Tropics will have Texas on their minds when U.S. Open Cup begins

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Lakeland Tropics are hoping to be frequent flyers to the Lone Stat state next month.

The second year USL Premier Development team will be on the road for the first-ever Lamar Hunt U.S. Open game May 9 when they travel to Texas to take on the Midland-Odessa Sockers FC of the National Premier Soccer Legue.

Because round two is just a week later, U.S. Soccer has already announced the second round matchups. The Tropics, should they advance, would play against San Antonio FC of the United Soccer League on May 16.

A total of 22 USL teams – including the nearby Tampa Bay Rowdies who will take on the SIMA Aguilas or the Jacksonville Armada FC of the NPSL or The Villages SC also on May 16  – join the Cup action in round two.

SIMA and the Tropics will place against each other twice in the regular PDL season, with Lakeland visiting the Montverde based team on June 8, with the Aguilas returning the favor June 30 in a Bryant Stadium showdown. The Villages FC will be at Bryant Stadium June 16, and the two sides will tangle at The Villages on July 7.

The Open Cup is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. The tournament allows for lower division and amateur Clubs who advance out of their preliminary rounds to compete against professional teams in both the MLS and USL.

The Tropics, who kick off  their second-ever regular season in the USL Premier Development League on May 12 at Bryant Stadium, are one of 20 PDL teams to earn Cup berths.