Vlora FC v FC Milwaukee Torrent : Men's US Amateur Cup (Midwest) QF Review
Vlora FC (Burnsville, MN - MASL/UPSL) 3-5 FC Milwaukee Torrent (Wauwatosa, WI - NPSL)
Bob Pates Stadium at Burnsville High School, Burnsville, MN. Thursday at 7pm.
This didn't feel like an 8 goal game, but Vlora's window closed fast as their go-ahead goal in the 49th minute became a tie game in the 57th minute and then a man down for 20 minutes.
FC Milwaukee Torrent travelled to Burnsville having not conceded a point in league play and put their foot on the throttle and the ball in the net twice through Javier Steinwascher in the space of 3 minutes, as a right wing attack was finished off and then an errant pass in the area by a defender was picked off.
However, the hosts ralllied, Nacho Gonzalez finishing off a neat spell of Vlora possession to make it 2-1 in the 26th minute and Hurtado sliding in at the far post to finish off a move sparked when Easton Hoch beat his defender on the left. That left it at 2-2 in the 29th minute and that was the half time score.
With the stiff wind at their back, Vlora pressed on in the opening minutes of the second half and went ahead in the 49th minute when Miguel Leon scrambled in a ball served from the left wing. The lead would only last five minutes as a Vlora defender slid recklessly in, and a penalty kick was awarded. Javier Steinwascher took a monumental run up and then slid the kick under Austin Gunkel and relatively down the middle for his hat trick and another tie.
Another five minutes passed with Vlora on the attack but Torrent countered clinically and took the lead in the 62nd minute through Gabe Voung. When they look back on this game, the hosts will probably need to analyse a two minute spell where a shout for a Vlora penalty kick went unheeded and Torrent went straight up the other end and were cut down by Rodolfo Batisti for a red card denial of a goalscoring opportunity in the 71st minute.
From that point, while Vlora did not look undermanned, the visitors were more than happy to play on the counter and the game's final goal came in the 73rd minute, a calmly executed coup de grace by Voung.
FC Milwaukee Torrent move onto the Region II semifinals of the Amateur Cup, to face RWB Adria in Wisconsin.
Men's US Amateur Cup (Midwest) Quarter-Finals Preview: Vlora FC v Milwaukee Torrent
Vlora FC (Burnsville, MN - MASL/UPSL) v FC Milwaukee Torrent (Wauwatosa, WI - NPSL)
Bob Pates Stadium at Burnsville High School, Burnsville, MN. Thursday at 7pm.
The Twin Citians won a coin toss to host the supposedly seeded Torrent, who enter at this point. Vlora FC has already played two matches in this year's tournament, beating MN Blizzard in regulation fashion and then United Serbian SC in a less orthodox match . They are 3-0-2 in Division 2 of the Minnesota Amateur Soccer League, but 5-1-3 in the UPSL Premier Midwest West Division. Last year, they lost to the Torrent in the regional semifinals. The key men are the Zürcher Easton Hoch, who has 6 goals, Bahian Rodolfo Batisti anchors the defense and has 4 and the Senegalese striker Ibrahima Ndaw has 3.
Milwaukee Torrent are 5-0-0 in the Central States Conference of the National Premier Soccer League, the #4 ranked team overall in the national league. Last year, they won the Bill Davey Cup for the Region II Amateur Cup and made it to the Fritz Marth Cup Final for the overall US Amateur Cup title, but lost 6-0 to NY Pancyprian Freedoms, one step shy of a berth in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Their leading goalscorers are the former pro Michigander Alejandro Steinwascher, Stuttgarter Max Ludwig and the New Zealander Jamie LeComte with 3 goals each.
Men's US Amateur Cup (Midwest) Round 2: Vlora FC advance from a whacky one
Vlora FC (MASL/UPSL) 6-2 United Serbian SC (WSL)
Vlora FC began this game in control but it took a succession of yellow cards to tip the scoresheet in their favor as decisively as the final score would suggest. Vlora came into this match 1-0-2 in the Minnesota Amateur Soccer League Second Division (from where they qualified) but 3-1-0 in UPSL Premier Midwest West play. Their opponents were 5-1-1 in the Wisconsin Soccer Leagues' Milwaukee Premier League. Neither team will have prepared for the chaos that followed.
