Richmond, VA – (Monday, May 4, 2009) – U.S. Soccer Federation recently announced the format for the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. A total of 40 teams, including 24 professional and 16 amateur clubs will compete when the tournament kicks off in June for the 96th consecutive year.
The Richmond Kickers receive an automatic berth into the first round of competition, alongside the seven other U.S.-based USL Second Division teams. Joining the eight USL-2 teams in the First Round on June 9th will be eight USL First Division teams and 16 amateur teams. First Round pairings will be determined by dividing the clubs geographically into eight groups of four and then conducting random draws within each group. On June 16th, the 16 First Round winners will face off with eight victors moving into the Third Round to take on the eight teams representing Major League Soccer on June 30th.
Richmond Kickers and the Open Cup
The 2009 season marks the 11th time the Richmond Kickers have qualified for the U.S. Open Cup over the past 15 seasons and hold an overall record of 17-9 during tournament play. The Kickers claimed the U.S. Open Cup title the first year of the “Professional Era” in 1995 and have since made it to the quarterfinal round four times (1995, 2001, 2004, 2007), ousting three Major League Soccer teams along the way including Colorado Rapids in 2000, DC United in 2004 and LA Galaxy in 2007. With 59 total goals scored during the Open Cup, the Kickers set several franchise records as well as a Professional Era U.S. Open Cup record for most goals (12) during the 8-4 rout over the Ocean City Barons in 2005.
The Kickers received an automatic berth into last year’s tournament as the defending USL-2 Regular Season Champions and then cruised by the Fredericksburg Gunners (PDL) with a 3-0, First Round victory. The Second Round progressed when the Kickers ousted the Western Mass Pioneers in a hard-fought, 2-1 road win before a 3-0 loss to the then-defending U.S. Open Cup Champions New England Revolution in the Third Round. For all of the up-to-the-minute action, visit www.USOpenCup.com.
About the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which is recognized as U.S. Soccer’s National Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The tournament has crowned a champion for 95 consecutive years dating back to 1914.
The single-elimination tournament, with games tied after regulation being decided in two 15-minute overtime halves. If the score is still tied after overtime, the winner is decided in a penalty kick shootout. The team that advances the furthest from each level except Division I will earn a $10,000 cash prize. The runner-up will take home $50,000, while the Champion will collect $100,000. The winner also will have the team’s name engraved on the historic Dewar Challenge Trophy, the oldest trophy in American team sports that is housed in the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, NY.
2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
May 25 - Qualifying Deadline
May 27 - Pairings Announced
June 9 - First Round: 32 lower division teams enter tournament
June 16 - Second Round: 16 Round One winners face off
June 30 - Third Round: Round Two winners face eight MLS teams
July 7 - Quarterfinals: Round Three winners
July 21/22 - Semifinals: Quarterfinal winners
Sept 2 - Final: Semifinal winners
