Dayton Dutch Lions News Release -- www.dutchlionsfc.com
Monday, May 13, 2013
DAYTON, Ohio – The first round draw for the 2013 edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has been announced, and the Dayton Dutch Lions have been selected to host the River City Rovers of the USL PDL.
The match will be the first Open Cup game hosted by the Dayton Dutch Lions. It will take place at Beavercreek Stadium on Tuesday night with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. With only 150 miles separating Dayton and Louisville, fans of both clubs will be able to enjoy the contest.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, established in 1914, is the longest continually run national soccer tournament held in the United States. Any amateur or professional team associated with the United States Soccer Federation is eligible to compete. The field for the 100th staging of the prestigious tournament is made up of teams from across the spectrum of professional and amateur soccer in the United States. The champion of the single-elimination tournament will earn one of four USSF slots in the CONCACAF Champions League.
The Dutch Lions made a spectacular run in last year’s tournament, advancing to the quarterfinals before being elminated by Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City, the eventual tournament champions. The Dutch Lions’ march through the brackets included victories over the Chicago Fire Premier and the Michigan Bucks, both of the PDL. The highlight of Dayton’s 2012 U.S. Open Cup accomplishments was the 2-1 third-round upset of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium.
The Dutch Lions will once again open the U.S. Open Cup with an opponent from the PDL. The River City Rovers were founded in 2010, and this marks the first time that the team from Louisville has qualified for the U.S. Open Cup. The Rovers finished third in the Great Lakes Division of the PDL in 2012 with a 7-7-2 record to earn a berth in the tournament.
For more information about tickets or the Dayton Dutch Lions, please visit www.daytondutchlionsfc.com.