NSC Stars Take on KC Athletics in First Round USOC Action
The first round of the United States’ longest-running sport tournament (since 1914), the US Open Cup (USOC), gets underway tonight with matches across the country.
The NSC Stars open their 1st round game with the Kansas City Athletics of the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The Athletics have already worked hard to qualify for the cup competition while the Stars, along with all other USSF D-2 Pro League teams, get an automatic berth into the tournament.
“It’s always a special tournament with all the teams involved in the U.S.,” Stars defenseman Kevin Friedland said. “And getting a home game is usually pretty crucial to moving on and getting results.”
The Athletics were founded in 2001 as a US Youth Soccer team that eventually won the U-20 National Championship. The team has stayed together with many of those same players.
The KC Athletics
This year the Kansas City team decided to qualify for the USOC and defeated the Des Moines Menace USASA team with a come-from-behind victory as well as defeating the AAC Eagles of Illinois in a penalty kick shootout.
Player/coach Kyle Perkins told Thecup.us that a number of their players are injured including former Minnesota Thunder and Kansas City Wizard player Brian Roberts. Former KC Comet player Jason Woods is also injured.
The article goes on to explain that several players have been recruited to play to replace the injured players. Former MLS player Scott Vermillion (Kansas City Wizards, Colorado Rapids, DC United),and local college standouts David Russell and youngster Larry Mason will most likely see time for the Athletics.
The game is at the NSC Stadium in Blaine, MN and kick off is at 7:00 pm.
The NSC Stars will be doing a live audio webcast with Dave Washburn of North Metro TV doing the play-by-play.
The NSC Stars will also be twittering @NSC_Minnesota.
The Cup.us will also be holding a live chat throughout the evening with reporters from across the country adding live updates. You are also welcome to join the chat. As usual, The Cup.us is the best place to get all your USOC information.
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on a somewhat related note, how about some love for the Rochester Thunder? They swept their two games this past weekend and are tops in their conference.
Mike, the Rochester Thunder promised me an update and they never sent it. I usually have to ask on Sundays for updates for Monday morning. The same thing happened with the MN Kings. A promise after I make the call and no one gets back to me. I’m here to give these guys free pub, but I’m not going to pester them to give me information when I’ve already asked. Its frustrating for me to as you can tell.