CAL SOUTH TEAMS LOVE THE LAMAR HUNT OPEN CUP

Nearly a Third of The Amateur Teams in First Round Qualifiers Are From Southern California

Southern California has always been known as a hot bed for soccer but the heat has intensified in recent years with highly competitive players and teams as the Golden State glistens brightly, earning championship after championship.

If the South Western most state in the country loves soccer and develops great soccer players, then it makes sense that the US Youth Soccer state association, Cal South, has 21 teams out of the 64 amateur teams from all across the nation competing in the First Round Qualifiers of the 104th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup — that is the Open Cup competition for 2017.

There is a total of 18 states represented in the first round of the tournament’s Open Division – California has a total of 23 teams competing; 2 teams are from Cal North, 21 are from Cal South.

Just approaching the finish line is the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup — the Final between FC Dallas and New England Revolution takes place on Tuesday, September 13, at 9 p.m. CT and will played in the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

While many amateur and professional soccer teams dream of winning the coveted prize of $250,000 — along with the berth in the 2017-18 CONCACAF Champions’ League, it is a long journey from beginning to end. While the runner-up team only receives $60,000, it is really the honor of reaching the final that motivates a team to compete through the rounds of the U.S. Open Cup Open Division Competition.

Every year, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup opens its competition to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. First crowning a champion 102 years ago, this amateur team can play pro team and see who wins tournament kicked off in 1914.

From Cal South:  So Cal Premier League’s AC Brea, Buena Park FC, Chula Vista FC, Orange County FC, Outbreak FC, and Real Sociedad Royals will be matching up against United Premier Soccer League’s Avalanche USA FC, Del Rey City SC, FC Hasental, HD Rush FC, Inland Empire FC, La Habra City FC, La Maquina, LA Wolves FC, Moreno Valley Futbol Club, OC Crew Soccer Club, Ozzy’s Laguna FC, Santa Ana Winds FC, SFV Scorpions SC, Strikers FC South Coast and Valley United SC will compete for their chance of glory.

Will any of these amateur clubs make it through the rounds? Last year, Lake Forest’s La Maquina was the only amateur club left standing in after the Fourth Round of Open Cup play. The amateur team was eliminating after a crushing, and as some fans referred to as a unsportsmanlike blow, delivered by the LA Galaxy.

National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and Premier Development League (PDL) will also have teams competing, but both these national amateur leagues have elected to use the Open Division National Leagues track to qualifying. Both circuits will use 2016 league results to determine the clubs advancing to the Open Cup tournament proper, thus bypassing the local qualifying process.

Here is the current schedule:

Source: US Soccer, Cal South