Champions crowned at Region I finals of USASA National Cups
The Region I finals of the USASA National Cups were played this past weekend at the Ukrainian American Sports Center in Horsham, Pennsylvania, with two sides repeating last season’s success and two more qualifying for the 2014 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. All four regional champions advance to the USASA National Cup Finals that will be held between 19 to 21 July at the Star Complex in San Antonio, Texas, as they seek titles for the US Open, Amateur, Over-30 & Under-23 Cups. Region I had more than 100 teams competing among its member state associations to reach this final round.
The first title match on Sunday pitted defending regional and national champion Christos FC of Maryland against JC Eagles of Eastern New York for the US Over-30 Cup. Val Texiera’s 23rd minute goal gave Christos the lead that they held onto for the half. The second half saw Christos pour it on with goals from Pat Crawford, Todd Hicks & Tarik Walker. Jesse Haislip recorded the shutout for the champions who look to repeat last year’s feat at the National Cup Finals.
The US Amateur Cup final was next on slate that included an extra bonus with the winner not only advancing to the national finals but also securing a spot in next year’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The two finalists featured the NY Greek-American Atlas of Eastern New York and the Italian American Sport Club of Western New York. The contest started closely with Chris Megaloudis putting the Greek-Americans ahead on 26th minute mark but then seeing Ngwese Ebangwese responding three minutes later to even it off. Stephen Barea got the game winner for the Greek-Americans on the 37th minute while Megaloudis completed a second half hat trick to finish the result at 5:1.
The US Open Cup final between Icon FC of New Jersey and Mass Premier Soccer of Massachusetts also determined the region’s other place in the 2014 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Mass Premier led 1:0 at halftime with a 19th minute strike from Roy Sandeman. The Massachusetts side was in good shape to hold onto that lead as an Icon player was ejected in the 70th minute for a second yellow card. But the New Jersey club fought back when 4 minutes later Nelson Becerra evened the score and then Kevin Zalewski put it away in the 83rd to send Icon to the Werner Fricker US Open Cup semifinal next month.
Saturday saw group play in the U23 Cup with defending champion Real Caribe Soccer Club of Eastern New York winning Group A and the Maryland Bays taking Group B. Advancing to the Sunday semifinals were Junior Lone Star FC of NPSL and UGH Fire of Eastern Pennsylvania. Caribe defeated the Fire 2:0 while Lone Star edged the Bays 2:1 to set up a replay of last year’s U23 final.
Lone Star got off to a very quick start two minutes into the match with a goal from Joe-Joe Jappah. Diron Duah tied the match on the 50th minute and then Yannick Laroche gave Caribe the lead in the 65th. Ansumana Kromah made it 2:2 by scoring 5 minutes later. The match winner started with an 82nd minute run from the left side by Eugene Heershcap whose cross met Keston George with a perfect header that went just underneath the cross bar. Real Caribe go to San Antonio hoping to return the US U23 Cup back to New York as they seek to defend last season’s national title.
The USASA National Cup Finals will have the respective winners of the four regions play in the semifinals to determine who meets for the championship matches.
US Open Cup
The US Open Cup was first played in the 1913-1914 season when it was called the National Challenge Cup. The winners were awarded the Dewar Cup, donated by Sir Thomas Dewar in 1912 for the promotion of soccer in America. In 1999, USASA established the Werner Fricker US Open Cup to recognize the champion among its own participants.
The two finalists took part the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, which includes other amateur and professional teams of US Soccer. Icon FC made it to the second round.
- Quarterfinals – 7 April
- North Division
Newtown Mens Soccer (CT) 0:0 [7:6 PK’s] NY Pancyprian Freedoms (ENY)
[replayed on 21 April]
Rhode Island Reds FC (RI) 0:1 Mass Premier Soccer (MA) - South Division
West Chester United – Majors (EPA) 2:4 Icon FC (NJ)
Screaming Eagles (MD) 1:0 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (MDCVA)
[Note: Screaming Eagles disqualified]
- North Division
- Semifinals – 21 & 28 April
- Newtown Mens Soccer (CT) 0:6 Mass Premier Soccer (MA)
- Icon FC (NJ) 1:1 [7:6 PK’s] Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (MDCVA)
- Final – 16 June
- Mass Premier Soccer (MA) 1:2 Icon FC (NJ)
US Amateur Cup
The US Amateur Cup was established in 1923 as the National Amateur Cup in response to the overwhelming number of teams playing in the National Challenge Cup. Originally a competition held by USSF, it is now a USASA event. Teams entered in the US Amateur Cup may not use players registered as professionals.
- Quarterfinals – 28 April
- North Division
Stanford Olympia (CT) 0:1 Battery Park Gunners (MA)
NY Greek-American Atlas (ENY) 7:0 Vistula Garfield SC (NJ) - South Division
Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (MDCVA) 0:1 Maryland Bays (MD)
Italian American Sport Club (WNY) 5:2 Vereinigung Erzgebirge (EPA)
- North Division
- Semifinals – 12 & 19 May
- Battery Park Gunners (MA) 2:2 [4:5 PK’s] NY Greek-American Atlas (ENY)
- Maryland Bays (MD) 2:3 Italian American Sport Club (WNY)
- Final – 16 June
- Italian American Sport Club (WNY) 1:5 NY Greek-American Atlas (ENY)
US Over-30 Cup
The US Over-30 Cup was first played in 1984. The winner of this competition is awarded the Gerhard Mengel Cup. This is an open competition, which means that both amateur and professional registered players may participate.
- Quarterfinals – 19 May
- North Division
JC Eagles (ENY) 3:2 Club Napoli O30 (CT) - South Division
West Chester United OTM Predators (EPA) 1:0 United FC (MDCVA)
- North Division
- Semifinals – 2 June
- JC Eagles (ENY) 4:0 Polonia Wallington Soccer Club (NJ)
- West Chester United OTM Predators (EPA) 2:4 Christos FC (MD)
- Final – 16 June
- Christos FC (MD) 4:0 JC Eagles (ENY)
US Under-23 Cup
Group Standings – 15 June
- Semifinals – 16 June
- Real Caribe SC (ENY) 2:0 UGH Fire (EPA)
- Maryland Bays (MD) 1:2 Junior Lone Star FC (NPSL)
- Final – 16 June
- Real Caribe SC (ENY) 3:2 Junior Lone Star FC (NPSL)
Other USASA Competitions
USASA this year inaugurates the National Women’s Championship that will take place at the Overland Park Soccer Complex in Kansas from 25 to 30 June. The popular USASA Veteran’s Cup returns to Escondido, California and will be played between 25 to 30 June. USASA also will host several US Soccer Centennial tournaments for adult teams throughout the country in celebration of that important milestone. For more information, go to the USASA web site at www.usasa.com.
