The 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup opens on Tuesday night with 100 teams chasing glory in the 108th edition of the historic tournament. | Photo courtesy Brad Smith / ISI Photos
Everybody loves a cupset.
In order to get the chance to deliver a headline-grabbing victory against professional opposition in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, however, 14 teams representing USL League Two or with League Two ties will have to navigate the First Round of the historic tournament, which kicks off on Tuesday night.
Here’s a quick look ahead at all 10 contests, which include four teams making their debuts this season after earning their berths during the 2022 USL League Two season.
West Chester United FC vs. Ocean City Nor’easters
Venue: YSC Sports, Wayne, Pa.
Kickoff: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Stream: B/R Football
The Lowdown: West Chester United FC and the Ocean City Nor’easters will get reacquainted before the new League Two season as they square off in Pennsylvania. The sides finished 1-2 in the Mid Atlantic Division a season ago with the Nor’easters taking the division’s playoff berth and Open Cup spot, while West Chester booked its spot in the main field through local qualifying with Head Coach Blaise Santangelo leading the way. With its regular stable of college talent not yet available, Ocean City is looking for local alums and talent to try and advance, including potentially goalkeeper Keasel Broome. After both teams fell at the first hurdle last year, there is the promise of a clash with NISA’s Maryland Bobcats awaiting in the next round.
Appalachian FC vs. North Carolina Fusion U23
Venue: Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex, Boone, N.C.
Kickoff: Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET
Stream: B/R Football
The Lowdown: North Carolina Fusion U23 was one of the stories of the early rounds in the 2022 Open Cup, not only advancing through the First Round but then knocking off USL League One opponent the Charlotte Independence before falling in extra time to League One’s Richmond Kickers. The Fusion’s bid to repeat that success sees the side face an in-state opponent in Appalachian FC, which brings a distinctive crest and mascot to its first entry into the Open Cup. Hopefully the Sasquatch stays on the sidelines.
Manhattan SC vs. FC Motown
Venue: Marillac Field, Bronx, N.Y.
Kickoff: Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET
The Lowdown: Another matchup of divisional rivals in USL League Two, Manhattan SC will hope to hold the upper hand on FC Motown as they meet in the Bronx in a battle of the five boroughs. Manhattan SC finished on top of the Metropolitan Division of League Two last season, sweeping both meetings with FC Motown’s squad. FC Motown has summoned Open Cup magic in the past, however, winning through against West Chester United FC in the opening round last season. Whichever side advances, it will take on the Flower City Union from NISA in the next round.
Club de Leon B vs. Nona FC
Venue: Austin-Tindall Sports Complex, Kissimmee, Fla.
Kickoff: Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET
The Lowdown: Nona FC makes its Open Cup debut against the reserve team of NISA’s Club de Leon FC as it tries to back up winning the Southeast Division in its inaugural League Two season. Nona has been in action this month to prepare, taking on the University of Central Florida in a recent exhibition. If Head Coach Guilherme Henry’s side can advance, the reward of a clash with USL Championship power the Tampa Bay Rowdies awaits in the next round.
Chicago House AC vs. Bavarian United
Venue: Langhorst Field, Elmhurst. Ill.
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Stream: B/R Football
The Lowdown: New USL League Two club Bavarian United will make its return to the Open Cup as it heads to face Chicago House AC as a local qualifier from Wisconsin, but the Milwaukee-based club has a long-standing history in the tournament going back before its modern era. In 1993, Bavarian reached the Semifinals before being knocked out by eventual title-winner CD Mexico, and 10 years later it reached the Third Round before being eliminated by then USL A-League side Milwaukee Wave United. Bavarian will try to advance for a contest against USL League One club Forward Madison FC - the side it fell to in its last Open Cup appearance in 2019 - if it can get past House AC and out of the first round for the first time since 2007.
