US Open Cup "May Madness" Field is Set: Riverhounds Host 1st Rd Winner May 18

While March Madness may be over — the next tournament that features little teams with a chance to make a big splash — Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup  held its draw today for its 2016 competition to determine first round matches, and revealed second round scenarios.
As a result of today’s draw, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds will host the winner of first round game played between two New York lower division teams – Landsdowne Boys FC and Long Island Rough Riders (PDL).   The second round match will be held at Highmark Stadium on May 18.

Since Highmark Stadium opened in 2013, the Riverhounds ran an unbeaten string of five games in home Open Cup matches until losing to D.C. United 3-1 in OT in June 2015.
The other local team eligible to compete in the U.S. Open Cup, Fort Pitt Regiment (NPSL), didn’t qualify after making its first Open Cup appearance in club history in 2015, losing the West Virginia Chaos, 1-0.
The Open Cup will include lower division and amateur teams (NPSL-15 teams, PDL – 19 teams, 14 amateur clubs that won regional qualifiers) competing in the first round on May 11.
In the second round, on May 18, eligible teams from U.S. Soccer’s third division United Soccer League (USL), including the Riverhounds, enter the field.

The third round games to be played on June 1, will see teams from second division North American Soccer League (NASL) begin play.
Last year, USL teams fared very well against NASL sides, sweeping all seven games including the Riverhounds 1-0 defeat of Tampa Bay Rowdies at Highmark Stadium on a Rob Vincent strike in the 90th minute.
Major League Soccer (MLS) teams join the party on June 16 with full slate of fourth round games.
After the 4th Round, the competition will be down to a field of 16, which will have a separate drawing for matches.
The schedule will follow accordingly:

• First Round – May 11
• Second Round – May 18
• Third Round – June 1
• Fourth Round – June 16
• Round of 16 – June 29;
• Quarterfinals – July 20;
• Semifinals – Aug. 10
• Final – Sept. 21