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USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Travel to Carolina in U.S Open Cup First Round

May 27, 2009 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


Richmond, VA - (Wednesday, May 27, 2009) - U.S. Soccer unveiled the groupings for the first two rounds of the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, pitting the Richmond Kickers in a road match against the Carolina RailHawks on Tuesday, June 9th at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. The winner will advance to the Second Round to take on the winner of the Wilmington Hammerheads versus Charlotte Eagles game on Tuesday, June 16th at a location to be determined. The First Round pairings were determined by dividing the clubs geographically into eight groups of four and then conducting random draws within each group.

A total of 40 teams, including 24 professional and 16 amateur clubs will compete when the tournament kicks off in June for the 96th consecutive year. The Richmond Kickers receive an automatic berth into the first round of competition, alongside the seven other U.S.-based USL Second Division teams. Joining the eight USL-2 teams in the First Round on June 9th will be eight USL First Division teams and 16 amateur teams. On June 16th, the 16 First Round winners will face off with eight victors moving into the Third Round to take on the eight teams representing Major League Soccer on June 30th.

Overall, 120 amateur division teams nationwide participated in qualifying for the 2009 U.S. Open Cup, with 16 teams advancing to the tournament. Major League Soccer's top six teams from the 2008 standings qualified, while D.C. United and the Seattle Sounders won their respective play-in games to complete the field of 40.

Richmond Kickers and the Open Cup

The 2009 season marks the 11th time the Richmond Kickers have qualified for the U.S. Open Cup over the past 15 seasons and hold an overall record of 17-9 during tournament play. The Kickers claimed the U.S. Open Cup title the first year of the "Professional Era" in 1995 and have since made it to the quarterfinal round four times (1995, 2001, 2004, 2007), ousting three Major League Soccer teams along the way including Colorado Rapids in 2000, DC United in 2004 and LA Galaxy in 2007. With 59 total goals scored during the Open Cup, the Kickers set several franchise records, as well as a Professional Era U.S. Open Cup record, for most goals (12) during the 8-4 rout over the Ocean City Barons in 2005.

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