Beaman United FC vs. Des Moines Menace
Venue: Dean A. Hayes Stadium, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Kickoff: Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET
The Lowdown: The Des Moines Menace will try to continue the club’s tradition of Open Cup success as it heads south to Tennessee to open its third consecutive entry and eighth in the last nine editions of the tournament. The Menace have typically found a way to advance, the lone time they missed out on a place in the Second Round during the past decade was in 2017. Travelling long distance to face a Beaman United side making its Open Cup debut, Head Coach Dean Johnson will be looking for another successful outing and the prospect of a home draw against Chattanooga FC in the next round.
Tulsa Athletic vs. Brazos Valley Cavalry FC
Venue: Hicks Park, Tulsa, Okla.
Kickoff: Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET
Stream: YouTube
The Lowdown: League Two’s Brazos Valley Cavalry FC makes its first appearance in the Open Cup since 2019 and second overall as it heads north to Oklahoma to face a Tulsa Athletic side bidding to return to the Second Round for a second consecutive year. The last time the Cavalry played in the Open Cup its squad included future professionals like Devin Boyce (Greenville Triumph SC) and Phillip Goodrum (Memphis 901 FC). This year’s Cavalry will be hoping to make club history and claim its first Open Cup win.
UDA Soccer vs. Park City Red Wolves
Venue: New Mexico State Soccer Field, Las Cruces, N.M.
Kickoff: Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET
Stream: YouTube
The Lowdown: After making their debut in last year’s tournament, the Park City Red Wolves will look to claim their first win in the Open Cup as they head to face first-time qualifier UDA Soccer in New Mexico. The Red Wolves booked their second consecutive Open Cup berth by winning the Mountain Division in USL League Two last season before being bounced in the opening round of the postseason. Led by Head Coach Scott Mackenzie, the Red Wolves will face a UDA Soccer squad that became the first local qualifier affiliated with a college or university to qualify for the Open Cup in the Modern Era when it defeated Azteca FC in a penalty shootout to qualify late last year.
Project 51O vs. Crossfire Premier
Venue: Ohlone College Soccer Field, Fremont, Calif.
Kickoff: Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET
The Lowdown: Project 51O – the pre-professional club of the USL Championship’s Oakland Roots SC – will make its Open Cup debut as it takes on an experienced Crossfire Premier squad on its home turf. Project 51O qualified for the Open Cup for the first time as it finished on top of the Southwest Division ahead of eventual 2022 League Two title winner Ventura County Fusion on a head-to-head tiebreaker and could feature some of the talented youngsters coming up through Roots SC’s USL Academy program. Players like young defender Damario McIntosh and midfielder Javier Mariona could get their first chance at Open Cup action here.
Ventura County Fusion vs. Capo FC
Venue: Ventura College Sportsplex, Ventura, Calif.
Kickoff: Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET
Stream: B/R Football
The Lowdown: Ventura County Fusion will begin their first Open Cup journey since the 2016 season with a visit from first-time qualifier Capo FC with the hosts likely to call on the veterans that have led the side to glory in League Two previously ahead of the arrival of the college talents that regularly suit up during the summer. Ventura County’s deepest run in the Open Cup came 11 years ago as it reached the Third Round when it advanced past current USL Championship side Orange County SC with players like current Houston Dynamo FC defender Daniel Steres in the lineup. Should the Fusion advance past recent League Two arrival Capo FC - which will join Ventura County in the Southwest Division for its inaugural season in the league this summer - they would get another chance to face Orange County in the Second Round next month.
Cleveland SC vs. Lionsbridge FC
Venue: North Olmstead High Stadium, North Olmstead, Ohio
Kickoff: Thursday, 7 p.m. ET
The Lowdown: Lionsbridge FC makes its Open Cup debut as it heads to Ohio to face Cleveland SC and will be hoping to suffer a better fate that its League Two predecessor that squared off with the hosts last year in the opening round. Cleveland got a late equalizer in the 90th minute before advancing 2-1 in extra time as goalkeeper Conor Cable held Chicago United FC at bay. Lionsbridge earned its Open Cup berth after winning the Chesapeake Division in undefeated fashion last year, and will be aiming to make a strong first impression this year.