USL Feature
Monday, June 13, 2011
By NICHOLAS MURRAY
The opening round of the 2011 U.S. Open Cup sees a number of USL PRO teams facing off against USL Premier Development League sides, but only one sees the PDL side getting home field advantage.
That will be the case for the Carolina Dynamo, who welcome USL PRO’s Charlotte Eagles to Macpherson Stadium on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The Dynamo have had a rich tradition of future professionals passing through their doors in previous seasons, and also have a rich history in the Open Cup, most recently advancing to the fourth round of the tournament in 2006 with a 3-2 victory against the then USL-1 Seattle Sounders after overtime.
Now their new coach Marc Nichols, who took over prior to this season from veteran coach Joe Brown, is eager to see what his players can do against professional opposition.
“Obviously it’s a priceless experience,” Nichols said. “This is a cup competition, it has a bit of a different feel to it, there’s an anticipation and an excitement, but I think obviously the carrot is that they have the opportunity to play against professional teams, professional players and if the stars align and we manage to win a couple we would be in the hat with the big boys.”
Making it to the third round of the tournament would certainly be an impressive feat for the PDL side, which would likely have to defeat two USL PRO teams to get to face a Major League Soccer opponent. The winner of the first round game between the Wilmington Hammerheads and the PDL’s Central Florida Kraze will be waiting for either the Dynamo or the Eagles.
Add in that Charlotte has found its feet after a rocky start to the USL PRO season and it makes the challenge on Tuesday night all the more great. Nichols was planning to be at the Eagles’ 3-0 victory against Wilmington on Saturday night, which was Charlotte’s fifth game without defeat in the league. Nichols expects the biggest challenge his players will face is the step up in maturity and experience the Eagles possess.
“Obviously, we’re dealing with college athletes, and it’s a pretty young team that I have too and they’ve still got a lot to learn,” Nichols said. “When you’re playing against players for whom this is their livelihood and they’ve been around a little bit longer, potentially they have a bit more savvy and that experience is a real benefit.”
Experience aside, though, Nichols likes what he has in his side. While he doesn’t have a full squad to pick from due to injuries, he does have a pair of key players at his disposal. Goalkeeper Scott Goodwin has been outstanding for most of the season, recording four shutouts in five games this season, which has helped him earn a 0.400 goals-against average.
Then there’s defender Sebastian Ibeagha, who anchors the Dynamo’s defense when he’s not on international duty for the U.S. U-20s. Ibeagha, who also attends Duke University, recently got to train with the full national team during their preparations for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Cary, N.C., and has the kind of big game experience that can be crucial in a tournament like the Open Cup.
“He is somebody who while he may not have the experience of a lot of professional games, he’s certainly got the experience of playing at a high level,” Nichols said. “He really shows maturity beyond his years and we’re really looking to him to organize us and lead us through Tuesday’s game.”
After a four-year absence from the tournament the Dynamo are certainly hoping to make their presence felt, starting on Tuesday night.
“It’s a goal for us,” Nichols said. “The first goal was obviously to get in the Open Cup and we’ve done that, and now our immediate focus is on Tuesday, but there’s definitely a buzz about the game and the prospects it could deliver for us.”
U.S. OPEN CUP FIRST ROUND
Western Mass Pioneers (PDL) at F.C. New York (USL PRO), 7 p.m. – F.C. New York saw its four-game undefeated streak in the league come to an end on Sunday and could be without leading scorer Graciano Brito who left the loss to the Richmond Kickers in the first half with an injury. The Pioneers also fell during the weekend, but had been undefeated in PDL play prior to that and have been good defensively this season, conceding just five goals in six games.
Reading United AC (PDL) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO), 7 p.m. – The two affiliates of Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union meet for the second time this season, only this time with something at stake. The City Islanders earned a 1-0 exhibition victory in Reading last month, and will try to shake off their defeat to Rochester on Saturday to move on.
