US Open Cup

21 games were played on Wednesday as the opening round proper of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tournament took place.  This round featured clubs from two leagues that are in the fourth level of soccer in the United States, the Premier Development League (PDL) and the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL).  A handful of clubs from the fifth-division United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and one from the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) were in this round as well.

The hosts are listed first.

At Charleston, West Virginia:

The West Virginia Chaos (PDL) defeated the visiting Fort Pitt FC Regiment (NPSL) 1-0.  Next up for the club from West Virginia, an encounter next Wednesday on the road against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds from the third-division United Soccer League.  All second-round matches are scheduled for next Wednesday (with one exception), by the way.

At Ludlow, Massachusetts:

After a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes the GBFC Thunder (NPSL) won the penalty-kick shootout on the road against the Western Mass Pioneers (PDL) 4-3.  Next up for the club from Binghamton, New York, a second-round match-up on the road with the USL's Rochester Rhinos.

At East Lansing, Michigan:

After 120 scoreless minutes, Lansing United (NPSL) defeated visiting RWB Adria (USASA) 4-2 in the penalty-kick shootout.  Louisville City from the USL will visiting East Lansing next Wednesday.

At Hialeah, Florida:

Miami United FC (NPSL) doubled up on the visiting SW Florida Adrenaline (PDL) 2-1 to earn a second-round shot at the Charleston Battery from the USL next Wednesday in South Carolina.

At Spartanburg, South Carolina:

After a 3-3 draw through 120 minutes, the Upward Stars (NPSL) won the penalty-kick shootout over the Triangle Brigade (USASA) 3-1.  The next match for the Stars will be a road encounter with the Charlotte Independence (USL).

At Danbury, Connecticut:

Virginia Beach City FC (NPSL) knocked off AC Connecticut (PDL) 3-2 on the road.  The club from Virginia will stay in-state for a road encounter with the Richmond Kickers (USL)

At Reading, Pennsylvania:

Reading United AC (PDL) defeated the visiting Maryland Bays (USASA) 1-0 and will host the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) next Wednesday.

At Pontiac, Michigan:

The Michigan Bucks (PDL) dominated visiting Detroit City FC (NPSL) 3-0 and earned the right to host Portland Timbers 2 (USL) next Tuesday.

At Chattanooga, Tennessee:

After a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes, Chattanooga FC (NPSL) outlasted the visiting Ocala Stampede (PDL) 5-3 in the penalty-kick shootout.  For the club from Tennessee, it's a visit to North Carolina and a second-round encounter next Wednesday with the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL.

At South Huntington, New York:

Joe Holland scored twice (1', 75') as the Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) downed the visiting  Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) 3-1 and will host Real Monarchs (USL) next Wednesday.

At Newark, New Jersey:

Jersey Express SC (PDL) dominated the visiting Greek American AA (USASA) 3-0 and gained the right to host New York Red Bulls II (USL) next Wednesday.

At Cambridge, Massachusetts:

The Seacoast United Phantoms (PDL) held off Mass Premier Soccer (USASA) 2-1 on the road. The Tulsa Roughnecks (USL) next Wednesday will host the club from Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

At West Des Moines, Iowa:

The Des Moines Menace (PDL) defeated the visiting Madison Fire (NPSL) 2-1 and will next visit Saint Louis FC (USL) at Fenton, Missouri.

At Midland, Texas:

The Midland/Odessa Sockers (PDL) defeated the visiting Tulsa Athletics (NPSL) 3-1 and will host the USL's Oklahoma City Energy next Wednesday.

At Laredo Texas:

After 120 minutes of nothing but goose eggs, the Laredo Heat (PDL) took the penalty-kick shootout 4-2 over the visiting NTX Rayados (USASA) and earned the right to visit the USL's Austin Aztex next Wednesday.

At Provo, Utah:

After another scoreless 120 minutes, Harpo's FC, the tourney's lone USSSA entry, knocked off the BYU Cougars (PDL) by winning the penalty-kick shootout 4-2 on the road.  Next up, a second-round road encounter with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks of the USL.

At Tucson, Arizona:

Chula Vista FC (USASA) knocked off FC Tucson (PDL) 2-1 on the road.  The California club will continue their Open Cup Arizona Tour next Wednesday at Scottdale for a second-round affair with Arizona United SC (USL). 

At Tacoma, Washington:

In a matchup of Evergreen State fourth-division clubs, the Kitsat Pumas (PDL) dominated home-standing FC Tacoma 253 (NPSL) 5-3.  Next up for the Pumas, a trip to Tukwila, Washington and an encounter with the USL's Seattle Sounders FC 2.

At Santa Rosa, California:

The Sonoma County Sol (NPSL) defeated the visiting  Burlingame Dragons FC (PDL) 2-1 in overtime.  The Sol will visit the USL's Sacramento Republic next Wednesday.

At Ventura, California:

After a 3-3 score at the end of overtime the Ventura County Fusion (PDL) took out visiting Cal FC (USASA) 6-5 in the penalty-kick shootout.  The Fusion will visit Los Angeles Galaxy II (USL) at Carson, California next Wednesday.

At Los Angeles:

PSA Elite (USASA) crushed the visiting Golden State Misioneros (PDL) 7-1 and earned a home match against the USL's Orange County Blues .