UPDATE: US Club Soccer representative SC Corinthians USA has forfeited their first round match against the San Diego Flash because they did not have enough players registered by the roster deadline. The Flash will move on to host the winner of PSA Elite (USASA) and Los Angeles Misioneros (PDL).

The 2014 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup kicks off on Wednesday, May 7 with eight games, as the largest tournament in its Modern Professional Era (1995-present) aims to crown a national champion for the 101st consecutive year.

This year’s tournament begins tonight with 16 amateur clubs, many of them familiar faces as just four teams will make their tournament debut. The winners advance to the largest second round (24 games) in decades.

Follow @USOpenCup on Twitter for all the latest updates from all eight games tonight, and be sure to use (and follow) this year’s hashtag: #USOC2014.

The CD Aguiluchos USA vs. Ventura County Fusion game is being broadcast live on the Fusion’s YouTube page. It is embedded below. Any other broadcast links are included below.

CD Aguiluchos USA at Ventura County Fusion



2014 US Open Cup First Round Previews

FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic (NPSL) at GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL)

Memorial Field (Deering High School) – Portland, ME – 7 p.m. ET

Broadcast: RADIO (WGPA 1100AM)

Winner hosts: Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro)

FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic Open Cup records

Overall: 0-2-0 | Away: 0-1-0 | vs. Amateur: 0-2-0

Last entry: 2013 (Lost 2-0 at Reading United of PDL in Round 1)

Streak: Third straight US Open Cup appearance

GPS Portland Phoenix Open Cup records

Overall: 1-2-0 | Home: 1-1-0 | vs. Amateur: 1-1-0

Last entry: 2013 (Lost 1-0 at Rochester Rhinos of USL Pro – Round 2)

Best finish: 2013 Second Round (Lost 1-0 at Rochester Rhinos of USL Pro)

Streak: Third straight US Open Cup appearance

By Josh Hakala

The GPS (Global Premier Soccer) Portland Phoenix are back in the US Open Cup for the third consecutive year, looking to carry the flag of their home state. Based on TheCup.us records, prior to the Phoenix qualifying for the first time in 2012, there had never been a team from the state of Maine qualify for the US Open Cup. They qualified after finishing witha 7-3-4 record and a second place finish in the Northeast Division, behind the Ottawa Fury. The PDL submitted all US-based division winners (5) into the tournament this year, and the remaining clubs were put into a single table and the Top 14 teams filled out the rest of the league’s tournament spots.

The Phoenix dropped a 3-2 decision to the NPSL’s Brooklyn Italians in their first Open Cup run in 2012, but rebounded last year when they defeated Mass Premier Soccer (now GPS Massachusetts) 2-0. They got their first taste of professional soccer in 2013, traveling to Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester to take on the Rhinos. They gave them a run for their money, but fell 1-0 to the former Open Cup champions.

They will host FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic of the NPSL who qualified as one of the top two teams in the league’s Keystone Conference. The club finished in second place with a 9-3-0 record and since the Keystone teams didn’t play the same number of games, they finished in second place by way of a .750 winning percentage. This is also the third straight trip to the Open Cup for Lehigh Valley, but they are seeking their first win after losing their opening round game in each of the last two years to PDL teams (2012 – Long Island Rough Riders; 2013 – Reading United AC).

Aside from two straight one-and-done campaigns in the Open Cup, they have had a tremendous amount of success in playoff competitions. They reached the NPSL final four in their inaugural season in 2010, but after not qualifying for the postseason in 2011 despite a 9-1-2 record and a second place finish in their division, they won the NPSL championship in 2012. Last year, they reached the NPSL semifinals again before falling to the Sonoma County Sol 3-2.

