Three teams got their USL Second Division qualifying campaigns off to fine starts over the weekend, each winning their 2008 home openers.

On Saturday, the most dramatic finish was in Cleveland. The City Stars scored twice in the final fifteen minutes, including the winning goal by Ian Leibbrandt in stoppage time, to defeat the returning Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2-1. One of the USL-2 teams that reached the Quarterfinals of last year’s Open Cup, Richmond, cruised past Western Mass 3-0. Finally, severe weather mercifully stopped Charlotte’s 6-0 drubbing of Bermuda in the 82nd minute, which included four goals from Dustin Swinehart.

At Krenzler Field in Cleveland, the City Stars gave their fans a thrilling finish by tying the game in the 77th minute, and winning two minutes into stoppage time. After playing a scoreless first half, Cleveland caught a break when the Riverhounds’ Ryan Caugherty was sent off for a hard foul on Floyd Franks in the 54th minute. Even with the man disadvantage, Pittsburgh found the net thirteen minutes later. A Pittsburgh corner kick found Nathan Salsi, who navigated a low shot through the crowd and past goalkeeper Eric Reed.

Cleveland responded ten minutes later, as Anthony Stovall made a run up the left side and sent a cross in to Randolph Jerome, who out jumped goalkeeper Andrew Keszler to get the ball in the net and tie the score. As stoppage time worn on, it looked as if the two clubs would share the points, but Dana McGregor sent a long ball into the box, which Jerome managed to get a head on. Keszler punched the ball away, only to send it to a waiting Ian Leibbrandt, who calmly placed his powerful shot in the net for the win. The Riverhounds are returning to the Second Division after a year off, and will look to continue their run of qualifying for the U.S. Open Cup, which they had done in 2005 and 2006.

In Richmond, the Kickers and Western Mass Pioneers got off to a slow start with a scoreless first half, neither team finding many chances. Things picked up after the break, as the Pioneers’ Omar McFarlane tested Ronnie Pascale with a low shot, but the Kickers goalkeeper scooped up the shot to keep it 0-0. After 60 minutes, Richmond finally opened the scoring. Anthony Catalano headed the ball home after a series of passes. Pioneers’ goalkeeper Matt Glaeser was able to get a finger on it, but not enough to stop the shot. Minutes later, Mike Burke doubled the Kickers advantage. After a pass from the wing by Luke Vercollone, Ben Hunter crossed to Burke, who volleyed the ball past Glaeser. With just minutes remaining, Stanley Nyazamba was brought down in the penalty area, and Kevin Bulow stepped up and converted the spot kick for the 3-0 victory.

In Charlotte, the Eagles showed no mercy to the visiting Bermuda Hogges, thrashing the islanders 6-0. Dustin Swineheart knocked in four goals, including the first three of the game. Patrick Daka added to an assist on one of Swinehart’s goals with one of his own in the 59th minute, just ten minutes after Swinehart completed his natural hat trick. The veteran Eagles forward made it four just minutes later, with an assist from Joseph Kabwe, who also assisted on the final goal from Jorge Herrera, which came four minutes later. After Charlotte let off the gas, a threat of lightning  stopped the game for a moment. Soon after play was resumed the game was stopped short again, this time for good, when the weather caused the lights on the north side of the stadium to go out.

On Sunday, the Pioneers traveled to the Maryland Soccerplex in Boyds, MD to serve as the first opponent for the debuting Real Maryland Monarchs. The Pioneers played the role of rude visitors, taking a 1-0 victory. Neil Krause scored just before the halftime whistle, on an assist by Easton Wilson, for the lone goal of the match. Maryland’s Teodoro Ramirez was sent off in the 66th minute for a second caution, but the Pioneers could not widen their lead with the man advantage. The win puts Western Mass at 50% on points over two games. Wilmington and Crystal Palace Baltimore are the only USL-2 teams without a game thus far. Baltimore opens their season on Friday at home versus Pittsburgh, while Wilmington will travel to Bermuda to face the Hogges on Saturday night.