2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup finalist Sacramento Republic FC begins its bid for another run in the history tournament this year on Wednesday night as one of 14 USL Championship teams that will vie for a place in the Third Round in a busy night of action.

The slate includes three rematches from a season ago, and numerous in-state matchups as the Championship clubs look to avoid an early exit.

Here’s a look ahead to all the action.

Indy Eleven vs. Michigan Stars FC

Venue: Michael A. Carroll Stadium
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET

The Lowdown: Indy Eleven will aim to continue their undefeated start to the 2023 season – and avoid being upset by a lower-division opponent for a second consecutive season – when they play host to Michigan Stars FC. The Boys in Blue have claimed five points from three games to start the new USL Championship season after a 0-0 draw against Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday night in which Solomon Asante’s header off the woodwork proved the closest the hosts came to earning all three points. Indy fell to St. Louis City SC 2 at this stage a year ago, and now face a Michigan Stars FC side that played to a 1-1 draw in its season-opening contest on Saturday against Savannah Clovers. Noah Robinson scored for the Stars, who fell 3-0 to Detroit City FC at this stage a season ago. As Indy looks for its first potential clash with MLS opposition since 2016, it will be hopeful of claiming victory in front of its home support on Wednesday night.

Louisville City FC vs. Lexington SC

Venue: Lynn Family Stadium
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Stream: BR Football

The Lowdown: A new in-state rivalry kicks off in Kentucky as Louisville City FC plays host to USL League One newcomer Lexington SC looking to rebound from consecutive setbacks in the USL Championship. LouCity fell to its heaviest defeat in club history on Saturday night in a 5-0 loss to Sacramento Republic FC at Heart Health Park. After winning its first two outings of the season, LouCity has lost each of the past two weekends and it will return home aiming for a confidence-boosting victory. Lexington is looking for its first positive result in club history after falling 2-1 against North Carolina FC this past Saturday night at WakeMed Soccer Park. The visitors took the lead thanks to Khalid Balogun only to concede twice to miss out on victory. Lexington is set to be led by defenders Kaelon Fox and Terique Mohamed, with veteran forward Don Smart also having found the net for the side in its season opener on March 18.

Loudoun United FC vs. North Carolina FC

Venue: Segra Field
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET

The Lowdown: Loudoun United FC will make its Open Cup debut as it hosts USL League One club North Carolina FC at Segra Field. Loudoun enters the historic tournament for the first time following its offseason acquisition by Attain Sports and Entertainment, but will be hoping to rebound from consecutive defeats after a 1-0 setback against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC this past Saturday evening at Segra Field. United had previously made a positive start to the campaign with forward Zach Ryan scoring three goals and one assist in its opening two games, and the hosts will be hoping to a return to that form as it faces a North Carolina side that picked up its first win of the campaign last Saturday against League One newcomer Lexington SC. New signing Rafa Menzingen scored the game-winner for NCFC, and he’s among the experienced players the side has added to its talented youngsters this offseason including attacking midfielder Shak Adams (Charleston Battery) and center back Daniel Navarro (Chattanooga Red Wolves). North Carolina fell at this stage a season ago to the Championship’s Rio Grande Valley FC, however, and Loudoun will be hoping to match the Toros in advancing.

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC vs. Birmingham Legion FC

Venue: CHI Memorial Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET

The Lowdown: Birmingham Legion FC will aim to continue its undefeated start to the season, and advance to the Third Round for a second consecutive year, as it heads to face Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. Legion FC moved four points clear at the top of the early Eastern Conference standings on Saturday night as Neco Brett scored both goals in a 2-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, giving the side three wins out of four to start the campaign. Birmingham took a 3-1 victory at this stage last season against Southern States SC with Prosper Kasim among the goalscorers, but the side subsequently fell to League One opposition in South Georgia Tormenta FC in the following round. The visitors will hope to avoid another upset at the hands of a League One side as they visit the Red Wolves, who have taken one point from their first two games of the season after falling 1-0 this past Saturday against Central Valley Fuego FC. Chattanooga advanced to the League One Final a season ago, however, and was only narrowly defeated at this stage last season by Louisville City FC, offering the potential of a tricky outing for Legion FC.

