All five players associated with the Bradley Soccer program that are playing for teams entered in the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup remain in the chase for the nation's oldest soccer cup championship. Only Bradley's two active players -- seniors Grant Campbell and Chris Cutshaw -- saw the field during opening-round action Tuesday night, however.
Campbell and Cutshaw both started Tuesday night for the Chicago Fire Premier and helped the Premier Development League entry to a 3-1 victory against Milwaukee Bavarians SC of the United States Adult Soccer Association at the Toyota Park practice field in Bridgeview, Ill. A defensive midfielder, Campbell played the entire 90 minutes. Cutshaw played the game's first 59 minutes before coming off when the Fire Premier were forced to play a man down when goalkeeper Jimmy Mauer was ejected.
Following a pair of PDL games this week in Ontario, the Fire Premier will play its second-round U.S. Open Cup game Tuesday at the Minnesota Thunder. The United Soccer Leagues First Division team overcame an early 1-0 deficit for a 3-2 victory against 402, a USASA squad made up primarily of former Creighton players.
Although neither Gavin Glinton (injured) nor Luke Kreamalmeyer played in Tuesday's opening-round game, the USL First Division Carolina RailHawks earned a 2-1 victory against the USL Second Division Richmond Kickers at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. The RailHawks will play First Division games Thursday at home versus Portland and Sunday at Minnesota before playing its second-round U.S. Open Cup game Tuesday against the Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2) back at the WakeMed Soccer Park. Wilmington advanced with a 2-0 home victory versus the Charlotte Eagles (USASA).
Bradley's fifth U.S. Open Cup competitor, former All-American Bryan Namoff, will not begin play in the tournament until the third round June 30 when his D.C. United side joins the other seven Major League Soccer entries in the draw. D.C. United's opponent will be determined after the second-round games are played next week. Two opening-round games were not played Tuesday night, both in the Washington D.C. area, and the team that emerges from that four-team bracket is likely to be United's third-round opponent. Both games were re-scheduled for tonight: Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) at Ocean City Barons (PDL) and Dulles Sportsplex Aegaen Hawks (USASA) at Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2).
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup dates back to 1914 and is open to all affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States. The annual tournament has entered its 96th year in 2009, making it the oldest soccer cup competition in the United States and one of the oldest domestic cup competitions in the world. To follow the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, visit the tournament's official website: http://www.usopencup.com.
