U.S. Open Cup Recap: Westchester FC Edges Past Grassroots Power NY Pancyprian Freedoms in 3-2 Thriller
New expansion club survives late scare to advance to Third Round against Detroit City FC.
Match Summary
In a classic U.S. Open Cup showdown between new money and old tradition, Westchester FC punched their ticket to the Third Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 3-2 win over NY Pancyprian Freedoms on Tuesday night at Memorial Field in Mount Vernon, NY.
Westchester — competing in their inaugural USL League One season — raced to a 3-0 lead before weathering a furious second-half rally from the storied amateur side from Astoria.
The result sends Westchester to face Detroit City FC in the next round, continuing their early journey as a newly minted professional club.
Match Stats Snapshot
Westchester SC vs. NY Pancyprian Freedoms - 04/02/2025
The background
This was a quintessential U.S. Open Cup tie — two teams from completely different soccer worlds meeting on the same pitch.
On one side, Westchester FC, an ambitious 2024 expansion club backed by significant investment, representing Westchester County on the pro stage for the first time.
On the other, NY Pancyprian Freedoms — a club steeped in New York soccer history, founded in 1974 and proudly representing the Greek and Cypriot community in Astoria. The Freedoms entered Tuesday’s match after battling through the qualifying rounds of the amateur-based American Premier Soccer League (APSL).
These are the kinds of matchups that give the U.S. Open Cup its unique flavor — grassroots tradition vs. modern expansion.
THe Match
Westchester controlled the first half, dominating possession and dictating the midfield tempo.
In just the 4th minute, Honduran forward Juan Obregon opened the scoring, finishing calmly after a well-weighted long ball from veteran left back Kemar Lawrence.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 22nd minute — albeit in unusual fashion — when a Pancyprian clearance ricocheted off Westchester defender Jack Sluys and into the net for an own goal.
Daniel Bouman added a third in the 34th minute, capitalizing on another deflection in the box as Westchester cruised to a 3-0 halftime advantage, dominating possession and tempo.
But true to their reputation as Open Cup battlers, NY Pancyprian refused to fold.
A 54th-minute corner led to a nervy moment for Westchester keeper Dane Jacomen, who spilled a catch under pressure, allowing Pablo Herrera to tap in the Freedoms' first goal. Then, deep into stoppage time, James Thristino brought the score to 3-2 with a well-placed finish inside the box — setting up a tense closing stretch.
Ultimately, Westchester held firm, surviving a late push to secure their place in the next round.
What’s Next?
Westchester FC will travel to Detroit to face Detroit City FC in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup — a significant step up in competition for the new USL side.