USL-2 qualifying kicks off!
Drama in Cleveland, Swinehart scores four for Charlotte
USOPENCUP.COM
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Three teams got their USL Second Division qualifying campaigns off
to fine starts over the weekend, each winning their 2008 home
openers.

On Saturday, the most dramatic finish was in Cleveland. The City
Stars scored twice in the final fifteen minutes, including the
winning goal by Ian Leibbrandt in stoppage time, to defeat the
returning Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2-1. One of the USL-2 teams that
reached the Quarterfinals of last year's Open Cup, Richmond, cruised
past Western Mass 3-0. Finally, severe weather mercifully stopped
Charlotte's 6-0 drubbing of Bermuda in the 82nd minute, which
included four goals from Dustin Swinehart.

At Krenzler Field in Cleveland, the City Stars gave their fans a
thrilling finish by tying the game in the 77th minute, and winning
two minutes into stoppage time. After playing a scoreless first
half, Cleveland caught a break when the Riverhounds' Ryan Caugherty
was sent off for a hard foul on Floyd Franks in the 54th minute.
Even with the man disadvantage, Pittsburgh found the net thirteen
minutes later. A Pittsburgh corner kick found Nathan Salsi, who
navigated a low shot through the crowd and past goalkeeper Eric Reed.

Cleveland responded ten minutes later, as Anthony Stovall made a run
up the left side and sent a cross in to Randolph Jerome, who out
jumped goalkeeper Andrew Keszler to get the ball in the net and tie
the score. As stoppage time worn on, it looked as if the two clubs
would share the points, but Dana McGregor sent a long ball into the
box, which Jerome managed to get a head on. Keszler punched the ball
away, only to send it to a waiting Ian Leibbrandt, who calmly placed
his powerful shot in the net for the win. The Riverhounds are
returning to the Second Division after a year off, and will look to
continue their run of qualifying for the U.S. Open Cup, which they
had done in 2005 and 2006.

In Richmond, the Kickers and Western Mass Pioneers got off to a slow
start with a scoreless first half, neither team finding many
chances. Things picked up after the break, as the Pioneers' Omar
McFarlane tested Ronnie Pascale with a low shot, but the Kickers
goalkeeper scooped up the shot to keep it 0-0. After 60 minutes,
Richmond finally opened the scoring. Anthony Catalano headed the
ball home after a series of passes. Pioneers' goalkeeper Matt
Glaeser was able to get a finger on it, but not enough to stop the
shot. Minutes later, Mike Burke doubled the Kickers advantage. After
a pass from the wing by Luke Vercollone, Ben Hunter crossed to
Burke, who volleyed the ball past Glaeser. With just minutes
remaining, Stanley Nyazamba was brought down in the penalty area,
and Kevin Bulow stepped up and converted the spot kick for the 3-0
victory.

In Charlotte, the Eagles showed no mercy to the visiting Bermuda
Hogges, thrashing the islanders 6-0. Dustin Swineheart knocked in
four goals, including the first three of the game. Patrick Daka
added to an assist on one of Swinehart's goals with one of his own
in the 59th minute, just ten minutes after Swinehart completed his
natural hat trick. The veteran Eagles forward made it four just
minutes later, with an assist from Joseph Kabwe, who also assisted
on the final goal from Jorge Herrera, which came four minutes later.
After Charlotte let off the gas, a threat of lightning stopped the
game for a moment. Soon after play was resumed the game was stopped
short again, this time for good, when the weather caused the lights
on the north side of the stadium to go out.

On Sunday, the Pioneers traveled to the Maryland Soccerplex in
Boyds, MD to serve as the first opponent for the debuting Real
Maryland Monarchs. The Pioneers played the role of rude visitors,
taking a 1-0 victory. Neil Krause scored just before the halftime
whistle, on an assist by Easton Wilson, for the lone goal of the
match. Maryland's Teodoro Ramirez was sent off in the 66th minute
for a second caution, but the Pioneers could not widen their lead
with the man advantage. The win puts Western Mass at 50% on points
over two games. Wilmington and Crystal Palace Baltimore are the only
USL-2 teams without a game thus far. Baltimore opens their season on
Friday at home versus Pittsburgh, while Wilmington will travel to
Bermuda to face the Hogges on Saturday night.