UPDATE: Michael Salazar of PSA Elite was narrowly voted TheCup.us Player of the Tournament

Despite the fact that the Quarterfinal round of the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup did not feature a single lower division team for just the third time in the Modern Era (1995-present), there were still a number of outstanding individual performances among the underdogs.

Every year, the staff at TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters vote on the Lower Division Player of the Tournament. Since the lower division professional and amateur teams are the heart and soul of the competition, beginning in 2012 we thought it was necessary to highlight the top performances by teams below Major League Soccer (MLS).

Last year, Scott Goodwin of the Carolina RailHawks won the award, with his teammate Ty Shipalane winning it in 2013. The first year the award was voted on was in 2012 when Cal FC’s Danny Barrera.

Here are a list of candidates below (listed alphabetically). Take a look at each resume and tell us who you think should win in the comments or on social media (Twitter / Facebook).

Andres Cuero (Austin Aztex, USL)

SECOND ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored the opening goal in the 29th minute in Austin’s 2-0 home win vs. Laredo Heat (PDL).

THIRD ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and assisted on the second goal in the 77th minute in Austin’s 2-0 road win vs. San Antonio Scorpions (NASL).

FOURTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes in Austin’s 2-0 road loss to the Houston Dynamo (MLS).

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Alberto Diaz (Chula Vista FC, USASA)

FIRST ROUND: Played all 120 minutes and assisted on an 82nd minute equalizer in a 2-1 OT road win over FC Tucson (PDL).

SECOND ROUND: Started, played 83 minutes and was involved in all three goals (2 goals, 1 assist) in the team’s 3-0 road upset win over Arizona United SC (USL). He was named TheCup.us Player of the Round.

THIRD ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and contributed to all three goals (2 assists, set up the play that led to a PK) in a 7-3 road loss to the Sacramento Republic (USL).

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Leo Fernandes (New York Cosmos, NASL)

THIRD ROUND: Started, played 83 minutes, scored one goal, assisted on another in New York’s 3-0 home win vs. Jersey Express (PDL).

FOURTH ROUND: Came off the bench in the 63rd minute, scored two minutes later and assisted on the stoppage time equalizer in New York’s 2-2 home draw vs. New York City FC (MLS). Cosmos advanced 4-3 in PKs, despite Fernandes missing his attempt.

FIFTH ROUND: Started, played 62 minutes, assisted on the Cosmos’ only goal in a 4-1 road loss to the New York Red Bulls (MLS).

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Kenardo Forbes (Rochester Rhinos, USL)

SECOND ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored the game-winning goal in the 39th minute in a 1-0 home win vs. Greater Binghamton Thunder (NPSL).

THIRD ROUND: Played all 120 minutes and scored an 108th minute equalizer in Rochester’s 3-1 extra time road win vs. Harrisburg City Islanders (USL).

FOURTH ROUND: Started and played 86 minutes in a scoreless draw on the road against the Philadelphia Union (MLS). The Union would advance 3-1 on penalty kicks.

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Ricky Garbanzo (Charleston Battery, USL)

SECOND ROUND: Started, played 87 minutes and assisted on the game-winning goal in the 40th minute in a 1-0 home win over Miami United (NPSL).

THIRD ROUND: Started, played 87 minutes, scored a first half equalizer and assisted on the game-winning goal in the 80th minute in the Battery’s 3-2 home win over Ft. Lauderdale Strikers (NASL).

FOURTH ROUND: Started and played 87 minutes in the Battery’s 4-4 draw with Orlando City SC (MLS). Orlando advanced 8-7 on penalty kicks.

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Zac Gibbens (Harpo’s FC, USSSA)

PRELIM. ROUND: Earned a clean sheet with five saves in a 2-0 home win over the KC Athletics (USASA). It was the first-ever US Open Cup win for a USSSA team in their brief three-year history with the tournament.

FIRST ROUND: Earned a second straight clean sheet, this time over 120 minutes as Harpo’s earned a scoreless draw on the road against the PDL’s BYU Cougars. He made four saves, along with another one in the PK shootout to help Harpo’s advance to the Second Round.

SECOND ROUND: Harpo’s run came to an end with a 2-1 road loss at the Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL). Gibbens made four saves on 19 shots faced.

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Chris Karcz (Jersey Express, PDL)

FIRST ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored an 87th minute goal to put Jersey up 2-0 en route to a 3-0 home win over the New York Greek American SC (USASA).

SECOND ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored the lone goal (57th minute) in Jersey’s 1-0 home upset win over the New York Red Bulls 2 (USL).

THIRD ROUND: Played all 90 minutes in a 3-0 road loss to the New York Cosmos (NASL).

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Alex Martinez (Charlotte Indepedence, USL)

SECOND ROUND: Did not play in a 4-1 home win vs. Upward Stars (NPSL).

THIRD ROUND: Started, played 80 minutes, assisted on the game-winning goal in the 81st minute in Charlotte’s 1-0 road win vs. Carolina RailHawks.

FOURTH ROUND: Started, played 80 minutes, assisted on the game-winning goal in the 55th minute in Charlotte’s 1-0 road win vs. New England Revolution (MLS).

FIFTH ROUND: Started, played 80 minutes, assisted on Charlotte’s only goal in a 3-1 road loss to the Chicago Fire (MLS).

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Lucky Mkosana (New York Cosmos, NASL)

THIRD ROUND: Came off the bench and played the final seven minutes of the game in New York’s 3-0 home win vs. Jersey Express (PDL).

FOURTH ROUND: Played all 120 minutes, assisted on the first goal and scored the stoppage time equalizer in New York’s 2-2 home draw vs. New York City FC (MLS). Cosmos advanced 4-3 in PKs and Mkosana converted his attempt.

FIFTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes, scored the Cosmos’ only goal in a 4-1 road loss to the New York Red Bulls (MLS)

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Pablo Rossi (Seattle Sounders 2, USL)

SECOND ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored two goals in Seattle’s 4-2 home win vs. Kitsap Pumas (PDL).

THIRD ROUND: Played all 120 minutes and scored the game-winning goal in the 104th minute in Seattle’s 2-1 extra time home win vs. Portland Timbers 2 (USL).

FOURTH ROUND: Started and played 74 minutes in Seattle’s 2-1 road loss to Real Salt Lake (MLS).

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Michael Salazar (PSA Elite, USASA)

FIRST ROUND: Played all 90 minutes, scored a goal and dished out two assists in a 7-1 home win over Golden State Misioneros (PDL).

SECOND ROUND: Started and played 75 minutes, scored the opening goal and assisted on what would prove to be the game-winner in the 61st minute in a 2-1 home win over the Orange County Blues (USL).

THIRD ROUND: Started and played 86 minutes while assisting on the game-winning goal in the 80th minute in a 2-1 road win over the Ventura County Fusion (PDL).

FOURTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored the team’s only goal in a 6-1 road loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS).

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Matthew Turner (Jersey Express, PDL)

FIRST ROUND: Earned a clean sheet and made three saves in a 3-0 home win over the New York Greek American SC (USASA).

SECOND ROUND: Earned a clean sheet and made three saves in a 1-0 home win over the New York Red Bulls 2 (USL).

THIRD ROUND: Made four saves in a 3-0 road loss to the New York Cosmos (NASL).

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Rob Vincent (Pittsburgh Riverhounds, USL)

SECOND ROUND: Started and scored a goal and assisted on another in a 3-0 home win vs. West Virginia Chaos (PDL).

THIRD ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored the game-winning goal in the 90th minute in a 1-0 home win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL).

FOURTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored Pittsburgh’s only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 24th minute in a 3-1 home loss to DC United (MLS).