US Soccer News Release - www.ussoccer.com

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

CHICAGO, IL -- U.S. Soccer has announced the first round pairings for the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The first round features 32 teams from the United Soccer Leagues First Division, USL Second Division, Premier Development League and United States Adult Soccer Association ranks.

Pairings for the opening round were determined by blind draw for the first time since the 2001 tournament. The first round will be played on Tuesday, June 12, with the winners facing off in the second round on June 26.

Eight USASA squads will participate in the first round of the Open Cup, with the Aegean Hawks FC (Arlington, Va.) facing the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2), Danbury United (Conn.) hosting the Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2) and the Azzurri from Dallas, Texas, traveling to take on the Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1).

The Milwaukee Bavarians will host the Cincinnati Kings (USL-2) and Lynch’s Irish Pub FC (Jacksonville, Fla.) will travel to North Carolina to take on the Charlotte Eagles (USL-2). Open Cup newcomer RWB Adria (Chicago, Ill.) will also visit the Tar Heel state to battle first-year club Carolina RailHawks (USL-1). The El Paso Indios USA (Texas) take on the Minnesota Thunder (USL-1) and Banat Arsenal (Phoenix, Ariz.) travels to Washington State to face the Seattle Sounders (USL-1).

There are also eight PDL squads in the first round as the Ocean City Barons host Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2), the Long Island Rough Riders take on the Rochester Rhinos (USL-1), the Michigan Bucks face the Richmond Kickers (USL-2) and the Kansas City Brass host the Cleveland City Stars (USL-2).

In South Carolina, the Central Florida Kraze will battle the Charleston Battery (USL-1) while Miami FC (USL-1) heads to Texas to face the El Paso Patriots, the California Victory (USL-1) takes on the BYU Cougars and the Portland Timbers (USL-1) meet the Bakersfield Brigade.

Game 1		Game 2
Aegean Hawks (VA)		Crystal Palace Baltimore
Harrisburg City Islanders		Ocean City Barons
Skyline Sports Complex – 7:05 pm ET		Cary Stadium – 7:30 pm ET

Game 3		Game 4
Long Island Rough Riders		Western Mass Pioneers
Rochester Raging Rhinos		Danbury United (CT)
PAETEC Park – 7:35 pm ET		Portuguese Cultural Center – 4:00 pm ET

Game 5		Game 6
Michigan Bucks		Cleveland City Stars
Richmond Kickers		Kansas City Brass
Univ. of Richmond Stadium – 7:30 pm ET		William Jewell College – 8:30 pm CT

Game 7		Game 8
RWB Adria (IL)		Cincinnati Kings
Carolina RailHawks		Milwaukee Bavarians
SAS Soccer Park – 7:30 pm ET		Bavarian Soccer Park – 7:30 pm ET

Game 9		Game 10
Azzurri (TX)		Lynch’s Irish Pub FC (FL)
Atlanta Silverbacks		Charlotte Eagles
Re-Max Greater Atlanta Stadium – 7:55 pm ET		UNCC Transamerica Field  – 7:30 pm ET

Game 11		Game 12
Central Florida Kraze		Miami FC
Charleston Battery		El Paso Patriots
Blackbaud Stadium – 7:30 pm ET		Patriots Stadium – 7:30 pm ET

Game 13		Game 14
El Paso Indios USA (TX)		California Victory
Minnesota Thunder		BYU Cougars
James Griffin Stadium  – 8:05 pm ET		BYU South Stadium – 9:30 pm ET

Game 15		Game 16
Banat Arsenal (AZ)		Portland Timbers
Seattle Sounders		Bakersfield Brigade
Starfire Sports Complex – 11:00 pm ET		Bakersfield Christian HS – 10:30 pm ET

US Open Cup Second Round – June 26