USASA Region I quarterfinal qualifiers for US Open Cup in the books
The quarterfinals of the USASA Region I qualifiers of the US Open Cup kicked off this past Sunday with three of the matches resulting in a 1:0 score line. The semifinals take place on Sunday, 21 April with the winners advancing to the Lamar Hunt rounds of the US Open Cup, which will commence on 14 May. The Region I final on 16 June at the Ukrainian American Sports Center in Horsham, Pennsylvania will send the winner to the USASA National Cup Finals to contend for the Werner Fricker US Open Cup.
The Northern Division featured former US Open Cup champion NY Pancyprian Freedoms against Newtown Mens Soccer. The match went back and forth and looked to go into extra time but the Pancyprians squeezed through with an 83rd minute penalty from Nikos Katsanos to defeat the side from Connecticut. The other pairing had Mass Premier Soccer visiting the Rhode Island Reds FC in a windy setting that made play difficult. A 19th minute chip from Matt Horth was enough put the Massachusetts club into the semifinal.
In the Southern Division, Icon FC of New Jersey came out strong against West Chester United – Majors scoring twice in the first six minutes in their 4:2 triumph over the Eastern Pennsylvania host. A header from Argjent Duka gave Icon the lead in the 5th minute and it was doubled a minute later when Jonathan Lopuski found the back of the net. The lead was reduced in the 23rd minute as United’s Michael Lodge placed his header over the Icon keeper. The half ended 2:1 in favor of the New Jersey team. Samuel Gehman put the match away with his second half brace before Lodge converted a late penalty for the final tally. The other part in the bracket saw the Screaming Eagles of Maryland edge the Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks of Metro DC/Virginia on an 18th minute goal from Emmanuel Yamson. The Hawks had several opportunities but were not able to finish off any of their chances.
Schedule (home team listed first):
Region I Quarterfinals – 7 April
- North Division
- Newtown Mens Soccer (CT) 0:1 NY Pancyprian Freedoms (ENY)
- 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)
Region I Semifinals – 21 April
- NY Pancyprian Freedoms (ENY) v Mass Premier Soccer (MA)
- Icon FC (NJ) v Screaming Eagles (MD)
- First Round Lamar Hunt US Open Cup – 14 May
- Region I Finals – 16 June
- USASA National Cups Finals – 19 to 21 July
The Region I finals will take place at the Ukrainian Americans Sports Center in Horsham, Pennsylvania. The USASA National Cup Finals will be held at the Star Complex in San Antonio, Texas.
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.
