ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A big opportunity is approaching for Rochester’s semi-pro soccer team, the Flower City Union, who’ll play on a national stage in the US Open Cup later this month.
TO THE OPEN CUP | Flower City Union prepares for US Open CupThe day's major News events, business reports, sports updates, Rochester area weather information and tomorrow's forecast are presented by the News10NBC Team.The Flower City Union won the Great Lakes Conference in the fourth tier of the U.S. soccer pyramid last summer, earning their ticket into the tournament.
“It was nice to see these guys kind of get rewarded with that,” head coach Jordan Sullivan said. “They put a lot of hard work in the summer, and then for us to punch our ticket into the Open Cup, I think it’s only right that these guys go out there and try and bring it home as well.”
The U.S. Open Cup will feature 80 teams from all levels of the pyramid competing against each other. The Union sit in the fourth rung of that pyramid.
“Anything can happen in tournament play. Why not us?” said Jack Hopson, a player for Flower City Union.
But the team is definitely considered underdogs in the tournament.
“They’ve earned the right to go out there on the big stage and try and perform and see what they are against guys that are on, you know, million dollar contracts,” Sullivan said. “We’ve got guys working at Wegmans, but we’re going to have a good go at it. It’s going to be fun.”
Rochester has a history in the Open Cup. In 1999, the Rochester Rhinos became and remain the only non-MLS team to win it all, since the league’s inception in 1996.
Ryan Fitzgerald, a Rochester native and Flower City Union player, said, “Yeah, I mean, I think everybody who lived in Rochester knew the Rhinos and knew the Open Cup story about them, them winning it all. So I mean, I think anybody based in Rochester and growing up in Rochester has a little, little spot in their heart that excites them.”
So David vs. Goliath or Wegmans cashiers vs. millionaire dollar deals, however you see it, these guys wanna get to work.
“This can be a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Fitzgerald said. “But I mean, we’re going in there thinking we’re going to cross some damage and hopefully win win some games.”
“Don’t write us off,” Hopson said. “It’s like it’s not a it’s not necessarily a case of where you come from.”
Flower City Union will kick off against Lexington SC on Thursday, March 19, in Kentucky.
TO THE OPEN CUP | Flower City Union prepares for US Open Cup WHEC.com.
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