It was only 1-0 at half time of regulation, the red-hot Easton Hoch driving in from the left for Vlora and hitting a shot hard across the Serbian keeper, who could only parry the ball into Benjamin Peña's path for an easy finish in the 18th minute. In the 35th minute, it could easily have been 1-1 but University of Northwestern goalkeeping coach Austin Gunkel was equal to a shot, and Oscar Alvarez laid out to block the second shot. Three minutes later, Ibrahima Ndaw challenged the Serbian goalie, who nearly conceded a goal. Vlora had 9 corners in the first forty-five minutes but had been held to the one goal. It was a mismatch of stats they could have regretted.
In the 52nd minute, Oscar Gonzalez intercepted a poor pass inside the Serbian penalty area and slotted the ball across to Hoch, who notched a second goal of the tournament and a sixth of the season to add to his earlier assist.
Four minutes more had elapsed before the first of a number of second-caution red cards, this one for United Serbian SC's Reyes Perez. Soon after, Hoch went down in the Serbian box, looking for a penalty kick but not receiving one.
In the 65th minute, the game turned as the referee awarded a penalty kick for United Serbian SC for a stamp by a Vlora defender. Litigation and Risk Management lawyer Aleksandar Prpa, who is the vice-chair of USSC, stepped up and hammered the penalty home into the side netting to halve the deficit. Prpa then added a free kick (cleared for a corner) and a subsequent corner which was headed hard into the ground and up into the roof of the net by Vladimir Petrović for the equalizer in the 70th minute. Both teams had chances, including a Sohail Ebrahimi bicycle kick which cleared the Serbian goal in the 80th minute. In the 82nd minute, Prpa received a yellow card and he was lucky to remain on the pitch, given a final warning after another tough challenge before regulation was up. The Serbians chipped Gunkel from 40 yards out and it was only just saved.
Extra Time began with Ebrahimi heading over the crossbar from inside the 6 yard box and just failing to connect on a pass in the 94th minute. Two minutes later, he whipped a ball in from the left and Benjamin Peña slotted it home for his second goal. His joy would turn to despair in six minutes as was shown a second yellow card for a reaction to the referee after he himself had been fouled. One minute of even numbers had passed before Jeronimo Zelaya Diaz chested down and volleyed in the home team's fourth of the day.
In the 104th minute, Milorad Kosanović was issued a second yellow of his very own, for raising his hand into an opponent's face and United Serbians were down to 9 men for the remaining half of Extra Time. As Redouane Baarab came off the bench to score in stoppage time, the visitors were also down 5-2.
It remained a 3 goal lead until the last touch of the game as Petrović attempted a clearance and sliced the ball into his own goal.
Vlora FC move on to the Quarterfinals of the Region II Amateur Cup, two wins from the Bill Davey Cup and four from the National Amateur Cup title outright. They will face Milwaukee Torrent, who enter at this stage. Bavarian United are also entering at the Quarterfinal stage, and will be joined by 5 other winners from Round 2. Stay tuned to Northern Lights Football for further coverage of this tournament and others across the Northland.
MN Blizzard host Vlora FC in an early season Amateur Cup test
Burnsville-based Vlora FC make the short trip to Eagan to face Lakeville-based Minnesota Blizzard FC as this regionalized, national tournament makes its opening visit to Minnesota for this year.
Vlora operates a UPSL squad, but they entered the draw as Minnesota Amateur Soccer League members. In that league, they finished third in the third division and won promotion to the second division for this upcoming season. They are two games into their UPSL season and are currently 2-0 with a 2-1 win over FC Minneapolis at home followed by a 5-0 drubbing of Rochester FC on the road. The squad will presumably be more UPSL than MASL because the latter schedule clashes with this match.
Minnesota Blizzard reserves also play in the third division of the MASL, and share a player pool with the first team NPSL squad from which the club will select their USAC squad. This match is the season debut for the team from the South Metro, who will follow up with a friendly against Wisconsin Conquerers. The NPSL season begins May 17th against Sioux Falls Thunder FC.
The US Amateur Cup has been played since 1923. The country is divided into the four regions of the United States Adult Soccer Association. There's a fuller explanation here, but for our purposes, it's only relevant that Northland falls in Region 2. 24 teams enter in the first round, and those winners face another round before the 6 left standing are joined by Milwaukee Torrent and Bavarian United for the quarter-finals. Torrent and Bavs received seeded entry because of their progress in last year's tournament.
The ultimate winners of Region 2 win the Bill Davey Cup and qualify for a national semifinal against one of the other three regions' winners. Whoever emerges from the national semifinals and the final the same weekend takes the National Amateur Cup title and a guaranteed spot in the 2026 US Open Cup.
