Sports stats



Open Cup Quarters Tuesday night

July 7, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1) News Release


TAMPA, FL -- Historical. One perfect word to describe the 2009 edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. After a stunning Third Round last week, the tournament continues Tuesday evening with the four Quarterfinal contests, featuring four USL clubs. At the end of the night, at least one USL team will be headed to the Semifinals for the fifth time in six years.

The history began last Tuesday when the Third Round of the tournament saw two USL Second Division clubs advanced to the Quarterfinals for the first time since the San Francisco Seals and Chicago Stingers accomplished the feat. The Harrisburg City Islanders' victory on the road over the New England Revolution and the Wilmington Hammerheads' win at home over the Chicago Fire also made them the first two clubs to reach the Quarterfinals twice as members of USL-2. Harrisburg reached the elite eight in 2007 and Wilmington in 2003.

The two clubs will be looking to join the 1997 Seals as the only USL-2 level clubs to ever reach the final four of the event.

Harrisburg will take to the road once again, looking to repeat history in a match-up with defending tournament champion DC United, whom they stunned in the 2007 edition.

Wilmington will have to register a win on the road against the 1999 champion Rochester Rhinos, who will be looking to join the Charleston Battery as the only three-time semifinalists in USL history.

Charleston, meanwhile, will be looking to reach the Semifinals a USL-best fourth time in team history, but will need to defeat the Houston Dynamo for a third consecutive year in the tournament after eliminating the MLS side the past two years in the Third Round. Should they advance, they would be joining the Seattle Sounders (2007-08) as the second team in USL history to reach the Semifinals in consecutive years. The Battery already made history by becoming the first USL club to reach the Quarterfinals three consecutive years.

Tuesday night's Quarterfinal Round marks only the third time (2007, 2004) since USL teams began participating in 1996 that four teams reached the final eight. For the third straight year, at least three clubs advanced to the Quarterfinals.

Quarterfinal action free on USL Live

Two Quarterfinal Round contests will be available on USLlive.com Tuesday, July 7. The Charleston Battery (vs Houston Dynamo - 7:30 pm ET) and Rochester Rhinos (vs Wilmington Hammerheads - 7:00 pm ET) will be broadcasting their respective games free online via USL's official broadband internet channel. It marks the third consecutive year that matches will be carried on USL Live. Watch USL games free any time live and on demand at USLlive.com. The broadcasts of the Lamar Hunt Open Cup are made available by US Soccer. Log on to ussoccer.com for more information about the US Open Cup and to find out how you can join US Soccer SC, the Official Supporters Club of US Soccer.

Match Capsule Previews

Wilmington Hammerheads at Rochester Rhinos - 7:00 pm ET

Third place in the USL Second Division, the Hammerheads had a busy week last week. After knocking out the Chicago Fire, the club played host to state rival Charlotte, whom they knocked out of the tournament in the First Round 2-0, in a league contest, falling 3-2 Thursday. They then made the short trip to Cary to face the USL-1 RailHawks in a friendly, falling 3-0. It was partial vengeance for Carolina, who were eliminated in the Second Round via penalties after a 3-3 thriller against Wilmington. The Hammerheads leave the state of North Carolina for the first time to meet Rochester, who is coming off a 4-1 victory in league play at home against the Austin Aztex. Rochester has needed extra time at home in all three previous rounds. They advanced from the First Round with a penalty kick tiebreaker decision over USL-2 Pittsburgh after a 1-1 draw. They then downed league rival Cleveland in overtime 2-1 and needed penalties a second time a week ago against the Columbus Crew after another 1-1 draw.

Harrisburg City Islanders at DC United - 7:30 pm ET

The league leaders in the USL Second Division, the Harrisburg City Islanders did not suffer a let down after their surprising 2-1 overtime victory last week in Connecticut against the New England Revolution, downing the visiting Crystal Palace Baltimore 3-1 Friday evening. Prior to their upset victory over the Revs, the City Islanders downed the PDL Reading Rage to open the tournament and advanced against league rival Western Mass Pioneers in the Second Round via penalty kick tiebreaker in a scoreless stalemate. DC United was tested themselves last week against the PDL Ocean City Barons, winning 2-0 on a late second half penalty and a tally in stoppage time. The defending US Open Cup champions then celebrated the Fourth of July with a 1-1 draw on the road against the defending MLS Cup champions Saturday in league competition.

Houston Dynamo at Charleston Battery - 7:30 pm ET

The Dynamo will be hoping the third time is a charm when they visit Charleston for a third straight year. The Battery bounced the defending two-time MLS champions in penalties last year in the Third Round after a 1-1 draw. In 2007, they knocked the MLS champs out 1-0 in overtime in of the Third Round. This time around, Houston got a warm-up of sorts in a local showdown with USL-1 expansion side Austin last Wednesday, advancing 2-0 on second half strikes. In league play, they come into the contest on a 1-0 road victory in Kansas City. Charleston is also coming into the match off a 1-0 road victory in league play, downing Montreal Sunday to move to first in the table. They opened the tournament with a 2-0 win over amateur side Atlanta FC at home, then traveled to South Florida where they defeated league rival Miami 1-0. They returned home to top Chivas USA 3-1 last Tuesday.

Kansas City Wizards at Seattle Sounders - 10:00 pm ET

In the only all-MLS affair, the Wizards come into the match off a penalty kick decision in Minnesota after a 3-3 thriller. Seattle were 2-1 victors on the road over former USL-1 rival Portland. Seattle reached the Semifinals the past two years as members of USL, falling in penalties to Charleston after a 1-1 draw last year and 2-1 in overtime to FC Dallas the year before.

Semifinal Pairing/Schedule Scenarios - July 21-22

Rochester/Wilmington at DC - July 21, 7:30 pm ET, Maryland Soccerplex

Harrisburg at Rochester - July 21, 7:00 pm ET, Marina Auto Stadium

Wilmington at Harrisburg - July 21, 7:05 pm ET, Skyline Sports Complex

Charleston/Houston at Seattle - July 21, 10:00 pm ET, Starfire Sports Complex

Kansas City at Charleston - July 21, 7:30 pm ET, Blackbaud Stadium

Houston at Kansas City - July 22, 8:30 pm ET, Shawnee North HS



USL First Division Stories from July 7, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central