It's started (R)

[monster]

From the looks of the Metro DC-Virginia Association Web site, they have already finished 2002-2003 qualifying.

Dynamos of the Washington International Soccer League beat Soccer Kicks/LA U, also of the WISL, 3-2 in overtime.

The Maryland State Soccer Association has theirs beginning on February 2.

MDCVA - http://www.mdcvsa.org/nationalcup.html
MSSA - http://www.marylandsoccer.com/cups/2003/open.htm

[monster]

Jersey scheduled for March - http://www.soccernjsa.com/us_open_cup.htm

[monster]

Illinois will have the draw on Jan. 25 - http://www.illinoissoccer.org/news.htm

[VioletCrown]

Originally posted by monster
Jersey scheduled for March - http://www.soccernjsa.com/us_open_cup.htm

Cool! One of the four teams is Metrostars Black!

But they're playing my long-time faves Vistula, so I hope they go DOWN!

[VioletCrown]

My turn:-)

In Massachusetts OC Quarterfinals:
11/24/02
Green Briar Rebels F.C. - Essex United : 2 - 0
Hellas United - Watertown United : ? - ?

[VioletCrown]

Minnesota?

As with last year, it may be that the 2002 Minnesota Cup winner (Inferno '95) (http://www.masl.org/2002MNCup.htm) goes into the 2003 Open Cup. On another page (http://www.masl.org/cups.htm) on the site, it says "The team crowned as the Minnesota Cup Champion is the state representative in a National Open Cup with other states."

[VioletCrown]

And that's all I could manage to turn up. Many associations don't play their games until March.

[monster]

Originally posted by VioletCrown
Minnesota?

As with last year, it may be that the 2002 Minnesota Cup winner (Inferno '95) (http://www.masl.org/2002MNCup.htm) goes into the 2003 Open Cup. On another page (http://www.masl.org/cups.htm) on the site, it says "The team crowned as the Minnesota Cup Champion is the state representative in a National Open Cup with other states."

The problem, to me at least, seems to be that there is a US Open Cup which includes the pro teams and a National Open Cup which is for the USASA only.

What is weird is there is a National Amateur Cup, which seems to be the same thing as the National Open Cup. Bizarre.

[VioletCrown]

Originally posted by monster
The problem, to me at least, seems to be that there is a US Open Cup which includes the pro teams and a National Open Cup which is for the USASA only.

What is weird is there is a National Amateur Cup, which seems to be the same thing as the National Open Cup. Bizarre.

The Open Cup and the Amateur Cup are separate things.

The National Open Cup and the US Open Cup are different endings to the same tournament. Because the pro teams were winning all the time, to get the USASA teams motivated to keep entering the USASA set up a different final for the USASA teams. That started just a few years ago. They have a national championship between the four regional winners. If I have all my facts straight, that's what the USASA teams are calling the National Open Cup.

The Amateur Cup is just for the amateur teams. During the years when there were no pro entries into the Open Cup, I'm not sure what the difference was. But I do know that both cups have been held for a very long time. At this point there are quite a few more USASA teams entering the Amateur Cup than the Open Cup. Georgia, for example, has a pretty healthy qualifying tournament for the Amateur Cup.

Hope that's clear. And I hope I know what I'm talking about:)

...And, now that I think about it, you're right. Setting up an amateur ending for the Open Cup is tatamount to making a second Amateur tournament. My bet is that it's a political thing. I don't know all the history, but I do know that, once the pro teams entered the Open Cup, a lot of amateur teams got really unhappy. I remember seeing a couple articles about it in some local newspapers. The Open Cup had been the highest prize for the amateurs for nearly a century, and now there was no way they'd win it anymore. So the USASA half gave it back to them with this USASA-only National Open Cup final.

Confusing and weird, but that's soccer in the US.

[monster]

I think you're right now that I read through it. So some of it probably comes down to state associations pushing the Amateur Cup more than the Open Cup.

