Michigan State University Athletics
Five Spartans Still Alive in US Open Cup
6/4/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
June 4, 2012
East Lansing, Mich. - While the Michigan State men's soccer team is off for summer break, current and former Spartan players have been extremely busy over the past few weeks. Three former Spartan soccer standouts and two current student-athletes will take part in the round of 16 of the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on June 5.
The US Open Cup is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the USA and is open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, including amateur and professional teams. Former Spartan standouts Greg Janicki (2003-06), Rauwshan McKenzie (2004-07) and Avery Steinlage (2007-10) and current defenders and All Big-Ten performers Kevin Cope (Canton, Mich.) and Ryan Keener (Grand Blanc, Mich.) will look to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament on Tuesday, June 5.
"It is great to see both current and former Spartans competing for the U.S. Open Cup Title," said MSU head coach Damon Rensing, who has recruited and mentored all five players during their Michigan State careers. "We have five players on four of the sixteen remaining teams. Three of them are starters and major contributors. This bodes well for MSU soccer both past and present. On behalf of the MSU soccer family, we want to wish all of them the best in the round of 16. "
McKenzie has been a stalwart in the center of defense for Chivas USA of Major League Soccer this season. McKenzie has played 13 games and has played the third-most minutes for the Rojiblancos, most recently going the distance in a US Open Cup match - a 1-0 shutout victory of the Ventura County Fusion. McKenzie was also featured on ESPN's SportsCenter for his impressve assist in a 1-1 tie against New York Red Bulls on May 23rd as well as earning a spot on the MLS Best XI Team of the Week at the end of March.
Janicki has returned from injury to start the last two games for the San Antonio Scorpions of the North American Soccer League. (The NASL is a professional league one tier below the MLS.) Janicki's return from injury came at the perfect time for the Scorpions, as he led his team to an impressive 1-0 shutout victory over the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer. Janicki made several spectacular defensive efforts on the backline, preserving the shutout for San Antonio.
Steinalge has served as the backup goalkeeper for Harrisburg City Islanders of the United Soccer League. (The USL is a professional soccer league that is one tier below the MLS.) Steinlage's Islanders defeated the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer in what sure was the craziest game of the tournament - a penalty shootout win after six goals were scored in overtime. The Islanders came back from a 3-0 defecit to score three goals in the final nine minutes of extra time to force the shootout.
Current All-Big Ten and Spartan Standouts Kevin Cope and Ryan Keener have helped lead the Michigan Bucks of the Premier Development League (an amateur minor league) to three impressive victories this season. The Bucks defeated fellow PDL rival Jersey Shore Boca 6-0 in the first round and followed that with an impressive 1-0 road win against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL. In the third round of the US Open Cup, the Bucks played host to Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire. Behind a man-of-the-match performance from center back Cope, the Bucks defeated the Fire 3-2 in overtime to advance to the round of 16. Cope played the entire 120 minutes, thwarting the attack of dangerous Fire forwards Domenic Oduro, Orr Barouch and Federico Puppo.
"For Kevin Cope and Ryan Keener to have the opportunity to compete and beat the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer was an invaluable experience," continued Rensing. "This experience will definitely help them in preparation for our collegiate season this fall. It is great to see Michigan State Soccer represented so well at the MLS, NASL, and PDL levels."
McKenzie will lead Chivas USA against the Carolina Railhawks of the NASL in North Carolina, while Janicki looks to help the San Antonio Scorpions to the quarterfinals with a matchup against the Charlotte Eagles of the USL. Harrisburg and Steinlage look to upset another MLS team when they host the New York Red Bull, while Cope and Keener try to keep the Michigan Bucks' dream run going when they face off against the Dayton Dutch Lions of the USL in Pontiac, MI. All games will be held on Tuesday, June 5.
