The Weekend Before: PDL & NPSL clubs in action

With the First Round of the 2012 US Open Cup looming around the corner on Tuesday evening, 16 of the 22 clubs from the USL Premier Development League and National Premier Soccer League will be in action this weekend, many making their season debuts.

Ten clubs have already kicked off their campaigns and have a combined record of 10-5-5.

Among the clubs with multiple games already under their belts, the PDL’s Fresno Fuego and NPSL’s Brooklyn Italians are off to the best starts. Fresno, who visits Orange County Friday evening, has won all three matches. Brooklyn, which travels to Rhode Island Saturday, has won both contests on its slate.

On the other side of the ledger are the Des Moines Menace, who are winless through three. Coming off a 1-0 road loss in Springfield Wednesday, the Menace visit St Louis Saturday looking to head into the tournament on a positive note. A primary reason for the 0-2-1 start is a season-opening series with fellow Open Cup participant Real Colorado Foxes, the only league meetings between First Round clubs thus far. The Foxes won the second match, 1-0, after a 1-1 draw in the season opener of the double dip.

With the advanced time frame of the tournament, nearly a month earlier than the past, PDL clubs will go into the event without any games played for the first time. The Long Island Rough Riders and divisional foes Michigan Bucks and Chicago Fire PDL will not open their league schedules until after they begin their Open Cup campaign. In the NPSL, FC Sonic and Milwaukee Bavarians will also enter the tournament without any official matches played.

Follow 52 of the 64 teams on Twitter in one place - @USOpenCup/USOC2012Entrants

THIS WEEKEND
(Open Cup club listed first)

Friday
PDL: Orlando City U23 v Fort Lauderdale
PDL: Fresno Fuego @ Orange County
PDL: Portland Timbers U-23s v Fraser Valley

Saturday
PDL: GPS Portland Phoenix v Vermont
PDL: Carolina Dynamo v Real Maryland
PDL: Reading United AC v New Jersey
PDL: Des Moines Menace v St Louis
PDL: Laredo Heat @ Texas
PDL: Mississippi Brilla v Ocala
PDL: Real Colorado Foxes v Winnipeg
PDL: Kitsap Pumas v Fraser Valley
PDL: El Paso Patriots v Austin
NPSL: Jacksonville United v Myrtle Beach
NPSL: Georgia Revolution v Mississippi
NPSL: Brooklyn Italians @ Rhode Island

Sunday
PDL: Ventura County Fusion @ Los Angeles
PDL: Real Colorado Foxes v Winnipeg