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Meet the USASA: New York Pancyprian Freedoms
Three-time champs have a rich Open Cup tradition
The New York Pancyprian Freedoms are no strangers to the U.S. Open Cup.
The USASA Region I finalists are a storied club with origins dating back to the mid 1970s and have qualified, or have attempted to qualify for the Open Cup every year of their existence, according to general manager George Halkidis.
The Freedoms hold the distinction as the last team to win back-to-back Open Cup titles when they won it all in 1982 and ’83. They have lifted the Dewar Trophy three times in all, capturing their first in 1980.
On Tuesday, in the first round of the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, they will square off with the Real Maryland Monarchs of the United Soccer Leagues’ Second Division, a professional team in the midst of their inaugural season. The game will be played at the Maryland Soccerplex at 8 p.m. in Boyds, Md.
“I think we can win,” Halkidis said.
The Queens-based club has been a part of New York City’s famed Cosmopolitan League since their inaugural season in 1974. They have captured five Cosmopolitan championships (1978-79, 1979-80, 1981-82, 2002-03, 2003-04) and over the years, have been one of the more consistent teams in the league.
In 1999, the Freedoms branched out and created a second team (called simply, the "New York Freedoms") that joined the USL Premier Development League. They wasted no time in carrying over their success to the new league, winning the Northeast Division title and advancing to the PDL national semifinals in their inaugural season. They also qualified for the U.S. Open Cup, where they upset the Cape Cod Crusaders of the USL D3 Pro League in the first round and nearly eliminated the A-League’s Rochester Raging Rhinos falling 2-1 in extra time to the eventual champions.
They spent two more years in the PDL before taking the club to the next level to play in the D3 Pro League. Their best year in the third division was in 2002 when current New England Revolution star Shalrie Joseph helped them advance to the league quarterfinals and qualify for the Open Cup. They defeated Chicago’s AAC Eagles from USASA Region II in the first round before losing to the A-League’s Milwaukee Rampage.
After the 2003 season, the club left the USL to focus on the Cosmopolitan League team.
This year marks their first appearance in the Open Cup as an amateur team since 1993, when they advanced to the quarterfinals. This year’s club features a solid group of youth and experience, and a trio of players who had to make the rare choice of which Open Cup qualified club they would play for.
Former professional player Jeff Matteo headlines the group, which includes Matia Damiani and Sebastian Alvarado. All three also helped the PDL’s Brooklyn Knights qualify for their first Open Cup appearance.
Since players not allowed to play for two teams in tournament, the players were forced to choose between the clubs, and they elected to stay with the Freedoms since they play with the club year-round.
After graduating from St. John’s University, where the Freedoms play their home games at Belson Stadium, Matteo signed with Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew in 2002. After that, his path through the pros saw him play for the New York Red Bulls, Minnesota Thunder (USL-1) and the Charleston Battery (USL-1).
The decision boosts an already strong Freedoms squad, but hurts the Knights because it deprives them of their leading scorer (Matteo had four goals in five matches) and two of their key starters. If Brooklyn and New York each win their first-round U.S. Open Cup games, they will meet in the second round.
Another player that the Freedoms will be counting on will be one of the club’s all-time greats, Julio DoSantos. The Brazilian, who grew up playing with World Cup winner Bebeto, has scored 142 goals in 124 games over the last six seasons for New York.
His first club was the legendary Rio de Janeiro club Vasco da Gama, and his first professional team was American, where he was tasked with helping create chances for a young striker: Ronaldo.
DoSantos moved to the U.S. and joined the New Jersey Stallions, then hooked on with the Freedoms in 2003 when they were a professional team. He finished third in the league in scoring with 11 goals, two assists and 24 points.
The club takes a lot of pride in the young talent that they develop and help them move on to professional careers.
Two of their current players, Panagiotis Halkidis (Stony Brook University) and Nick Katsanos (New York University), will be leaving the team in mid-July to sign with professional teams in Greece.
Another youth team product is Chris Megaloudis, who has four caps for the Puerto Rican national team and recently signed with the New York Red Bulls. Megaloudis graduated from Stony Brook and also spent time with the PDL’s Long Island Rough Riders and Westchester Flames. After helping the Freedoms advance in Open Cup qualifying, the Queens native signed a developmental contract with the Red Bulls in March.
Four-year Seton Hall starter Christos Zisimatos will be another player to watch, as well as Marc Reeves, who’s been an assistant coach at St. John’s for the last five years.
“The youth program is a big key to our success,” George Halkidis said. “We’re one of the few local clubs who practice three to four times a week, and since our organization is so good, players stick around.”
The team is lead by head coach Luka Lukovic, who knows a thing or two about the U.S. Open Cup, too. He was the starting goalkeeper for New York-based A.O. Krete when it won the 1984 U.S. Open Cup title. His professional career during the 1970s and ’80s included stops in his home country of Yugoslavia and Greece before he moved to the U.S.
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