Bruin Alumni Contribute To U.S. Open Cup Victories
June 29, 2011
UCLA alumni made big contributions in Tuesday's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup third round matches, as Tony Beltran scored the game-winner for Real Salt Lake, and Kevin Hartman and Brian Perk earned the victories in goal for their respective clubs.
Seven of Major League Soccer's eight teams advanced to the quarterfinals, which will take place July 12. Advancing teams with UCLA alumni on their rosters are Sporting Kansas City (Chance Myers), Real Salt Lake (Beltran, Nick Rimando), FC Dallas (Hartman), Los Angeles Galaxy (Sean Alvarado, Chad Barrett, Frankie Hejduk, Perk, Michael Stephens) and Seattle Sounders FC (David Estrada, Patrick Ianni and head coach Sigi Schmid).
Real Salt Lake defeated the Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Pro), 2-0. Beltran scored his first career goal for Real Salt Lake with the game-winner in the 40th minute.
Hartman played all 90 minutes in goal for FC Dallas, which defeated Orlando City (USL Pro), 3-2. Another Bruin alumnus, Maxwell Griffin, scored the game's first goal for Orlando City, his USL-leading ninth of the season, but Dallas came back with two unanswered goals and was able to hang on for the win.
Perk made his first start for the Los Angeles Galaxy in a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Blues (USL Pro). Also starting for the Galaxy were midfielder Michael Stephens and forward Chad Barrett. Nelson Akwari got the start for the Blues, and Leonard Griffin came in as a first-half substitute.
Estrada earned the start in Seattle's 2-1 win over the Kitsap Pumas (USL Pro). Myers was on the bench but did not play in Kansas City's 3-0 win over the Chicago Fires PDL.
In the quarterfinals on July 12, Sporting Kansas City will host the last remaining USL Pro team, the Richmond Kickers. FC Dallas hosts Real Salt Lake, and Seattle hosts the Galaxy.