BOHFS Bows Out in Open Cup Qualifier

ST. CHARLES — BOHFS St. Louis’s bid to qualify for the 2027 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup two years in a row came to a halt almost before it could get started. In their first game of the Open Cup qualifying tournament, BOHFS lost 5-2 against Chicago Nation FC at Sport 360 Soccer Zone.

“Nothing but respect for them (Chicago Nation FC); every mistake we made, they punished us for it. We didn’t put away the chances we had,” said coach Alen Bradaric.

BOHFS is only in their second season as a team. In their first season, they made a shocking run through qualifiers for the privilege of playing against a professional team. Thirty-two total amateur teams qualify for the Open Cup. Sixteen qualify through achievements in their regular season, and the remainder qualify through sixteen separate regional tournaments. Because the smaller league BOHFS plays in, the Midwest Premier League, does not rate direct berths, BOHFS must fight their way in.

The current BOHFS roster did not retain many of the players who made the previous run possible. With some key senior components missing, the squad trended younger and slightly more inexperienced this go around.

“It’s a lot different team than we had last year,” said BOHFS forward Brian Bement. “I think it’s just now some of those guys getting a taste of elimination soccer and what it can be like. For some of them it may have been a while since they’ve played that kind of soccer. In fact, maybe their college days, however long that was.”

BOHFS St. Louis came out wearing “fauxback” St. Louis Screw kits. The uniforms were made as part of a partnership between Protagonistsoccer.com and Olive & York to imagine what kits would have looked like for a historic St. Louis Soccer League team sponsored by St. Louis Screw Company from 1918-22. Outside of being spiffy dressers, not much went well for BOHFS on the evening.

Like two unfamiliar prize fighters feeling each other out, BOHFS and Nation spent the early minutes of the match probing for weaknesses. From roughly the 20^th minute on, it seemed that Chicago had the measure of their foe as the field tilted in their favor.

Then against the run of play BOHFS struck. A precision cross from Roberti Fabricio found the foot of Brian Bement in the box. The point-blank shot rippled twine. Thirty minutes in, BOHFS was up 1-0.

“We made eye contact,” said Bement. “As soon as we made eye contact, I saw that he was gonna whip it in. He put it in the right spot, and all I had to do was get a touch on it.” 

The St. Louis lead lasted roughly as long as the goal celebration. Within minutes, Nation tied the game on a nearly identical crossing play, with Jedidiah McCloud having the honor of notching the game-tying goal.

As the second half was winding down, BOHFS made a bad turnover in their third of the field. The turnover led directly to a goal by Nation’s Tyler Bagley. With less than five minutes to play in the half, Chicago Nation FC was leading 2-1. It was a lead they would not relinquish.

The second half was the Preston Huirton show. The Chicago Nation player ended up scoring a hat-trick in the second stanza. His first goal came as the result of another dangerous turnover in their own end by BOHFS.  A Nation steal in the 57^th minute led to a goal by Huirton.

“We were up 1-0… we let them in with a mistake. Then we give up another mistake. Then we get back into the game and then another mistake. It’s like, you know, what can you do? Is that a lack of focus? I don’t know,” said coach Bradaric. “You might get away with those against a lesser opponent, but some of the teams we face, especially in these Open Cups or these better leagues, you get punished for them, and that’s what happened.”

The 3-1 Nation lead would be extremely short. Two minutes later Bement brought BOHFS back into the game with his second goal. It was a well struck ball from outside the box that curled into the upper right corner of the net past the outstretched arms of the Chicago keeper.

“Once I got on the half turn and I realized that no one was gonna step, I just took a touch and had a hit,” said Bement.

That was the last bright spot for St. Louis. In the 74^th minute, Huirton dribbled through a series of BOHFS defenders to notch his second goal. In the 90^th minute, Huirton hammered the final nail in the coffin with his third goal of the night.

BOHFS St. Louis is a relatively new team, but they have steadily built a fanbase, drawing over 200 spectators to Sunday’s game. While they did not qualify for the Open Cup this year, they will most likely be back to try again next year. In the meantime, BOHFS is looking to solidify their current fans at Sport 360 Soccer Zone, their home for the upcoming 2027 Midwest Premier League season. 

“We want to involve as many families and the community. I mean, we’re out here in St. Charles… we’re fifteen minutes from anywhere,” said Bradaric. “I think it’s a great place to have a successful soccer environment.”

Tim is a St. Louis-based freelance writer. He will also be covering the Forest Park Rangers and the Midwest Premier League for the Mound City Messenger. Find his other work at TheCup.us and Protagonistsoccer.com.