USOC: Southie FC Granted Automatic First Round Spot
- Updated: February 4, 2016
Boston-based Southie FC is among 14 amateur sides that have automatically advanced to the 2016 U.S. Open Cup proper after U.S. Soccer eliminated the Third Qualifying Round and reduced the number of participating teams for the tournament.
Southie received an email from the Federation on Wednesday advising that they, along with 13 other amateur teams, had gained automatic qualification to the historic tournament. As such, they will enter the tournament in the First Round, which will take place on May 11, with an opponent to be determined by the Federation at a later date.
The email detailed that “teams from local qualifying have been awarded six new slots, allowing all 14 teams still alive in this qualifying track to be placed directly into the First Round of the 2016 U.S. Open Cup. Congratulations, you are in the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.”
The Boys in Neon originally booked its ticket to the Third Qualifying Round stage, which would’ve featured a matchup against West Chester United on Apr. 2 in West Chester, Pa., after beating Battery Park Gunners and GPS Omens in the First and Second Qualifying Rounds, respectively.
With the Third Qualifying Round no longer necessary, the advancement to the First Round marks the first time Southie has reached the U.S. Open Cup tournament. They will be one of three New England-based sides, including PDL representatives GPS Portland Phoenix and Seacoast United Phantoms, to enter the bracket in the First Round.