Sports Notebook, Wednesday

Duluth FC fell to Forward Madison 5-1 in the first round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on March 20 at Breese Stevens Field in Madison, Wisconsin. 

“I think for most of the game, for a team that trained for a week, that had boys fly in the day before, that had guys driving the day of the match because they got stuck in a snowstorm and played with a man down from the second half and 15-20 minutes of the first half, I think we did all right,” said Bluegreens coach Thomás Pazo of the U.S. Open Cup loss.

“When we equalized, we thought we could hang on. Whenever we went to one down we said, ‘hey it’s a Cup game if we lose, losing one by one goal or by 20 is the same. So let’s try to take some risks and try to press them.’ And of course, it didn’t play out very well for us. We, unfortunately, you know, couldn’t work a lot during the week on playing down a man or being able to defend the spacing behind. But I’m very proud of a lot of the guys.”

The National Premier Soccer League North Conference Bluegreens will open the 2025 season May 15 at home against Joy AC.

Duluth FC Bluegreens 2025 Schedule

Thursday, May 15 – host Joy AC, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, May 27 – host Minnesota Blizzard FC, 6 p.m.

Saturday, May 31 – host Iowa Demon Hawks, 7 p.m.

Friday, June 6 – at Sioux Falls Thunder FC, 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 7 – at Siouxland United FC, 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 14 – at Minnesota Blizzard FC, 7 p.m. (Lakeville North)

Tuesday, June 17 – at Joy AC, 6 p.m. (St. Thomas Academy)

Saturday, June 21 – host Sioux Falls Thunder FC, 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 28 – at Iowa Demon Hawks, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, July 2 – host Siouxland United FC, 7 p.m.

Note: All Duluth FC home matches (listed in boldface) are played at Walt Hunting Stadium at Duluth Denfeld High School in West Duluth.

FYI: 2025 National Premier Soccer League North Conference Standings