WNY United 1, Aurora Arsenal II 1 (WNYU 3-0 PK's)

Two pretty evenly matched teams squared off tonight at Fireman's, Aurora with 2 subs and us with 5. In and of itself, just having subs for a cup game is an amazing feat. United had some chances early but their keeper was pretty good. Aurora scored about halfway through the first half on a counter, hit it over our line but before the goalie box and finished past our keeper.

We settled into more patience and possession in the second half, created a couple good chances (a header off a corner straight to the keeper; a one-timer from the top of the box straight at the keeper), and kept at it. Rob Czarniecki fed a cross into the box and Chris Duerr headed it to the low far corner, the keeper grabbed it but the linesman judged it had gone over the line.

Nothing much else in the rest or in OT. In PK's Rob and Rich Fedele roofed their shots, Chris finished his low, and Rob Laskowski saved two of their shots and another hit the post. Aurora was a quality opponent, and this was a pretty well-behaved, well-tempered game.

This situation is unfamiliar to us - I'll have to double check with the club statistician, but I think this may be only our 3rd or 4th cup win in 14 years. Up next: Clarence Coyotes in a couple weeks. Looking forward to facing a premier level team, should be a fun challenge.