. After starting the season winning their first four games, OrangeCounty has gone 0-3-2 since, and have been outscored 10-1 in their last three matches. In contrast, the Sol are 11-0-1 in NPSL and Open Cup qualifying matches this season, including a10-1 beating of the Salinas Samba this past weekend. Out of the eight PDL teams, OrangeCounty are the only ones with a negative goal difference in league play (-2).
Dulles SportsplexAegean Hawks F.C. (USASA-Va.) at Real Maryland F.C. (USL2)
Richard Montgomery H.S.; Rockville, Md. | 6 p.m.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Real Maryland – Qualified automatically from the USL Second Division
Aegean Hawks – Defeated Charm City F.C. (NPSL) 1-0 in USASA Region I semifinals.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The Hawks played Real Maryland twice during the Monarch’s USL-2 pre-season preparations. The Hawks on the first match 2-1 on Feb. 24, and the second match on Match 10 finished 1-1. of course, the Real Maryland team then and now are totally different.
LEAGUE LEADERS (TOP 5)
Real Maryland– Gary Brooks – 3rd in points (11), Tied for 4th in goals scored (4), Tied for 4th in assists (3), USL-2 ; Dave Kern – 5th in goals against avg. (1.14), USL-2
OPEN CUP HISTORY
The Hawks lone cup appearance was in 2007, where they lost to the Harrisburg City Islanders 4-0. The only club not named D.C. United to win the championship while representing our nation’s capital was Club Espana, who defeated Seattle’s Mitre Eagles on penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw to win the 1987 title.
Real Maryland earned an Open Cup bid in their debut season in 2008, reaching the second round were they fell to the Carolina RailHawks 1-0.
LEAGUE FORM
The Hawks league form hasn’t been much. Since they have been busy with Open and Amateur cup matches, they have only completed four games on their Washington Premier League calendar, but are 3-0-1.
Bavarian S.C. (USASA-Wis.) at Chicago Fire (PDL)
Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill. | 6 p.m.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Chicago - Finished 1st in PDL Great Lakes Division qualifying with a 3-0-1 record.
Bavarian S.C. – defeated Iowa Menace 3-2 in USASA Region II semifinal
DID YOU KNOW
While the two clubs have never met before, Bavarian S.C. has faced a Chicago team in the Open Cup before. In 2000, the Bavarians dropped a 3-0 decision to the PDL Chicago Sockers in the opening round
LEAGUE LEADERS (TOP 5)
Chicago – James Maurer – 10th in goals against avg. (0.71), PDL
OPEN CUP HISTORY
In the professional era, the Bavarian S.C. has made five previous appearances, the most successful of which was in 2003, when they upset the Des Moines Menace (PDL and Reading Rage (then USL-2) to reach the third round, where they fell 4-1 to the Milwaukee Wave United of the A-League. The Bavarians reached the final in 1994, the last Open Cup before the professional era, where they fell to San Francisco’s Greek American A.C. 3-0.
The Fire PDL club has qualified for the Open Cup twice, in 2004 & 2005, both ending in losses to USL-1 clubs. In ’05, they advanced to the third round before falling 1-0 to the Rochester Rhinos. In 2006 they reached the second round before felling 2-1 to the Minnesota Thunder
LEAGUE FORM
Chicago has only allowed four goals in their seven league matches thus far, two of which came in the past week.
Richmond– Qualified automatically from the USL Second Division
Carolina– Qualified automatically from the USL First Division
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The two clubs met during the 2009 pre-season, with Richmond prevailing 1-0 on Matthew Delicate’s 90th minute goal. The teams met twice in 2007, the first being a 2-1 friendly win by Richmond. The second game was a bit more important, as the RailHawks knocked Richmond out of the U.S. open Cup with a 1-0 Quarterfinal victory
LEAGUE LEADERS (TOP 5)
Carolina – Daniel Paladini - Tied for 4th in points (7), Tied for 2nd in assists (3), USL-1 ; Caleb Patterson – 2nd in goals against avg. (0.40), USL-1 ; Eric Reed – 4th in goals against avg. (0.60), USL-1
Richmond – David Bulow – Tied for 4th in points (10), Tied for 2nd in goals scored (5), USL-2 ; Matthew Delicate – Tied for 4th in goals scored (4), USL-2 ; Michael Burke – Tied for 1st in assists (4), USL-2 ; Ronnie Pascale – 1st in goals against avg.0.75), USL-2
OPEN CUP HISTORY
Besides their 1995 Open Cup title, Richmond has reached the quarterfinals three times since (2001, 2004 & 2007), all ending in one goal losses.
