Coming up this Sunday will be the 1st round of the Men’s Amateur Cup, and the Women‘s Cup Championship Match.  The real meat of the schedule starts in November, with four Open Cup matches slated for Nov. 4, and 8 Amateur Cup matches on Nov. 13.  In New Jersey, all of the Cups are starting Nov. 30, but there is only one match in the Philly area this week.

State Cups Schedule  – 30 Oct 2011

Pennsylvania Women’s Cup Final  (2:00pm)

VE / UGH Fury – at Vereinigung Erzegebirge, 130 Davisville Road, Warminster PA 18974

NJ Womens State Cup – 1st Round  (2:30pm)

Phila Flames SC / Jersey Shore Boca – at Whomsley Field, American Legion & River Drs, Riverside NJ

Pennsylvania Men’s Amateur Cup 1st Round  (2:00pm)

Salone FC / Mayfair Ultra – at 74th & Lindbergh Blvd, Philadelphia

Real Hamburg / Plymouth Ultra – at NSC Airport, Hamburg PA

United Soccer League Schedule – 30 Oct 2011

Womens Major  (12:00pm)

Phoenix United / UGH Dragons – at Phoenix Sport Club, 341 W Bristol Road, Feasterville PA

Mens Major  (2:30pm)

Ukrainian Nationals / West Chester United – at Ukrainian Club, County Line & Lower State Rds, Horsham

UGH Ultra / VE Majors – at UGH Club, 4666 E Bristol Road, Oakford PA 19053

Danubia / FC Sports – at Danubia Club, Southampton Road & Kovats St, Philadelphia PA

Phoenix SC / UGH Majors – at Phoenix Sport Club, 341 W Bristol Road, Feasterville PA

State Cups Results – 23 Oct 2011

Pennsylvania Women’s Cup

UGH Fury   2 – 0   Senza Nome

Pennsylvania Men’s Open Cup 1st Round

Ukrainian Nationals   2 – 0   Quakertown FC

West Chester o-30    1 – 0   Junior Lone Star

UGH Majors   3 – 1   VE Majors

United Soccer League Results – 23 Oct 2011

Men’s Major Division    (Standings)

West Chester United   6 – 3    Philadelphia Portuguese Club

Phoenix SC   7 – 0    Danubia

FC Sports    4   –   0    UGH Ultra

Women’s Major Division (Standings)

UGH Dragons   2 – 2   Ukrainian Nationals

Phoenix United   2 – 0   VE

USL of PA & State Cups Schedule – 30 October 2011 (Home Team listed First)

Women’s Majors  (12:00pm)

UGH Dragons / Ukrainian Nationals – at UGH Club, 4666 E Bristol Road, Oakford PA 19053

VE / Phoenix United – at Vereinigung Erzegebirge, 130 Davisville Road, Warminster PA 18974

Men’s Majors  (2:30pm)

Phoenix SC / Danubia – at Phoenix Sport Club, 341 W Bristol Road, Feasterville PA

FC Sports / UGH Ultra – at Robert Urban Memorial Fields, 701 Harvey Road, Wallingford PA 19086

Pennsylvania Women’s Cup  (3:00pm)

Senza Nome / UGH Fury – at Coopertown Elementary School, 800 Coopertown Road, Bryn Mawr PA

Pennsylvania Men’s Open Cup  (2:00pm)

Ukrainian Nationals / Quakertown SC – at Ukrainian Club, County Line & Lower State Rds, Horsham PA

West Chester O-30 / Jr Lone Star – Field T.B.A.

UGH Majors / VE Majors – at UGH Club, 4666 E Bristol Road, Oakford PA 19053

USL of PA RESULTS – 16 October 2011

Men’s Major Division    (Standings)

UGH Majors   2   –   0   UGH Ultra

VE Majors  5 – 0  Danubia

West Chester United  4 – 3  FC Sports

WCU – Dom Popolizio (2), Chris King, Pete Pittaoulis, gk-Travis Chulick

Women’s Major Division (Standings)

UGH Fury  3 – 0  Ukrainian Nationals

UGH Dragons  3  -  1  VE

Phoenix United   1 – 0   Philadelphia Flames SC

“I’ve been through the scenario where they tried to position it a week after MLS Cup and one year we lost in the final at Columbus, we played the MLS final on a Sunday in New England and we had to play the Open Cup final on a Thursday in Columbus. It was trying to get guys, you know, sober, for the game that was sometimes difficult,” Seattle Coach Sigi Schmid said yesterday on a conference call.

Weekend opponent

It certainly wouldn’t hurt if Fredy Montero and the boys were sporting wicked hangovers when Philly rolls into Seattle this weekend. The Union must be looking at the single point they got from Chivas USA the way you look at a drunken internet purchase that arrives through Overnight Mail after a rough night at the bar. Really? I bought a pair of reclaimed beam wood plant stands? A similar Union performance against the Sounders will make the final stretch of the season a series of nailbiters.