So 5 wins (or 2, if you're the Milwaukee clubs) and you get a trophy. 7 (or 4) and you get a second trophy and qualification for a third.
Check back after the game for a photo gallery from the game by our Photography Director, Michael Lake.
College Spotlight: Minnesota State v Grand Valley State - NCAA D2 Elite Eight 2024
Minnesota State Mavericks secured their first ever NCAA national semifinal appearance, Ashle Paige brings you a snapshot of the quarterfinal.
The Mavericks face Columbus State, down in North Carolina at 2pm CT tomorrow, streaming on ncaa.com
MN Super Cup Final: St Croix Legends 3-0 Mpls City SC
The 2024 Minnesota Super Cup final on Thursday, July 25, featured cross-town rivals St Croix Legends and Minneapolis City SC, both making their first appearance in the championship game. St. Croix closed out a high-octane performance with a 3-0 win, leaving Macalester Stadium with a cup and a clean sheet.
https://twitter.com/MNSuperCup/status/1816879749391630669
The inaugural final in 2023 saw Med City FC defeat the MNUFC U-19s for their last piece of hardware before folding in the offseason. This year's match-up was a little more personal, with an added dose of friendly competition. Following their meeting in the USL-2 regular season finale, which City won 2-0 on St. Croix's own turf, Thursday's match leveled the Oliver Derby.
Head coach Tyler Oliver's Legends had a slight edge over Justin Oliver's Crows, as the latter lost a handful of key defenders to the college season since that last match. The Legends capitalized on that shuffled backline early, opening the scoring in the 13th minute. Asher Ozuzu ran it in from midfield on a breakaway, slipping a shot past City goalkeeper Evan Siefken.
"I do think we got some great performances from three CBs who stepped up and played their first minutes of the season there," said City head coach Justin Oliver. "Andrew [Soczynski], Sam [Keading] and Tomas [Menna] were all very good today and I’m so proud of their performances. That legends attack is really good and really dangerous so to only concede one through the run of play from them was big time."
Ozuzu's tally was the only goal to come from the run of play. Soczynski, Keading, and Menna, all grew into the match, which became more chippy and physical as the officials became more and more likely to call fouls by the Crows while saying 'play on' after similar fouls by Legends.
St. Croix scored their second goal in the 43rd minute, this from a freekick in a crowded box. Siefken and a number of defenders called for a handball but it was ruled a goal for St. Croix's Stu Sain. City had a few decent chances, including a corner kick in stoppage time but the ball was skied over the crossbar, allowing the Legends a 2-0 lead at the break.
Nathan Donovan made it 3-0 less than a minute into the second half, another set piece that found Siefken's defenders off guard.
Legends head coach Tyler Oliver praised his players' offensive efforts: "Massive credit to the guys on our team today for creating a ton of chances and executing at a high rate on set pieces which was going to be strength of ours heading into the game because of no Kent brothers and others in the back. The game plan was to attack space and attack in transition today as that’s where we are the most dangerous and it showed today with Evan [Siefken] making a high high number of saves and Nolan [Meyer] being relatively uncalled on today especially in the opening 65 minutes."
While the Crows spent plenty of time in the Legends' final third through the last half hour of the match, they were unable to find a consolation goal. Had the match gone on for another 10 or 20 minutes, Sidike Jebatah could have leveled it himself on will, but he could not buy a goal in 90 minutes. Henri Tophoven and Eli Goldman also threw themselves forward.
"I thought we were brilliant on the ball today and just didn’t have that final ball or that finishing touch one of them was always missing," Justin said of the Crows' effort. "Tons of respect for St. Croix and they earned a win tonight by capitalizing off some moments we didn’t compete well enough on."
He continued: "We went into the game with the same plan as always which is to press and defend as high up the field as possible while also always trying to build and play as much as possible too. The squad was absolutely good enough to win and get a result with a lot of guys that featured a lot this season and also a lot guys that were playing the first or first couple games of the season for us. We unfortunately didn’t defend set pieces well enough today and went down 2-0 on them."
https://twitter.com/MplsCityFan/status/1816653082626764914
As the players' focus shifts to the college season, so too for the Oliver brothers. Justin will return to his head coaching role at St. Olaf. Tyler, who serves as men's head coach at Hamline, said, "It’s always great to coach against Justin. He won national coach of the year at the D3 level for a reason and he showcased that with City this summer as well. Nice to get one over him heading into the fall where it’s a tall task again."
