Recap-Lamar Hunt US Open Cup
Bucks earn 11th Cupset before bowing out to DCFC 1-0 in Round II of U.S. Open Cup Detroit City FC defeated your Flint City Bucks by a 1-0 score Wednesday evening, narrowly escaping on an chilly evening at Don Batchelor Stadium in Grand Blanc. The Bucks — along with all remaining Open Division competitors — could advance no further than round two of the 111th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Flint City had previously earned one of six opening-round “Cupsets,” defeating Forward Madison FC of USL League One by decisive 2-0 line.
It was the club’s 11th all-time victory against professional opposition. The Bucks remain the most accomplished non-pro club in the Open Cup’s modern era, entering 16 editions, playing 32 matches, and winning 16 — including twice over MLS teams.
Thank you fans, supporters, sponsors, season ticket holders, media, River Rats, Grand Blanc Community Schools, Trevor Alward, City of Grand Blanc, Flint, Genesee County and all of Mid Michigan for your tremendous support of this tournament! Thank you U.S. Soccer for awarding us two consecutive hosting opportunities and thank you CBS Sports / Paramount + for the national broadcast on Wednesday night!
Detroit City FC 1, Flint City Bucks 0
The Bucks started well, earning multiple corners and forcing saves — plus, eventually, a cautionable intervention from Detroit’s Kobe Hernandez-Foster. But after weathering an early storm, the visitors wore themselves into the game. And in the 40th minute, Alex Dalou cut in from the left and struck from distance. Flint City nearly equalized just before halftime, scrapping for multiple aerial balls to set up Wes Carnevale. His point-blank opportunity was denied by a kick save. After the break, goalkeeper Isaiah Goldson kept the Bucks alive with a breakaway denial after a long blasted pass carried from one back line and over the other.
The final big chance fell to Flint City’s Oliver Moller-Jensen, who received a beautiful cut-back ball across the penalty area from round-one scorer Jordy Lopez.
Match highlights are on Detroit City FC’s YouTube channel.
Summer preview has USL2 hopes soaring
Over the course of two impressive Open Cup displays, 75 percent of Bucks minutes went to players who are signed for USL League Two play this summer.
Jack Roman was the standout attacker this spring, playing 180 minutes at left wing and striker. His play created both goals in the first round against Madison. Roman appeared in 13 matches for Flint City last year, then exploded in the fall for surprise NCAA Tournament quarterfinalists Akron University, starting all 21 matches as a sophomore. Hailing from Canfield, Ohio, he finished third on the Zips with six goals and second with six assists.
Amara Kamara, another 180-minute contributor, was a revelation at center back. He was named to the Missouri Valley Conference first team for his play as a senior at Northern Illinois, where he started all 17 matches. Previously at Tiffin University, Kamara was twice named Defensive Player of the Year for the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Isaiah Goldson played every minute in goal as Flint surrendered just once to two professional outfits. He has backstopped Michigan for 51 games through three seasons. As a junior, he collected nine clean sheets and made 56 saves. He was on the Big Ten freshman team in fall 2023 and was previously the starting keeper for the Toronto FC U-19s.
Wes Carnevale and Tweneboa “Bingo” Kodua have become even more dominant in central midfield. Carnevale made his Bucks debut in 2023, among the club’s youngest players. He returned well-seasoned last summer, tallying three goals and three assists in 1,000-plus minutes. In the fall, the Pittsburgh midfielder was on the Ivy League first team, collecting six goals and three assists during his senior campaign at Cornell University. Kodua, meanwhile, started 14 league matches for the Bucks in 2025, then followed that with 17 starts for Oral Roberts University as a sophomore. The midfielder from Accra, Ghana, was a Summit League honorable mention after his freshman season in fall 2024.
Drew Pierson started both matches at right back. He has captained Detroit Mercy for the past two seasons. The marauding right back accelerated his profile with a SportsCenter No. 1 play in the fall, scoring from 50-plus yards. It was one of his five goals as a redshirt junior to go with three assists. He was named to the Horizon League first team. Pierson has played 26 games in two years with Great Lakes Division rival AFC Ann Arbor.
Oliver Møller-Jensen showed his versatility for Flint City, lining up at right wing against Madison and left wing back against Detroit. He led the American Conference with six assists and tallied six goals of his own as a junior. He was named to the conference second team and tournament team as Florida Atlantic claimed the title. The Denmark native has played 22 matches with BK Frem of the Danish third division.