Carolina has done well in their two Open Cup tournaments. In 2007 they reached the semifinals were they lost to the New England Revolution 2-1 in extra time. Their 2008 run also ended in extra time, in a 4-2 loss to the Kansas City Wizards in the third round.
LEAGUE FORM
Carolina is hot on the tail of first place Charleston, and has won their last four games. In fact, one of the RailHawks two losses came from the Battery, a 2-1 result at home.
Emigrantes Das Ilhas (USASA-Mass.) at Western Mass Pioneers (USL2)
Lusitano Stadium; Ludlow, Mass. | 7 p.m.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Western Mass – Qualified automatically from the USL Second Division
Emigrantes – Defeated Danbury United (CT) 4-2 (aet) in USASA Region I semifinals
DID YOU KNOW
Western Mass has faced a USASA club in four of it’s five Open Cup tournament appearances, and have won each game
LEAGUE LEADERS (TOP 5)
Western Mass – Yan Klukowski – Tied for 4th in assists (3), USL-2 ; James Thorpe – 2nd in goals against avg. (0.80), USL-2
OPEN CUP HISTORY
This is the first appearance in the cup for Emigrantes. Seven Open Cup titles have been won by clubs from the Southern New England area.
Western Mass has appeared in five other tournaments, and has won at least one game in all but one (2004). They are 4-0 against USASA opposition in cup play.
LEAGUE FORM
Emigrantes is 3-0-1 in the early NELASA season, but their real sucsess has been in the USASA Region I tournaments, where they have reached both the Open and Amateur cup finals.
After losing their first four matches, the Pioneers have posted a 3-1-1 record in league play. Six of the clubs nine goals have come in their last three games.
CrystalPalace Baltimore (USL2) at OceanCity Barons (PDL)
Carey Stadium; Ocean City, N.J. | 7 p.m.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
CP Baltimore – Qualified automatically from the USL Second Division
OceanCity - Finished 1st in PDL Northeast Division qualifying with a 3-0-1 record.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The Barons won the only other Open Cup meeting between the two clubs, a 1-0 triumph in the opening round of the 2007 tournament
LEAGUE LEADERS (TOP 5)
OceanCity – Tunde Oginbiyi – 6th in goals against avg. (0.60), PDL
CP Baltimore – Brian Rowland – 4th in goals against avg. (1.08), USL-2
OPEN CUP HISTORY
The Barons made their first Cup appearance as a member of the D3 Pro League in 2002, where they lost to the Virginia Beach Mariners 1-0 in the second round. As a PDL club they have qualified three times, highlighted by reaching the third round in 2005, where they fell to the Richmond Kickers in a wild 8-4 game.
In only their second year, CP Baltimore reached the quarterfinals of the 2008 Open Cup, losing to the New England Revolution on penalties. Before that, the last Baltimore team to go that far was La Dolce Vita, who lost to the Brooklyn Italians 3-1 in the 1986 quarterfinals. A Baltimore team has won the cup only once, when BaltimoreS.C. shared the 1940 title with Chicago’s Sparta after two draws.
LEAGUE FORM
Baltimore is riding a five match winless streak (0-3-2) in USL-2.
After a four game winning streak, the Barons were suprisingly upended 2-0 by Ottawa.
Charlotte Eagles (USL2) at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL2)
Legion Stadium; Wilmington, N.C. | 7 p.m.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Charlotte & Wilmington – Qualified automatically from the USL Second Division
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The clubs have met twice this season in the USL Second Division. They played to a 2-2 draw in the season opener at Charlotte, and Wilmington won a wild 6-3 shootout, again at Charlotte, in which four goals were scored between the two teams in the final ten minutes.
The teams have met only once in cup play. In 2006, Wilmington beat the Eagles 3-1 in the second round.
LEAGUE LEADERS (TOP 5)
Charlotte – Dustin Swinehart – 2nd in points (12), Tied for 2nd in goals scored (5), USL-2 ; Diego Martins – Tied for 4th in points (10), Tied for 4th in goals scored (4), USL-1 ; Jorge Herrera – Tied for 4th in assists (3), USL-2
Wilmington – Jamie Watson - Tied for 4th in points (10), Tied for 4th I goals scored (4), USL-2
OPEN CUP HISTORY
Wilmington clearly has the more dramatic Open Cup history of the two clubs. Charlotte has made the cut six times previous, but has never won more then one game in a single tournament.
