Kickers Host First Round of U.S. Open Cup

Richmond, VA – (Wednesday, June 1, 2011) – U.S. Soccer unveiled the groupings for the first two rounds of the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, pitting the Richmond Kickers against the Dayton Dutch Lions in the First Round on Tuesday, June 14 at Richmond City Stadium. The winner will advance to the Second Round to take on the winner of the Chattanooga FC (NPSL) versus Pittsburgh Riverhounds game on Tuesday, June 21 at a location to be determined.

Richmond Kickers regular admission prices will apply for the First Round match on June 14. Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for youth ages 3-17. Avoid lines at the gate and click and print your tickets in advance at RichmondKickers.com. Richmond Kickers Season Passes, Coach Passes and Youth Pro Passes will be accepted for this match.

The Richmond Kickers receive an automatic berth into the first round of competition, alongside the 10 other USL PRO teams. The first and second rounds are comprised exclusively of lower division and amateur teams and will be played on June 14 and June 21, respectively, with eight teams advancing to play eight MLS teams on June 28 in the third round. The quarterfinals will be played on July 12 and the semifinals will be played on Aug. 30. All 2011 U.S. Open Cup matches are scheduled to be played on Tuesdays.

The 2011 season marks the 13th time the Richmond Kickers have qualified for the U.S. Open Cup over the past 19 seasons and hold an overall record of 19-11 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 64 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.

About the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe tournament has crowned a champion for 97 consecutive years beginning in 1914. Every winning team’s name is engraved on the base of the Dewar Challenge Trophy which dates to the first year of the tournament and currently resides at U.S. Soccer House in Chicago. Like recent editions, the U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament, with games tied after regulation extended by two 15-minute overtime halves. If a winner is not determined in overtime, advancement will be determined by kicks from the penalty spot.

The 2011 champion will earn a $100,000 cash prize, while the runner-up will collect $50,000. The top Division III and Amateur Division clubs will each receive a $10,000 prize. No Division II teams will participate in the 2011 U.S. Open Cup as the North American Soccer League did not obtain provisional sanctioning in time to be included.

First Round Pairings, Second Round Possibilities for the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Announced