After two remarkable nights of action, 20 teams from the USL Championship will be in the draw for the Third Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Thursday night, where they will get the chance to square off with opponents from Major League Soccer for the first time in this year’s tournament.

From the clubs who cruised into the next stage like Orange County SC, Las Vegas Lights FC and New Mexico United, to those who needed to dig in to advance like last year’s finalists, there’s a lot to unpack.

Let’s dig in, starting with one of the stories of the Second Round.

1. SAN ANTONIO’S MINI MENTALITY MONSTERS SHINE

One of the hallmarks of San Antonio FC’s success in the past 12 months has been its resilience.

Apparently, that mindset runs all the way through the club.

Using 14 USL Academy signings and goalkeeper Carlos Mercado – the only player on a professional deal to feature and the elder statesman in the gameday squad at 22 years old – the side rallied past a Club de Leon FC side 2-1 on Tuesday night to send SAFC through to the Third Round.

For the group – which had an average age of 17.1 years old across the 15 players who suited up, and an average age of 16.6 years old for its 10 outfield starters – it illustrated the bonds that have been built through the club’s Academy over the years.

“We’re all brothers, so it’s really easy to lean on someone’s shoulder and pick someone up when someone’s down, and have someone pick you up when you’re down,” said SAFC defender Roman Holt, who scored the decisive penalty kick in extra time. “I think just having played with those guys for so long, and the bonds and friendships and chemistry I guess we have on the field, it was kind of seamless transitioning into the game.

“The fans really helped us, and we got the best fans in the league. And having Carlos back there, more experienced than all of us, was really helpful.”

With the club’s First Team players looking on from one of Toyota Field’s suites as well as a vocal crowd in the main stand, its youngsters delivered a chance to take on a Major League Soccer opponent in the next round.

“This is our club, right, we play the SAFC way,” said San Antonio Head Coach Alen Marcina. “Whoever steps on the field, we stick to our game model principles, our mentality. We called them Mentality Mini Monsters, and they showed up big tonight.”

2. CICERONE HELPS SACRAMENTO SURVIVE AND ADVANCE

With three goals in four league games to start his Sacramento Republic FC career, the value Russell Cicerone brings to the Western Conference contender has already been on show.

On Wednesday night, though, he helped the 2022 Open Cup runner-up avoid what would have been the result of the round in a nine-goal epic that saw Republic FC come out on top 5-4 after extra time against amateur side Crossfire Redmond at Heart Health Park.

“I’ve got to be able to do everything in the positions that coach puts me in,” said Cicerone after the game. “I was happy to score two goals tonight, but I don’t think I played great coming on. I had some sloppy turnovers I’ve got to get rid of, but yeah, I mean, when I got those moments, I made them count. And I guess that’s what he expects from me.”

Sacramento’s fightback was enough, and the side will know it can’t afford what Head Coach Mark Briggs termed as a “sloppy” effort moving forward.

The impact Cicerone could make in another potential Open Cup run – let alone the side’s season-long goals in the Championship – was on display on Wednesday night.

3. YOUNGSTERS COME THROUGH OUT WEST

Orange County SC refers to it as its Next Wave.

The trio of 17-year-old Bryce Jamison, 19-year-old Korede Osundina and 20-year-old Alex Villanueva are all bright young talents, and on Wednesday night all three played notable roles in the club’s 5-0 victory against Capo FC to advance to the Third Round.

Jamison claimed the club’s official Man of the Match honors as he was impressive throughout the night, scoring his first Open Cup goal with a powerful header late in the first half while finishing tied for a game-high five shots. Villanueva, meanwhile, picked up a pair of assists, and Osundina would have joined them on the scoresheet but hit the crossbar on a chance that Jamison set up.

OCSC’s youngsters weren’t the only ones making an impact out West on Wednesday, though, with a trio of teenagers also impressing for San Diego Loyal SC in its 2-0 victory against ALBION San Diego.

18-year-old Xavi Gnaulati drew the penalty kick that led to the opening goal for Charlie Adams for the hosts, while United States U-17 National Team goalkeeper Duran Ferree made some key stops to post his first shutout for SD Loyal’s First Team. Add in a solid back line display by 19-year-old Jackson Simba and it was a good night for the club’s youngsters.

4. MONTEREY BAY GETS THE RESULT IT NEEDED

There was no surprise at the level of needling that was coming Monterey Bay F.C.’s way from USL League One club Central Valley Fuego FC and its fans in the build-up to Wednesday night’s first meeting between the clubs.

When it mattered, though, Monterey Bay’s veterans delivered a result the club needed to send it on.

A goal and assist apiece from Christian Volesky and Alex Dixon and a late insurance marker from Sam Gleadle sent MBFC into the Third Round for the first time, exorcised the memories of last year’s excruciating exit at this stage, and sent a message as to which side held the upper hand.