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RWB Adria (USASA) at Detroit City FC (NPSL)

Stevenson High School – Livonia, MI – 7 p.m. ET

Broadcast: None

IF RWB Adria wins … at Michigan Bucks (PDL) on May 14

IF Detroit City FC wins … host Michigan Bucks (PDL) on May 14

RWB Adria Open Cup records (Modern Pro Era)

Overall: 0-3-1 (0-1 PKs) | Away: 0-3-1 (0-1 PKs) | vs. Amateur: 0-0-0

Last entry: 2013 (Drew 1-1 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds of USL Pro – Lost 5-3 in PKs in Round 1)

Best finish: 1978, 1991 US Open Cup Semifinals

Streak: 2nd consecutive appearance; Winless in last 4 Open Cup games (0-3-1, 0-1 PKs)

Detroit City FC Open Cup records

Overall: 0-0-0 | Home: 0-0-0 | vs. Amateur: 0-0-0

Last entry: N/A

Best finish: N/A



By Fletcher Sharpe



The CNSC RWB Adria (short for Croatian National Soccer Club, Red White Blue Adria) travel from Chicago to Livonia Stevenson High School in Livonia, Mich. to take on Le Rouge of Detroit City FC and their raucous fans in a first round match.



RWB qualified for this year’s tourney (fifth time since 1995) as a wild card after winning the 2013 USASA Amateur Cup, while Detroit City qualified for the first time as they won the 2013 Great Lakes Division title.

RWB runs a 4-5-1 formation full of players who have played together for a while, led by a shifty midfield that includes Canadian Semir Mesanovic, and Bosnian Igor Stijepic. Their net is protected by the 34-year-old Macedonian Igor Dimov. Mesanovic is their go to player, with a slick dribble, who also signed to the Turkish side Besiktas back in 2000. Detroit City FC boasts a powerful lineup, featuring one of the more prolific attacks this side of the Mason-Dixon, even if they sent a few of their players to Major League Soccer last year. Led by 2012 NCAA Division II National Player of the Year Zach Myers, and a fearsome midfield that plays attacking soccer. In their only exhibition game before this cup match, they won 1-0 decision over Myers’ alma mater, Saginaw Valley State. As talented as their team is on the field, DCFC has received a lot of attention for their large and active supporters groups, something that’s almost unheard of in the Division IV amateur level.

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GPS Massaschusetts (USASA) at Western Mass Pioneers (PDL)

Lusitano Stadium – Ludlow, MA – 7:30 p.m. ET

Broadcast: VIDEO (USSoccer.com)

Winner plays at Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro) on May 14

GPS Massaschusetts Open Cup records

Overall: 0-1-0 | Away: 0-1-0 | vs. Amateur: 0-1-0

Last entry: 2013 (Lost 2-0 at GPS Portland Phoenix of PDL in Round 1)

Streak: 2nd straight Open Cup appearance

Western Mass Pioneers Open Cup records

Overall: 5-6-1 (0-1 PKs) | Home: 4-4-0 | vs. Amateur: 0-0-0

As PDL: 0-1-0 | Home: 0-0-0 | vs. Amateur 0-0-0

Last entry: 2012 (Lost 3-2 vs. Brooklyn Italians of NPSL – Round 1)

Best finish: 2012 First Round (Lost 3-2 vs. Brooklyn Italians of NPSL)

By Brian O’Connell

A clash of Commonwealth clubs will help kick off the first round of the 2014 US Open Cup on Wednesday, as the Western Mass Pioneers (PDL) and GPS Massaschusetts (USASA) face off at Lusitano Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., with an online stream available via ussoccer.com.

The Pioneers enter the tournament following a fourth-place finish (5-3-6, 21 points) inside of the Northeast Division last season. Coach Federico Molinari brought his young club within striking distance of the divisional playoffs thanks to a strong defense (1.07 GAA), and timely goals from Junior Alencar, who scored nine times in six games for the Ludlow-based XI. The Pioneers have 12 Open Cup games under their belt, with 11 of them as a Division III professional team. In 2010, they dropped down to the PDL and last qualified in 2011 and are seeking their first tournament win as an amateur side.

