The Madison Fire have been a fixture at the top of the standings and in playoff finals in the Madison Soccer Association throughout the past decade.
But the amateur team is increasing its profile, joining the Wisconsin Soccer Leagues Major Division for the 2014-15 season. And now it appears that they'll be part of one of the oldest cup competitions in the world.
Ali Barry scored the lone goal as the Fire blanked FC Indiana 1-0 in a U.S. Adult Soccer Association Region II 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifier on Saturday night at Goodman Pitch at Verona's Reddan Soccer Park.
Only three teams entered the regional tournament: KC Athletics got the luck of the draw and didn't have to play, while the Fire were drawn at home against FC Indiana.
This is the first year Region II has held separate qualifying events for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a 101-year-old event run by the U.S. Soccer Federation, and the Werner Fricker Open Cup, which is the USASA's annual championship.
The USSF hasn't announced the format for the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, but each of the four USASA regions traditionally receive two berths in the tournament, which includes teams from every level of organized soccer in the country – including Major League Soccer, the North American Soccer League, USL PRO, the USL Premier Development League and the National Premier Soccer League.
First Division 1: Arandas, Azteca United, Gunners FC, Lincoln FC, Milwaukee Kickers Reserves, Milwaukee Sport Club Reserves, Simbas FC, Upper 90 Sports Pub Reserves.
First Division 2: Bavarian SC Reserves, Croatian Eagles Reserves, Milwaukee Brewers FC Reserves, North Shore United Reserves, Polonia Reserves, SC Waukesha White, United Serbians Reserves, Verdi SC.
Tag(s): Home Amateur News WSL Major Division Azteca United FC Bavarian SC Croatian Eagles Milwaukee Brewers Milwaukee Kickers Milwaukee Sport Club United Serbians First Division Bavarian SC Reserves Croatian Eagles Reserves Lincoln FC Milwaukee Brewers Reserves Milwaukee Kickers Reserves Milwaukee Sport Club Reserves North Shore United Polonia Reserves SC Waukesha White Simbas SC Verdi SC United Serbians Reserves Madison Fire Atotonilco Gunners FC North Shore United Reserves Upper 90 Sports Pub Reserves