South Georgia Tormenta FC vs. Rio Grande Valley FC

Venue: Tormenta Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Stream: YouTube

The Lowdown: Rio Grande Valley FC heads to face USL League One opposition at this stage of the Open Cup for a second consecutive year as it looks to build on an undefeated start to the league campaign that included a first win of the season this past weekend against South Georgia Tormenta FC The Toros took a 1-0 victory against Detroit City FC on Saturday night at Keyworth Stadium as midfielder Taylor Davila scored his second goal in as many games, giving the side all three points after opening with three consecutive drawn contests. RGVFC took a 2-1 victory at this stage last season when it visited League One side North Carolina FC as Frank Lopez and Frank Nodarse rallied the side to victory, and the visitors will hope for a repeat performance against defending League One title holder Tormenta FC. The hosts have suffered consecutive defeats in the past two weeks in the league, including a 3-0 loss to Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC this past Saturday. Last year, however, Tormenta FC made a notable run in the Open Cup as it defeated the Championship’s Charleston Battery and Birmingham Legion FC in consecutive rounds before falling to Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami CF in the Fourth Round.

Union Omaha vs. El Paso Locomotive FC

Venue: Morrison Stadium
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET

The Lowdown: El Paso Locomotive FC will hope the third time’s the charm as it tries to claim its first victory in the Open Cup in club history as it heads to face USL League One club Union Omaha. Locomotive FC has fallen to League One opposition in each of its prior to entries to the tournament, losing on home turf to Forward Madison FC in 2019 before a 4-1 defeat on the road against Central Valley Fuego FC a year ago. El Paso has picked up four points from its past two games in the Championship, however, recovering from a slow start to the season. In its most recent outing last Friday night, Luis Solignac scored a pair of goals as the side earned a 2-2 against FC Tulsa at ONEOK Field as he became the club’s all-time leader in regular season goals with 28 in the past three seasons. Omaha returns to action after playing to a 1-1 draw in its League One season opener against Madison, and will be aiming to begin another run to match its historic journey to the Quarterfinals of last year’s tournament. Los Buhos defeated Chicago Fire FC and Minnesota United FC during that run, and should again be a threat for higher-division opposition this season.

Tulsa Athletic vs. FC Tulsa

Venue: Hicks Park
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Stream: YouTube

The Lowdown: FC Tulsa will look to build on a positive start to the USL Championship season as it faces a rematch with local amateur club Tulsa Athletic from this stage of the Open Cup a year ago. FC Tulsa took a 2-1 win behind early goals from Brian Brown and Ronald Rodriguez last season at ONEOK Field, and is currently undefeated in its last three league outings after Moses Dyer’s stoppage-time equalizer last Friday night earned a 2-2 draw against El Paso Locomotive FC. The scene shifts this season to Hicks Park, where Athletic earned a 1-0 victory against USL League Two’s Brazos Valley Cavalry FC in the First Round behind a goal from Stefan Cvetanovic. Athletic has not advanced past the Second Round of the Open Cup in its history, however, a record that FC Tulsa and Head Coach Blair Gavin will be aiming to continue.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC

Venue: Weidner Field
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
Stream: BR Football

The Lowdown: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will play host to USL League One’s Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC for a second consecutive year at this stage of the Open Cup with the Championship side aiming to gain a little revenge after Hailstorm’s victory a season ago at Weidner Field. Playing the first game in its history, Northern Colorado claimed victory as Jerry Desdunes scored the winner in extra time as the Switchbacks were unable to find a way through against their in-state foe. Both teams are coming off victories this past weekend with Romario Williams scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory for the Switchbacks against Loudoun United FC and the Hailstorm earning a 3-0 win on the road against South Georgia Tormenta FC thanks to goals from Rob Cornwall, Nortei Nortey and Marky Hernandez, which should set up for an intriguing contest this time around.

Orange County SC vs. Capo FC

Venue: Championship Soccer Stadium
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Stream: BR Football

The Lowdown: Orange County SC will return home aiming for a return to the Third Round as it faces Capo FC, a longstanding amateur club that earned its place in its first Open Cup via local qualifying that is set to join USL League Two this summer. Orange County played to a 1-1 draw on the road against Hartford Athletic this past Saturday as 2022 Championship Golden Boot Milan Iloski scored his second goal in as many games, leaving OCSC still looking for its first win this season. The side had little problem advancing a year ago as it romped to a 5-2 victory against the LA Force as five different players found the net. Capo arrives at Championship Soccer Stadium after overcoming an early deficit against League Two club Ventura County Fusion to take a 4-1 win in the First Round as Hevany Ramos scored a pair of goals alongside Joshue Gallardo and Parker Scalzo, and now will try to step up their game as they face professional opposition for the first time in official competition.