Molinari returns a number of key players from last year’s club for Wednesday’s match. Not only will Alencar be available for selection, but so will captain Jay Willis, the anchor of the Pioneers’ defense for over a decade. Another player who’ll aid the Pioneers’ cause: goalkeeper Warren Gross, who collected a division-best nine clean sheets in 2012. Meanwhile, Max Viera will resume his role in the Pioneers’ midfield, where he played 878 minutes over 12 games last year.

GPS Massaschusetts, which went 11-6-1 (31 points) in Bay State Soccer League action last year, finds itself in the unique situation of featuring in two Open Cup tournaments simultaneously. On Sunday, they outlasted the Lansdowne Bhoys 4-3 in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in a USASA Region I semifinals. With the win, they’ll head to the Region I final on June 15 against the Maryland Bays with the winner qualifying for the 2015 US Open Cup.

But with their attention turned to the 2014 tournament, one of the best amateur sides in the region will need to get the most from key contributors. Coach/player Nick Christman often sparks attacks along the wing, while Tyler Macnee and Derek Nobrega have all tallied in big games before. MPS also boasts a pair of former MLS players in Sam Brill (New England Revolution) and Ben Shuleva (FC Dallas), both of whom bring savviness and stability to a side that seems to get better every year.

Wednesday’s matchup will be the first time the Pioneers and MPS meet. But given the impressive talent both sides boast, it should be a memorable meeting, one which will take place at one of the region’s most historic venues, no less.

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Vermont Voltage (PDL) at New York Red Bulls U23s (NPSL)

Red Bull Training Facility – Whippany, NJ – 8 p.m. ET

Broadcast: None

Winner plays at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro)

Vermont Voltage Open Cup records

Overall: 0-0-0 | Away: 0-0-0 | vs. Amateur: 0-0-0

Last entry: N/A

Best finish: N/A

Note: First Vermont team to qualify for the Open Cup

New York Red Bulls U23s Open Cup records

Overall: 0-1-0 | Home: 0-0-0 | vs. Amateur: 0-1-0

Last entry: 2013 (Lost 2-0 at Ocean City Nor’easters of PDL – Round 1)

Note: First game to be played at the Red Bull Training Field

By Eric Anderson

When Bojan Vučković was inducted into the New England Soccer Hall of Fame in 2010, the organization noted that his name “is synonymous with Vermont soccer.”

It’s fitting then that Vučković’s team, the Vermont Voltage of the USL Premier Development League, will make some history for their state Wednesday night.

According to TheCup.us records, the Voltage will become the first team from Vermont to appear in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup proper in the tournament’s 101-year history when they take on the New York Red Bulls Under-23 team in a first-round match Wednesday night in Whippany, N.J. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. Eastern, with the winner travelling to meet USL Pro’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds in a second round match May 14.

Vučković is the general manager, head coach/director of player personnel and the marketing director for the Voltage. He also previously was a co-owner of the team, and the 43-year-old Serbian has one other role with the club: Player.

A six-year veteran of the pro indoor game who played in one match for Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution back in the inaugural 1996 season, Vučković made 11 appearances and had two assists for the team in PDL play last season. Vermont earned its first Open Cup berth by finishing third in the Northeast Division of the PDL’s Eastern Conference with a 6-5-3 record.

The Red Bulls Under-23 team finished tied atop the Atlantic Conference in the NPSL’s Northeast Region in 2013, going 7-2-1 to match the Brooklyn Italians. They dropped a 2-1 decision to Greater Binghamton FC in the regional semifinals.

Coach Simon Nee’s team has a whopping 43 players registered through the NPSL for 2014, including Georgetown midfielder Alex Muyl, who had four goals and nine assists as a freshman last fall and was part of a US Under-20 national team camp in January.

Among the other players on the roster include ASA College defender Ousmane Sanogo, who was named an NJCAA Division I third-team All-American in 2013; St. John’s teammates Danny Bedoya and Brandon Savino; and Red Bulls Academy forward Alex Tejera, who will be a freshman at Siena next fall.