The Minnesota Super Cup will return for a third year in 2025 and, for the first time, will include a women's tournament. Billed as "a showcase of the best pre-professional soccer talent in Minnesota", the tournament has raised the interest and stakes in the state's lower division market and added an extra layer of competition to the season. A touch of brotherly - and perhaps, one day, sisterly - rivalry is a nice keystone in that growth.
Aurora Beat River Light to Rise Up the Table
When River Light FC played Minnesota Aurora FC in Aurora, IL, the game ended in a 1-1 draw. On Saturday, June 8, Minnesota Aurora FC got their turn to host River Light FC in Eagan, MN. Similar to the Illinois leg, River Light scored first and Aurora answered soon after. However, this match took a different turn. Instead of ending 1-1, the second half included three more goals. Who scored these five goals? Whether you were one of the 6,053 at TCO Stadium, watched on Fox 9+ or the Fox 9 website, or missed the match entirely, Northern Lights Football is here to summarize this action-packed match.
Women of Inspiration
This game was the Women of Inspiration match. A pre-game tweet stated, "Celebrating the women who lead with passion, purpose, and power." Local Social Network Strategist Nadine Babu has worked with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Gopher sports. She posted media of the video board that welcomed other Minnesota women's teams to the stadium: Minnesota Aurora 2, PWHL Minnesota, Menagerie Rugby Club, Twin Cities Amazons Rugby, Minnesota Roller Derby, and Team Trans Twin Cities Ice Hockey.
https://twitter.com/MNAuroraFC/status/1799613853967556886
"My dear, when people show you who they are, why don't you believe them?" or Starting XIs
Colette Montgomery lined up Aurora up in their typical 4-3-3 that can shift into a 4-2-3-1. For the second straight game, Alicia Donley played centerback next to Nicole Norfolk. Donley moved from forward to fullback at University of Dayton, and started the first four Aurora matches at right fullback. This switch for Donley allowed both Kelis Barton and Kacie Laurie to start at fullback. Another key benefit of Donley at centerback was Addy Weichers moving to the central midfield next to Morgan Stone. This marked only the second match for center midfield duo, but Weichers and Stone have played together in the midfield plenty on Aurora teams past.
Also for the second straight game, Cat Rapp received the start at center forward, who came in with 3 goals in 2024. Left wing Mariah Nguyen entered with four goals. Right wing Jill Bennett got her first start of 2024. At middle of it all was Katie Duong at center attacking midfielder.
River Light FC kept only Maya Nugent and Eliana Egeland in the starting lineup from last time. However, River Light used that midweek match against 6th-place RKC to rest most of their starting lineup. The River Light starting line up at TCO Stadium had nine returning starters from their weekend match against Bavarian United SC. Left fullback Sam Bodensteiner and center midfielder Gemma Gillespie were the only new starters Saturday night from a week ago.
"Do the best you can until you know better" or River Light Score First
Despite some dangerous Aurora chances close to the net, River Light's defense held Aurora at bay early. Then in the eleventh minute, River Light's Ella Burke sent a corner kick to the far post. Left wing Anya Gulbrandsen jumped high to head the ball into the back of the net. River Light led 1-0 in Minnesota early.
https://twitter.com/EqualTimeSoccer/status/1799596796517199925
"Then when you know better, do better" or Aurora's Answer
In the 32nd minute, Duong would send in a ball to Cat Rapp. While GK Blythe Braun saved the Cat Rapp attempt, the ball went wide to Morgan Stone who rocks the pebble into the back of the bag to tie the match 1-1. After all the Aurora acts of affection, Stone celebrates by miming setting down a golf ball and tee then driving one out of the box.
https://twitter.com/MNAuroraFC/status/1799602913087803628
"You don't have to think about doing the right thing. If you're for the right thing, then you do it without thinking" or Taylor Kane's Save
After the Aurora scored, River Light's Devin Lynch would take on several Aurora players and send in a dangerous ball. Taylor Kane was there contending for space with a player from each team.
https://twitter.com/EqualTimeSoccer/status/1799604459812634862
For much of the half, both teams struggled to pass through the compact midfield defensive blocks of the other. This half would end 1-1.
