Westchester SC vs NY Pancyprian Freedoms
This 2025 season, we’ve made it one of our primary missions to cover as many US Open Cup games as possible. It’s the oldest and most historic competition in America, giving opportunities for lower-league teams to slay giants and for communities to be swept up in the excitement of what only a true open tournament can bring.
Freedom. That’s what these games mean to the Pancyprian players. “You know we have day jobs, right?” It’s what their goalie told us in the middle of the PK shootout last round. This time, we got to hear more about it in the locker room. Amateur players talking about the crap day they’d had at work as they laced up to play a USL1 side. It was hard not to get swept up by the emotions. In a strange way, we’ve all been there. Pulling those old muddy cleats from the week prior after working long hours at the office. True love of the game type of stuff. Something inside all of us just yearns to trade those dress shoes for studs as soon as the clock strikes 5pm. This Pancyprian squad took that to the extreme, and gave the community something to be proud of. Those old-time fans, young kids, and family were all there to witness it. A group of guys from their city going the extra mile for something that burns deep within their hearts. A fire that “day-to-day life” has yet to (and will never) extinguish. It invites all of us who’ve seen their journey in this Open Cup to take a page out of their book. They may have barely fallen short of advancing, but in a way they’re the real winners. They proved to themselves, and to all of us, that there is honor, triumph, and beauty in chasing that universal spark in our souls— the one that drives us to pursue our dreams against all odds. A spark many wish they could nurture forever, but few embrace as courageously as this group of not-so-regular guys has. Here’s to NY Pancyprian Freedoms.
Photographer Matias Cerisola was there to cover this thrilling Round 2 contest in New York. This is how he experienced it:
What were some of the most notable things you saw in the stands or around the stadium in general?
The stands were filled with a lot of friends and family but also a small section of die hard Westchester supporters. The smells of a nearby taco truck right on the other side of the fence tempted me all night for sure.
What was the atmosphere like?
There was a pretty decent turnout despite the cold/rainy weather. The fans were pretty educated on to when to ask for fouls or near misses.
How did the club you were covering experience this game? How did the players react? What about the fans?
Unfortunately, the club we were covering ended up losing. Prior to the game there were some jitters but everyone was excited to be there and they believed they weren’t there by mere luck. I was impressed by the coaching staff and organization of set pieces which were all pre-planned—different tactics for different methods of the game. The traveling fans also surprised me. Some family but also a lot of older gentleman. Old school Greek guys analyzing the game carefully. Players were obviously bummed out with the result. I think they believed they began to get a real flow of the game in the last 20 minutes and surely wished they could have a couple plays back
What approach/mindset did you go with to cover this game?
I went into this game knowing the essence of the Open Cup but never truly experienced it. I was excited to try and capture this level of the game.
What was your favorite thing about the night? Describe it for someone who wasn’t there.
My favorite thing about the night was definitely the pre-game locker room vibes. The grabbing the jerseys from the floor, messy locker room, guys talking about the tough day they’d had at work. It was the total opposite of what I typically experience at the NY Red Bulls but the feeling of the love of the game was still there. I would say even more because those guys truly do it for the love of the game.
Why is the Open Cup important to you?
I think the Open Cup is important because for the beginning stages of it, it is the sport at its purest form. The hope for a small club to win it all is intact and that’s sort of romantic. You get to see and hear of teams you wouldn’t hear of otherwise. Shows how the sport has truly grown in so many different areas of the country.
I think this game reassured me what I thought the Open Cup was—local teams trying to make a name for themselves and their towns/cities. It was very enjoyable, and I hope to make it out to some more of these games in the future.
