House Advances To The 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup!
CHICAGO HOUSE AC ADVANCES TO 2023 LAMAR HUNT US OPEN CUP TOURNAMENT
Dramatic Nine Round Penalty Kicks Victory In The Dark Settles 1-1 Draw In
Boston Randolph, MA (December 17, 2022) – Chicago House A.C. has qualified to play in the Lamar Hunt 2023 U.S. Open Cup by virtue of a win in the fourth and final round of qualifiers over Brockton F.C. United in Randolph, MA on Saturday, December 17th in a penalty shootout that lasted nine rounds in near total darkness. This is Chicago House’s first entry into qualifications and the win extends the team’s unbeaten streak to 13 games, not having lost since the season opener in May.
“It was a massive win for the club. From where we were a year ago to where we ended this year is incredible. From dropping the first game at home in May to not losing another game all season is unreal, and to top it off by qualifying for the Open Cup is a massive step forward for the organization as a whole” said head coach and technical director, Matt Poland.
Brockton took control of the game early with a goal in the 5th minute by Euclides Mendonica. The ball was sent in with a clean through pass to an unmarked Mendonica who slipped the ball low and into the back corner of the near post past House goalkeeper, Tony Halterman. After grabbing the goal, Brockton was comfortable slowing the game down by any means to try and maintain the lead and play the game out in harsh conditions.
“I think for the game itself; we knew how they were going to play and what type of players they are. We put ourselves in a hole by giving up an early goal, but continued to fight, especially in the second half,” said Poland. After making some tactical changes in the second half, House improved upon their attack. With only one shot in the first half to 11 in the second half, seven of which were on goal.
“The biggest change was the mentality of the guys. I think we were just forcing things in the first half. We’d get the ball in situations, maybe it was because we were down a goal, maybe the stress of the game, I’m not sure what it was, but it just felt like we tried to force things. The biggest thing I talked to them about at halftime was just to calm it down, letting the play develop a little bit longer, not being so rushed to kick 30 to 40 yard long balls, but instead try and play out on the ground like we practiced and like we know we have quality to do,” said Poland on the team’s second half performance. “That was one part of it, but I think the formation change opened up more attacking opportunities for us and I think the other, too, was the wind. It was blowing against us in the first half and the second half we were with the wind. When you’re with the wind it feels like you’re going downhill and that momentum can take you to find more success and make it harder for the other team to play out,” Poland continued. House captain, A.R. Smith capitalized on one of those opportunities by scoring the equalizer in the 81st minute.
“That was probably our third or fourth chance in that five-minute period, but obviously switching the formation allowed Vuka (Bulatovic) to move a little bit higher up and he played a good ball into the box. Anytime you play balls like that in, dangerous things happen. It was kind of a scramble in front of the goal. I think the keeper made a save on it and then A.R. (Smith) was there and finished it,” said Poland on the equalizer.
The score remained tied at one goal apiece through the remainder of regulation. Due to extreme darkness at the stadium, and lights not being turned on, two shortened overtime rounds lasting 10 minutes apiece were played with no result forcing the game to be decided in near total darkness by way of penalty kicks. Just a couple of minutes prior to penalty kicks, Halterman sustained an injury to his nose, but was able to remain in the game. “Obviously two minutes before penalty kicks you don’t want to see your goalie’s nose get busted. It’s not a situation you want, having a keeper subbing in cold and jumping straight into penalties. All of our keepers are there, they train and they prepare, so Elias (Rojas) was there if he was called upon. Obviously, Tony (Halterman) has a track record and history of success in penalties, so I was thankful he was able see the game out,” said Poland.
Halterman stopped their first shot and their ninth shot, which secured the victory after Bulatovic made House’s 9th round shot. “The thought process in a penalty kick shootout is that we just have to keep making ours because we know eventually he is going to get his fingers on one and save it and that’s our chance and opportunity. This time we made it a little dramatic by waiting until the ninth to get that one because we missed one in the first five, but we all felt that he’ll get it. We just have to keeping making ours and he’ll get it and he’ll save it and that’s exactly what he did,” Poland said on Halterman’s performance in the shootout.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament proper will begin the week of March 20, 2023, with the Final schedules for Wednesday, September 27, 2023. The history-filled annual tournament, entering its 108th edition, is the only highprofile event in American team sports where amateur sides have the opportunity, should they advance far enough, to face professionals in meaningful national competition.
ABOUT CHICAGO HOUSE AC:
Founded in 2020, Chicago House AC is a community-based soccer club which began play as a professional team in 3rd division NISA in fall, 2021. House played in the Midwest Premier League in 2022 where it finished its 11- game schedule with ten straight matches undefeated. Chicago House AC U-23 team played its first Northern Illinois Soccer League Season in summer, 2022 and finished atop the standings with an undefeated record. Led by Managing Partner, President and CEO Peter Wilt, Chicago House AC is structured as a public benefit corporation committed to transparency and working with its constituents to use its platform for social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. Chicago House AC is sponsored by NIKE, Weiss Memorial Hospital, FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers and Fruit Street Health. For more information, contact us at info@chicagohouseac.com, visit www.chicagohouseac.com and follow on Twitter at @ChicagoHouse_AC.