Wilmington has been in seven tournaments, and have advanced to play MLS clubs four times. The most famous of these was their 4-1 drubbing of the Dallas Burn in 2-3.
LEAGUE FORM
Wilmington has done a complete turnaround in 2009, having lost only one match after eight games. The Hammerheads have failed to make the USL-2 playoffs three years in a row.
Charlotte has scored eleven goals in their last two matches, but have been up and down for the most part in the early season.
St. Louis Lions (PDL) at ClevelandCity Stars (USL1)
Middlefield Cheese Stadium; Bedford, Ohio | 7 p.m.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Cleveland – Qualified automatically from the USL First Division
St. Louis - Finished 1st in PDL Heartland Division qualifying with a 3-0-1 record.
DID YOU KNOW
The last known time that teams from St. Louis and Cleveland met in the Open Cup was in 1985, when KutisS.C. defeated the Croatian Rebels 1-0 in the Round of 16.
LEAGUE LEADERS (TOP 5)
Cleveland – Roland Aguilera – Tied for 2nd in assists (3), USL-1
St. Louis – Stephen Brooks – Tied for 5th in points (13), PDL
OPEN CUP HISTORY
The Lions have made one previous cup appearance, a 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Thunder in last year’s tournament. While the Lions are the lone team from St. Louis to make a cup appearance in the Pro Era, St. Louis clubs have won 10 Open Cup championships, the most recent being Busch S.C. in 1988.
The City Stars have reached the Cup in both of their previous seasons as a USL-2 club, and have made it past their first match each time.The alst time a club from Cleveland made a significant run in the Open Cup was in 1994, when the Cleveland Kickers reached the round of 16 before losing to the AAC Eagles 8-2. The last time a Cleveland team reached the Final was in 1973, when Inter Italian S.C. fell to Maccabee A.C. of Los Angeles 5-3.
LEAGUE FORM
The City Stars are a long way away from their 2008 USL Second Division Championship. The club has managed only one win, against last place Minnesota. Until their three goal outburst this past weekend in Puerto Rico, the City Stars had scored only twice in their first eight matches.
After posting a 3-0-1 record to claim the Heartland Division Open Cup berth, the Lions have only won once in their last four matches (1-2-1).
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL2) at Rochester Rhinos (USL1)
Marina Auto Stadium; Rochester, N.Y. | 7 p.m.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Pittsburgh – Qualified automatically from the USL Second Division
Rochester – Qualified automatically from the USL First Division
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
While the teams were A-League rivals for years, they have only met twice in Open Cup play. The first was in 2000, when the Rhinos prevailed 2-1. They met again in last year’s tournament, with Rochester again triumphant, 2-0.
LEAGUE LEADERS (TOP 5)
Rochester – Johnny Menyongar - 2nd in points (9), Tied for 1st in goals scored (4), USL-1 ; Scott Vallow – Tied for 5th in goals against avg. (1.12), USL-1
OPEN CUP HISTORY
The Riverhounds have been to the cup six times, but have not found much success. Besides their quarterfinal appearance in 2001, they have won only one other match, a 4-0 win over USASA club AAC Eagles in 2008.
Rochester’s Open Cup pedigree is well known. In their thirteen appearances, they have failed to advance beyond their first match only once (a 1-0 loss to the Hershey Wildcats in 2001). Of course there is the Cup they won in 1999.
LEAGUE FORM
After starting the season 3-1-1, the Rhinos have gone 1-3-1. The Rhinos have gone scoreless for the last 323 minutes of league play.
After starting 2-0-1, the Riverhounds lost three in a row and sunk to the basement of the USL-2. A surprise 3-1 win over then USL-2 leaders Wilmington ended the streak.
Harrisburg– Qualified automatically from the USL Second Division
Reading- Finished 1st in PDL Mid-Atlantic Division qualifying with a 3-0-1 record.
DID YOU KNOW
This is the first time two teams from Pennsylvania have met in the Pro Era of the Open Cup.
LEAGUE LEADERS (TOP 5)
Harrisburg – Chad Severs – 1st in points (13), 2st in goals scored (6), USL-2 ; Ty Shipalane – Tied for 4th in points (10), Tied for 1st in assists (4).USL-2 ; Stephen Fisher – Tied for 1st in assists (4), USL-2 ; Chase Harrison - 3rd in goals against avg. (1.00), USL-2
Reading – Adam Gazda – Tied for 9th in points (12), PDL
OPEN CUP HISTORY Reading have made two previous appearances in the Open Cup, both as a professional club. In 2001 they lost in the first round to the A-League’s Richmond Kickers 7-2, and were upset in 2003 by Bavarian S.C. of the USASA, again in the opening round.
