When we last saw Minnesota Blizzard, they were banking the ball off the boards in the cozy confines of Centennial Sports Arena and while they will return there twice more to wrap up their indoor season in the coming days, immediate focus has switched to the National Amateur Cup and what is technically a Region II Qualifier on the road against fellow Twin Cities side Vlora FC. The indoor and outdoor Blizzard rosters are almost entirely separate, with Devan DiGrado, Ryan DeBois, and Logan Weller the only players to suit up for both squads.
The hosts finished fourth in the UPSL Midwest West Division and won their MASL division, earning promotion. They were also runners-up in the MASL's Wilson Cup. Blizzard finished at the bottom of the NPSL North conference but at the top of their MASL division, winning promotion. In the process, they missed any opportunity for this match-up to occur in the MASL this season.
The two sides met at the same stage of last season's Amateur Cup, and it went the way of Vlora.
Other ties in the Northland:
Bavarian United (UPSL/MWPL) v United Serbian SC (WSL)
Tonight at 7:30 pm - Heartland Value Fund Stadium, Glendale, WI.
Multi-time US Amateur Cup-winning Bavarians finished third in both their United Premier Soccer League and Midwest Premier League divisions. United Serbian SC finished third in the Wisconsin Soccer Leagues' Milwaukee Premier League.
Chicago House AC (MWPL) v RKC Third Coast (USL2)
Saturday at 1 pm - Fenwick Priory High School, River Forest, IL.
House finished second in their division of the Midwest Premier League. RKC finished third in their division of USL League Two.