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Red Force (USASA) at Colorado Rovers (USSSA)

Shea Stadium – Highlands Ranch, CO – 10 p.m. ET

Broadcast: TBA

Winner plays at Laredo Heat (PDL)

Red Force Open Cup records

Overall: 0-1-0 | Away: 0-0-0 | vs. Amateur: 0-1-0

Last entry: 2013 (Lost 4-2 vs. Ocala Stampede of PDL in Round 1)



Colorado Rovers Open Cup records

Overall: 0-0-1 (0-1 PKs) | Home: 0-0-1 (0-1 PKs) | vs. Amateur 0-0-1 (0-1 PKs)

Last entry: 2013 (Lost 5-3 in PKs (1-1 draw AET) vs. Georgia Revolution of NPSL – Round 1)



By Robert Wilson

One step at a time is the message that Colorado Rovers head coach Eric French preaches as his team prepares for its second shot at the US Open Cup. After years of success at the state and regional amateur levels the Colorado Rovers captured their first United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Elite National Cup title and qualified for their first ever appearance in the 2013 US Open Cup. Their first crack at the nationwide tournament was a gritty affair with visiting NPSL side Georgia Revolution. Unfortunately for the USSSA representative they were eliminated on penalty kicks after the game ended a 1-1 tie after 120 minutes.

Since last year’s elimination the Rovers followed a similar path to qualification as they defended their titles as champions of the Colorado Amateur Soccer League and the USSSA Elite National Cup. Led by goalkeeper Mark Saxby the Rovers’ back line recorded five consecutive clean sheets in route to the USSSA Elite National Cup victory.

Looking to build off of their recent successes, the Colorado Rovers come into their second US Open Cup campaign with an experienced squad determined to make the next step in the Open Cup. The Rovers enter this year’s first round with eight returning starters from last year’s Open Cup debut, most notably Polish-American midfielder Arkadiusz Raclawski and former Colorado Rapids prospect and 2013 Open Cup goal scorer Marc Herschberger. A couple of former MLS veterans are also on the roster with the return of defender Ritchie Kotschau, who spent time with a number of clubs in his career and former Colorado Rapids and Houston Dynamo midfielder Colin Clark.

Once again the Rovers kickoff at Shea Stadium in Highlands Ranch, Colo. they will face a team traveling across the country. This year’s opposition is fellow US Open Cup sophomores; Red Force of Miami, Fla. The USASA club is also looking for their first win in the Open Cup after being eliminated at home in the first round of last year’s tournament by fellow Sunshine state side Ocala Stampede (USL PDL).

Red Force is coming into the tournament in good form as they are currently undefeated (12-0) in the Miami Soccer League, Region III U.S. Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and preparing for the Caribbean Americas Soccer Association (CASA) finals this weekend.

Aside from similar starting points the two clubs could not be more different. Contrary to the Rovers, the Miami-based Red Force are a younger club with a diverse international squad. Red Force’s founder & head coach Gabriel Vega has built a club with a mix of promising youth players from the club’s youth system and veteran professionals representing seven different nations and experience in professional leagues across the southeastern United States and Latin America.

The Red Force return the majority of their starters from last year’s Open Cup tournament including Colombians Daniel Hernandez and captain defender Daniel Gomez. Hernandez scored a goal in the team’s lone tournament game last year. This year they have also added forwards Scott Gordon, formerly of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers & Chivas USA, USL Pro veteran striker Abiodun Adeyemi and defender Richard Perdomo, formerly of the Carolina Railhawks and Miami FC.

This year, Red Force were not handed a favorable draw traveling to Colorado midweek. That said, the matchup of two contrasting teams both with the same goal of winning their club’s first Open Cup game should produce an entertaining first round match. The victor will travel to Laredo, Texas to take on the Laredo Heat of the PDL who are making their third straight appearance in the competition.