"River Light are a really well-organized team. They really want to play through those central spaces. And so that was a lot of what we wanted to do was shut down that middle space, make them go round us the long way and then win those balls in those outside spaces. So, you know, again, the game plan worked out really well. Different personnel coming in at halftime gave us a little of injection of energy, a little bit boost of confidence, and then let's go score some goals." — Colette Montgomery
"Make every effort to change things you do not like" or Substitutions
At the start of the second half, River Light subbed on midfielder Alexandra Tetteh for Gillespie and goalkeeper Bella Schopp for Braun. Aurora made three changes: midfielder Sofia Bush for Stone, right wing Saige Wimes for Bennett, and Yao Zhou for fullback Barton. Midfielder Zhou pushed Weichers back to centerback and Donley slid over to right fullback.
"I've never seen this one before," a goal like Duong's
Early in the second half, Cat Rapp square the ball to Katie Duong who booted the ball for a banger from 27 yards out.
https://twitter.com/EqualTimeSoccer/status/1800352491445596426
Duong commented on balancing her role to making teammates dangerous while being dangerous herself: "Especially playing the 10 a little bit more of an attacking role for Aurora, I've been trying to focus on being dangerous and varying the ways I'm attacking around goal. I think this front line and this midfield is so much fun to play with, and I have so much fun combining with these players."
"I am trying to find out who I am, who we are, what we’re capable of"
Later, Aurora would gain inroads into the box again. Despite Aurora's attack with deliberate daggers, River Light defend deftly by discharging all aggressions of Aurora's assailants.
https://twitter.com/EqualTimeSoccer/status/1799614634892419537
Saige Wimes' header or "You may trod me in the very dirt / But still, like dust, I'll rise."
At the 69th minute, both teams made additional substitutions. Aurora's Julia Sattler came on for fellow centerback Nicole Norfolk. River Light subbed in Sophia Skoubis for Egeland and Ellen Persson for Burke. Around the 76th minute, Aurora would earn a corner kick. Katie Duong's service to the far side looked to be going out for a River Light goal kick. Alicia Donley kept the ball in play and sent it back across the goal mouth. Saige Wimes lept up and headed the ball. The ball pinballed into the net off the goalkeeper's shoulder and the back of a defender. Aurora led 3-1.
https://twitter.com/EqualTimeSoccer/status/1799618420281127033
Immediate after the goal, Aurora would sub in Tess Werts for Nguyen and Rami Rapp for her triplet sister Cat. River Light put in Victoria Adams for fellow defender Sam Bodensteiner.
"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them."
Rami would soon threaten on the right side. A River Light defender would trip Rami in the corner of the 18-yard box. It was unclear if the defender poked the ball away or not. As Equal Time Soccer pointed out: it should have been a penalty or a corner kick for Aurora. Instead the referees awarded River Light with a goal kick.
https://twitter.com/EqualTimeSoccer/status/1799618650376487157
"You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have."
In the 85th minute, River Light would make their last two substitutions (of seven allowed): Evyn Schokora for goal scorer Gulbrandsen and Shayna Da SIlva for Nugent. Those substitutions had an immediate affect. Less than three minutes later, River Light connected seven passes up the field. GK sub Bella Schopp sent a long goal kick up the middle. Alex Tetteh came back towards the ball and offloaded to Olivia Duray, who one-touched the ball wide right to centerback Rachel Kutella. Kutella passed up the line to Sophia Skoubis. Skoubis hit Kutella back on quick diagonal run. Kutella passed to a W I D E O P E N Evyn Schokora, scored.
Katie Duong would earn "Play of the Game" for her second half banger. However, at 1:42:15 of this Fox 9+ video, River Light can claim to the best team goal of the night. Two other River Light attackers were also near the net with Donely the only Aurora player back to help Taylor Kane.
When the final whistle blew, River Light scored first and last. However, this isn't pickup soccer. Last goal doesn't win. Aurora scored three goals and earn three points.
USL W League, Heartland Division Standings - "Does it come as a surprise?"
Aurora was in second place in the Heartland Division heading into this match; River Light was close behind in third. After Bavarian United SC beat Chicago City SC on Saturday, River Light would bounce back to Rochester FC on Monday.
Tuesday results featured two rivalry matches. Chicago City would lose again, this time at home to crosstown rival Chicago Dutch Lions FC. Bavarian beat their Milwaukee rival RKC Third Coast.
The two Thursday matches include four of the top five teams in the division. Aurora heads south on US Highway 52 to Rochester FC. River Light FC in fourth host Bavarian United in second place.
It's tight up at the top. How will this look after Thursday? Stay tuned to Northern Lights Football and find out.
The sadness of an Open Cup half-empty
The 110 year old Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is being threatened by current events. The regional governing body Concacaf have seemingly sided with MLS. Since the facts have been well-covered by others, I'm gonna stick with the light that the tournament brings and the emotional attachment many have to it. At the time of publication, the format for this year (and future years) has not yet been made public, and we will update you when it is.
