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Real Maryland?s 3-2 victory over Cleveland coupled with Wilmington?s 1-1 draw with Harrisburg means that Real Maryland has clinched a spot in this year?s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup!

Established in 1914, the US Open Cup is the oldest cup competition in the US. It is open to teams from MLS all the way down to amateur clubs affiliated with US Soccer. This year?s tournament is the 94th edition.

Eight teams from USL-2 qualify for the US Open Cup based on early season standings. Harrisburg City was guaranteed an automatic birth as last year?s champion of USL-2 with the Richmond Kickers taking the other automatic birth by virtue of having the best regular season record last season. Bermuda is not eligible to compete in the tournament.

USL-2 teams did very well in last year?s US Open Cup. The Richmond Kickers defeated the LA Galaxy 1-0 before losing to the Carolina RailHawks in the quarterfinals. The Harrisburg City Islanders also advanced to the quarterfinals by beating DC United 1-0 before falling to the eventual champions the New England Revolution.

?I?m excited to find out who we will face in the first round of the tournament since Open Cup matches always have a championship feel to them,? Monarchs? defender Devlin Barnes?wrote on his blog. ?It?s fun to go out against a team you have never faced from a different level and have a chance to compete.? With the single-elimination format every game is do or die.?

Real Maryland is eager to find out the details of its first ever participation in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Until then, the team has its attention focused on Saturday night when it faces the Wilmington Hammerheads at 7:30 PM at the Maryland SoccerPlex. The match will be televised on Montgomery County Public Access Television.

For more information, call our team office at (301) 933-6460.