Sports stats



USL United Soccer League Championship

USL Preps for Second Round of 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

May 18, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


TAMPA, Fla. - The 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is in full swing, and on Wednesday night the USL contingent joins the competition in the Second Round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. A total of 17 USL clubs are involved in the tournament, and it will be a tough act to follow up the successful run that the league showcased a year ago.

With the regional setup of the competition, a number of anticipated matchups take place on Wednesday. Arizona United SC travels to face PDL club FC Tucson (7:30 p.m. Arizona Time) at Kino North Stadium. The match will be broadcast live on U.S. Soccer's YouTube channel.

"I've been waiting for this for a long time," Tucson Head Coach Rick Schantz said. "It's not going to be easy. They're not going to come down here and overlook us. ... I expect Coach [Frank] Yallop to have them totally fired up."

Arizona will look to improve from last year's Open Cup, when the side posted a 3-0 loss to Chula Vista FC in the Second Round. The 2014 squad advanced to the tournament's Fourth Round, even holding a lead against the LA Galaxy before allowing back-to-back goals to Gyasi Zardes to fall 2-1 and come up short of advancement to the quarterfinal stage.

"Anything can happen [in this tournament]," Arizona United goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski said. "Last year we got upset in the [Second] Round and none of us were happy about that. We want to move forward and get a better result this year and go to the deep stages."

The USL clubs have had some great success in the tournament over the years. The 2015 USL champion Rochester Rhinos are the lone club outside of Major League Soccer to win in the modern era in 1999, while the Richmond Kickers won the event in 1995. Rochester and the Charleston Battery finished runner-up in 1996 and 2008, respectively.

Additional Second Round Matches

Wednesday, May 18

Charlotte Eagles (PDL) vs. Charlotte Independence, 7 p.m. ET, Charlotte Christian School in Charlotte, N.C.: The Independence had the best run among the USL teams in 2015, advancing to the Fifth Round by virtue of a 1-0 victory against Major League Soccer's New England Revolution in Round 4. The Independence could be put to the test against an Eagles organization that played in 11 consecutive Open Cups at one stage. The PDL side needed overtime to advance past this year's First Round, edging Myrtle Beach 3-2.

FC Cincinnati vs. Indy Eleven NPSL, 7 p.m. ET, Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati: FC Cincinnati prepares for its first Open Cup match against Indy Eleven's NPSL team, which advanced out of the First Round with a 1-0 victory against the PDL's Cincinnati Dutch Lions. Cincinnati Head Coach John Harkes won a pair of Open Cup crowns as a player with D.C. United in 1996 and Columbus Crew SC in 2002.

Richmond Kickers vs. Aromas Café FC (USASA), 7 p.m. ET, City Stadium in Richmond, Va.: The Kickers have had a fantastic track record in the tournament, winning the 1995 Open Cup, advancing to the quarterfinal stage five times and ousting five MLS teams throughout the years. Richmond takes on an Aromas Café side that opened the First Round of the tournament with a 2-1 win against the NPSL's Richmond Strikers. Last year, the Kickers advanced to the Fourth Round and saw their run end with a 3-1 loss to MLS's Columbus Crew SC.

West Chester United SC (USASA) vs. Harrisburg City Islanders, 7 p.m. ET, West Chester United Soccer Club in West Chester, Pa.: The City Islanders are participating in their 10th consecutive Open Cup. Last year, Harrisburg opened with a convincing 3-0 victory against the PDL's Reading United AC, then was involved in a chaotic overtime contest, eventually falling 3-1 to the Rochester Rhinos. The City Islanders played up a man for much of the match and had a 1-0 lead in overtime before the Rhinos rattled off three consecutive goals. Harrisburg's Second Round opponent this year, West Chester United, is coming off an 8-7 shootout win against Fredericksburg FC after playing to a 1-1 score through regulation and overtime.

Rochester Rhinos vs. Southie FC (USASA), 7 p.m. ET, Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.: Every year the Open Cup begins, Rochester's name has forever been etched in as one of the best success stories. The Rhinos won the 1999 Open Cup to become the only non-MLS side to win the tournament since the league began play in 1996. Rochester had another deep tournament run to the Fourth Round a year ago, falling 3-1 in a shootout against MLS's Philadelphia Union. Southie FC earned a 2-0 victory against the PDL's Seacoast United Phantoms in the First Round of this year's event.

Wilmington Hammerheads FC vs. Miami Fusion (NPSL), 7 p.m. ET, Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C.: The Hammerheads have seen quick exits in the past two Open Cups, but the organization has a couple of deep runs in its back pocket, as shown by the 2003 and 2009 quarterfinal appearances. Wilmington could not sustain its 1-0 lead against Chattanooga FC in last year's Second Round, eventually getting to penalty kicks, where Chattanooga won 5-3. The Fusion opened the 2015 event with a 4-1 overtime victory against Boca Raton FC, erupting for three goals in a seven-minute span in the extra session.

