Graf then joined the Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL). He scored twice against Major League Soccer clubs in preseason, picked up an injury and lost his starting spot. He was loaned to Reno 1868 for the rest of the USL season, scoring a goal against Portland Timbers 2 to help the Nevada team clinch a spot in the play-offs.
Long story short, Graf now will try to fill the net for Memphis on a regular basis. "He came in and we needed him right away," Mulqueen said. “So, we threw him in. He had to get to know the players, get to know how balls were going to be played to him, things like that. He's been working really hard. Even in games he didn’t score, he was very effective in the pressure he applied and causing commotion up top to allow other players to get free and get chances."
If the name Mulqueen is familiar to you, it should be. He has been coaching for almost three decades. He was Tim Howard's first coach with the North Jersey Imperials in 1997. Howard, who is finishing a legendary career for club and country with the Colorado Rapids this season, is part-owner of Memphis 901FC.
Mulqueen is also gunning for his second Open Cup title. The first was won as an assistant coach with the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City) on a golden goal.
"I remember saying to myself, I've won the MLS Cup and now I've won the oldest trophy in U.S. soccer history," Mulqueen said of the Dewar Cup, the trophy, which is on display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, Texas that sees the name of every Open Cup winner engraved on its brass plated rungs. "That was tremendous, considering all the people who have participated in the tournament, all the great teams that came before us. That started soccer and kept soccer going when there was no professional league. It was a real honor to lift that trophy that day."
All Eyes on Orlando
No non-MLS team has won the Open Cup since the Rochester Rhinos did in 1999. Mulqueen and Graf would love to break the string, but first things first. Orlando City SC are the first order of business.
"It's cool to play an MLS team," Graf said. "We have a lot of players who have played at that level or who could easily play at that level. It's a good chance for us to show that we belong on the same field. That we can play with anybody. We see a good chance to take on a big opponent with a lot of with attention on the game. Our focus is just to go out and play the way we play and hopefully we can get by them and advance."