Phoenix SC (USASA) at Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO), 7:35 p.m. – The Rhinos, buoyed by their return to the top of the USL PRO National Division standings, will face the amateurs from Philadelphia aiming to make another deep cup run. The 1999 champions have reached at least the third round of the Open Cup every season since 2001, including a run to the semifinals two years ago before being eliminated by D.C. United.
Chattanooga FC (NPSL) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO), 7 p.m. – The Riverhounds are 2-1-2 this season at home, but are coming off three consecutive road defeats in USL PRO. Jason Yeisley has been a bright spot, however, scoring three goals in their past three games and could be the key to the Riverhounds moving on.
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO), 7 p.m. – The only all-USL PRO tie in the first round, the Kickers will be hoping to emulate the 6-0 defeat they handed the Dutch Lions earlier this season. Dayton has struggled in its first two road games of the USL PRO regular season, falling 4-1 to Harrisburg and 3-0 to New York.
Central Florida Kraze (PDL) at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO), 7:30 p.m. – The Hammerheads fell in their last outing on Saturday against Charlotte, but have been almost invincible at Legion Stadium so far this season winning five out of six contests. The Kraze return to the Open Cup for a second consecutive season, but will likely need another outstanding performance by goalkeeper Keneil Baker to advance.
ASC New Stars (USASA) at Orlando City (USL PRO), 7:30 p.m. – Orlando hosts its first U.S. Open Cup game at the UCF Soccer and Track complex, and while Coach Adrian Heath might field a slightly changed lineup from the one seen in Friday night’s game against Antigua, it would likely be the shock of the round if the New Stars were able to spring the upset.
Regals FC (USASA) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO), 7:30 p.m. – The Battery have a strong Open Cup history, defeating Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire last season before being knocked out in the quarterfinals. The Battery have only lost once at home this season, and have reached at least the fourth round for each of the past five seasons.
Chicago Fire Premier (PDL) at Iowa Menace (USASA), 8:30 p.m. – With no professional side in their quarter of the draw, the Fire could have a great opportunity to reach the third round and face MLS competition. In order to do that, they will first have to get past a Menace side that shares an affiliation with the PDL’s Des Moines Menace. Each of the three previous times the Fire Premier have reached the Open Cup, they have advanced through the first round.
DV8 Defenders (USASA) at Real Colorado Foxes (PDL), 9 p.m. – The Foxes have been outstanding this season so far, and should be favored in the first Open Cup game in the franchise’s history. Real Colorado is led by Lorne Donaldson, who has five goals, and Drew Beckie and Kyle Christensen, who were both recently called upon by the Colorado Rapids for a reserve team match after scoring four goals apiece for the Foxes this season.
Kitsap Pumas (PDL) at Chivas El Paso Patriots (PDL), 10 p.m. – The Patriots qualified for the Open Cup with a perfect record, but had cooled off a little since prior to this weekend’ s 1-0 win against West Texas United. The Pumas, who are making their third consecutive Open Cup appearance, have been strong all season, earning their place in the tournament with a 3-2 victory against the Portland Timbers U-23s, and currently sit at the top of the PDL’s Northwest Division.
Hollywood United (NPSL) at Los Angeles Blues (USL PRO), 8:30 p.m. – The Blues will be playing their first game since a 3-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on May 22, so there could be a little rust for Charlie Naimo’s men. With an experienced squad that includes former USL PRO Player of the Week Chukwudi Chijindu, however, Los Angeles is expecting to win its first Open Cup game in history.
Doxa Italia (USASA) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL), 10:05 p.m. – The Fusion remained undefeated in the PDL on Saturday when they escaped from Fresno with a 1-1 draw with the Fuego. That was the Fusion’s third consecutive draw, and they might be aiming to take out a little frustration on Doxa, who won the Region IV championship against fellow qualifier the DV8 Defenders. The Fusion will be led by Daniel Barerra, who has nine assists in seven games this season.
For more coverage of the U.S. Open Cup, go to the USLSoccer.com U.S. Open Cup page and also follow the league’s @USLPRO and @USLPDL twitter feeds for live updates from Tuesday night’s games.