Jordy Lopez entered at halftime against Madison and solidified his round-two starting spot with a stunning 2-0 goal. Lopez led Madonna University with 22 goals and three assists as a senior in the fall. Eight goals were match-winners, helping the Crusaders to the WHAC Championship final and a second consecutive NAIA National Tournament.
Team Captain Ellis Jones flew in for match two and partnered beautifully with Kamara and Matthew Paiva at center back. He was named to the USL2 Central Conference Team of the Year in 2025, aiding six clean sheets and as Flint tied for the conference’s third-lowest regular-season goals against. The Wednesbury, England, native played every single minute of 15 league matches — all but one.
Sean Albritton had his Bucks debut against Madison cut short due to injury but contributed to the own goal that opened the scoring. The freshman striker made a massive impact in his first Fairfield University foray, leading the side with nine goals — including four game-winners – despite playing only 738 minutes. The striker was named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference second team and Top Drawer Soccer Freshman Best XI. A Costa Rican multinational, he scored two for the U-17 side at the 2023 CONCACAF U-17 Championship.
The Bucks also saw debuts for Luke Spadafora, Jace Foster, and Ryko Bodurov. Spadafora started 16 matches for Michigan State in the fall. Named to the Big Ten all-freshman team, he finished fifth on the team in minutes, collecting two goals and two assists. His resume includes Michigan Wolves, Austin FC II, and Oakland County FC. Foster, in his senior campaign at Oakland University, started all 18 matches, tallying over 1,500 minutes of action. He was named to the Horizon League second team, following two consecutive seasons named to the first team. Not single-minded, Foster has six career assists for Oakland. Bodurov secured a starting role at BGSU toward the end of his sophomore year, leading the side with three assists despite playing under 1,000 minutes. He was named to the Missouri Valley Conference scholar-athlete team and previously played with Columbus Crew academy in MLS Next.
2026 season tickets: On sale now!
One ticket, two teams, all summer. Season-ticket holders for 2026 will receive admission to every single home match for both the Flint City Bucks (men) and Flint City AFC (women). You’ll be set for any friendlies (international and otherwise) and tournament games (including U.S. Open Cup and league playoffs). Packages start at just $125 for adults and $75 for youth ages 17 and younger. Flint City AFC will open its home slate Saturday, May 16, followed by Bucks opening night Saturday, May 30.
Use this form to order or renew your season tickets today!
What’s Next
Flint City AFC, our women’s side take on Tulip City FC (Holland, MI) for AFC Opening Night on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Atwood Stadium in downtown Flint. 7 PM kickoff.
The Bucks will host their 7th annual School Day Game presented by Mott Community College on May 20th. If your school is interested in attending as a field trip (11 AM kickoff) please email mary@flintcitybucks.com as soon as possible. Limited space is available for this special annual event.
USL League Two Opening Night – The Bucks will face Kalamazoo FC on Saturday, May 30th at iconic Atwood Stadium.
About the Flint City Bucks
The Flint City Bucks are the nation’s premiere pre-professional soccer club and compete in fourth-tier USL League Two. The Bucks have reached the USL2 postseason in six consecutive seasons—every year calling Atwood Stadium home. In club history, the Bucks have 26 playoff appearances in 29 chances, four league national titles (including 2019), 12 conference championships (2025), and 17 division crowns (2025). Since their founding in 1996, the Bucks have never had a losing season.
Bucks in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Bucks stand among the most decorated giant-killers in Open Cup history. In 16 tournament appearances since 1997, we have a record 11 wins over professional opponents—including landmark upsets of MLS sides New England Revolution in 2000 and Chicago Fire in 2012.
Flint City matchday: What to expect
Flint City matches are fun, affordable, and family-friendly—showcasing some of the best semi-professional soccer talent in the country. Flint, Michigan, is widely recognized as a destination for top NCAA players looking to join MLS, NWSL, and professional leagues worldwide. The Bucks attract top prospects from almost every continent, with more than a dozen countries represented on a typical roster.
Kettering University’s Atwood Stadium is a historic gem of a stadium—worth the price of admission on its own. Game nights feature an energized, outdoor, under-the-lights soccer experience alongside a festival-like environment for all to enjoy. Kids are always welcome to have fun on the pitch at halftime and meet and greet the players post-game for autographs and pictures. Join us today and don’t miss out on elite men’s and women’s semi-professional matches right here in beautiful downtown Flint.
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