Multiple rounds of Open Division Qualifiers for the Open Cup are conducted by teams of hard-working amateurs. The amateur team that lasts longest gets $25000. It's the same for the longest lasting D2 pro and D3 pro teams. Call me naïve if you want, but I feel like the Open Division is the best of us as a football nation. I love the amateur clubs who play their way through to face the professionals, and especially those who win such matches. This site wouldn't exist without our passion for amateur football. Others prefer the pride-filled matches between teams in different professional divisions, or different leagues at the same level. Also, let me say it is a travesty that women's football doesn't have a parallel tournament to the one we're discussing here. Nonetheless, the Cup is the connective tissue of of US football's body.
I have a t-shirt from thecup.us, it celebrates the historic clubs to have won the title 4 times. Working with that site for the last few years, it has provided me a privileged window into this tournament and provided a personal, emotional tie between me in flyover country and this vast, messy country. It's a landscape where Bethlehem Steel in Pennsylvania and Maccabee Los Angeles are the most successful clubs ever, and where a stunning panoply of teams from across the nation have won at least once.
It's ongoing history too, back in 2018, I was privileged to witness chaos on the turf when Dakota Fusion travelled to University of Minnesota Duluth and played out a 4-4 draw with Duluth FC. The game ended in a spectacular penalty shootout victory for the home side. It was the only time North Dakota has seen itself reflected in national football. DFC have qualified for the tournament again this year, this is their pinned tweet:
https://twitter.com/DuluthFC/status/1734708795975082333
I firmly believe that if the Cup did not exist, it wouldn't be created now and the fear is that any withdrawal by professional sides now will be difficult to reverse. Maybe the cancellations due to Covid 19 in 2020 and 2021 gave some people the impression that the history can be taken for granted.
There is an emerging belief among some football followers that amateur clubs should concentrate on the USASA Amateur Cup, but even that has a carrot at the end in the form of participation in the US Open Cup.
I believe that the Open Cup folding would also put a damper on the division 2 and 3 men's clubs who have no promotion to a higher division to dream of, and therefore can dream (sometimes even realize) victories against those larger clubs. These games provide a spotlight to professional players seeking to move up, as well as to pre-draft prospects from colleges big and small in a way that March Madness does for basketball. They provide a spotlight to the volunteers who literally make fields playable and clubs function.
It's not perfect, but it is a festival of possibility in a country where football is otherwise wedged into silos and I believe that unwinding MLS participation is the start of a steady process of debasing the tournament in a way which is very difficult to reverse and the horizon will seem darker without it.
Photo Gallery: Minneapolis City vs Minnesota United U19's in the MN Super Cup
Minneapolis City SC hosted the Minnesota United u19 squad during an MN Super Cup match at Edor Nelson Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 5th, 2023. The Minnesota United u19 squad, coached by Fanendo Adi, was able to overcome Carl Craig’s Crows by a score of 1-0 behind a goal from Miguel Leon.
2023 Minnesota Super Cup Preview
This Friday night a brand new tournament will kick off when Minneapolis City SC hosts Minnesota United FC's U19 Academy side at Edor Nelson Field in Minneapolis. Six clubs representing four different leagues will make up the field for the competition's first season of play in 2023.
The MNSC isn't a unique idea, I feel versions of it have been talked about for years.
This version grew out of the idea of bringing the fractured pre-professional leagues in Minnesota together in meaningful competition, something more that friendlies or closed door matches.
A competition that would hopefully excite the clubs, players, and supporters, bringing more energy and growth to the already vibrant Minnesota soccer community.
- Jon Martinson on the creation of the Minnesota Super Cup
The 2023 format of the Minnesota Super Cup will see the six teams broken up into two groups of three, with each team playing the others once in the group stage. Group A will consist of Duluth FC (NPSL), Minneapolis City SC (USL2), and MNUFC U19 Academy (MLS Next), while Group B is made up of Med City FC (NPSL), St. Croix Legends (USL2), and Vlora FC (UPSL). Following the group stage the top two teams in each group will qualify for the semi-finals to be played July 21-23, the semi-final winners will advance to the Minnesota Super Cup Final to be held at Macalester Stadium in St. Paul on July 29th.