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CD Aguiluchos USA (NPSL) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL)

Ventura College – Ventura, CA – 10 p.m. ET

Broadcast: VIDEO (Fusion’s YouTube channel)

IF CD Aguiluchos USA wins … play at Sacramento Republic (USL Pro)

IF Ventura County Fusion wins … host Sacramento Republic (USL Pro)

CD Aguiluchos USA Open Cup records

Overall: 0-0-0 | Away: 0-0-0 | vs. Amateur: 0-0-0

Last entry: N/A

Best finish: N/A

Ventura County Fusion Open Cup records

Overall: 4-3-1 (0-1 PKs) | Home: 2-2-1 (0-1 PKs) | vs. Amateur 3-0-1 (0-1 PKs)

Last entry: 2013 (Lost 5-1 at Los Angeles Blues of USL Pro in Round 2)

Best finish: 2012 Third Round (Lost 1-0 vs. Chivas USA of MLS)

Streak: This is Ventura’s 5th consecutive appearance in the Open Cup, one shy of the Modern Professional Era (1995-present) record for amateur teams, currently held by Reading United (6).

By Joe Curley

With just one win in six combined matches, neither the Ventura County Fusion nor CD Aguiluchos USA have enjoyed storming starts to their respectively league campaigns. So Wednesday’s first-round US Open Cup match at the Ventura College Sportsplex — one of the three in Southern California — offers an opportunity for a kickstart.

The matchup is also one of three showdowns between Premier Development League and National Premier Soccer League sides.

The Fusion, which suffered the first season-opening loss in eight years of existence Saturday at OC Blues Under-23s, are entering their fifth straight season of Open Cup play. Only fellow PDL side Reading United AC has a longer qualification streak than the Fusion as they are competing for the sixth year in a row. The Fusion have survived the first round the past three seasons, beating NPSL’s FC Hasental in a 3-2 thriller in the first Ventura County derby in 2013.

When it was founded in 2012, Oakland-based Aguiluchos, who are making their Open Cup debut, was heralded as an El Salvadorian Chivas USA, based on a connection with El Salvadorian power CD Aquila, and announced aspirations to join Major League Soccer by 2020.

The Fusion actually faced Chivas USA in its lone competitive match against an MLS side in 2012’s third round, losing 1-0 on Cesar Romero’s goal in the 13th minute.

Aguiluchos, who finished in fourth place in its division in its inaugural NPSL season a year ago, have opened this year 1-4-0.

The winner advances to face USL Pro expansion club Sacramento Republic in next week’s second round. Either matchup would be intriguing. The Republic, who announced a sellout of more than 20,000 at Sacramento City College for its home opener last week, have five former Fusion players on its roster and employ Fusion Director of Soccer Graham Smith is its technical director.

Should Aguiluchos advance, it would set up a fresh Northern California derby. Oakland and Sacramento are separated by only 80 miles.

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SC Corinthians USA (US Club Soccer) at San Diego Flash (NPSL) – FORFEIT

San Diego Flash advance by way of forfeit

Mira Mesa High School – San Diego, CA – 10 p.m. ET

Broadcast: TBA

San Diego Flash wins: Host winner of PSA Elite/LA Misioneros

SC Corinthians USA Open Cup records

Overall: 0-0-0 | Away: 0-0-0 | vs. Amateur: 0-0-0

Last entry: N/A

Best finish: N/A

San Diego Flash Open Cup records

Overall: 4-4-0 | Home: 2-3-0 | vs. Amateur: 1-0-0

As NPSL: 0-0-0 | Home: 0-0-0 | vs. Amateur: 0-0-0

Last entry: 2001 (Lost 3-0 at Chicago Fire of MLS in Round 2)

Best finish: Third Round (1999, 2000)

Note: The last time the Flash were in the US Open Cup, their current part-owner Eric Wynalda scored two goals and assisted on a third as his Chicago Fire eliminated San Diego 3-0 in the second round of the 2001 US Open Cup.

UPDATE: US Club Soccer representative SC Corinthians USA has forfeited their first round match against the San Diego Flash because they did not have enough players registered by the roster deadline. The Flash will move on to host the winner of PSA Elite (USASA) and Los Angeles Misioneros (PDL).