I know this is taking us down a seperate path, but if I were in charge, I would set up some system where you get into both tournaments for one fee to encourage teams to play in the Open Cup.

That and have all USASA state champs go into a round with PDL/D-3 teams.

[gorilla]

Originally posted by VioletCrown
My turn:-)

In Massachusetts OC Quarterfinals:
11/24/02
Green Briar Rebels F.C. - Essex United : 2 - 0
Hellas United - Watertown United : 1 - 2

The competition has been suspended until spring, as it only started after the Amateur Cup was over, and snow has gotten in the way.

[VioletCrown]

Originally posted by gorilla
The competition has been suspended until spring, as it only started after the Amateur Cup was over, and snow has gotten in the way.

Thanks! That pretty much what I expected. It's how I remember seeing it last year. ...But by some chance would you know who were in the other two quarterfinals and what the results were?

[gorilla]

Originally posted by VioletCrown
Thanks! That pretty much what I expected. It's how I remember seeing it last year. ...But by some chance would you know who were in the other two quarterfinals and what the results were?

only five teams entered (i think because of the fee, the timing being so late in the year, and because there are only a handful of teams in mass with a realistic chance of winning). so by random draw, boston olympiakos advanced to the semis, and the other four teams played "quarterfinals." because the green briar had a better goal differential in their "quarterfinal", they advance to the final, and watertown plays olympiakos in the one "semifinal." at least that's how it was explained to me. strange system.

also funny considering the same teams just competed in the national amateur cup.

[VioletCrown]

Originally posted by gorilla
only five teams entered (i think because of the fee, the timing being so late in the year, and because there are only a handful of teams in mass with a realistic chance of winning). so by random draw, boston olympiakos advanced to the semis, and the other four teams played "quarterfinals." because the green briar had a better goal differential in their "quarterfinal", they advance to the final, and watertown plays olympiakos in the one "semifinal." at least that's how it was explained to me. strange system.

also funny considering the same teams just competed in the national amateur cup.


ooooo-kay. Let me see if I can draw this:

(well. I guess HTML is turned off. Drag. Nevermind. Sure would like to know how to format stuff. Do I have to be a 'special person', i.e. spend money to get that privelege?)

Yep. That's strange alright. Would make more sense to just pick out two teams for one quarterfinal game, then pair up the remaining four for semifinals and final. But I'm not exactly surprised. Sounds like typical US amateur soccer:)

[monster]

http://www.regularguycolumn.com/usoc2003.htm

I'll try to keep this up to date.

[VioletCrown]

Originally posted by gorilla
The competition has been suspended until spring, as it only started after the Amateur Cup was over, and snow has gotten in the way.

OK. Next question. When is 'spring'? I'm in Austin, TX. We have flowers blooming. (Though there's a rumor of a real freeze next week)

[VioletCrown]

According to the Utah Soccer Assn. website, the Region IV final will be held in Albuquerque May 30 - June 1.

And the deadline for Utah registration is January 21. One week from today.

[jmeissen0]

some blurbs on who the rhinos will face to be one of the a-league sides that get entered into the u.s. open cup

Rhinos U.S. Open Cup - Rochester Democrat & Chronicle (http://www.democratandchronicle.com/sports/columns/0116story1_columns.shtml)

[VioletCrown]

Originally posted by monster
The Maryland State Soccer Association has theirs beginning on February 2.

MSSA - http://www.marylandsoccer.com/cups/2003/open.htm

Just noticed that the Maryland qualifiers have moved to February 9.

[monster]

I got an e-mail from the guy who runs the Kansas Cup who basically said they don't put USASA teams into the USOC. I'll have to reply to get more clarity. They play the amateur version, but not the one where the pro teams play. He said something about guaranteeing a 5,000 seat stadium.

Also, I e-mailed requests for info to the USASA's director of the Open Cup and three of the four region chairmen (one died recently).

Almost three weeks later, none have replied.