USL Richmond Kickers

Richmond Slated To Host Open Cup First Round June 10th

Published on May 28, 2008 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


RICHMOND, VA - (Wednesday, May 28, 2008) - US Soccer announced today the format for the First Round of the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, pairing the Richmond Kickers against the Fredericksburg Gunners of the Premier Development League on Tuesday, June 10th at Sports Backers Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8:00 pm and tickets are $10/adults and $5/youth (ages 3-17).

The Richmond Kickers received an automatic berth into this year's tournament as the defending USL-2 Regular Season Champions. In total, forty teams will enter the tournament in June, with eight entries per league across Major League Soccer, USL First Division, USL Second Division, Premier Development League (PDL) and United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The 2008 tournament marks the first time each league will have the same number of teams participating.

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which is recognized as U.S. Soccer's National Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The tournament has crowned a champion for 94 consecutive years dating back to 1914.

Eight of the nine U.S.-based teams in the USL-2 qualified for the tournament. Joining the Kickers with an automatic qualification are the Harrisburg City Islanders, as the defending league champion. In addition, the top six teams, based on point percentage from games played through May 25th advanced to tournament play. The remaining six remaining spots include Charlotte Eagles, Cleveland City Stars, Crystal Palace Baltimore, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Real Maryland Monarchs and Western Mass Pioneers.

Joining the eight USL-2 teams are eight MLS teams, which were determined by separately scheduled play-in matches to narrow the number of clubs in the top flight. Every U.S.-based team in the USL-1 will participate in the tournament. Meanwhile, eight teams from the PDL are included, with the top two teams from each the Eastern and Central Conferences joining the best team from the Mid-South, Southeast, Northwest and Southwest divisions based on the standings of pre-determined league games through May 26th which double as Open Cup qualifiers. The USASA again send the top two teams from each of the four regions.

The U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament, with games tied after regulation being decided in two 15-minute overtime halves. If neither team scores during the overtime period, the winner is decided on penalty kicks. The team that advances the furthest from each level except Division I earns a $10,000 cash prize. The Open Cup runner-up takes home $50,000, while the champion collects $100,000. The winner will have their team's name engraved on the historic Dewar Challenge Trophy, the oldest trophy in American team sports that is housed in the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y.

The 2008 season marks the 10th time the Richmond Kickers have qualified for the U.S. Open Cup over the past 14 seasons and hold an overall record of 15-8 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 (Colorado Rapids 2000, DC United 2004, LA Galaxy 2007). With 54 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. For all of the up-to-the-minute action, visit www.USOpenCup.com.

Tickets

Tickets are $10/adults and $5/youth, ages 3-17. All-Access Passes will be accepted but all other Season Passes, Pro Passes and Coach's Passes will not be valid for this match. Normal discounts do not apply. Season Pass holders can purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $5/person in advance. Children under three are admitted free and there is no charge for parking. Order your 2008 All-Access Pass and to enjoy all 2008 Richmond Kickers exhibitions, Open Cup matches and regular season action for one low price of $90. Visit www.RichmondKickers.com to order tickets in advance.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 28, 2008


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