By Chris Ramos

On Wednesday night, the San Diego Flash will host SC Corinthians USA at Mira Mesa High School at 7 p.m. This is a long time coming for San Diego soccer fans as the Flash have not been a part of the US Open Cup since 2001 when they were an A-League franchise (Division II). From 2002-2010, the Flash were on hiatus but were revived as an NPSL team in 2011 and are back in the tournament

The Flash come in on a three-match win streak, defeatign their last three opponents by a combined score fo 16-3. The Flash are led by Nathan Medina, who scored a hat trick in his last outing, Justin Picou, who has scored two or more goals in two of his last three matches, and Brandon Zuniga, who seems to always be in the right place at the right time in the offensive third. The Flash lead the Western Division of the National Premier Soccer League with a record of 7-0-1 winning six of their last seven. The San Diego Flash are looking to tone their skills as they quickly approach the playoffs for the National Premier Soccer League. They have played with a constant attacking style and relentless forward play by Sergio Valle-Ortiz. The Flash plan to push the tempo of the game and keep their opponents constantly reeling.

SC Corinthians USA is an under-21 team based in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. that comes into this match looking to capitalize on their foundation of competitive youth soccer. Corinthians came together in 2012 under the guidance and leadership of Corona Eagles FC and North County Pacific, two clubs that shared the vision of creating a healthy and competitive youth soccer atmosphere for players looking to achieve state, regional, and national recognition.

Corinthians have qualified for the Open Cup for the first time, representing US Club Soccer as the lone entry. They defeated Juventus Black 93 by a score of 5-0 in the US Club Soccer final, which pitted the Southern California champion (Corinthians USA) against the Northern California champion. The club is managed by former Brazilian international Palhinha (Jorge Ferreira da Silva) and the team he has put together includes players from the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Honduras.

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Los Angeles Misioneros (PDL) at PSA Elite (NPSL)

StubHub Center Training Field – Carson, CA – 10:30 p.m. ET

Broadcast: None

Winner plays at San Diego Flash (NPSL)

Los Angeles Misioneros Open Cup records

Overall: 0-1-0 | Away: 0-0-0 | vs. Amateur: 0-0-0

Last entry: 2008 (Lost 2-1 vs. Crystal Palace Baltimore of USL-2 in Round 1)



PSA Elite Open Cup records

Overall: 1-2-0 | Home: 0-0-0 | vs. Amateur: 1-1-0

Last entry: 2013 (Lost 2-0 at Laredo Heat of PDL in Round 1)

Best finish: 2012 Second Round (Lost 6-0 at Carolina RailHawks of NASL)

By Josh Hakala

PSA Elite are back in the US Open Cup for the third consecutive year, but for the first time, they will be the home team as they welcome fellow Southern California club Los Angeles Misioneros from the PDL on Wednesday night. PSA were awarded a third straight Open Cup berth as the 2013 USASA Region IV Open Cup champion. Los Angeles got in with a 7-3-4 record and a third place finish in the competitive Southwest Division (along with the Fresno Fuego and Ventura County Fusion). Their point total of 24 was enough to make the cut among the non-division winners across the PDL.

PSA started their Open Cup resume on a bright note, traveling up to Portland and defeating the Timbers U23s 3-1, a team that had recently won the PDL championship. That earned them a date on the East Coast with the NASL’s Carolina RailHawks. The Railhawks thrashed them 6-0, but PSA would return the following season. It was another long road trip for the team as they traveled to Laredo, Texas to take on the Heat. They would lose 2-0 at Texas A&M.

The Irvine, Calif.-based club is hoping to make a bigger splash this year.

The Misioneros are making their first appearance under their current name, but their second as a club. Back in 2008, they qualified as the Los Angeles Legends and the luck of the draw earned them a home game against a professional team in their tournament debut. Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2, Division III) had to make the cross-country trip, but they managed to escape with a 2-1 win.

The big news with Los Angeles is the recent signing of former Chivas USA forward Bryan de la Fuente to bolster their attack. That could prove to be a big help in making a cup run this year.

The club has undergone a number of re-brandings over the years, starting out as the Los Angeles Storm, then the Legends, followed by the Los Angeles Azul Legends and now their current name.

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