Dixon’s goal in particular shone a light on how good Monterey Bay could be this season in the bigger picture, firing home from outside the penalty area for his fifth goal for his new club.

That, and the victory, will have been very satisfying indeed to Head Coach Frank Yallop and the rest of MBFC’s leadership as they headed home on Wednesday night.

5. LOUISVILLE TIGHTENS UP, PULLS THROUGH

After Louisville City FC conceded eight times in the past two league games – an unprecedented sequence for the club – the biggest focus for Head Coach Danny Cruz on Wednesday night as the side hosted in-state foe and League One newcomer Lexington SC was to get the defensive side right.

It wasn’t perfect – nothing ever really is – but Amadou Dia’s goal line clearance in stoppage time ensured that Sean Totsch’s goal in the 69th minute stood up as the winner in a 1-0 victory at Lynn Family Stadium.

“First and foremost, you get a shutout on the night after the last couple of weeks we have had,” said Cruz. “The messaging over the course of the last couple days was to make sure we do a good job defensively, we’re tight in our block and not running around all over the place.

“I’m really, really proud of the group. It was a result where we created a lot in the first half. We need to be better in the final third, but ultimately we’re creating the chances and I’m confident [the goals] will come.”

LouCity will look to build on this display as it hosts Detroit City FC – a side that has struggled for goals early this season – as it looks to get things back on track overall.

6. MIAMI FINDS ITS SHOOTING BOOTS

One thing the Open Cup can provide is a chance for a side that might be struggling to put in a performance that can build confidence. For Miami FC – which has gone four games without a win to start the Championship campaign – the late goals by Claudio Repetto that came after a 20-shot display against Jacksonville Armada FC on Tuesday night is certainly something to build on.

Miami thoroughly dominated its visitors but fell behind to the only shot Armada FC put on target just past the half-hour mark. A quick reply by Ryan Telfer before Repetto’s late brace ensured safe passage to the next round and a reward for the chances the side created overall.

You could see this elsewhere around Tuesday’s games, where Hartford Athletic’s Elvis Amoh and New Mexico United’s Josh Dolling each put up hat tricks in comfortable victories and Oakland Roots SC’s Wolfgang Prentice struck twice in his side’s win.

Then on Wednesday night we got a breakout display by Las Vegas Lights FC in its 4-0 win against the LA Force as native son Azriel Gonzalez found the net twice and Erick “Cubo” Torres added his second goal of the season.

We’ll see this weekend – or in Las Vegas’ case two weekends from now in Memphis – if there’s a knock-on effect for the clubs when it comes to their league form.

7. LOUDOUN MAKES GRAND ENTRANCE

Loudoun United FC was always going to get a hard-fought battle from USL League One side North Carolina FC in its Open Cup debut.

That the hosts came through to win in extra time on Wesley Leggett’s goal in the 116th minute added to the positive mood that’s starting to emerge from the club as it enters its new era under Attain Sports & Entertainment.

After a few down years with a younger squad, North Carolina is looking to be a playoff threat in League One this season, and when Jaden Servania pulled the visitors level midway through the second half it took a strong display by Loudoun goalkeeper Hugo Fauroux – who took Man of the Match honors – to keep his side in with a chance.

Leggett’s winner got United into the draw for the Third Round, though, and for the 22-year-old forward showed what Loudoun can be capable of.

“It was kind of back and forth at moments, but I think we showed a lot of resilience to stay mentally into the game no matter what minute it was,” said Leggett. “We all had each other’s backs, and I think that’s a great sign of a great team that in high pressure moments we can collect ourselves and we can all reset and kind of get back to what we do best.”

8. YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON LUCKY

At 35 years old, the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Lucky Mkosana is at this point one of the USL Championship’s elder statesmen. On Tuesday night, though, the Zimbabwean provided another reminder of why he’s been so valuable to Tampa Bay and the other clubs he’s represented across his 12-season career.

With a goal and assist in Tampa Bay’s 2-0 victory against USL League Two club FC NONA at Al Lang Stadium, Mkosana has nine goals in the historic tournament during his career. Tuesday’s finish won’t go down as the most memorable of those – his first Open Cup goal in 2012 for the Harrisburg City Islanders in a 3-1 upset of the New York Red Bulls will be hard to top – but it showed the know-how he still holds that could prove valuable to Tampa Bay in future outings.

9. LOCOMOTIVE FC GETS A SENSE OF DÉJÀ VU

Another Open Cup, the same story for El Paso Locomotive FC.

For a third consecutive tournament, the side was eliminated in the Second Round by an opponent from USL League One with Union Omaha taking a 2-0 victory at Morrison Stadium to continue Locomotive FC’s tale of woe.

After suffering defeat at home to Forward Madison FC in 2019 and then last year getting blitzed on the road by Central Valley Fuego FC, Locomotive FC is still winless in a tournament the club and its fans would love to find success in.

For El Paso – and the other three USL Championship teams eliminated at this stage – next year can’t come soon enough.