Region I Kicks Off 100th Anniversary of the Amateur Cup

Sixteen Teams Battle For Region Title

(5 April) Founded in 1923 as the National Amateur Challenge Cup in response to the growing number of teams entering the National Challenge Cup (Open Cup), the first tournament was not completed due to inclement weather. In 1924, the first side to hoist the inaugural cup was Philly powerhouse, Fleisher Yarn, defeating Chicago Swedish-Americans in the final. Fittingly, the 100th edition kicks off in Region I with the winner heading to DeKalb, Illinois, 25-28 July with USASA club, Dekalb County United, serving as the host organization to determine who will lift the Fritz Marth Trophy.

This Sunday, eight first round matches will be played throughout the Region. Newtown Pride SC of Connecticut look to defend their Region title, falling short last summer in the National final to SC Mesoamerica of Southern California. They will host Sete de Setembro of Massachusetts at Newtown High School Blue & Gold Stadium in a northern bracket battle. Another northern tie has SC Vistula Garfield of New Jersey hosting National Premier Soccer League entry New York Shockers. Two Eastern New York clubs with Open Cup pedigree are among the mix. The NY Greek American will travel to Rhode Island to meet Providence City FC while the NY Pancyprian Freedoms are involved in an Eastern Premier Soccer League derby against Hoboken FC 1912 of New Jersey.

The southern bracket features former the winner of the 2016 edition of the Amateur Cup, Christos FC of Maryland, crossing the Potomac River to take on Alexandria Reds of the Northern Premier Soccer League. Three sides from Eastern Pennsylvania are among the southern group with the Hank Steinbrecher Cup holder West Chester United taking visitors Steel Pulse FC of Maryland, Vereinigung Erzgebirge entertaining Virginia Marauders FC of Metro DC-Virginia while Lancaster City FC head down to Los Toros of Metro DC-Virginia.

The winners advance to the quarterfinals that will be played on 28 April. The Region final is scheduled for Saturday, 15 June, at the Ukrainian American Sport Center in Horsham, Pennsylvania.