First Round (all fixtures to be played May 13)
West Virginia Chaos (PDL) vs. Fort Pitt Regiment (NPSL)
Western Mass. Pioneers (PDL) vs. Greater Binghamton FC Thunder (NPSL)
Lansing United (NPSL) vs. RWB Adria (USASA)
Miami United (NPSL) vs. SW Flordia Adrenaline (PDL)
Upward Star (NPSL) vs. Triangle Bridgade (USASA)
AC Connecticut (PDL) vs. Virginia Beach City FC (NPSL)
Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) vs. Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)
Michigan Bucks (PDL) vs. Detroit City FC (NPSL)
Chattanooga FC (NPSL) vs. Ocala Stampede (PDL)
Jersey Express (PDL) vs. New York Greek American Atlas (USASA)
Maryland Bays (USASA) vs. Reading United A.C. (PDL)
Global Premier Soccer (USASA) vs. Seacoast United Phantoms (PDL)
Des Moines Menace (PDL) vs. Madison Fire (USASA)
Midland/Odessa Sockers (PDL) vs. Tulsa Athletics (NPSL)
Laredo Heat (PDL) vs. NTX Rayados (USASA)
BYU Cougars (PDL) vs. KC Athletics/Harpo’s FC
FC Tucson (PDL) vs. Chula Vista FC (USASA)
FC Tacoma 253 (NPSL) vs. Kitsap Pumas (PDL)
Sonoma County Sol (NPSL) vs. Burlingame Dragons (PDL)
Ventura County Fusion (PDL) vs. Cal FC/San Francisco City FC
PSA Elite (USASA) vs. Golden State Misioneros FC (PDL)
Second Round (All fixtures to be played May 20)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL) vs. Fort Pitt Regiment/West Virginia Chaos
Wilmington Hammerheads (USL) vs. Ocala Stampede/Chattanooga FC
Richmond Kickers (USL) vs. AC Connecticut/Virginia Beach FC
Rochester Rhinos (USL) vs. Greater Binghamton FC Thunder/Western Mass. Pioneers
RWB Adria/Lansing United vs. Louisville City FC (USL)
Reading United A.C./Maryland Bays vs. Harrisburg City Islanders (USL)
Charleston Battery (USL) vs. SW Florida Adrenaline/Miami United
Charlotte Independence (USL) vs. Triangle Brigade/Upward Star
Michigan Bucks/Detroit City FC vs. Portland Timbers 2 (USL)
Long Island Rough Riders vs. Real Monarchs SLC (USL) OR Real Monarchs SLC vs. Brooklyn Italians
Jersey Express vs. New York Red Bulls II (USL) OR New York Red Bulls II vs. New York Greek American Atlas
Global Premier Soccer vs. Tulsa Roughnecks (USL) OR Tulsa Roughnecks vs. Seacoast United Phantoms
Saint Louis FC (USL) vs. Madison Fire/Des Moines Menace
Midland/Odessa Sockers vs. OKC Energy FC (USL) OR Tulsa Athletics vs. OKC Energy FC
Austin Aztex (USL) vs. NTX Rayados/Laredo Heat
Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL) vs. KC Athletics/Harpo’s FC/BYU Cougars
PSA Elite/Golden State Misioneros FC vs. Orange County Blues (USL)
Arizona United SC (USL) vs. Chula Vista FC/FC Tucson
LA Galaxy II (USL) vs. Cal FC/San Francisco City FC/Ventura County Fusion
Sacramento Republic FC (USL) vs. Burlingame Dragons/Sonoma County Sol
Seattle Sounders 2 (USL) vs. Kitsap Pumas/FC Tacoma 253
My analysis: Why?
Why do you "reward" a team that has won your tournament multiple times with a trip to Salt Lake City if they beat Long Island? How does the Jersey Express get a home game against an MLS reserve side -- better question, why are the MLS reserve sides in it at all? And why are you making some teams travel further to their First Round game than to their Second Round game? Some of this draw makes no sense, and why isn't US Soccer covering the Open Cup with as much vigor and enthusiasm as the FA does with the FA Cup? This tournament needs to be bigger than what it currently is, but it can't get there without more promotion by the US Soccer Federation. They will argue that not enough money is being raised, but they could have used some of that $90M from the MLS TV deal to financially back the tournament. I think there will be some exciting games, and I can't wait to see if any of those games will be made available either on YouTube or other forms of Internet access.
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