Seattle, on the other hand, won’t give two yawns about their weekend match until Wednesday at the earliest. They have already sold 33,000 tickets to the final and will be trying to win a third straight USOC in front of a record crowd.

The Sounders would become only the third team to win three straight US Open Cups since the tournament debuted in 1913-14. Stix, Baer and Fuller won in 1933 and 1934, then changed sponsors to become St. Louis Central Breweries and won again in 1935. Greek American AA won from 1967-69, following an impressive four wins in seven years by the Philadelphia Ukrainians.

Le Toux legacy

Seattle won their first USOC in 2009 as an expansion team. The winning goal was scored by Roger “The Vest” Levesque, who had this to say after the match: “It’s all Sebastien La Toux, all his hard work and effort and determination throughout the game. He won the ball off their center back, took a touch to the endline and I just made it to the back post. I was going to do everything I could not to let that slip by.”

Now Levesque wants us to think Seba Le Toux was working hard late in the game? What will that crazy boy think of next?

Asked why his team seems to place such an emphasis on the USOC, Sounders coach Schmidt said, “Our philosophy is, even though there are ‘other fish to fry,’ if you’re not going to try and win it, let’s not enter it. So whatever we enter we’re going to try to win.”

Those words express the philosophy many expected Peter Nowak and the Union to use. In 2010, Philadelphia put a young lineup out against the New York Red Bulls. Two first half goals by Conor Chinn were enough for New York to dispatch the Union and end any hope of matching Seattle’s expansion run to the Cup.

This year, Seattle has had to pass another series of tough tests to make the final. After a tight 2-1 win over the Kitsap Pumas, the Sounders blew away the Galaxy 3-1 and snuck by FC Dallas 1-0 in the semifinals thanks to a bit of Fredy Montero magic.

A strong second half of the MLS season (including a current run of spectacular form) and home field advantage makes Seattle the odds-on favorite to take this Cup home.

The Fire want a fiver

Chicago won’t go down easily, though. A 1-0 win over the Rochester Rhinos preceded a 4-0 drubbing of the Red Bulls in July. Chicago barely squeezed by the Richmond Kickers in the semis.

The Fire, under interim head coach Frank Klopas have had a second half renaissance. Midseason acquisitions Pavel Pardo and (especially) Sebastian Grazzini have added control and flair to the side respectively, although Grazzini is iffy for the final. Chicago’s place in the final shows how well the USOC fits with MLS. As an also-ran in the league for most of the season, Chicago focused on the Open Cup and it paid off.

A win for Chicago would tie them with Maccabi LA of California and local club Bethlehem Steel, both of whom boast five Cup titles.

Peter Nowak led the Fire to two USOC crowns as a player. He may be rooting for his old team when he watches tonight, but his real focus will be on Seattle, and what the Union can expect on Saturday.

Westchester Flames

Reading United remained in the top spot in the the Mid-Atlantic Division with a dominating 4-1 victory over the Westchester Flames Wednesday night at City Park Stadium. Inclement weather could not stop the United from taking care of business as usual, registering sixteen shots while limiting the Flames to only five.

The story of the night was the contribution of University of Virginia players Brian Ownby, Will Bates and Brian “Cobi” Span, as they played a part in three of the four goals scored. Reading defender Matt Hedges also tallied a goal. The Flames converted a penalty kick courtesy of Jake Keegan, while United midfielder Christian Barreiro failed to convert from the spot in the first half.

Scoring Summary:

RDG – Matt Hedges (Christian Barreiro) 32’

RDG – Will Bates  (Shane Malcolm) 41’

RDG – Will Bates (Brian Span) 46’

RDG – Brian Span (Brian Ownby) 54’

WCH – Jake Keegan 83’

Starters:

Brian Holt, David Rodriguez, Ged Quinn, Shane Malcolm, Matt Hedges, Christian Barreiro, Stephen Okai, Brian Span, Will Bates, Brian Ownby, Lasse Sohrweide

Ocean City Nor’easters

As a Philadelphia Union season ticket holder, the fluid offense on display in Reading’s 4-1 victory Friday night at Oley Valley High School was a welcome change. On a partly rainy night dedicated to Mark McKently, a local player fatally killed in a car accident in February, Reading disposed of the visiting Ocean City Nor’easters with relative ease.

The first half was up and down for United, as both teams had the better run of play for stretches during the first 45 minutes. With Ocean City looking to catch Reading on the counter, defender Brian Forgue and goalkeeper Brian Holt both halted breakaway opportunities for the Nor’easters. After the break Reading came out firing on all cylinders, putting the game out of reach by scoring three goals before the 65^th minute.