The Minnesota Super Cup first season will see some very notable and unique first time matches, a short lived derby revived (in a way), and a bitter rivalry continue. Group B is entirely made up of first time matches as the three sides have never faced any team in the group in competitive play. Group A on the other hand has a little bit of everything, the tournament opening match between Minneapolis City SC and MNUFC U19 will see the Crows face a Loons side in competitive play for the first time since the 2016 Premier League of America season. The second group match and fourth match overall will pit Duluth FC against an MNUFC side for the first time in club history. Rounding out Group A and the fifth match overall, a bitter rivalry will continue with Minneapolis City SC hosting Duluth FC as the only match of 2023 between the Crows and BlueGreens.
The MNSC is not a one and done tournament. Like I previously mentioned this is being built to be a long term, cornerstone event for Minnesota soccer.
We are obviously very focused on this summer, but we do have a number of initiatives in progress. For example, we are in the process of finalizing the entry rules for the 2024 tournament. Clubs eligibility for the MNSC will be based on their league performances much like Champions League. Look for more details on that soon.
My goal for the tournament is to create a platform to showcase Minnesota soccer talent, from clubs, to players, to referees, while fostering community and support for that talent. (And maybe starting a few good rivalries at the same time).
- Jon Martinson on the Minnesota Super Cup going forward
In 2024 the Minnesota Super Cup will see a format change, expanding to eight clubs from the present six. The top two finishing Minnesota based clubs in both USL League Two and NPSL will gain entry to the tournament. The other four sides entering will be the top finishing UPSL, MLS Next, and MASL Division 1 sides from Minnesota along with a single open qualifying team. The open qualifying path for the 2024 MNSC is open to all Minnesota based "pre-professional clubs that meet the minimum standards for entry into the competition" and will have a playing window of August 1st, 2023 to March 1st, 2024.
Minneapolis City SC will stream the opening Minnesota Super Cup match on Eleven Sports. For more MNUFC centric Minnesota Super Cup coverage you can head over to Northland Soccer Journal to read the preview on the U19's in the tournament.
Photo Gallery: Minneapolis City SC vs Med City FC
Minneapolis City hosted Med City this past weekend in what was a match up between the two remaining undefeated teams in the NPSL North. The two sides were deadlocked at the break but the Crows were awarded a penalty kick early in the second half. Minneapolis City SC midfielder Max Stiegwardt scored the opening goal from the spot in the 56'. Fellow midfielder Kevin Andrews then extended that lead in the 75'.
Minneapolis City SC forward Justin Oliver tried to sneak in a quick free kick in the 86' that beat Med City FC goalkeeper AJ Jarvis as he was setting up his wall but it was called back and Oliver had to make another attempt. AJ Jarvis parried the retake wide as the clock eventually ran out and Minneapolis City went on to remain at the top with 5 wins from 5 games played.
Both teams will continue their quest for for dominance in the NPSL North on June 9 for a couple of weekday matches. Minneapolis City heads to Moorhead to take on Dakota Fusion FC while Med City will travel to Sioux Falls to take on the Thunder.
(Photo by Seth Steffenhagen/Steffenhagen Photography)
(Photo by Seth Steffenhagen/Steffenhagen Photography)
(Photo by Seth Steffenhagen/Steffenhagen Photography)
(Photo by Seth Steffenhagen/Steffenhagen Photography)
(Photo by Seth Steffenhagen/Steffenhagen Photography)
(Photo by Seth Steffenhagen/Steffenhagen Photography)
(Photo by Seth Steffenhagen/Steffenhagen Photography)
The W League is back
Today, in a move which had been suggested by The Athletic, USL announced a new women's amateur league with an old name.
The new USL W League was unveiled with a Selection Sunday-style stream, together with 8 founding members and a strong trend of organizations whose men's sides are within the professional tiers of the USL system. The old W League folded in 2015.
The eight founding clubs are:
- Minnesota Women's Soccer, a brand-new club which will be more fully unveiled this weekend but which already promises "a women majority owner which will be paired with a unique element of community and supporter ownership" and ownership independent of current organizations.
- Kaw Valley FC will be debuting its women's side in USL W. It's men's side currently compete in the USL League Two's Heartland Conference.
- Chattanooga Red Wolves, currently compete in the Southeastern Conference of the WPSL and are the sister of the USL League One side.
- Greenville Triumph, who have a women's academy but no existing senior women's side, and are the sister of the USL League One side.
- Hartford Athletic, another club debuting its women's side in the new league. It's a sister to a USL Championship side.
- Queensboro FC, has yet to debut in either men's or women's soccer but are slated to begin play in both USL Championship and USL W next year.