Harrisburg reached the quarterfinals in their Open Cup debut in 2007, defeating D.C. United in the third round.
LEAGUE FORM
Reading has steamrolled through their early PDL schedule, winning three of their six games by three goals or more, posting a 5-0-1 record. They should be well rested, having not played since May 31.
Harrisburg comes into the match atop the USL-2, although their last match was a shocking 5-0 loss to Richmond on June 6.
Minnesota – Qualified automatically from the USL First Division
402 – Defeated RWB Adria 5-3 in USASA Region II semifinal
CONNECTIONS
402’s Johnny Torres is a familiar name to Thunder fans, having scored 19 goals in 47 matches for Minnesota over the 2002 and 2003 seasons. Andrei Gotsmanov is another familiar name. He is the son of former Thunder players Sergei Gotsmanov, who played in Minnesota in the late 90’s.
LEAGUE LEADERS (TOP 5)
NONE
OPEN CUP HISTORY
The only appearance by a team from Nebraska in the Pro Era of the Open Cup was in 1997, when the Lincoln Brigade fell to the Philadelphia Freedom of the D3 Pro League on penalties after a 1-1- draw.
The Thunder have made nine Open Cup appearances, and have had mixed results. Three times (1999, 2003 & 2006) they were out after one match. In 2004 they reached the Quarterfinals (PK loss to the San Jose Earthquakes), and made the semifinals in 2005 (5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy).
LEAGUE FORM
The Thunder has yet to win a game this year, but has also not lost a match by more than a single goal. The Thunder has seen two potential draws turned into losses in the 90th minute in the young season.
Atlanta F.C. (USASA-Ga.) at CharlestonBattery (USL1)
Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C. | 7:30 p.m.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Charleston – Qualified automatically from the USL First Division
Atlanta F.C. – Won Group 2 of USASA Region III Finals with a 3-0-0 record
DID YOU KNOW
Charleston has only faced two USASA teams in their Open Cup history, and both were from West of the Mississippi (SonomaCountySol in 2006, and ASC New Stars (Houston) in 2008)
LEAGUE LEADERS (TOP 5)
Charleston - Tyler Henning – Tied for 2nd in assists (3), USL-1 ; Dusty Hudock – 1st in goals against avg. (0.20), USL-1
OPEN CUP HISTORY
Not only is this Atlanta F.C.’s first Open Cup appearance, it’s the first time a USASA club from Georgia has qualified for the Open Cup in the Professional Era. Previously, the Atlanta Wolves and Atlanta Datagraphic reached the National Semifinals in 1980 & 1981, respectively.
Charleston may be the second most famous USL club in Open Cup play, next to Rochester. The Battery have been to nine Open Cups, and have one Quarterfinal appearance (2007) two semifinal appearances (1999 & 2004) and reached the Final in 2008.
LEAGUE FORM
Charleston is off to one of their best starts in team history, charging out of the gate with a 6-0-5 record. After starting the season with three draws, the Battery have won six of their last eight games, and have allowed only three goals all season.
Atlanta F.C. has only played three matches in their NPSL season, posting a 2-1-0 record.
Lynch’s F.C. (USASA-Fla.) at Miami F.C. Blues (USL1) TropicalPark; Miami, Fla. | 8 p.m.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Miami F.C. – Qualified automatically from the USL First Division
Lynch’s F.C. – Won Group 1 of USASA Region III Finals with a 2-0-1 record
PREVIOUS MEETINGS / CONNECTIONS
Miami’s two professional clubs (Miami F.C., Miami Fusion) in the Pro Era have a combined record of 8-6 over the course of six Open Cup tournaments. However, four of those wins came in the Fusion’s run to the Final in 2000.
LEAGUE LEADERS (TOP 5)
NONE
OPEN CUP HISTORY
The Jacksonville USASA club has made two previous appearances in the Open Cup, in 2003 and 2007. Both matches ended in defeat for Lynch’s. Jacksonville has only had one other team represent them in Open Cup play since 1995. That was the Cyclones of the A-League, who reached the third round of the 1999 cup before losing to the Dallas Burn 3-0.