The chemistry of University of Virginia duo Brian Ownby and Will Bates was evident once again, as the understanding of each other’s position and movements further demonstrated what makes the Cavalier teammates partnership so lethal.

Bates struck first for United two minutes after the break when his bending shot from the top of the 18 rippled the side-netting. Defender Shane Malcolm then picked up the ball just inside Ocean City’s half and danced through several defenders before sending a beautifully placed cross to an onrushing Ownby who volleyed the ball into the back of the net. Bates later displayed his full range of finishing capabilities when he redirected a Christian Barreiro corner kick with a powerful header.

Ocean City would get one back when Jack Bailey put away the rebound after keeper Holt saved the initial shot. Reading capped the night off when Stephen Okai took a brilliant first touch and finessed the ball by Ocean City’s keeper. The victory moves Reading to 4-0 on the season and marks the third straight season the club has qualified for the US Open Cup with an undefeated record.

Scoring Summary:

RDG – Will Bates (Brian Ownby)

RDG – Brian Ownby (Shane Malcolm)

RDG – Will Bates (Christian Barreiro)

RDG – Stephen Okai (Steven Neumann)

OCN – Jack Bailey

Starters:

Brian Holt, David Rodriguez, Brian Forgue, Shane Malcolm, Matt Baker, Christian Barreiro, Stephen Okai, Chris Harmon, Brian Span, Will Bates, Brian Ownby

Upcoming Schedule

Reading returned to action Sunday at Chester Park where they faced the US U-17 team, defeating them 3–0. Union fans will have a chance to see both affiliate clubs in action on Tuesday, as the Harrisburg City Islanders of the USL Pro league travel to Don Thomas Stadium to take on Reading United. The game is scheduled for 7:00pm and tickets for the game can be purchased now at www.readingunitedac.com.

The Phoenix Sport Club, winner of the Pennsylvania Open Cup tournament, beat the Maryland Bays 3-2 in overtime, and now play the New Jersey Open Cup Champion Go Soccer, who advanced with a 2-1 win over Athletico Virginia. 

This is the USASA Region 1 semifinal round, and the winners of Sunday’s semifinals will earn entry into the 98th US Open Cup Tournament, which starts in June.

The match will be played at Raritan Valley Community College, 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg NJ 08876, on Sunday May 22, kickoff at 2:00pm.

Other Results

15 May 2011

US Womens Cup:   Chesapeake Charge  6 – 3  VE

Amateur Cup:   Athletico Virginia  1 – 0  Phoenix SC  (overtime)

United SL Mens Major: UGH Majors   3 – 0   Ukrainian Nationals

United SL Womens Major: UGH Fury   3 – 2   UGH Dragons

Steve Goff of the Washington Post reports that the Union and DC Union will face-off in the first round of the MLS qualifiers for the US Open Cup.

A coin toss on Monday will determine who will win the hosting rights for the match.

The date and time of the match have not yet been announced.

The Union would have to win three qualifiers in order to enter the US Open Cup-proper.

Last year, the Union lost away to New York Red Bulls in their first Open Cup qualifier.

DC United has not played a US Open Cup-related on the road since 2007. Fingers crossed that 2011 will mark the end of that.

PA Open Cup – Semifinal

Phoenix SC    9   –   0   Quakertown United

Phoenix- Danny Murtagh (3), Fre Kamara (2), Scott Rowling, Birgis Anusauskas, Jimmy Suevo, Tom McNeil, gk-Tony Pratico

Spirit United Elite   1   –    1   UGH Majors    (Spirit Utd advances 5-3 on penalty kicks)

Spirit-Andrew Kummerer, gk-Colin Connelly

The winner of the Pennsylvania Open Cup will advance to regional competition in the Spring 2011. Regional winners advance to the Lamar Hunt Open Cup Competition.

Open Cup – Semifinals  (Home team listed first / All matches start 2:00 pm)

Phoenix SC / Quakertown United

Phoenix Sport Club, Bristol Road just west of Buck Road, Feasterville PA

UGH Majors / Spirit United Elite

UGH Club, 4666 E Bristol Road, Oakford PA 19053

PA Womens State Cup – Championship

VE   3 – 2   UGH Fury

VE-Tara Shaw, Kelly Ryan, Julie Karcher, gk-Jessica DAngelo

Men’s Open Cup – 2nd Round

Phoenix SC    4   –   0   Ukrainian Nationals

UGH Majors   1   –    0   Danubia Gunners

Spirit United Elite   4   –    3   VE Majors

Quakertown FC   1   –    0   Salone FC

United Soccer League – Mens Major Division

Danubia Gunners   4 – 0   FC Sports     (11/4/2010)