- South Georgia Tormenta FC, has a female co-owner but no senior women's side at the moment. It is the sister to a USL League One side.
- Washington D.C., heralded as a former member of the original W-League, DC United also has women within its front office.
The league has projected that there will be 30 members of the inaugural season. Stay tuned for more details, especially with regards to our regions.
What is the Unity Cup? - A Q and A with MapleBrook's Jean-Yves Viardin
The 2021 Unity Cup : MapleBrook 58ers and Friends vs Joy Athletic Club takes place at Maple Grove High School Stadium at 5pm. Admission is free.
Q: What is the Unity Cup?
A: Joy Athletic is coached by a friend of mine and I'm very familiar with the organization and I respect that organization. I run the youth club over here in Maple Grove called Maplebrook. We had a UPSL team. We took a year off because of Covid.
Because it is Joy Athletic's first year in the NPSL. We share players. We had planned to have a game. A friendly game. When all the bad stuff happened in Minneapolis and then we decided not to play in our league it didn't look like we were gonna be able to do it but a date popped open for them and we said “Hey, would you be willing to have a game with us?”
What's really been the hard part with Covid is in the soccer community, we didn't get to see our friends. We're all in different communities, Maple Grove, Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park wherever...
And then all the stuff happened with Daunte and George Floyd and I said I'm gonna do something fun for my community and you know we share a lot of common things with Joy Athletic.
Long story short, I'm gonna start a tradition. We're going to play them, 1 year here, 1 year there. We're gonna have a cup, it's gonna be called the Unity Cup. The whole spirit of the event is to get two communities which have a lot of similiarities, and eventually grow it to a point where we can raise money for charity or scholarships for kids to play soccer.
I didn't have my team, that's why you see Maplebrook 58ers and friends, we invited people from the different clubs in the Cities. They are all people who we feel represent something positive in the community, in and out of soccer – who they are as human beings. Everybody who is on my team is there for a specific reason, above and beyond that they are good soccer players. The fact that we partnered with Joy Athletic is for a specific reason, above and beyond that they are good soccer players. It's a Cup to celebrate Unity, here and in Minnesota and to have an excuse to spend time together. We hope to raise money for good causes and we got picked up by Sanneh Foundation – Tony is a friend of mine. Planet Soccer, our local soccer vendor and the mortgage company that I work for said “Hey, we love what you are doing”
We're doing it in conjunction with our youth tournament, that's gonna be going on during the weekend. It's an opportunity for kids to come watch high level players, we have a whole bunch of ex-pro players on our team that we're part of Minnesota soccer history
A bunch of guys are coaches so their teams will come and it's kinda unifying four or five youth clubs in the area.
Q: Is there any concern that you're gonna impact Joy's NPSL season?
A: No, not really. They have enough players, I'm sure it's a good opportunity for them to pick the younger players and it's really a friendly game. It's not about the score and the result. Our team is on the old side. I think half our roster is 45. It's really an exhibition game, more than anything.
Q: What are the plans for the MapleBrook 58'ers UPSL side going forward?
A: When the UPSL was cancelled, the organiser of Vlora FC – Adi, he organized the Goals Cup. We won that and then after that our boys went back to school so we didn't participate in the Fall season. UPSL was gracious enough to let us carry over our “tuition”, if you would call it that, until next year. So, we will be back next year for sure. We just needed a year off to recover from financial hardships. These teams don't make money. I lose money on both the teams every year, I do it because I love it and it lets me be around people I wanna be around.
Q: The Fury WPSL side were scheduled to play against Dakota Fusion last weekend, was the postponement due to an issue with your side or theirs?
A: I believe there was a Covid issue with Fusion but we are looking forward to playing them this weekend at Maple Grove and have rescheduled the game in Fargo for June 25th.
Q: Are there any players that we should keep an eye out for?
A: We have a pretty good team. We finished in a 3 way tie with Salvo and Mankato during the 2019 season.
Marie Sennes is a good player. Claire Odmark plays for Wisconsin Badgers as a forward. Haley Landrus is also a good player. We have a good squad.
Q: There are no playoffs in the WPSL this season. So why play a team?
A: I considered it because of no playoffs but my commitment is to get these players ready for college. We have alums from our youth clubs that have somewhere to play in Summer between college seasons. I believe 80% of our squad is from our youth clubs. The most fun part is we can show the young kids what they will be able to do next , like in Europe where everyone has their hometown team, whereas in college people can't do that because they are all scattered around.