CHICAGO, Ill.
– U.S. Soccer announced today the first round pairings of the 2007 U.S. Open Cup Tournament. The Portland Timbers will travel to face the Bakersfield Brigade of the USL Premier Development League (PDL) on June 12 in Bakersfield, Calif. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Bakersfield Christian High School.
All 32 lower-division clubs in the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA), PDL, USL Second Division and USL First Division were paired according to geographical region. Eight Major League Soccer teams enter the tournament in the third round. The 16 first-round winners face off in Round 2, slated for June 26.
The Timbers are currently sixth in the USL First Division with a record of 3-1-2 (12pts). Led by midfielder Andrew Gregor, the Timbers have outscored opponents 9-4. Goalkeeper Josh Wicks has recorded three consecutive shutouts as the Timbers defense has not conceded a goal in the last 282 minutes of play.
With a record of 2-2-0 in U.S. Open Cup play, the Timbers have reached as high as the fourth round of the tournament in both 2004 and 2005.
The Brigade are currently ranked fifth in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the PDL. The Brigade was the first PDL team to clinch a US Open Cup berth with three consecutive wins in qualifying matches. With a record of 3-3-0 (9pts), the Brigade are led by forward Santiago Aguilera-Navarro, who has scored five goals, and goalkeeper Isreal Cisneros, who has recorded two shutouts, allowed just four goals in five games and has a goals-against average of 0.80.
Established in 2005, this is the Brigade’s first U.S. Open Cup berth.
U.S.
Open Cup Round 1 pairings:
Aegean Hawks (USASA) @ Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2)
Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) @ Ocean City Barons (PDL)
Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) @ Rochester Raging Rhinos (USL-1)
Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2) @ Danbury United (USASA)
Michigan Bucks (PDL) @ Richmond Kickers (USL-2)
Kansas City Brass (PDL) @ Cleveland City Stars (USL-2)
RWB Adrian (USASA) @ Carolina Railhawks (USL-1)
Cincinnati Kings (USL-2) @ Bavarian SC (USASA)
Dallas Azzurri (USASA) @ Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1)
Lynch’s Irish Pub (USASA) @ Charlotte Eagles (USL-2)
Central Florida Kraze (PDL) @ Charleston Battery (USL-1)
Miami FC (USL-1) @ El Paso Patriots (PDL)
El Paso Indios USA (USASA) @ Minnesota Thunder (USL-1)
California Victory (USL-1) @ BYU Cougars (PDL)
Banat Arsenal (USASA) @ Seattle Sounders (USL-1)
Portland
Timbers (USL-1) @ Bakersfield Brigade (PDL)
ABOUT U.S. OPEN CUP
The 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 93 consecutive years dating back to 1914. The U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament.
For more information visit,
www.usopencup.com
.
