Amateur
Princeton five helped lead West Chester United to near cupset
After sending multiple players to the professional ranks after an historic season in 2025, West Chester United had a different look when they lined up to face Loudoun United in the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night at YSC Sports.
That new look included several players accustomed to wearing orange. Princeton orange.
Junior midfielder Liam Beckwith joined fellow Princeton standouts Jack Jasinski and Giuliano Whitchurch to help lead West Chester United to the National Amateur Cup last summer. With Jasinski off to San Jose Earthquakes II and Whitchurch off to LAFC2, Beckwith was able to bring in additional Princeton players for Tuesday’s Open Cup match ahead of the start of their spring season.
“Jim (Barlow)’s done a great job there,” West Chester United head coach Blaise Santangelo said. “We knew we needed help because we lost so much talent and it was great just to bring a group in that had already played together. I think that translated into our team and on the field, because there were five of them, and they were able to connect and keep each other responsible to the match and know what they do.”
While in year’s past eligibility rules were stricter around currently enrolled college students, Princeton’s later start to their spring season opened the door to bring in the group.
Jackson Martin, a talented freshman from Sacramento, was a problem on the night for Loudoun, creating chances down the wing and nearly found a breakthrough in the first half that was cut down by the Loudoun goalkeeper. The former Sacramento Republic U19 captain found a goal late that brought West Chester within striking distance.
“I felt like we really pinned them in and got a lot of chances that in another game we would have put away,” Martin said. “It’s unlucky, but I’m proud of how we performed today. There’s a lot of talent on this team and they all made me feel so at home.”
Bardia Hormozi, of Bethesda, Md., was also key in the waves of attack that put Loudoun under pressure in the second half. Hormozi was drafted No. 53 overall by Minnesota United in the most recent MLS SuperDraft and flashed his promise throughout the match.
“I definitely think we should’ve won that game,” Hormozi said. “We felt like we were much more dangerous in the second half than they were and with this group of guys it really feels like we came together as a team.”
Princeton junior goalkeeper Andrew Samuels made an impressive stop late to keep the dream of a cupset alive. Beckwith, meanwhile, combined in the midfield with veteran West Chester United midfielder Marcus Brenes to connect the back line to the front and Princeton sophomore Roka Tsunehara played a role both in the defense and in the attack as an outside back.
