The Ocean City Nor'easters will begin action in the second round of the US Open Cup on Wednesday May 14th (7pm kick off) with a home tie with New York Greek American Atlas from the USASA leagues.

The 2014 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup enters its 101st year and will see some changes to the format from the 2013 edition that saw the Nor'easters take on the MLS Philadelphia Union at PPL Park. The US Soccer Federation has revealed this year’s tournament format and draw and it will feature three major changes. First the number of amateur teams will be increased from 34 to 42, combined with new professional teams bringing the total number of teams to 80, the most the tournament has had since the MLS began in 1995. To accomodate the increase in teams, they has added an additional round taking it to eight rounds. The winner of the 2014 US Open Cup will earn an entry into the 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League.

The Nor'easters have great pedigree in this competition and are often one of the last amateur teams left fighting. As a PDL team in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Ocean City have eight wins with five of them being upsets of professional clubs. Only one other PDL team has more wins and upsets in the tournament.

The NY Greek Americans are not to be taken lightly. The club was formed in 1941 and the Greek Americans have won America’s nationwide domestic soccer tournament, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, formerly the National Challenge Cup, four times in its history, from 1967 to 1969 and in 1974. The club is one of only two teams, alongside the Seattle Sounders, to have won the annual tournament on three consecutive occasions. More recently the NY Greek Americans finished their Cosmopolitan Soccer League adventure in 2013 with a 7-4-2 record in the West Division.

The Nor'easters are excited to begin another exciting and successful run in the US Open Cup. If the home team beat the New Yorkers then they will face a professional team from either the NASL or USL Pro in the third round, this year the MLS sides enter in the fourth round of the competition.

Get yourself down to Carey Stadium and cheer on the boys to another successful and entertaining Lamar Hunt US Open Cup run.

New York Greek American Atlas (USASA) at Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL)
Carey Stadium; Ocean City, N.J. – 7 p.m. ET