CARY, N.C. (May 15, 2018) – The LA Galaxy left Cary without a win. Three years in a row. Chivas USA found trips to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer park frustrating, too.
Over the years, North Carolina FC has produced moments of brilliance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, often proving itself capable of deep tournament runs.
In 2007, the club’s first year of competition, NCFC reached the semifinals of the Cup, and quarterfinals appearances followed in 2013 and 2014.
Through 10 appearances in the competition, NCFC has recorded six wins over MLS clubs, serving as the poster child for the idea that all bets are off in an Open Cup tie.
“I think the reality is one week in the Open Cup, you’re the giant. And then within a week or two or three as you advance, you can be the giant killer,” NCFC President and General Manager Curt Johnson said. “That is absolutely the beauty of the Open Cup and what gets everybody excited about it.”
Soccer fans in the Triangle have certainly gotten excited about NCFC’s past triumphs in the Open Cup, and now they’ll soon have the opportunity to see the club attempt to make another deep run in the competition. The journey begins with a second round matchup against Yonkers, N.Y.-based Lansdowne Bhoys on Wednesday, May 16, at 7 p.m. ET at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
“There’s nothing like raising a trophy in football and The Cup is an opportunity every year to do that,” NCFC center back Michael Harrington said. “I’ve always taken the tournament seriously, and it’ll be the same this year with us.”
Harrington can speak from experience about lifting an Open Cup trophy. The Greenville, N.C., native won the 2012 Open Cup with Sporting Kansas City, appearing as an extra-time substitute in a 1-1 (3-2 PKs) victory against the Seattle Sounders in the final.
Harrington said the experience of going far in the Open Cup can galvanize a team, and he’s hoping that the same is true this year.
“Like I said, there’s nothing like winning a trophy and the excitement that comes with that and the buzz that it kinds of gives a group,” Harrington said. “It definitely lifts the group, so we’re excited to try to make a run.”
Harrington is not the only person within the organization to have won an Open Cup. Johnson did the same in 2004 when he served as the Kansas City Wizards general manager, a feat he still cherishes today.
“There are certain times when the plan comes together and everything goes the way you want it to go on the field,” Johnson said, “and that was certainly a moment in time that was a highlight in my career.”
For Johnson, the Open Cup has added meaning because of the man it is named after, Lamar Hunt. One of the most influential backers of soccer in the U.S., Hunt owned three MLS franchises, including the Kansas City Wizards, where Johnson worked under Hunt.
“The reality is that without Lamar, we would not be in the same position that we’re in as a soccer country,” Johnson said. “He helped almost singlehandedly accelerate the growth and the popularity of soccer in the United States during the 70s, 80s, 90s and up until his passing in 2006.”
Since he joined NCFC in 2011, Johnson said the club has placed a great deal of importance in taking the Open Cup seriously, noting that, “Our record speaks for itself.”
“It’s an opportunity to win a national championship,” he said.
Although a club from outside of MLS has not won the Open Cup since the Rochester Rhinos did in 1999, recent history suggests that it’s not an impossible task. During the 2017 US Open Cup, Miami FC reached the quarterfinals and FC Cincinnati of the USL made it all the way to the semifinals.
Of course, any round of the Open Cup can prove to be difficult, and NCFC will face a worthy challenger on Wednesday in Lansdowne, one the nation’s top amateur sides.
“We try to take it like every other game, you know,” Harrington said. “Give it our best, and the stakes are a little bit higher because if you lose, you’re out. You’ve only got one opportunity, and you’ve got to take it game by game and put everything you have into it and try to get a good result. We’re excited for it.”
CARY, N.C. (May 15, 2018) – The LA Galaxy left Cary without a win. Three years in a row. Chivas USA found trips to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer park frustrating, too.
Over the years, North Carolina FC has produced moments of brilliance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, often proving itself capable of deep tournament runs.
In 2007, the club’s first year of competition, NCFC reached the semifinals of the Cup, and quarterfinals appearances followed in 2013 and 2014.
Through 10 appearances in the competition, NCFC has recorded six wins over MLS clubs, serving as the poster child for the idea that all bets are off in an Open Cup tie.
“I think the reality is one week in the Open Cup, you’re the giant. And then within a week or two or three as you advance, you can be the giant killer,” NCFC President and General Manager Curt Johnson said. “That is absolutely the beauty of the Open Cup and what gets everybody excited about it.”
Soccer fans in the Triangle have certainly gotten excited about NCFC’s past triumphs in the Open Cup, and now they’ll soon have the opportunity to see the club attempt to make another deep run in the competition. The journey begins with a second round matchup against Yonkers, N.Y.-based Lansdowne Bhoys on Wednesday, May 16, at 7 p.m. ET at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
“There’s nothing like raising a trophy in football and The Cup is an opportunity every year to do that,” NCFC center back Michael Harrington said. “I’ve always taken the tournament seriously, and it’ll be the same this year with us.”
Harrington can speak from experience about lifting an Open Cup trophy. The Greenville, N.C., native won the 2012 Open Cup with Sporting Kansas City, appearing as an extra-time substitute in a 1-1 (3-2 PKs) victory against the Seattle Sounders in the final.
Harrington said the experience of going far in the Open Cup can galvanize a team, and he’s hoping that the same is true this year.
“Like I said, there’s nothing like winning a trophy and the excitement that comes with that and the buzz that it kinds of gives a group,” Harrington said. “It definitely lifts the group, so we’re excited to try to make a run.”
Harrington is not the only person within the organization to have won an Open Cup. Johnson did the same in 2004 when he served as the Kansas City Wizards general manager, a feat he still cherishes today.
“There are certain times when the plan comes together and everything goes the way you want it to go on the field,” Johnson said, “and that was certainly a moment in time that was a highlight in my career.”
For Johnson, the Open Cup has added meaning because of the man it is named after, Lamar Hunt. One of the most influential backers of soccer in the U.S., Hunt owned three MLS franchises, including the Kansas City Wizards, where Johnson worked under Hunt.
“The reality is that without Lamar, we would not be in the same position that we’re in as a soccer country,” Johnson said. “He helped almost singlehandedly accelerate the growth and the popularity of soccer in the United States during the 70s, 80s, 90s and up until his passing in 2006.”
Since he joined NCFC in 2011, Johnson said the club has placed a great deal of importance in taking the Open Cup seriously, noting that, “Our record speaks for itself.”
“It’s an opportunity to win a national championship,” he said.
Although a club from outside of MLS has not won the Open Cup since the Rochester Rhinos did in 1999, recent history suggests that it’s not an impossible task. During the 2017 US Open Cup, Miami FC reached the quarterfinals and FC Cincinnati of the USL made it all the way to the semifinals.
Of course, any round of the Open Cup can prove to be difficult, and NCFC will face a worthy challenger on Wednesday in Lansdowne, one the nation’s top amateur sides.
“We try to take it like every other game, you know,” Harrington said. “Give it our best, and the stakes are a little bit higher because if you lose, you’re out. You’ve only got one opportunity, and you’ve got to take it game by game and put everything you have into it and try to get a good result. We’re excited for it.”