In Miami’s first two Open Cup tries (2006 & 2007), they lasted only one match each, one of those being a 2006 loss to tournament Cinderella Dallas Roma F.C.. Last year the Blues finally broke through, reaching the third round, dropping a 2-1 match to F.C. Dallas.
LEAGUE FORM
Miami are riding a five match winless streak, and have not scored a goal since April 26, when Connelly Edozien tallied in the Blues 2-1 loss to Rochester.
Mississippi Brilla F.C. (PDL) at Austin Aztex (USL1)
Nelson Field; Austin, Texas | 8:30 p.m.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Austin – Qualified automatically from the USL First Division
Mississippi - Finished 1st in PDL Southeast Division qualifying with a 3-0-1 record.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Mississippi and Austin’s PDL teams met each other twice last season, and split the two games.
LEAGUE LEADERS (TOP 5)
Austin – Yordany Alvares - 3rd in points (8), Tied for 3rd in goals scored (3), USL-1
OPEN CUP HISTORY
This is the lone match in which both clubs are making their Open Cup debuts. Mississippi’s only other Open Cup representation in the Pro Era was in 1998, when the Jackson Chargers lost to the Orlando Nighthawks in the first round, 2-1.
While the Aztex are making their cup debut as a professional club, their PDL
team qualified in 2008, losing to the Atlanta Silverbacks on penalty kicks in the first round. The Austin Lone Stars of the D3 Pro League made three straight Open Cup appearances (1997-1999).
LEAGUE FORM
Austin has held their own in their debut USL-1 season, starting off with a respectable 2-3-4 record.
Mississippi have lost just once in 2009, a 2-1 defeat at Bradenton.
Arizona Sahuaros (USASA-Ariz.) at El Paso Patriots (PDL)
Patriot Stadium; El Paso, Texas | 10 p.m.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
El Paso- Finished 1st in PDL Mid-South Division qualifying with a 3-1-0 record.
Arizona– Finished second in Group B of USASA Region IV Finals with a 1-0-2 record. Awarded Open Cup berth when Miran was disqualified for ineligible players.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The last time Arizona was without a league, in 2006, they faced El Paso in two friendly matches, and won both 2-0 and 1-0. The teams have met once in Open cup play, in 1998, when El Paso was in the a-League, and Arizona was a D3 Pro League team. The Patriots prevailed 9-1 in the second round match.
LEAGUE LEADERS (TOP 5)
NONE
OPEN CUP HISTORY
This match features two teams who have qualified in the past as under both the professional and amateur banner.
The Sahuaros made two appearances under the banner of the USL D3 Pro League, one of which ended with an embarrassing 9-2 loss to the San Diego Flash of the A-League. Their two appearances as a USASA club came more recently, in 2006 & 2008, dropping close 1-0 games to USL-1 teams (Va.Beach in 2006, Seattle in 2008).
El Paso has made seven previous appearances, two with the USISL Select League, three as a member of the A-League, and two with the PDL. Of Course, their standout performance was finishing as runners-up to the Richmond Kickers in the 1995 Open Cup Final.
LEAGUE FORM
While the Patriots have won two of their last three in the PDL, thay have had their low moments. Standing out is a 4-0 loss to Austin on May 22, and two losses against arch-rival Laredo.
Portland Timbers (USL1) at Kitsap Pumas (PDL)
Bremerton Memorial H.S.; Bremerton, Wash. | 10 p.m.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Kitsap - Finished 1st in PDL Northwest Division qualifying with a 3-0-1 record.
Portland – Qualified automatically from the USL First Division
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
While the senior Timbers have never played Kitsap, their Under-23 side played the Pumas on June 6, and came away from Kitsap with a 1-0 loss.
LEAGUE LEADERS (TOP 5)
Portland – Ryan Pore - Tied for 4th in points (7), Tied for 3rd in goals scored (3), USL-1; Steve Cronin – 3rd in goals against avg. (0.57), USL-1
OPEN CUP HISTORY
Kitsap are making their first Open Cup appearance, and are only the third PDL squad from the state of Washington to make it this far. The others were the Spokane Shadow (1999 & 2004( and the Yakima Reds (2008).
Portland has struggled in Open Cup play, winning only three times in eight Open Cup matches, as well as becoming the second USL-1 side to lose to a USASA club (Hollywood United in 2008).
LEAGUE FORM
After their season opening 1-0 loss to Vancouver, the Timbers have yet to taste defeat, posting a 5-0-3 record since.
The Pumas have yet to wind up on the losing end in their debut season, starting off with a 5-0-2 record in the PDL Northwest.
