Louisville City FC will play in the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Danielle Lerner
Louisville City FC will enter the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the second consecutive season, the club announced Wednesday.
Louisville City will begin play in the tournament's second round at 7 p.m. on May 16, facing the winner of NPSL side Kingston Stockade FC and PDL side Long Island Rough Riders.
If the Kingston Stockade win, Louisville City will travel to Poughkeepsie, New York for the match. If the Long Island Rough Riders win, they will play Louisville City at Woerhle Athletic Complex in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
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In the 2017 Open Cup, Louisville City won its second-round game against Tartan Devils Oak Avalon, 9-0, but fell to United Soccer League rival FC Cincinnati, 1-0, in the third round at Nippert Stadium. FC Cincinnati then took down Major League Soccer clubs Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire on a run to the quarterfinals.
Louisville City and FC Cincinnati are two of 22 USL clubs to enter the 2018 Open Cup. The two rivals are both in the northeast region of the bracket.
A total of 94 teams will compete for the crown this year. The Rochester Rhinos won the Open Cup in 1999 and are the only non-MLS club to win the title since 1996.
"Obviously we're really excited," Louisville City coach James O'Connor said in a release. "I think it's a fantastic competition and it's a competition we enjoy playing in and are looking forward to."
The champion club will get $300,000, the runner-up will get $100,000, and the team that advances the furthest from each division will get $25,000.
Danielle Lerner: 502-582-4042; dlerner@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @Danielle_Lerner. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/daniellel.