Sacramento Republic FC vs. Crossfire Redmond

Venue: Heart Health Park
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET

The Lowdown: Sacramento Republic FC will kick off its 2023 Open Cup campaign against amateur side Crossfire Richmond at Heart Health Park hoping for as easy a passage as marked its Second Round game a season ago on the way to becoming the first lower-division club to reach the Open Cup Final since 2008 last September. Republic FC has made a strong start to its current campaign, and is coming off a 5-0 victory against Louisville City FC that saw Russell Cicerone score twice to lead the way. Sacramento took a 6-0 win against the Portland Timbers U-23s at this stage last season, and will now face a Crossfire Redmond side that pulled away late to take a 3-0 win against League Two’s Project 51O two weeks ago. Former Union Omaha player Luke Hauswirth opened the scoring for Crossfire in that contest before Eric Howard and Hamza Haddadi added goals, and the visitors will likely also feature former Real Salt Lake defender Michael Gallagher in its lineup.

San Diego Loyal SC vs. ALBION San Diego

Venue: SDSU Sports Deck
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET

The Lowdown: San Diego Loyal SC will be hoping for a repeat of its victory against ALBION San Diego as the teams meet in the Second Round for a second consecutive year, this time with the scene shifting to the San Diego State University Sports Deck. A late goal by Jacob Crull lifted SD Loyal to a 2-1 victory when the teams met last year as Evan Conway was also on the scoresheet for the visitors, and the Championship side has made a solid start to its new season with seven points from its opening four games. SD Loyal rallied from a two-goal deficit to take a 2-2 draw on the road against Phoenix Rising FC this past Saturday thanks to goals by Nick Moon and Ronaldo Damus, his second for the club since arriving shortly after the season kicked off. ALBION has yet to kick off its league season this campaign, making this its first official game of the campaign, but there are some notable names in its squad including former Hartford Athletic midfielder Dan Bedoya and former Loudoun United FC midfielder Tyler Gabarra.

Central Valley Fuego FC vs. Monterey Bay F.C.

Venue: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Stream: Eleven Sports

The Lowdown: Monterey Bay F.C. will face regional foe Central Valley Fuego FC for the first time as it looks to advance to the Third Round of the Open Cup for the first time in its history on Wednesday night. Monterey Bay is looking to rebound after falling 2-1 against San Antonio FC on Saturday night, a loss that ran the side’s winless streak to three games in the Championship. MBFC has seen some bright moments so far, however, with Alex Dixon recording the first hat trick in club history in a season-opening win against Hartford Athletic and goalkeeper Antony Siaha sitting tied for fourth in the league with 13 saves. Central Valley, meanwhile, will play its first home game of the season after taking a 1-0 victory against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC last Saturday night thanks to Alexis Cerritos’ second-half goal. Fuego FC grabbed an eye-opening victory at this stage a season ago when Villyan Bijev scored twice in a 4-1 win against the Championship’s El Paso Locomotive FC, and players like Bijev and experienced defender Mouhamed Dabo will hope to lead another upset here.

Las Vegas Lights FC vs. LA Force

Venue: Peter Johann Soccer Field at UNLV
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET

The Lowdown: Las Vegas Lights FC will try to pick up its first win of the season against the LA Force after making a solid start to its Championship season with three consecutive road draws to start the campaign. Lights FC earned a 0-0 draw on Saturday night against Indy Eleven at Michael A. Carroll Stadium to continue its undefeated start. The side has seen both Pato Botello Faz and Erick “Cubo” Torres score so far this season as it makes its Open Cup return on the campus of the University of Nevada - Las Vegas, where it will be hoping to post a similar result to that of fellow Championship side Orange County SC last season when OCSC swept aside the Force in a 5-2 victory. The Force opened their new season with a 1-0 win against Club de Leon FC this past Saturday, meanwhile, as Gustavo Villalobos scored the winner with nine minutes to go, while former Lights FC defender Edwin Rivas was part of the lineup for LA.

Phoenix Rising FC vs. Greenville Triumph SC

Venue: Phoenix Rising Stadium
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
Stream: BR Football

The Lowdown: Phoenix Rising FC will look to return to the Third Round for a second consecutive year as it faces former League One title winner Greenville Triumph SC in a cross-country matchup at Phoenix Rising Stadium. Rising FC will play its second game at its new home in Phoenix’s city limits after welcoming a club-record 10,437 fans on Saturday night for a 2-2 draw with rival San Diego Loyal SC. Manuel Arteaga scored his first two goals for the club after his offseason arrival before SD Loyal rallied late to leave Phoenix looking for its first win of the campaign. Greenville, meanwhile, fell 1-0 in its opening game of the League One season against the Richmond Kickers on March 25 as it heads west. The visitors will bring an experienced squad that includes defender Evan Lee and Tyler Polak and midfielder Aaron Walker, and has experience of success against Championship opposition having taken victory against Oakland Roots SC at this stage a season ago. Head Coach John Harkes’ squad was narrowly edged out by Major League Soccer’s Charlotte FC in the Third Round and could provide a challenge for Rising FC’s new-look lineup.