In 2021, Lansdowne won a second National Amateur Cup, downing Cal FC 2-1 in Bridgeview, Illinois with head coach and former player from the 2016 Open Cup run, Sean Kelly, pulling the strings.
Winning an amateur competition is one thing. Trying to best professional teams is another. In fact, this is how difficult it is for lower-division pro clubs to capture the Open Cup: Since Major League Soccer came into existence, only one non-MLS team has emerged as Cup winners: the 1999 Rochester Ragin’ Rhinos.
During the recent Local Qualifying Rounds, Lansdowne demonstrated dominance again, winning all four contests while outscoring the opposition 14-1. The Yonkers-based side booked a spot in the tournament behind a 2-0 road victory at SC Vistula Garfield of New Jersey, riding a Dean Dillon tally late in the first half and a second-half own goal.
‘Deeper than Last Year’
“I think we’re a deeper side than last year and our aim is to make as long a run as possible,” said striker and club youth director Shamir Mullings.
The team has been in pre-season mode since early January and played five games to prep for the First -Round match against Hartford City FC (National Premier Soccer League) at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford, Connecticut on Thursday, March 23 (Streamed LIVE on the B/R App and B/R Football’s YouTube Channel).
Murphy said that he would love to see Lansdowne play an MLS side somewhere in the competition.
"It's a dream to get to play against an MLS team, but obviously, to do that you have to beat an NPSL team or USL Championship team," McGrory added. "So it's a massive ask, but the boys are up for it.
"As long as everybody stays fit, I think we have a chance to reach the Third Round at least. If we went any further, that would be a miracle. Who knows?" Murphy added.
If Lansdowne get past the First Round, they’ll make another journey to Connecticut’s capital to meet Hartford Athletic (USL Championship) in the Second Round on April 4.
Lansdowne's first-team roster includes players with an array of pursuits, from construction to finance jobs.
Since its inception some 26 years ago, Lansdowne has grown and grown. It is more than just one of the top amateur/semi-pro teams. It has become a viable club with a pyramid structure. The youth program has more than 20 travel teams and 400 players that play in the Westchester Youth Soccer League, EDPSoccer and the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association State Cup.
Building for the Future
"You can see that the kids and the parents, especially the newer groups that are coming in, will come to the games and they look up to the first team players a lot," McGrory said.
"That’s something we're very proud of, doing it the right way. We've actually started to have one or two who at 19, made their debut for the first team,” he added. “That's something we always wanted to do.”
After winning multiple cups, the players and staff were honored at Yonkers City Hall. It wouldn't be surprising if the team were to make a few more trips there in the near future.
The main priority is March 23, however, and an opportunity to move on in the Open Cup and pull off another Cupset or two.
"If years down the road, we could get to that Quarterfinal or go beyond that…to really put our mark in the history books of U.S. Soccer…" Murphy mused.
Who knows? If things fall into place, this could be that year.
Michael Lewis can be reached at socwriter@aol.com and @Soccerwriter on Twitter. His book (ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers) is available for purchase.