Louisville City FC vs. Detroit City FC (NPSL), 7 p.m. ET, Owsley B. Frazier Stadium in Louisville, Ky.: Louisville's 2015 campaign included its first Open Cup, and the team made some noise in advancing to the Fourth Round to take on four-time tournament winners the Chicago Fire to the brink. City ended up falling 1-0 in overtime. Louisville could face a stiff challenge in this year's Second Round against a Detroit City side that edged the PDL's Michigan Bucks 4-3 in a shootout in the first round.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Lansdowne Bhoys FC (USASA), 7 p.m. ET, Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.: The Hounds have shown some signs of improvement in the Open Cup with back-to-back appearances in the Fourth Round over the past two years. The 2015 event included shutout wins against the PDL's West Virginia Chaos and the NASL's Tampa Bay Rowdies. Pittsburgh then took D.C. United to overtime before falling 3-1 in the Fourth Round. Lansdowne Bhoys converted a penalty kick in stoppage time of overtime to edge the PDL's Long Island Rough Riders last week to advance to face Pittsburgh.

Charleston Battery vs. The Villages SC (PDL), 7:30 p.m. ET, MUSC Health Stadium in Charleston, S.C.: The Battery have been a staple for putting together deep runs in the Open Cup, as evidenced by a runner-up showing in 2008, two semifinal appearances and three quarterfinals. Charleston nearly notched another MLS upset in 2015, but fell to MLS side Orlando City SC 8-7 in a penalty kick shootout after playing to a goal-heavy 4-4 tie through regulation and overtime in the fourth round. Charleston opens this year's tournament against a PDL side that tallied a stoppage-time, game-winning goal in its first Open Cup appearance, with The Villages defeating Kraze United 1-0.

Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) vs. OKC Energy FC, 7 p.m. CT, Traceway Park in Clinton, Mass.: Energy FC enjoyed its deepest run in the tournament last year, with wins against the PDL's Midland/Odessa Sockers and fellow USL side Tulsa Roughnecks FC to reach the Fourth Round. Though OKC could not climb back from a big deficit against MLS's FC Dallas, falling 4-1, the tournament overall served as another positive element within a successful year that included an exciting run in the USL Playoffs. Brilla defeated Motagua New Orleans in the First Round and now hosts OKC on Wednesday.

Saint Louis FC vs. AFC Cleveland (NPSL), 7 p.m. CT, World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo.: STL FC is set for its second Open Cup, and last year's featured a strong run with wins against the PDL's Des Moines Menace and NASL's Minnesota United FC. Saint Louis also put in a close performance against MLS's Sporting Kansas City in the Fourth Round, but Graham Zusi's late goal helped Sporting to a 1-0 victory. Cleveland defeated GPS Portland Phoenix 1-0 in the First Round to advance to face Saint Louis.

Des Moines Menace (PDL) vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC, 7:30 p.m. CT, Valley Stadium in West Des Moines, Iowa: Second-year USL side Tulsa participated in its first Open Cup last year, defeating the PDL's Seacoast United 1-0 before bowing out to fellow USL side OKC Energy FC in the Third Round. The Roughnecks go up against the PDL's Menace, who have advanced past the First Round for the third consecutive year. Des Moines went on the road to earn a 2-1 win against FC Wichita in this year's First Round.

San Antonio FC vs. Corinthians FC of San Antonio (NPSL), 7:30 p.m. CT, Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas: USL expansion side San Antonio is set for its first Open Cup appearance and goes up against local side Corinthians FC of San Antonio. The NPSL club advanced to the Second Round by virtue of a forfeit of opponent NTX Rayados, which had a lack of properly registered players.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Harpo's FC (USSSA), 7 p.m. MT, Switchbacks Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.: The Switchbacks and Harpo's prepare for a rematch of last year's Second Round. Colorado Springs, competing in its first Open Cup, rode Marty Maybin's first-half brace to a 2-1 victory. Harpo's kept it interesting, though, with a second-half goal and playing the final 15 minutes up a man. The Switchbacks would advance to the Fourth Round, bowing out of the tournament against MLS side the Colorado Rapids.

Sacramento Republic FC vs. CD Aguiluchos USA (NPSL), 7:30 p.m. PT, Bonney Field in Sacramento, Calif.: Republic FC has advanced to the Fourth Round of each of its Open Cups. Sacramento probably is kicking itself for letting an opportunity slip last year after holding a 2-0 lead against MLS's San Jose Earthquakes. Quakes forward Chris Wondolowski scored two clutch second-half goals to force overtime and eventually penalties, where the host side edged Sacramento 6-5. CD Aguiluchos USA defeated San Francisco City FC 3-0 in this year's opening round.

L.A. Wolves FC (UPSL) vs. Orange County Blues FC, 8 p.m. PT, Banning Soccer Stadium in Wilmington, Calif.: The Blues look to rebound from their past two years of Second Round losses. In 2015, Orange County fell 2-1 to PSA Elite, salvaging a late goal to cut into the deficit. Previously, the Blues dropped their First Round match to the Fresno Fuego in Round 2. Orange County originally was set to face the PDL's Ventura County Fusion who topped the L.A. Wolves 2-1 in the First Round. However, it was ruled that the Fusion played an ineligible player and forfeited their match.

Check out the United Soccer League Championship Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 18, 2016


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