11 NPSL TEAMS TO COMPETE IN THE U.S. OPEN CUP

The competition format and pairings for the first two rounds of the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup are set with the largest field in the tournament’s modern era (1995-present), kicking off on May 7 with eight matches.

The 101st edition of the tournament features 80 teams, an increase from the then-record 68 that took the field last year. The expansion results in both the largest number of amateur teams (42) in the tournament proper-exceeding the previous record of 34 set last year-as well as the largest contingent of pro clubs (38, surpassing last year’s record of 34), with all Division I, II and III professional sides participating for the third consecutive year. An additional record for the competition will see 24 second-round matches played, exceeding the previous high of 18 in a single round (2013 first round).

A new feature will be the prospect that many pro teams will have to play an early-round Open Cup match on a weekend date (a first in the competition’s modern era). This scheduling opportunity for fourth round games June 14-15 is the result of a league break Division I (Major League Soccer) and II (North American Soccer League) clubs will take during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, recognized as U.S. Soccer’s National Club Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The tournament has crowned a champion for 100 consecutive years dating back to 1914. This year’s winner will earn $250,000 and have its name engraved on the historic Dewar Challenge Trophy, one of the oldest nationally contested trophies in American team sports. The runner-up will take home $60,000, while the team that advances the furthest from each lower division will earn a $15,000 cash prize. D.C. United is the defending U.S. Open Cup champion, having won its third tournament title (following triumphs in 1996 and 2008) after a tense 1-0 road victory over Real Salt Lake on Oct. 1, 2013. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor American soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.

Tournament Format and Match Dates

The 2014 U.S. Open Cup will be conducted on a single-elimination, one-game-knockout basis utilizing a tiered-bracket format. Teams will be paired geographically. In the event that three or more teams are from the same proximity, pairings for these teams will be made by random selection. Pairings will be arranged to prevent the possibility of a lower division team playing a parent club (e.g. Portland Timbers U-23s [PDL] will not be pitted against the Portland Timbers [MLS], should both teams be in the competition in the same round) except for the Final.

• First Round-May 7

• Second Round-May 14

• Third Round-May 28

• Fourth Round-June 10-18

• Fifth Round-June 24-25

• Quarterfinal (Sixth) Round-July 8-9

• Semifinal Round-Aug. 12-13

• Final-Sept. 30-Oct. 1

Full Listing of First and Second Round Pairings

NPSL Teams Participating in the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 

Six clubs will enter in the Second Round and five will enter in the First Round

Brooklyn ItaliansGreater Binghamton ThunderRVA FC
CD Aguiluchos1Jacksonville UnitedSan Diego Flash1
Chattanooga FCFC Lehigh Valley United Sonic1Tulsa Athletics
Detroit City FC1New York Red Bulls U-23s1

1 Team entering in First Round

2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule

First Round Schedule

DateGameTime/ResultVenue
May 7FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic (NPSL) at GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL)7 p.m. ETDeering High School; Portland, Maine
May 7RWB Adria (USASA) at Detroit City FC (NPSL)7 p.m. ETStevenson High School; Livonia, Mich.
May 7Vermont Voltage (PDL) at New York Red Bulls U-23s (NPSL)8 p.m. ETRed Bull Training Facility; Whippany, N.J.
May 7CD Aguiluchos (NPSL) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL)7 p.m. PTVentura College; Ventura, Calif.
May 7TBD (US Club Soccer) at San Diego Flash (NPSL)7 p.m. PTMira Mesa High School; Mira Mesa, Calif.

Second Round Schedule

DateGameTime/ResultVenue
May 14Jacksonville United FC (NPSL) at Orlando City U23s (PDL)4:30 p.m. ETSeminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.
May 14New York Red Bulls U-23s (NPSL) / Vermont Voltage (PDL) winner at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO)7 p.m. ETHighmark Stadium; Pittsburgh, Pa.
May 14Greater Binghamton FC Thunder (NPSL) at Reading United A.C. (PDL)7 p.m. ETGurski Stadium; Reading, Pa.
May 14Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) at RVA FC (Richmond Virginia FC) (NPSL)7 p.m. ETSports Backers Stadium; Richmond, Va.
May 14Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) at GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL) OR7 p.m. ETDeering Memorial Field; Portland, Maine
May 14Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) at FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic (NPSL)7:05 p.m. ETWhitehall H.S. Soccer Stadium; Whitehall, Pa.
May 14Michigan Bucks (PDL) at Detroit City FC (NPSL) OR7 p.m. ETStevenson High School; Livonia, Mich.
May 14RWB Adria (USASA) at Michigan Bucks (PDL)7:30 p.m. ETUltimate Soccer Arenas; Pontiac, Mich.
May 14Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO) at Chattanooga FC (NPSL)7:30 p.m. ETFinley Stadium; Chattanooga, Tenn.
May 14Brooklyn Italians SC (NPSL) at Jersey Express (PDL)8 p.m. ETNJIT Soccer Stadium; Newark, N.J.
May 14Oklahoma City Energy FC (USL PRO) at Tulsa Athletics (NPSL)7:30 p.m. CTTulsa Athletics Stadium; Tulsa, Okla.
May 14Sacramento Republic (USL PRO) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL)7 p.m. PTVentura College; Ventura, Calif.
May 14CD Aguiluchos (NPSL) at Sacramento Republic (USL PRO)7:30 p.m. PTCharles C. Hughes Stadium; Sacramento, Calif.
May 14PSA Elite (USASA) / LA Misioneros FC (PDL) winner at San Diego Flash (NPSL) OR7 p.m. PTMira Mesa High School; Mira Mesa, Calif.
May 14TBD (US Club Soccer) at PSA Elite (USASA) OR7:30 p.m. PTIrvine Stadium; Irvine, Calif.
May 14TBD (US Club Soccer) vs. LA Misioneros FC (PDL)TBDTBD

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